The Fate of Sears Still Pending and These Retailers Are Already Winning in 2019
MISSION "SAVE SEARS" STILL PENDING
Eddie Lampert, former Sears CEO and current Chairman, is not willing to let the company go just yet.
After Sears' first bankruptcy filing back in October, Lampert submitted a $4.6 billion bid to salvage its real estate and umbrella brands like Kenmore and Sears Auto Services. Still, skepticism around Lambert's ability to produce a turnaround after bankruptcy led the company to push for more bids.
The fate of Sears will be determined today as the company and its independent board decide which bids qualify under the sale procedures.
WILL LOYALTY PROGRAMS KEEP CONSUMERS SPENDING? Loyalty programs increase customer retention, but retailers are raising the bar to keep consumers spending. According to a recent by Allied Market Research, the global loyalty management market is expected to grow to $6.95 billion by 2023, and last year, Forrester found that U.S. adults who shop online belong to an average of 3.7 loyalty programs. During 2018, retailers revamped their perks to include special classes and events, expedited shipping, and gifts. Read More |
2018 ENDED WITH SUCCESSFUL HOLIDAY SALES
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####RETAILERS ALREADY WINNING IN 2019
Walmart and Target both stood out as winners in retail in 2018 , (Target was announced Retailer of the Year by Retail Dive), as these two companies continued to invest in new ways to reach consumers and outpace Amazon.
Aside from the big box chains, discount retailers continued to thrive as many consumers enjoy bargain hunting. T.J. Maxx, Ross, and Burlington saw sales grow at stores open for at least 12 months, and are well-positioned to benefit should the U.S. economy slow.
While Nike still dominates the athletic space, Lululemon heads into 2019 expanding its loyalty program, allowing members to select apparel and workout classes, for $128 a month.
LVMH'S ACQUISITION A POSITIVE SIGN FOR LUXURY LVMH's $3.2 billion acquisition of the luxury hotel and leisure group, Belmond, has been received positively by analysts, who believe the venture demonstrates the existence of new avenues for potential growth in the luxury industry. Under LVMH, Dior, Vuitton, Loro Piana, and Fendi will branch out from premium experiences based solely around products and segue into the high-end experiences Belmond’s holdings will provide. Read More |
THIS WEEK'S BRIGHT SPOT Vans is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its "Vans Custom Culture" high school design competition, an initiative which offers high school art students the chance to showcase their creative abilities while competing for a grand prize of $75,000, or four runner-up prizes of $10,000. "The competition has inspired more than 12,000 high schools, and Vans has donated more than a million dollars to support art education to fuel creativity across the country," says Kristy Van Doren, senior director of brand marketing in North America. Read More |