It’s been another week with far more retail news than there is time in the day. Below, we break down some things you may have missed during the week and what we’re still thinking about.
From Le Creuset’s Wicked collection to REI’s new strategy, here’s our closeout for the week.
What you may have missed
Etsy to move stock listing to NYSE
Etsy this week announced it will move its common stock from the Nasdaq Stock Market to the New York Stock Exchange. The company expects the listing of its common stock on the Nasdaq to cease Oct. 10, and trading of its stock on the NYSE is set to begin Oct. 13.
"We're excited to join the New York Stock Exchange and stand alongside some of the world's most respected and innovative companies," Josh Silverman, chief executive officer of Etsy, said in a statement.
Etsy began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market in 2015.
Ashley Graham for J.C. Penney launches
Ashley Graham debuted her namesake collection at J.C. Penney on Thursday. The collection, an exclusive with the department store, is designed with “silhouette-enhancing construction” that has “curve-celebrating confidence,” which complements “textures, fabrics and trends that flatter, not hide,” according to a company press release. Items are available in-store in sizes 0X to 5X / 14W to 30W.
“Ashley has entered a new era of her career and at the peak of her influence, at a time when J.C. Penney is redefining retail with our ‘Yes, J.C. Penney!’ brand evolution, turning heads, disrupting retail conventions and inviting a new generation of customers to see what our customers have known all along,” Marisa Thalberg, chief customer and marketing office at Catalyst Brands, said in a statement.
Retail therapy
Le Cresuet’s ‘Wicked’ cookware
Colorful cookware brand Le Creuset debuted a limited ‘Wicked: For Good’ collection in partnership with Universal Products & Experiences, per a Wednesday press release.
The collection features two Dutch ovens, one green and the other pink, with embossed lids that look like both witches from the movie franchise. The products are available for purchase now at $450 each, ahead of the movie release in November.
“Since our founding, Le Creuset has empowered cooks of all kind to express themselves – not only in the meals they create but through the cookware they use,” Christopher Scinto, chief marketing officer at Le Creuset, said in a statement. “These enchanting designs are made to inspire magic – turning everyday moments into opportunities for personal expression.”
What we’re thinking about
$1.35M
That’s how much Tractor Supply has agreed to pay following the California Privacy Protection Agency’s determination that the retailer violated state privacy-protection laws. The retailer has also agreed to “broad remedial measures,” the agency said this week.
The CPPA investigated the retailer’s practices following a customer complaint and found that Tractor Supply failed to notify customers and job applicants of their privacy rights or provide an opt-out for the sharing of personal information. The company also disclosed personal information to third parties without ensuring privacy protections. Tractor Supply didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
California’s move is part of a broader crackdown on retailers and brands over these issues, something that will extend to AI, according to privacy expert Sarah Hospelhorn at BigID.
“The companies that invest in systems that truly honor customer choices, connect across every channel, and hold partners to the same standard will earn something more valuable than regulatory approval: customer trust and long-term loyalty,” she said by email.
What we’re watching
REI’s climb up ‘Peak 28’
REI CEO Mary Beth Laughton — who joined the retailer in February — this week outlined a new strategy for the outdoors co-op, focused on four pillars.
Among the core tenets of the strategy are an updated membership program, elevated services and experiences, an improved assortment and a “trailblazing,” purpose-led culture. The retailer is aiming to add “highly differentiated offerings” to its membership to deepen engagement with shoppers and aims to build trust with unique service offerings.
At a more basic level, Laughton, in a memo to employees, also emphasized having products that are “in stock, priced right, and trend-right.” The retailer has undergone layoffs and shuttered business divisions in recent years in a bid to return to profitability.
“Making these shifts will not be easy; they’ll require us to fundamentally transform, make difficult choices and evolve the way we work over the next few years,” Laughton said. “We know this plan is ambitious, but we also know it’s possible. And it’s crucial, because this plan is not about getting back to what the co-op used to be. It's about climbing the challenging peak that's in front of us, putting the co-op on more solid footing and building our capabilities to climb the next peaks that are even higher, together.”
