American Eagle hatches a new fashion retail concept

American Eagle hatches a new fashion retail concept | How Walmart is using driverless tech to move groceries | Neiman Marcus evaluates store lineup in reorganization

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June 23, 2020

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American Eagle hatches a new fashion retail concept

(Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

American Eagle Outfitters has launched a new retail concept called Unsubscribed, which will feature consciously made fashions and accessories. The first store opened over the weekend in East Hampton, N.Y., where the brand will feature two collections annually that include goods from its private-label line and brands such as Indego Africa and Veja.

Full Story: Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (6/20), Business Insider (6/22)

	Are you data-rich but information-poor? Just collecting data isn't enough — retailers and brands must be able to utilize their data to make predictions and automate actions in order to compete. But how? Read this SmartFocus to find out how you can become both data and information-rich.

Industry Watch

How Walmart is using driverless tech to move groceries

(Walmart)

Walmart's self-driving vehicle partner, Gatik, focuses on delivering groceries from massive distribution centers to smaller warehouses, the journey it calls the "middle mile." The company partnered with Walmart in 2019 and the vehicles are now running seven days a week, Gatik CEO and co-founder Gautam Narang said.

Full Story: BNN Bloomberg (Canada) (6/19)

Neiman Marcus evaluates store lineup in reorganization

Neiman Marcus said this week that its bankruptcy filing came because of the need to cut debt, but it didn't explicitly rule out exiting any of its brick-and-mortar stores. The retailer, which reported positive same-store sales before the pandemic, didn't comment on a report that Facebook could move into the Neiman Marcus space at New York City's Hudson Yards.

Full Story: The Dallas Morning News (tiered subscription model) (6/22)

Kroger sells face masks to meet Texas county mandate

(Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Kroger is now offering face masks for sale at the front of its Houston-area stores within Harris County, Texas, to avoid having to turn away shoppers who don't have face coverings. The move comes after a county judge mandated face masks be worn inside retail businesses, including grocers, as a way to fight the state's recent surge in coronavirus cases.

Full Story: Houston Chronicle (tiered subscription model) (6/22)

Giant adds pollinator field at Pa. headquarters
Winsight Grocery Business (6/22)

Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof likely to downsize in Germany
Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (6/20)

Retail Trends

NYC retailers focus on safety as they reopen

Saks Fifth Avenue's New York City flagship could have been tailor-made for social distancing -- reopening at 50% capacity caps shopper counts at 5,500, a number the retailer doesn't hit on the busiest day of the year, Saks President Marc Metrick said. The luxury department store retailer and others in the city are taking a measured approach to reopening to ensure compliance with rules meant to keep shoppers and employees safe.

Full Story: Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (6/22)

Many food co-ops falter during pandemic

While grocers have seen surging sales during the pandemic, food co-ops have suffered from weaker sales, according to US Census Bureau data. Although some co-ops, such as those in Minnesota's Twin Cities, have fared somewhat better, experts say all co-ops have been hurt by coronavirus safety steps -- some of which resulted in lines at the door -- and a customer desire for the one-stop shopping convenience offered by larger grocers.

Full Story: Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (tiered subscription model) (6/20)

Can Fifth Avenue's status survive the pandemic?

Some luxury retailers are rethinking their pricey leases on New York City's Fifth Avenue amid the pandemic that has put a damper on tourism and changed the way people shop. Global luxury sales are forecast to fall about 29% this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Boston Consulting Group.

Full Story: NBC News (6/22)

Retail Technology

Will the future of retail hold more vending machines?

(Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

Improved technology and the need for physical distancing could signal a turning point for vending machines in the US, entrepreneurs say. "A lot of the current situation has magnified trends that were already in motion," said Luke Sanders, CEO of Farmer's Fridge, which now has 400 refrigerated machines that dispense fresh prepared foods.

Full Story: Modern Retail (tiered subscription model) (6/23)

NRF News

TOMORROW: Global economic recovery with Hilton President and CEO Chris Nassetta

NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay and Hilton President and CEO Chris Nassetta will discuss leading through turbulent times, how Hilton envisions the future of travel and tourism, and economic recovery from the pandemic during the next live Retail Leadership Series conversation, tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET. Register now.

NRF SmartStat: June 23, 2020

About 62% of baby boomers say they use BOPIS to avoid paying for shipping. Source: NRF.

How to de-escalate tense situations: Tips for retailers

Decreasing tensions requires active listening, explaining protocols and allowing customers to reconsider a policy. Conflict management expert Dave Young shares tips for retailers on communicating with customers during a conflict and what signs to look for to prevent and mitigate disputes. Read more.

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Chain Restaurant News

How Roy Rogers adapted to coronavirus-fueled changes

Roy Rogers has seen weekly sales increases after a pandemic-fueled drop, thanks in part to a focus on delivery and drive-thru with a scaled-down menu. The brand, which had its eye on relaunching growth efforts prior to the pandemic, plans to revisit franchise recruiting next month, Executive Vice President Jeremy Biser notes.

Full Story: QSR magazine online (6/19)