Like most retailers, Prime Day has challenged Walmart and Target over the last five years. But this year, the two heavyweights developed a strong strategy to combat Amazon and executed against it. Amazon will still have a glass-half-full that goes as follows: Total sales volume…
Adding foodservice to a retail environment is hardly new. Department stores have married retail and restaurants for well over a century and drugstores routinely had soda fountains. Brands like Ikea have become almost as well known for their meatballs as their dressers and have contemplated having…
In July 1994, Jeff Bezos founded Amazon.com. 25 years later, he is the wealthiest man in the world and Amazon controls 50% of the online business in the U.S. with no signs of slowing down. I have been tracking developments in the world of retail…
Seoul is a global leader in technology, beauty, food, music, and increasingly, world-class retailing. During a recent project with our clients in Seoul, our team visited major and up-and-coming shopping districts in this bustling metropolis and weighed in on an impressive array of pop-up retail…
Efforts to intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform have largely been driven by activist organizations and individuals. Retailers, for the most part, have been content to stay on the sidelines for fear of alienating a particular customer group and targeting one demographic group…
Beyond Meat and other plant-based substitutes have made placement in or near the fresh meat case a major part of their marketing message, so much so that Beyond Meat’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission point out that proximity to the meat case has…
Grocery Outlet, the extreme value grocery chain you have likely never heard of, made its debut as a public company today and provided insight into the discount grocery business. While ALDI and Lidl receive endless news coverage, Grocery Outlet has flown somewhat under the radar….
From pop-up shops to Digital Natives opening retail stores, some new concepts have recently hit the Chicago market. Stores are still relevant, and creating engaging experiences that drive customers to visit remains a top priority. We are sharing a few stores to visit if you…
Recently, the Specialty Food Association (SFA) released its annual State of the Specialty Food Industry Report, which highlighted that small or specialty food brands are driving the most growth and innovation. According to the report, total sales in specialty foods grew by 10.3% versus 3.1%…
In good company, Nike and creative genius Virgil Abloh recently opened the Re-Creation pop-up in Chicago as a destination for sustainability, workshops, give back programs, product exclusives and local influencers. The store goes well beyond traditional retail and shows the true meaning of redefining the…
