PepsiCo To Speed Up Retail Delivery Chain
In a move that will get product into the hands of retailers faster, PepsiCo says it will distribute Gatorade sports drinks direct to stores from its own and independent bottlers in the US and Canada. The move is an attempt to improve product delivery away from the warehouse system. Eric Foss, CEO of Pepsi Beverages Company, said in a statement the new model is particularly suited to Gatorade products sold via these channels because of the particular need for speed and flexibility. The complete story from FoodNavigator.com starts HERE. Read More →
Loyalty Cards Go High-Tech
Retailers who issue loyalty cards to bring customers back again and again are getting some high-tech help in the form of smartphone applications, the New York Times reports. Two companies, Cardstar and Key Ring, are rolling out apps where customers only need to tap a key or two to have coupons delivered to their phones. And while there might be a cost involved for retailers to purchase the needed equipment to access such offerings, there might be an equally strong payout in customers loyalty. Read the full story and decide for yourself, starting...
Study: Affluent Young Women Aid Economic Rebound
A new study commissioned by American Express says that affluent young women are helping spend their way of the current economic doldrums. “There’s certainly more fearlessness about spending among younger, affluent shoppers,” Ed Jay, SVP/American Express Business Insights, tells MediaPost’s Marketing Daily. “And there’s been pent-up demand. But what surprised us most is that the biggest spending increases for these younger women were for other people — on gifts, charities, and children — as well as on fitness.” The...
Personal Service Favored by Shoppers
Despite efforts by “Big Box” companies to try to be everything to everyone, new evidence is emerging that customers prefer the personalized service offered by smaller stores, the Retail Institute reports. “Retail Wire recently published an online article about how Wal Mart and Target are trying to return to a more personalized level of customer service,” the Institute says. And a survey of customers shows that while value is still the No. 1 shoppers’ priority, they also cite “engagement” as something they look for in a retail environment. For...
Retailers Go High Tech to Discourage Loiterers
Some store owners in the nation’s capital have gone high-tech in a bid to discourage loitering teens who don’t buy anything. WBAL-TV reports a device called “The Mosquito” has been installed outside the entrance to the Gallery Place Metro station, a favorite teen hangout. The device, audible only to teens, emits and annoying sound and encourages them to “move along.” The full story can be found HERE. Read More →
August Retail Sales Beat Estimates
Retailers were able to post better-than-expected sales in August, according to numerous wire services and published reports. “Early reports gave analysts hope retailers were able to clear excess inventories ahead of the crucial holiday-selling season without having to resort to deep discounts,” Yahoo News reported. And in an encouraging sign, it was reported that retailers who focused on low prices continued to outpace their rivals. For the complete story, as well as some breakouts on particular companies, start HERE. Read More →
Report: Retail Buyers Still Nervous
Consumers spent only slight more this August than last, reflecting fears that the hoped-for economic recovery might still be a ways off, the AP reports. Citing the latest MasterCard Spending Pulse survey, the numbers confirm what many retailers had been talking about: back-to-school spending was off, and might be a portent of a slack holiday season. “SpendingPulse’s figures show shoppers spent more on children’s clothing and consumer electronics than last August,” the AP says. “But they pulled back on most other merchandise, including...
Wholesaler Oriental Trading Files Chapter 11
Gifts and novelty merchant wholesaler Oriental Trading has filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11, according to a report in Multichannel Merchant. The company said in a statement it has reached agreement on the terms of a pre-arranged plan of reorganization with its first lien lenders to reduce debt and improve its capital structure and operating flexibility. It said it will continue operating during the restructuring with interruption. The full story, along with the numbers involved, starts HERE. Read More →
Goodwill Trains Teens for Retail
Good help may be hard to find, but charitable organization Goodwill is making it easier via an in-house retail training program for teens. According to the Baltimore Sun, Goodwill has launched a program training teens in the fine art of retailing, enabling those who complete the course to achieve a certificate from the National Retail Federation and get a leg up in a tight job market. And retailers get a shot at experienced, eager employees. The full story begins HERE. Read More →
Dollar General Posts Profit
Dollar General Corp posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profits today as it attracted bargain-seeking consumers who spent more per visit, and the discount retailer raised its profit outlook, Reuters reports. The retailer said it saw the number of shoppers and average transaction amounts rise during the second quarter, which included July, when consumer sentiment hit a nine-month low. The company said it expects sales to be brisk. The full story with all the numbers starts HERE. Read More →
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