Welcome to The Week in Retail, a weekly roundup for marketers from Quad Insights that covers the latest must-know news surrounding the retail space.
H&M opens new SoHo location featuring secondhand shop-within-a-shop, high-tech features
Fast-fashion retailer H&M announced on Monday the opening of a new store in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood that includes a shop-within-a-shop that sells curated secondhand clothing from the brand. The store is the first H&M location in North America to feature what the retailer is calling its “Pre-Loved” in-store concept, which the retailer launched online last year.
In contrast to the secondhand merch, the new store includes plenty of high-tech features, including mobile checkout from anywhere in the store and smart mirrors that provide personalized product and styling recommendations.
The takeaway: H&M is referring to the items in its “Pre-Loved” section as “one-of-a-kind secondhand pieces,” which is a deft way to create an aura of scarcity/exclusivity around used merch.
Related news:
- “New Balance debuts brand-owned resale channel” (Glossy)
- “Why Store-Within-a-Store Concepts are Essential for Brands” (Retail Info Systems)
Nordstrom partners with popular women’s shoe brands to relaunch its “Make Room for Shoes” campaign
Nordstrom has announced plans to relaunch its “Make Room for Shoes” campaign, Footwear News’ Stephen Garner reports, harkening back to the retailer’s origins as a shoe store, which opened in 1901. The year-long campaign, which is focused on women, “will feature a curated selection of new styles, exclusives, dedicated visual displays and shopping experiences,” Garner notes, adding that footwear brands including On, Sam Edelman, Birkenstock and Larroudé are partnering with Nordstrom on the initiative.
The takeaway: Nordstrom is smartly leveraging its footwear heritage to strengthen its marketing partnerships with top brands to build its reputation among consumers as a destination for shoe shopping.
Amazon launches in-app AI-powered shopping assistant
Amazon has launched a beta version of an AI-powered shopping assistant on its mobile app to a small subset of customers, per a company statement. Designed to facilitate product discovery, Rufus, as the assistant is named, can answer customers’ questions, make product recommendations and provide comparisons directly through the search bar on the app. Amazon plans to roll out the AI tool to the rest of its U.S. customers over the coming weeks.
The takeaway: As returns are increasingly cutting into e-commerce profits, Amazon may have found a partial solution to the problem — an intelligent tool trained on the retailer’s extensive catalog that promises to help consumers select items they’re more likely to keep.
Related news:
- “Amazon Adds Social Media Twist to Online Shopping With Consult-a-Friend and Inspire” (Retail Info Systems)
- “Ikea’s AI assistant gives design inspiration — at least it tries to” (The Verge)
- “Ulta Makes a Bold Investment in AI Tools With Black-Owned Brand Myavana” (Inc.)
Further reading
Retail tech:
- “Dollar General taps AI to optimize produce ordering” (Supply Chain Dive)
- “Shopify is rolling out a store fulfillment option for its brick-and-mortar merchants” (Modern Retail)
- “In-store tech investments are a major opportunity in 2024, experts say” (Retail Brew)
- “Ibotta and AppCard to Help Even More Indies Unlock Digital Rewards” (Progressive Grocer)
- “Amazon releases new shopping filter in time for Valentine’s Day” (Chain Store Age)
Retail operations and expansions:
- “Ahold Delhaize USA offering on-demand delivery via DoorDash” (Chain Store Age)
- “Despite Challenging 2023, Tractor Supply Plans 90+ Store Openings This Year” (Retail TouchPoints)
- “L.A. Arts District Has a New Upscale Curated Fashion and Design Retail Development” (Women’s Wear Daily)
- “Natura &Co to Consider Separating Avon Brand” (The Wall Street Journal)
- “Discount furniture retailer American Freight is trying to revamp its in-store experience” (Modern Retail)
- “First Look: Saks Fifth Avenue debuts relocated, reimagined West Coast flagship” (Chain Store Age)
- “From Veterinarians to Lowe’s to Marriott: Petco’s Partners are Becoming its Key Differentiator” (Retail TouchPoints)
Retail trends:
- “How lab-grown diamonds are changing the way we shop for jewelry” (Fast Company)
- “‘Coupons are not going to do it anymore’: The latest loyalty program benefit is members-only access to new or exclusive products” (Modern Retail)
- “Luxury Retailers Are Buying Out Their Landlords” (The Wall Street Journal)
- “Target weighs paid membership program akin to Amazon Prime, Walmart+” (Ad Age)
Retail sustainability:
- “Anthropologie launches year-round recycling program with Blue Jeans Go Green” (Rivet)
- “Ikea makes strides in reducing carbon footprint, attributes progress to clean energy initiatives” (ESG Dive)
Retail launches and partnerships:
- “Save-A-Lot partners with Swiftly to drive ad revenue” (Supermarket News)
- “Meijer highlights Black-owned brands, small businesses” (Supermarket News)
- “Filson to launch womenswear line” (Fashion Dive)
- “Abercrombie accelerates partnership with Formula 1 racing team” (Rivet)
- “M.M.LaFleur relaunches program loaning clothes to female political candidates” (Glossy)
Retail performance:
- “Trader Joe’s and Foxtrot make hot brands list” (Supermarket News)
- “Circana: U.S. Prestige Beauty Reached $31.7 Billion in 2023” (Women’s Wear Daily)
- “E.l.f. Beauty blows past Wall Street’s estimates, raises guidance for a third quarter in a row” (CNBC)
- “Prada reclaims top spot on Lyst Index” (Fashion Dive)
