The Return of Toys R Us?
A year after the major retailer’s liquidation (the result of a bad 2017 holiday season), some of the company’s executives are considering relaunching the company with a different model and a different name, Tru Kids. The executives have not yet decided whether the new retail operation will use pop-up stores, stand-alone locations, or partnerships.
Toys R Us went under because it failed to adapt to changes in customer behavior. Success for the new company will be contingent on its ability to assess the customer journey and find out how to conveniently offer its product while resonating with consumers.
An End to the Checkout Line
Retailers are exploring ways to end the checkout line as part of their in-store experience. The precedent was set when Amazon introduced its cashier-less stores (a project that is still largely an experiment). Other retailers are now looking for ways to match that experience, offering a convenience more comparable to the digital experience to which consumers have become accustomed.
J.C. Penney Ditches Furniture and Appliances
J.C. Penney’s CEO, Jill Soltau, while still fairly new to the company (she has been CEO since October, 2018) is making moves to increase the company’s profitability. Appliances had been dropped by the company decades ago but we revived by Soltau’s predecessor. The brand will discontinue them once more later this month. J.C. Penney will focus on its core, fashion, to ensure profitability and to stay relevant to consumers.
New Book Teaches How to Get Results from Workplace Millennials
A number of think-pieces have popped up dealing with changing generational behaviors and the difficulty management sometimes faces in motivating millennial workers. A new book, The Millennial Whisperer, by 38-year-old ad executive Chris Tuff, provides practical strategies that are real-world tested and research-based. He shows companies how to improve culture and morale while increasing profitability.