Deep Dive: Page 5
Industry insights from our journalists
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Reebok was meant to be a ‘Nike killer.’ How the brand lost its No. 1 spot
In the '80s, Reebok was the top sports brand for a time. Now it's dwarfed by Nike and Adidas. We take a look at the history of the brand, through the lens of the people who were there.
Cara Salpini • July 26, 2021 -
Dick’s is testing 5 store concepts. Here’s why.
Store revamps are also in progress, and the sporting goods specialist is expanding its private label reach as it looks to maintain a winning position.
Cara Salpini • July 19, 2021 -
The new toy store experience
Toys R Us went bankrupt years ago and hasn't really been replaced. Here's how others are designing experiences for a digitally enabled generation.
Cara Salpini • July 15, 2021 -
Is it 'Day Two' at Amazon yet?
Most analysts expect little change from Jeff Bezos' departure as CEO. But he's leaving unfinished business for longtime lieutenant Andy Jassy.
Daphne Howland • July 7, 2021 -
The rise of DTC holding companies
Why the founders of Pattern Brands, Very Great and Win Brands Group are betting on the power of building multiple brands under one umbrella.
Caroline Jansen • June 30, 2021 -
Customers love them. Investors love them. But which online players can survive in the long run?
As they seek scale, some of the fastest-growing e-commerce firms have a license from investors to burn cash. A business can't lose money forever, though. (Right?)
Ben Unglesbee • June 16, 2021 -
The business of normalizing taboo topics
From periods and acne to sex toys and toilet plungers, DTC brands are out to disrupt every eyebrow-raising industry under the sun.
Maria Monteros • June 8, 2021 -
‘Something is changing at Ulta’: The legacy Mary Dillon leaves behind as CEO
She grew the beauty retailer from a regional player to a national powerhouse. Her departure marks the end of that high-growth phase.
Cara Salpini • June 7, 2021 -
Uncertainty lingers, even as consumer confidence rebounds
There are signs of economic recovery and the end of the pandemic, especially in the U.S. But the outlook is uneven and rife with unknowns.
Daphne Howland • June 2, 2021 -
Is the never-ending Sears saga finally reaching its closing chapters?
Most of what is left of the one-time empire is a footprint smaller than many regional retailers, and a whole lot of legal bills.
Ben Unglesbee • June 1, 2021 -
The rise of the home improvement sector — and where it could go next
Increasing homeownership rates boosted the category in recent years, but unforeseen circumstances brought on by the pandemic helped land toilets on the list of most popular purchases of 2020.
Caroline Jansen • May 26, 2021 -
Visa, Mastercard face biggest challenges in a decade
Regulatory, legislative and court confrontations over the card network companies' fees are ratcheting up pressure again for reform of the behemoths' practices.
Lynne Marek • May 21, 2021 -
Can banks win in the booming buy now, pay later space?
While buy now, pay later represents a niche of the payments ecosystem, banks should take note of what its growth says about the next generation of consumers.
Anna Hrushka • May 21, 2021 -
Have home retailers peaked?
The category was on the rise, but the pandemic drove exponential growth. Retailers must now navigate how to sustain momentum in the years ahead.
Caroline Jansen • May 10, 2021 -
RFID's e-commerce growth spurt
The need for visibility drove companies to invest in solutions for their complete supply chain while Adidas is using the technology to verify provenance.
Deborah Abrams Kaplan • May 5, 2021 -
What's next for Destination XL after last year's calamity in menswear?
The big-and-tall specialist's sales shrank by nearly a third in 2020 as offices went dark and events were nixed. Executives discuss how they navigated the turmoil.
Ben Unglesbee • May 4, 2021 -
Algorithms vs. humans: Who’s better at predicting fashion trends?
These days data is plentiful, useful and fast. But some in the industry warn that old fashioned merchants are undervalued at a crucial time.
Daphne Howland • April 29, 2021 -
Right now, retailers are writing their own rules on climate action. Does that need to change?
With an executive order in place and mounting pressure from multiple sides, climate regulation is brewing.
Maria Monteros • April 21, 2021 -
6 Payments trends for 2021
The pandemic accelerated emerging payments trends, as "both the merchant and customer side picked up pace to evolve with changing market conditions," Forrester analyst Lily Varon said.
Vaidik Trivedi • April 6, 2021 -
The omnichannel age is here — and it’s expensive
Store pickup of online orders grew by triple digits amid the pandemic. Retailers are now scrambling to become more efficient sellers across channels.
Ben Unglesbee • April 5, 2021 -
Malls tout proposed changes to REIT rules as good for retailers
But legislation that would alter longstanding tax policy and make it easier for landlords to buy their tenants is more likely an attempt to save the mall.
Daphne Howland • Updated April 1, 2021 -
9 emerging DTCs to watch in 2021
A lot has changed since Warby Parker and Dollar Shave Club entered the scene. In an increasingly crowded space, brands need to find what sets them apart.
Caroline Jansen • March 30, 2021 -
How Nike is using DTC and data to expand its empire
Since 2011, the sportswear giant has grown direct-to-consumer sales from 16% of its namesake brand revenues to 35%, all while continuing to take share.
Cara Salpini • March 23, 2021 -
Welcome to the lucrative world of retail bankruptcy
A look at the most expensive Chapter 11 proceedings in retail and the players that have profited from them.
Ben Unglesbee • March 8, 2021 -
Finding Rae Dunn
Dunn's minimalistic approach to home goods has a community of collectors who hunt, and sometimes compete, for her products at off-price retailers.
Kaarin Vembar • March 2, 2021