Deep Dive | March 3, 2020 Premium New Retail Models in E-Commerce: Opportunities To Accelerate GrowthAs part of our series exploring new models of retailing across different sectors and channels, we focus on the innovative strategies being implemented by major e-commerce players in China and the US, including Alibaba and JD.com. We discuss how online platforms are using technologies to improve the shopping experience, implementing extended features such as dropshipping and alternative payment options, helping brands to adopt consumer-to-manufacturer business models and launching creative initiatives to extend their reach to customers. Read More
Insight Report | March 2, 2020 Premium International Women’s Day Preview: In China, It’s Another Shopping FestivalMarch 8 will mark International Women’s Day, an annual event that has been treated in recent years as another shopping festival—representing an opportunity for brands and retailers to launch price promotions and marketing campaigns. We discuss how the retail industry in China is capitalizing on International Women’s Day this year, focusing on e-commerce. Read More
Store Tracker | February 28, 2020 Databank Members Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2020, Week 9: Modell’s Sporting Goods To Close StoresOur Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker reports on store closures, openings and bankruptcies. This week, there are highlights from Amazon and Modell’s Sporting Goods in the US and Boux Avenue in the UK. Read More
Flash Report | February 26, 2020 Register for Free Access The First Amazon Go Grocery Opens in Seattle, Further Expanding the Online Giant’s Brick-and-Mortar PresenceAmazon just opened its first (non-Whole Foods) full-sized grocery store in Seattle, dubbed Amazon Go Grocery. The new, full-line, full-sized cashierless store format gives a glimpse into what the online giant may have planned for physical grocery. Read More
Insight Report | February 25, 2020 Premium New Retail Briefing: Amid Coronavirus Disruption, JD.com Turns to Drones and Robots for DeliveryJD.com uses drones to deliver orders during the coronavirus outbreak; Alibaba helps farmers to sell fresh produce; and Kenzo opens a flagship store on Tmall Luxury Pavilion. Read More
Insight Report | February 24, 2020 Premium Insights from China: Opportunities for Brands in WeChatWe look at the marketing and service opportunities in China’s WeChat super app. We discuss how brands and retailers—including Dior, Hermés and L’Oréal’s Giorgio Armani—are capitalizing on the app’s diverse functionality to reach consumers and drive sales. Read More
Flash Report | February 24, 2020 Register for Free Access Coronavirus Briefing: China’s Outbound Tourism Will Be Hurt, but Possibly Not for LongChinese outbound travelers led spending in tourism globally before the coronavirus outbreak. We discuss the potential short-term impact that the virus could therefore have on the tourism industries of popular destinations among Chinese travelers. We also consider how a decline in the number of international tourists from China could affect airport retail sales. Read More
Deep Dive | February 20, 2020 Premium RetailTech: How Salesforce Has Become a Juggernaut in Retail TechnologyTwo decades ago, several Oracle employees left to found their own retail technology startup. Now, Salesforce dominates the cloud-based space, offering a variety of cutting-edge solutions to help retailers integrate online and offline. Read More
Deep Dive | February 17, 2020 Premium Chinese E-Commerce Platforms: Exploring the Diverse Opportunities for BrandsWe assess China’s e-commerce landscape, which has evolved over the years to become more diverse, encompassing different verticals, cross-border commerce and social media. We highlight the moves being made by major players in the sector—such as Alibaba and JD.com—to drive traffic and better serve consumers, as well as discussing the opportunities in the China market that these platforms are offering brands and retailers. Read More
Store Tracker | February 14, 2020 Databank Members Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2020, Week 7: Skechers Plans To Open More StoresOur Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker reports on store closures, openings and bankruptcies. This week, there are highlights from Skechers and Under Armour in the US and Beales in the UK. Read More
Event Coverage | February 13, 2020 Register for Free Access Highlights from the “Introduction to Tmall Global” Webinar: International Opportunities and the Livestreaming TrendTmall Global held a webinar to promote its online prowess in the fast-growing China market, where younger consumers are embracing new purchasing channels—and shedding their parents’ frugal spending habits. Read More
Deep Dive | February 11, 2020 Premium Is Omnichannel the Future for Furniture Retail?In the furniture sector, e-commerce continues to grow rapidly as cross-channel shopping trends evolve. The shopping journey is therefore becoming more complex, and retailers are being forced to rethink how they engage with customers. We explore how major players in the home furnishing market are investing in omnichannel transformation, as well as the challenges associated with this type of strategy. Read More
Flash Report | February 7, 2020 Register for Free Access Coronavirus Briefing: Assessing the Near-Term Impact on China’s EconomyWith the number of cases of coronavirus infection continuing to rise, we assess the possible economic impact of the outbreak on China’s economy. We can refer to the 2002-03 SARS outbreak, but China’s economy has changed since then, and that could alter the way this outbreak plays out. Read More
Store Tracker | February 7, 2020 Databank Members Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2020, Week 6: Macy’s To Close Stores; Sephora Plans Store ExpansionOur Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker reports on store closures, openings and bankruptcies. This week, there are highlights from Amazon, Macy’s and Sephora in the US and Hawkin’s Bazaar in the UK. Read More
Deep Dive | February 4, 2020 Premium Private Labels in US Beauty and Personal CareWe consider the penetration of private labels in the US beauty and personal care sector over recent years and discuss the impact of contextual factors such as market fragmentation. Private labels remain a hot topic in beauty, particularly in the skincare category, and leading retailers such as Amazon and Walmart debuted private-label beauty products in 2019. We offer our view on why private labels are important for retailers as well as the challenges they present. Read More