Carlos Abi-Rached

Great analysis by C-Store Dive on inside store sales, the shifting competitive landscape and independent C-Stores.

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As independent retailers navigate a challenging macro-economic environment, it’s never been more important to efficiently put resources to work that drive traffic into store and convert at shelf. If you could use a partner to help you navigate these challenging times, know that True Value Company is Here for You.

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Time to stock up! Is your camp store ready for summer? Read up on different categories of merchandise you can add to your store, as well as how to leverage Campspot to manage your store with ease. What are some of the best sellers at your store? We'd love to hear in the comments below. https://lnkd.in/e7XtUqNS

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One of the key topics in the industry is what to do with hard tags in the context of frictionless stores and move to embedded RFID labelling. See what our customers found below. The need for a security hard tag remains a key tool in the toolkit for controlling and reducing shrink

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Hello Retail Friends, I am pleased to announce the release of our latest Pricing and Promotions research report, developed with Incisiv. This report, surveying 179 retail executives across the US and EMEA, will be presented at Groceryshop in Las Vegas this week - be sure to come see us at booth #A610 to learn more.    Key findings include:   🔹 93% of shoppers demand more value: With 84% citing price as critical, 87% of retailers have adopted aggressive discounting strategies to sustain sales and loyalty.   🔹 $1 trillion in sales driven by promotions in 2023: Amid economic uncertainty, promotions are essential. 87% of retailers plan to maintain or increase promotional efforts in 2024.   🔹 Low adoption of advanced analytics: Only 12% of retailers use real-time data, advanced algorithms, and AI, impacting their agility.   🔹 Critical challenges in data quality and integration: Effective promotional strategies require accurate, unified data, yet cultural resistance also hinders progress.   🔹 Reliance on outdated systems: 37% of retailers still use spreadsheets, lacking the agility needed for dynamic market conditions.   The report highlights the need for integrated pricing and promotional capabilities. By leveraging advanced technology, retailers could achieve an additional $450 billion in incremental sales.   I encourage industry leaders to explore this report for strategic insights to drive growth and innovation.   #RetailLeadership #PricingStrategy #Promotions #MarketResearch #RetailInnovation #Groceryshop #GroceryForum #RELEXSolutions   https://lnkd.in/eSjYKxqC

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Insightful article in C-Store Dive about how retailers can manage loiterers and which solutions are effective but not inhumane. In my discussions with retail leaders, they're concerned with how to keep their stores safe and inviting for workers and customers. However, they know it's also important to act respectfully and kindly to those hanging out around their properties and have compassion for them. They want to know about the best mix of solutions available to address the issue. I agree with Rodney Gray from March Networks who said: "Too much prevention can kill a business and too little can." As c-stores try to figure out the right solution balance, it's also vital to develop a comprehensive strategy to address their store and the community's unique situation. As you build the plan, keep in mind information that will help future-proof it, including: -Knowing local laws and ordinances -Aligning with corporate headquarters on policies -Auditing employee training  -Partnering with other local retailers. By making your tech solution selection part of the overall strategy, you will be more successful in creating a safe and welcoming environment for your shoppers and associates. Read more of my thoughts in the full article. I’m curious about your take on the topic. https://lnkd.in/gTmNuvp2

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Are you a female leader in a struggling industry? Think malls and brick and mortar stores are a thing of the past? Think again!!! I learned so much from Valerie R. about the retail real estate industry and her strategies for success in challenging industry. Check out the latest episode of the Daring To Transcend podcast and gain valuable insight that you can apply to any industry or organization. #womenleaders #newpodcastepisode #commercialrealestate #retail #growth #leadership #daringtotranscend

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I recently sat down with our ECRM & RangeMe partner Wayne Bennett and discussed how Walmart develops suppliers. We covered everything from recruiting events to resources for onboarding to how we want suppliers to grow alongside us. Check out our conversation below 👇.   #WalmartSourcing #SupplierDevelopment

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Shares of Walmart, Inc. were gaining around 8 percent in the pre-market activity on the NYSE after the retail behemoth on Thursday issued third-quarter guidance, expecting growth, and also raised its fiscal 2025 forecast. Meanwhile, adjusted earnings forecast for the third quarter is below the market estimates, and for fiscal 2025 is in line or below the Street view. The revision in full-year outlook was after reporting higher second-quarter operating income and net sales, despite weak net profit. Walmart U.S. comp sales also increased 4.2 percent. #Walmart #earnings #retailers #USretailers #NYSE

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Boston’s retail landscape is thriving, with significant growth and new developments reshaping the city. Despite an increase in remote work, retail activity remains robust, driven by rising tourism and consumer spending. Retailers are expanding in both suburban and urban areas, with new store openings and developments enhancing the city's commercial appeal. Key Highlights: Tourism and Consumer Spending: International travel and domestic tourism are fueling consumer spending, especially in residential neighborhoods like Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, and Mission Hill, where spending has surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Retail Developments: Major projects like Samuels & Associates Lyrik Back Bay and New England Development Allston Yards are set to open, bringing new retail, office, and residential spaces to the city. New Retailers: Brands like Google, Rivian, UNIQLO, Savage X Fenty and Loewe are opening new stores, reflecting Boston’s appeal to major retailers. Experiential tenants like F1® Arcade and MUSEUM OF ICE CREAM Cream are also making a splash. Retail Investment: Investment in Boston's retail properties remains strong, with supermarket-anchored centers being particularly popular. Recent transactions include Crosspoint Associates, Inc. of Brookside Shops and DLC Management Corp.’s acquisition of Colony Place.

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“Currently, 75% of our U.S. stores contribute roughly 100% of our segment AOI (adjusted operating income). For the remaining 25% of the stores in our network which are not currently contributing to our long-term strategy, changes are imminent. To start, we are finalizing a multi-factor store footprint optimization program, which we expect will include the closure of a significant portion of these underperforming stores over the next three years. For the remaining portion of this cohort, we are taking action to improve profitability.” #walgreens

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Walmart’s new research on the state of adaptive retail points to a new era of retail where customers expect to be advised and guided throughout their shopping journeys. Shoppers want retailers to be ready for them – ready with hyper-specific recommendations, ready to adapt offerings to match needs, ready to deliver.    The systems and platforms the Global Technology Platform team builds are essential for enabling many of these dynamic experiences, from our clouds which power everything across our ecosystem, to platforms like Element that enable teams across Walmart Global Tech to leverage the data they need to innovate faster.   Check out the report to understand the trends shaping the future of retail and how retailers can adapt to meet customer needs.   https://lnkd.in/g_GXHywS   #walmart, #walmartglobaltech

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Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Wednesday, October 16: 🏥 Walgreens plans to close 1,200 of its stores - around 14% of its fleet - over the next three years, as it grapples with continued financial losses. About 500 of those stores will close in fiscal year 2025. 💰 Beyond, Inc. - owner of Bed Bath & Beyond - is investing $40 million in The Container Store, providing the retail chain a financial lifeline while returning some Bed Bath & Beyond products back to physical retail locations. 🎁 Holiday spending is expected to grow this year, up between 2.5% and 3.5% over last year, according to the National Retail Federation. Consumers are expected to spend between $979.5 billion and $989 billion in total. 🥑 Albertsons Companies second-quarter revenue was $18.6 billion, up from $18.3 billion in the same period last year. Same-store sales grew 2.5%, beating the FactSet consensus of 1.4%. 🚫 Big Lots has disclosed its intentions of shuttering 56 more locations in a filing to the bankruptcy court overseeing its Chapter 11 proceedings. The locations would add to the numerous stores already closed. 🦃 In a sign that price will be a battleground this holiday, ALDI USA will offer a Thanksgiving Basket with all the staples for a classic holiday meal to feed 10 people for just $47 - or $4.70 per person. 🆙 adidas has raised its full-year sales and profit guidance for the third time this year, driven by strong performance in the third quarter and the popularity of its Samba and Gazelle shoes. 🛏️ Boll & Branch, a 10-year-old purveyor of organic cotton sheets that built its mom-and-pop business is opening its first bricks-and-mortar store in Chicago area - a small 778-square-foot glass cube. 👙 Despite a star-studded lineup including Kate Moss, Cher and Gigi Hadid, the Victoria's Secret fashion show’s return looked like an outdated throwback, says one review of the show - describing it as a tired pageant. 🏬 Major mall owners are increasingly trying to cater to Gen Z by finding the right marketing messaging and rethinking their tenants by adding new types of services like experiences. 👟 Less than a year after announcing a multi-year partnership with the NBA, Foot Locker is doubling down on its NBA strategy with a multi-year partnership with the Chicago Bulls. 🥤 Over 13,000 12-packs of Coca-Cola's Minute Maid Zero Sugar Lemonade were recalled after they were mislabeled, according to the US Food and Drug Administration. 📈 American consumers' expectations about the risk of debt delinquency rose to the highest level in more than four years last month, while concerns about elevated inflation over the longer-term also increased. 🤖 Google is enhancing its Shopping tab by integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) to provide users with tailored product recommendations. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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Aloha Friday 🤙🏼 Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Friday, May 31: 👖 Gap shares rallied more than 20% in the extended session Thursday after the retailer reported first-quarter earnings and sales well above investors’ expectations, raised its guidance for the year and pared down its inventory. 🏬 Kohl's shares plunged as much as 25% on Thursday after the retailer reported a surprise first-quarter loss and lowered its forecast for the year. The department store chain saw a 5.3% drop in net sales. 🥫 Costco Wholesale reported fiscal third-quarter profit, revenue and same-store sales that all beat Wall Street forecasts, but shares of the membership-based warehouse retailer pulled back from a record high. 💄 Ulta Beauty earnings that showed the effects of a slowdown its CEO had previously warned about. Comparable sales increased 1.6% year over year, a stark slowdown from the same period a year earlier. 👗 Nordstrom shares fell 5.6% in extended trading Thursday after the company reported a wider-than-expected first-quarter loss of $39 million, although revenue topped analysts’ estimates. 📺 Best Buy has reported the 10th straight quarter of same-store sales declines, a reported 6.1% drop for February, March and April. Its total revenue of $8.85 billion was a little lower than Wall Street anticipated. 👟 Foot Locker’s turnaround is starting to bear some fruit.  The sneaker giant saw comparable sales decline 1.8% during its fiscal first quarter, far better than the 3.1% drop-off that analysts expected. 💵 Dollar General reported better-than-expected profit, sales and same-store sales for its first-quarter as more customers shopped its stores for groceries and other essentials. 🥡 Amazon customers in the US can now order takeaway deliveries from Grubhub without leaving the tech giant’s app. The deal is part of a deepening relationship between the tech giant and Grubhub. 🚫 Illinois set to end grocery tax. Legislators have approved a state budget for 2025 that eliminates the 1% tax, paving the way for Governor JB Pritzker to sign it into law. 👓 Innovative Eyewear has released an Eddie Bauer Smart Eyewear collection. The collection includes four styles and features voice access to ChatGPT. The glasses have built-in Bluetooth microphones and speakers for music and calls. 🥖 Subway, the restaurant chain with the most locations in the US, has sold $3.35 billion of asset-backed bonds to help fund its buyout by Roark Capital Group, in what is the largest securitization of its kind on record. 📦 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)is giving Prime Air additional permissions that allow it to operate drones for more deliveries in a wider area. 🇫🇷 Pharmacists in France have gone on strike for the first time in a decade, closing around 90% of pharmacies across the country. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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#podcast #retailleadership #retailgrowth Welcome to "From Store Assistant to Store Manager: Mastering Retail Leadership," your ultimate guide to climbing the retail career ladder. Whether you're starting as a store assistant or aiming for a management position, this podcast is designed to help you succeed at every level. We'll dive deep into the essential skills and competencies required for each role, from providing exceptional customer service and mastering communication as a store assistant to strategic planning and financial management as a store manager. Join us as we explore actionable insights and practical advice for career advancement. Learn how to demonstrate leadership, handle complex customer issues, and develop your team. Hear from an industry expert and successful retail professional who shares their experiences and tips on what it takes to excel and move up in the retail world. Tune in to discover how to navigate your retail career, gain the necessary skills, and unlock new opportunities. Whether you're looking to enhance your current role or ready to take the next step, this podcast equips you with the knowledge and confidence to achieve your career goals in the dynamic world of retail. https://lnkd.in/eqND6RJq

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Why store execution matters💯 The vision👀 is what head office envisions. Reality is what actually happens at store level🏪. Retailers have a sizeable opportunity to do more🚀 with less by focusing on in-store execution for programs they already pay for. #RetailOperations #RetailExecution #retail  https://lnkd.in/dNNav4nz

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Welcome to our Conversion series: Supercharge your store. We will be sharing top tips to help your store convert more. Follow for helpful tips that have high impact. #shopify #shopifydevelopment #shopifytips #shopifyCROtips #shopifyexperts

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Happy Fri-YAY! Top #Retail stores of the week #IMO that you may have missed (in no particular order): Fitchy…#Abercrombie&Fitch reported its best quarterly sales ever, topping $1B a 22.1% increase over LY. These results, which include Hollister, outpoaced the balance of the apparel retailers. They also said they’ve raised their full year estimates to 10%. Sporty…#Dick’sSportingGoods had a great Q1 with over $3B in sales, a 6.2% increase over LY. They also raised their annual outlook for comp sales to 2 to 3%. Is the growth of pickleball driving a splurge on the goods? Kohlsy…#Kohl’s did not fair as well in Q1 reporting that sales fell 5.3% versus LY. They also lowered their guidance for the full year to a 1 to 2% comp sales loss. Oily…Oil companies continue to buy up others to expand their reach for gas customers. M&A deals in 2023 were $250B and this year so far, the trend has continued with $51B in deals being made in Q1. The most recent is #ConocoPhillips agreeing to buy #MarathonOil ($17B).  Also, this week the board of #Hess agreed to be acquired by #Chevron ($53B). Pricy…Add #Walgreens to the list of retailers slashing prices to lure inflation fatigued consumers back to their stores. They announced cuts on 1.5K items. Dolla…#DollarGeneral beat expectations for Q1 and will ramp up store remodels. Net sales rose 6.1% to $9.91B, topping estimates of $9.89B. Same store sales increased 2.4%. “These results were driven by strong customer traffic growth and market share gains during the quarter, which we believe is a testament to the relevance of our unique combination of value and convenience, as well as to improved execution across our organization,” said Todd Vasos, CEO of Dollar General. They now plan to open 730 new stores, down from their previous expectation of 800. Remodel approx. 1,620 stores, up from its prior forecast of 1,500. As of May 3, 2024 they operated 20,149 stores across the US and Mexico. When one door closes…#DollarTree announced it has purchased the leases for 170 closed #99CentsOnly stores in Arizona, California, Texas, and Nevada. They will reopen as Dollar Tree stores. Also announced was confirmation that approx. 50 corporate employees were laid off. Shakeup…#Petco announced changes to their leadership team. Mike Mohan, who was appointed interim CEO of Petco in March. "Across the business, we are streamlining the organization to empower faster and more effective implementation of best practices on the path to restoring our profitability." So why was I intrigued enough by these changes to mention them…well…Mohan, an ex-Best Buy exec, impacted 2 other former #BestBuy execs…COO (and former co-worker of mine) Justin Tichy and Chief Merchant Amy College, who will leave while 5 others get expanded executive leadership roles. Things that make you go hmmmm…

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