Record post-Thanksgiving sales have caused Target to raise its sales guidance. The retailer announced Thursday (Jan. 16) that it now anticipates an approximately 1.5% increase in fourth-quarter comparable sales after earlier projecting flat growth. “Compared with its third-quarter sales trends, the company saw a meaningful acceleration in discretionary categories...
The surge in online shopping and practices like “bracketing”— ordering multiple sizes or variations with the intent to return unwanted items — has significantly increased return volumes, posing logistical and financial challenges for retailers, according to Hannah Bravo, CEO at Loop Returns. In fact, new...
Artificial intelligence (AI) helped holiday sales reach record levels this year, new Salesforce data shows. However, the company said in a report issued Monday (Jan. 6), high rates of returns could hinder the overall profit margins on the $1.2 trillion in global sales. “Retailers had...
The holiday season is the golden quarter for eCommerce, where businesses pull out all the stops to maximize sales. Yet, as the festive glow dims in January, a challenge of equal magnitude looms above the retail landscape: the holiday returns season. Let’s face it: no...
January 17, 2025
December’s retail sales, released on Thursday (Jan. 16) by the Census Bureau, were a snapshot of consumer resilience, buoyed by end-of-year sales. And beyond the month’s snapshot, looking back through the 12 months of a volatile year, eCommerce was a standout — even as shoppers went back into the physical aisles to touch the merchandise […]
January 06, 2025
The surge in online shopping and practices like “bracketing”— ordering multiple sizes or variations with the intent to return unwanted items — has significantly increased return volumes, posing logistical and...
December 17, 2024
November’s consumer spending was buoyant, as eCommerce sales rebounded from a tepid pace in October. Chalk it up to the festive season, but there are signs that consumers are throttling...
December 11, 2024
There are more than a few factors tied to success during the holiday season. To put it mildly, the season is as much about stress as it is about giving....
January 16, 2025
Record post-Thanksgiving sales have caused Target to raise its sales guidance. The retailer announced Thursday (Jan. 16) that it now anticipates an approximately 1.5% increase in fourth-quarter comparable sales after earlier projecting flat growth. “Compared with its third-quarter sales trends, the company saw a meaningful acceleration in discretionary categories during the holiday timeframe, most notably in apparel and toys, […]
January 06, 2025
Artificial intelligence (AI) helped holiday sales reach record levels this year, new Salesforce data shows. However, the company said in a report issued Monday (Jan. 6), high rates of returns...
December 26, 2024
Boxing Day appears to be a muted affair for Great Britain’s merchants and shopping centers. Morning footfall on U.K. high streets was down 10.1% compared to last year, with shopping...
December 24, 2024
Seasonal jobs are reportedly shifting from retail stores to eCommerce fulfillment centers as businesses respond to consumers’ changing holiday shopping habits. While the number of seasonal jobs at retailers dropped...
