Industry News

After graduation: Where this year's grad will find jobs

Monice Chalhoub — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 19:30:30 -0500

With graduation season underway, NRF's annual survey found that more than a third of consumers are getting ready to pick up cards, set aside some cash or splurge on new electronics for the high school and college grads in their lives. The data shows that graduation gifts have not changed much in the last 10 years: Most of today's grads can expect…

3 things to know about consumers in 2019

Monice Chalhoub — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 11:22:13 -0500

In retail, evolution doesn't stop. As consumer behavior shifts and changes with every new technological advancement or cultural shift, retailers must rise to meet new demands. At NRF 2019: Retail's Big Show, Mark Matthews, NRF's vice president of research and development, Jill Standish, senior managing director and global head of retail at…

Birchbox CEO on the evolution of the disruptive beauty brand

Monice Chalhoub — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 17:31:08 -0600

Beauty company Birchbox pioneered the subscription box model, using data to create highly personalized experiences for consumers interested in beauty - but often overwhelmed by the experience of shopping for beauty products; it recently announced a partnership with Walgreens and opened its first bricks-and-mortar Walgreens locations in December.…

NRF study says more online shoppers want free shipping

Monice Chalhoub — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 12:23:58 -0600

Consumers increasingly expect free delivery of items they buy online and are also embracing new options like picking up their online purchases at a local store, according to the latest issue of the quarterly Consumer View report released today by the National Retail Federation.

"Consumers want free delivery, and they're willing to meet retailers…

Fitzroy Rethinks Discovery For Toy Shop Owners

Monice Chalhoub — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 10:45:12 -0500

Like many entrepreneurs, Stefanie Botelho needed a solution for a problem she faced: She was buying a lot of gifts for children, but it was tough to find something unique and special. For a college project, she built recommendation engine Fitzroy to solve that problem and later adapted it for retailers as an online wholesale marketplace. This…

Walmart To Provide Employees A College Education For $1 A Day

Monice Chalhoub — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 16:58:38 -0500

If you follow this space, you'll know I think the following about Tuition Aid as a benefit:

1 - It's one of the most powerful benefits you can provide.

2 - It will never cost you as much as you think it will because it is incredibly hard to use. People have families, people have lives once they get above the traditional age of a college student.…

Abercrombie's same-store sales beat on demand for Hollister brand

Monice Chalhoub — Wed, 31 May 2017 23:00:01 -0500

U.S. teen apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch, which has put itself up for sale, posted a smaller-than-expected drop in comparable-store sales, helped by strong demand for Hollister, its California beach-themed brand of surfwear.

Shares of the company, for which rival American Eagle Outfitters and private equity firm Cerberus Capital…

We visited J. Crew's flagship store and saw why the brand is in trouble

Monice Chalhoub — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 23:00:01 -0500

It's been a rocky month for J. Crew. First, its renowned creative director Jenna Lyons stepped down after 26 years. The CEO Micky Drexler announced 250 job cuts at the company's corporate headquarters.

The brand is struggling. Same-store sales have been down for the past three years; dropping by 8% in 2016, following a 10% decrease the year…

Analyis: Can Abercrombie course correct with key strategic changes?

Monice Chalhoub — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 23:00:06 -0500

Abercrombie & Fitch has been on a steady decline. In November of last year, the retailer's shares plummeted 10%, completing 15 straight quarters of company-wide comparable sales decline. In February, the company's merchandising head, Fran Horowitz, was promoted to CEO, and tasked with reversing course. To do so. Horowitz will need to devise a…

The Limited Is Closing All 250 of Its Stores

Monice Chalhoub — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 23:00:02 -0600

And another bites the dust.

Women's apparel chain The Limited began closing all 250 of its stores across the United States and is slashing 4,000 jobs, the latest casualty of shopping's move online and the growth of fast fashion chains.

And just like Chico's, Ann Taylor and other women's apparel stores struggling with big drops in sales, The…