Customer Growth Partners
Providing actionable insight to build shareholder value through field-based customer and company research & analysis.Customer Growth Partners
Providing actionable insight to build shareholder value through field-based customer and company research & analysis.Customer Growth Partners In The Media
Holiday Shopping Kicks Into High Gear on Black Friday
Holiday Shopping Kicks Into High Gear on Black Friday
Source: www.nytimes.com/live/2021/11/26/business/black-friday-2021
Shoppers Back in Stores for Black Friday; Retailers on Track for Holiday
Shoppers Back in Stores for Black Friday; Retailers on Track for Holiday
While business was good on Black Friday, the mood darkened amid news of a COVID-19 variant, stock prices tumbling, and mass thefts at stores on the West Coast earlier in the week.
NRF Sees Retailers Rocking for Holiday Despite Headwinds
NRF Sees Retailers Rocking for Holiday Despite Headwinds
The NRF said consumers are buying more at full price and are receptive to new brands in the event of stockouts.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/holiday-2021-national-retail-federation-1234984707/
CGP Study: Holiday growth to slow amid rising energy prices, supply chain woes
CGP Study: Holiday growth to slow amid rising energy prices, supply chain woes
Growing headwinds threaten to take a big bite out of holiday sales growth this year.
Source: www.chainstoreage.com/cgp-study-holiday-growth-slow-amid-rising-energy-prices-supply-chain-woes
WWD Honors: Target, Best-performing Retailer, Large Cap
WWD Honors: Target, Best-performing Retailer, Large Cap
WWD honors the big-box retailer for its exceptional growth over the last few years.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/target-wins-wwd-honors-award-1234982369/
Retail Sales Slow in February Freeze
Retail Sales Slow in February Freeze
Fashion stores lost out as overall retail sales fell worse than economists projected, but there could be some hope ahead.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/financial/february-2020-retail-sales-covid-department-store-mall-1234779729/
U.S. Retail Sales Rose Strongly on Stimulus in January
U.S. Retail Sales Rose Strongly on Stimulus in January
U.S. shoppers boosted spending by 5.3% in January, the first increase in four months, buoyed by recent virus-related stimulus payments.
Target Is Winning the Pandemic Race
Target Is Winning the Pandemic Race
Here’s why and what other retailers can learn from the big-box giant.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/business-features/target-pandemic-retail-winner-1234719937/
Target Corp. Reveals Strength During Holiday 2020
Target Corp. Reveals Strength During Holiday 2020
Comparable sales at Target Corp. bucked the coronavirus malaise plaguing most retailers buy notching a gain of 17.2%.
Amazon Prime Day Tops $3.5 Billion
Amazon Prime Day Tops $3.5 Billion
The two-day event was bolstered by being rescheduled from July to October this year.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/amazon-prime-day-3-5-billion-1234635829/
Big-Box Stores, Worried About Amazon, Were Ready for Coronavirus
Big-Box Stores, Worried About Amazon, Were Ready for Coronavirus
Nearly six months into the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S., big-box retailers are emerging as winners while competitors struggle.
Source: www.wsj.com/articles/big-box-stores-worried-about-amazon-were-ready-for-coronavirus-11598273456
New York City Retailers Welcome Back Shoppers but Challenges Loom
New York City Retailers Welcome Back Shoppers but Challenges Loom
Upscale retailers including Nordstrom Inc, privately owned Saks Fifth Avenue and jeweler Tiffany & Co reopened their large New York City flagship locations on Wednesday with reassuring signage and sanitizer stands to calm shoppers worried about the coronavirus pandemic.
U.S. Retail Sales Rose Record 18% in May
U.S. Retail Sales Rose Record 18% in May
Shoppers opened their pocketbooks in May as states eased coronavirus-related restrictions on businesses and consumers.
Source: www.wsj.com/articles/shoppers-returned-in-may-likely-spurring-increased-retail-sales-11592299802
J. Crew Blues: The Bankrupt Retailer Looks to the Future
J. Crew Blues: The Bankrupt Retailer Looks to the Future
With its Chapter 11 filing Monday, the retailer is set to get new owners and a slimmer profile.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/financial/j-crew-bankrupt-madewell-coronavirus-retail-fashion-1203627125/
Neiman Marcus Becomes 2nd Major Retailer to Seek Chapter 11
Neiman Marcus Becomes 2nd Major Retailer to Seek Chapter 11
Neiman Marcus has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the first department store chain and second major retailer to be toppled by the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/05/07/business/bc-neiman-marcus-bankruptcy.html?searchResultPosition=4
Pandemic’s Crushing Retail Impact: Is There Any Light?
Pandemic’s Crushing Retail Impact: Is There Any Light?
Amid the health crisis, some retailers see pockets of positive shopping online and some enduring post-pandemic trends.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/pandemic-retail-1203553881/
Nebraska mall plans to reopen despite climbing virus cases
Nebraska mall plans to reopen despite climbing virus cases
An upscale outlet mall near Omaha plans to reopen later this month even as the number of coronavirus cases and deaths continues to grow in the state
Retailers, Brands Hitting New Lows Amid Mounting COVID-19 Anxiety
Retailers, Brands Hitting New Lows Amid Mounting COVID-19 Anxiety
Businesses are hoping online activity increases as people stay home and social distance.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/retail-covid-19-anxiety-1203539774/
Saturday Shopping Sets U.S. One-Day Sales Record, Analyst Says
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-23/super-saturday-shopping-sets-one-day-sales-record-analyst-says
Santa Getting Into Gear as Retail Traffic Picks Up
Santa Getting Into Gear as Retail Traffic Picks Up
With Christmas nearing, retail sales are gaining momentum.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/holiday-shopping-picking-up-1203401188/
Customer Growth Partners: Back-to-school poised for best growth since 2011
Customer Growth Partners: Back-to-school poised for best growth since 2011
American consumers are ramping up their spending, just in time for the critical back-to-school season.
Billion-dollar Bragging Rights, Fashion’s New Benchmark
Billion-dollar Bragging Rights, Fashion’s New Benchmark
How many billions does a company need to be taken seriously?
Source: wwd.com/business-news/financial/retail-billion-dollar-club-1203096676/
Holiday 2021: A Good Start, But What Happens Next?
Holiday 2021: A Good Start, But What Happens Next?
Retailers have been on a high through the fall and the holiday season so far, though the weeks ahead seem uncertain.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/holiday-2021-retail-black-friday-1235004076/
Resurging COVID-19 Cases and Restrictions Hit Retail Stocks
Resurging COVID-19 Cases and Restrictions Hit Retail Stocks
Resurging COVID-19 Cases and Restrictions Hit Retail Stocks
The spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant is creating uncertainty over whether the retail industry’s rebound this year can endure.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/retail-stocks-covid-1234893126/
Why the supply chain drama is not a holiday-season retail killer
Why the supply chain drama is not a holiday-season retail killer
The $10 billion supply chain drama will be a relatively small dent in the holiday season bonanza.
Source: fortune.com/2021/10/20/holiday-shopping-retailers-supply-chain-issues-christmas-shopping/
CGP forecasts phenomenal increase in back-to-school sales
CGP forecasts âphenomenalâ increase in back-to-school sales
Retailers can expect âwarp-speedâ growth in back-to-school sales this year.
Source: chainstoreage.com/cgp-forecasts-phenomenal-increase-back-school-sales
Walmart and Target Push Essential Advantage
Walmart and Target Push Essential Advantage
The big-box retailers strengthened their leading positions in a retail world turned upside down by COVID-19.
CGP Forecast: Record Year Ahead for Retail
CGP Forecast: Record Year Ahead for Retail
Customer Growth Partners said despite the pandemic, Americans are “resilient” shoppers.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/retail-2021-forecast-8-1-percent-customer-growth-partners-1234728431/
Christmas Retail Sales Spike for Some, But Not Fashion
Christmas Retail Sales Spike for Some, But Not Fashion
Department stores and specialty retailers posted continued sales declines in December, the end of a very tough year.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/financial/christmas-sales-store-clothing-december-nrf-fashion-1234697917/
Black Friday Weekend Meets Modest Expectations in a Swirl of Highs and Lows
Black Friday Weekend Meets Modest Expectations in a Swirl of Highs and Lows
E-commerce and hardline sales rose dramatically during the Thanksgiving weekend period, keeping many major retailers on track for mid-single-digit holiday gains.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/black-friday-retailers-highs-and-lows-1234665072/
Business Likes Prospect of Split Government — and More Gridlock
Business Likes Prospect of Split Government — and More Gridlock
Business Likes Prospect of Split Government — and More Gridlock
Source: www.bloombergquint.com/politics/divided-government-would-mean-gridlock-and-business-likes-that
U.S. Retail Spending Picked Up Strongly in September
U.S. Retail Spending Picked Up Strongly in September
American shoppers boosted their spending on vehicles, clothing and many other goods, a bright spot amid signs the economic recovery remains fragile.
Source: www.wsj.com/articles/us-economy-september-retail-sales-coronavirus-recovery-11602786924
Walmart Announces Membership Service in Attempt to Compete With Amazon
Walmart Announces Membership Service in Attempt to Compete With Amazon
Walmart+ will cost $98 a year to receive free delivery for orders over $35. The company hopes to build on the success of its pickup grocery business.
Source: www.nytimes.com/2020/09/01/business/walmart-plus-membership.html
Apple re-closes some stores, raising economic concerns
Apple re-closes some stores, raising economic concerns
Appleâs Friday decision to close stores in four states with surging coronavirus cases highlights a question that other businesses may soon face: Stay open or prepare for more shutdowns
US Shoppers Returned With Vigor in May in Partial Rebound
US Shoppers Returned With Vigor in May in Partial Rebound
American shoppers ramped up their spending on store purchases by a record 17.7% from April to May, delivering a dose of energy for retailers that have been reeling since the coronavirus shut down businesses, flattened the economy and paralyzed consumers during the previous two months.
Source: www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/06/16/business/bc-us-retail-sales-1st-ld-writethru.html
Coronavirus Lockdowns Trigger Rapid Drop in Retail Sales, Factory Output
Coronavirus Lockdowns Trigger Rapid Drop in Retail Sales, Factory Output
U.S. lockdowns to contain the coronavirus pandemic prompted record monthly drops in retail spending and industrial output, as consumers pulled back sharply on shopping and eating out and factories suffered a sharp drop in demand.
U.S. Retail Crisis Deepens as Hundreds of Thousands Lose Work
U.S. Retail Crisis Deepens as Hundreds of Thousands Lose Work
Furloughs by Macy’s and Gap will affect the majority of their work forces, and show how the pandemic will devastate many retailers.
Source: www.nytimes.com/2020/03/30/business/coronavirus-retail-furloughs-macys
Macy’s just dealt a big blow to the struggling American mall
Hundreds of American malls are struggling. Their troubles just got worse.
Macy’s to Close 125 Department Stores, Exit Weakest Malls
Macy’s to Close 125 Department Stores, Exit Weakest Malls
The department-store operator is cutting back in an admission that a fifth of its locations cannot thrive as shoppers buy more online and make fewer trips to malls.
Source: www.wsj.com/articles/macy-s-to-close-125-department-stores-exit-weakest-malls-11580850007
Simon Property Group in Deal to Acquire Rival Taubman Centers Inc.
Simon Property Group in Deal to Acquire Rival Taubman Centers Inc.
The combination makes strategic sense to Wall Street, but consumers will have the final vote.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/simon-property-group-acquire-taubman-centers-inc-1203475772/
Sears Plan to Get Out of Bankruptcy Has a Familiar Ring
Sears Plan to Get Out of Bankruptcy Has a Familiar Ring
The retailer says it will do more of what it has been doing in recent years: closing stores and borrowing more money from its controlling shareholder.
Source: www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/business/sears-bankruptcy-plan.html
Retailers Rejoice: Christmas Shopping on ‘Super Saturday’ Will Likely Beat ‘Black Friday’ This Year. The Reasons Why
Retailers Rejoice: Christmas Shopping on ‘Super Saturday’ Will Likely Beat ‘Black Friday’ This Year. The Reasons Why
With Christmas on a Tuesday, shoppers get an extra weekend before traveling.
Source: fortune.com/2018/12/19/retailers-christmas-shopping-super-saturday-beat-black-friday-2018/
Forecasting 5% Retail Sales Growth For 2019: Johnson
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/audio/2019-02-07/forecasting-5-retail-sales-growth-for-2019-johnson-radio
Strong Economy Can’t Save Macy’s From Retail Shifts
The strong U.S. economy wasn’t enough to give many mall-based retailers a strong year-end boost, as Macy’s and others posted tepid holiday sales, fueling a selloff in retail stocks.
Source: www.wsj.com/articles/macys-lowers-annual-guidance-following-slower-holiday-sales-11547128500
CGP: Black Friday sales hit record $34.9 billion, boosted by Thanksgiving closures
CGP: Black Friday sales hit record $34.9 billion, boosted by Thanksgiving closures
Black Friday reclaimed its relevance as the key retail milestone on the way to Christmas.
Source: chainstoreage.com/cgp-black-friday-sales-hit-record-349-billion-boosted-thanksgiving-closures
Retailers Rethink Brick-and-Mortar Potential
Retailers Rethink Brick-and-Mortar Potential
For many retailers, particularly those selling “non-essentials,” the outlook has been bleak, but this year the rate of openings is catching up to the rate of closings.
Source: www.yahoo.com/now/retailers-rethink-brick-mortar-potential-040125757.html
The Retail Worker Shortage: Why Are Companies Having Trouble Hiring?
The Retail Worker Shortage: Why Are Companies Having Trouble Hiring?
Multiple factors are causing labor shortages and the retail industry is getting hit the hardest.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/labor-crunch-retail-hiring-problem-1234979532/
Barn Burner Back-to-School Season Seen
Barn Burner Back-to-School Season Seen
Customer Growth Partners is bullish on retailing for the rest of the year while indicating that some rconsumer demand will rotate back to services from goods, as the hospitality, travel and enterta…
Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/retail-back-to-school-bullish-customer-growth-partners-1234876503/
Holiday Retail To See 5.8% YoY Growth: Customer Growth (Radio)
U.S. Retail Sales Fell 0.7% in December as Covid-19 Cases Rose
U.S. Retail Sales Fell 0.7% in December as Covid-19 Cases Rose
Consumers continued to hold back on retail spending during the December peak of the holiday season as the country confronted a surge in coronavirus infections.
Source: www.wsj.com/articles/us-economy-december-retail-sales-coronavirus-recovery-11610676272
Joanne Crevoiserat Marks New Era for Tapestry As Permanent CEO
Joanne Crevoiserat Marks New Era for Tapestry As Permanent CEO
Crevoiserat, who has been serving as interim ceo since July, is the first woman to lead the fashion company that houses the Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman brands.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/financial/joanne-crevoiserat-named-tapestry-ceo-1234647516/
May Retail Sales Bounce Back 17.7 Percent From April
May Retail Sales Bounce Back 17.7 Percent From April
Still down sharply from a year earlier, retailers started to come back to life last month.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/financial/may-retail-sales-bounce-back-17-7-percent-from-april-1203654327/
Holiday Retail To See 5.8% YoY Growth: Customer Growth (Radio)
J.C. Penney’s Survival: What Are the Odds?
J.C. Penney’s Survival: What Are the Odds?
Bankrupt J.C. Penney has a fighting chance to recover in the eyes of some but not all retail experts.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/j-c-penneys-survival-what-are-the-odds-1203634710/
COVID-19 Response: Stores Closed Now May Never Reopen
COVID-19 Response: Stores Closed Now May Never Reopen
Retailers are re-examining the criteria for keeping their stores open and are accelerating closings.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/coronavirus-store-closings-1203627955/
âPretty Catastrophicâ Month for Retailers, and Now a Race to Survive
âPretty Catastrophicâ Month for Retailers, and Now a Race to Survive
March brought a record sales plunge as the coronavirus outbreak closed stores. A long shutdown could leave lasting changes in the shopping landscape.
Source: www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/business/economy/coronavirus-retail-sales.html
Coronavirus Pandemic Widens Divide Between Online, Traditional Businesses
Coronavirus Pandemic Widens Divide Between Online, Traditional Businesses
The new coronavirus pandemic is amplifying gains for businesses that cater to customers online, while businesses reliant on more traditional models fight for survival.
Gap Backs Away From Old Navy Split
Gap Backs Away From Old Navy Split
The retailer won’t spin off Old Navy into a separately traded public company, backing away from a plan it said it would pursue about a year ago.
Source: www.wsj.com/articles/gap-backs-away-from-old-navy-split-11579211362
After Deal, Can Victoria’s Secret Be Turned Around?
After Deal, Can Victoria’s Secret Be Turned Around?
Private equity firm Sycamore Partners takes over. Here’s what they’ll have to do to turn the struggling lingerie brand around.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/financial/victorias-secret-sold-1203499080/
Hard Lessons (Thanks, Amazon) Breathe New Life Into Retail Stores
Hard Lessons (Thanks, Amazon) Breathe New Life Into Retail Stores
Sales are booming at major chains that have taken cues from their giant online rival — signs of a revival in a $3.5 trillion industry.
Source: www.nytimes.com/2018/09/03/business/retail-walmart-amazon-economy.html
Black Friday 2018: A Not-So-Wild Day for American Shoppers
Black Friday 2018: A Not-So-Wild Day for American Shoppers
The holiday shopping season is upon us. Follow along with our reporters here.
Source: www.nytimes.com/2018/11/22/business/black-friday.html
Changes Afoot on J.C. Penney’s Selling Floors
Changes Afoot on J.C. Penney’s Selling Floors
Major appliances are being dropped so the retailer can strengthen efforts in apparel and soft home furnishings.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/penneys-reshaping-its-selling-floors-1203000423/
Washington Post. Subscription may be required
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/03/05/how-target-won-back-its-customers-by-going-all-in-brick-and-mortar/?utm_term=.fdf981f4e11c
Holiday Spending Comes Up Worse Than Expected
Holiday Spending Comes Up Worse Than Expected
Government data has been revised to show a bigger December drop.
Source: wwd.com/business-news/government-trade/holiday-spending-worse-than-originally-thought-1203081933/
Edward Lampert’s Plan for Sears: Smaller Stores, Less Apparel
Edward Lampert’s Plan for Sears: Smaller Stores, Less Apparel
Edward Lampert, who steered Sears into bankruptcy and kept it alive with a $5.2 billion offer for its assets, says he will sell or sublease some of the 425 remaining stores, devote extra space to tools and appliances, and open more smaller stores.
Source: www.wsj.com/articles/edward-lampert-shares-his-plan-for-sears-after-bankruptcy-11550053801
Online surge and long lines mark the start of Black Friday sales
Online surge and long lines mark the start of Black Friday sales
U.S. shoppers hit department stores on Thanksgiving evening and spent $1.75 billion online by 5 p.m. ET as a strong economy and rising wages drove a solid start to the holiday selling season.
Source: www.cnbc.com/2018/11/23/online-surge-and-long-lines-mark-the-start-of-black-friday-sales.html
Electronic
ABC
BBC (UK)
Bloomberg TV/Radio
BusinessWeek TV
CBS
CNBC
CNN
Fox TV
MarketWatch
NBC
NHK (Tokyo)
NPR
ThomsonReuters
The Street.com
Business Week
Chain Store Age
Forbes
Fortune
Internet Retailer
Investors Business Daily
Los Angeles Times
New York Times
Nikkei
Retail Bulletin (UK)
Retailing Today
Retail Traffic
Supermarket News
The Times (UK)
USA Today
Washington Post
Wall Street Journal
Women’s Wear Daily
Published Articles/Op-Eds
AMA Marketing Management
Barron’s
Cellular Business
Chain Store Age
Chicago Tribune
Los Angeles Times
Nihon Sangyo Shimbum
New York Times