Through innovative products and experiences, retailers have historically harnessed change to their advantage. However, there has been a paradigm shift, and retailers are now undergoing a phase of disruption of their own that is forcing them to change how they do business. Many forces have...
Today, the customer actually is in charge. The seismic shifts in the consumer landscape have produced the “ultimate consumer”—not a demographic group defined by age but rather a mindset and set of expectations. Empowered by technology, embracing disruptive new models, and actively exploring an...
The state of brick-and-mortar retail in the United States is dismal. Companies are firing workers, closing stores, and filing for bankruptcy. In-store customer traffic is down, while online purchases are up. For big retail chains, the situation will worsen before it improves. Many retailers have...
In 1Q 2017 and into 2Q 2017, news of retail store closures and bankruptcy filings had become commonplace, with no sign of abating. Shifting consumer shopping habits and competition from fast-fashion retailers and e-commerce have led to a more competitive marketplace and, in general, decreasing...
Disruption is the new norm across the retail industry as retailers pursue the best omnichannel approach to engaging with their customers. The proliferation of internet retail and omnichannel delivery is resulting in new priorities for the in-store experience. Brick-and-mortar retailers must now...
Early January brought a rash of store closure announcements from household names. Macy’s and Sears collectively announced 218 store closures across the United States, 1 and The Limited announced it would close all of its 250 U.S. stores, while assuring customers that all of its products would still...
U.S. retail is under stress. While it seems that this has been in the headlines more and more lately, the fact is that consistent disruption by new entrants has been the story of U.S. retail for decades, with the rise and fall of catalog showrooms, big-box retailers, department stores, and, more...
Over the past several years, secured lenders have faced greater uncertainty as to whether Bankruptcy Courts will permit them to credit bid their entire secured claim in asset sales under Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In the bankruptcy of Fisker Automotive Holdings Inc., an electric...
A few years ago, two large U.S. grocery store chains merged. Parts of the combined chain were acquired by a much smaller regional grocery chain, which was declared the “winner” in the sale of locations that the combined company needed to divest to comply with a Federal Trade Commission order and...
During the past several years, many retailers have identified a few common challenges as their most difficult to navigate. The prevalence of savvy shoppers who like to view products at stores and then turn to e-commerce and m-commerce (mobile commerce) platforms to find retailers that offer the...
