Warren Shoulberg

In the wake of the most devastating period in modern American retailing history when the coronavirus pandemic shut down more than two-thirds of the stores in the country, the way retailers pay their suppliers has changed dramatically - perhaps irrevocably. As such, any remnants of what was once called a partnership but has been deteriorating for a long time are about to vanish completely. With their stores mostly closed and only e-commerce (for some) to generate revenue, many large national retail chains changed their payment terms, going …

Dissolved: “Partnership” Between Retailers and Their SuppliersRead More

For off-price stores it is a Dickensian Dilemma: the best of times and the worst of times. When physical stores start to reopen over the next few weeks and months, the nation's off-price retailers will have access to more merchandise than perhaps at any time in their history. And they will be able to buy much of it at just a fraction of its cost. Feeding frenzy would not be too strong a phrase to use. But at the same time, they will be greeted by a shopping population that more than ever has embraced e-commerce for virtually …

Good News, Bad News Times for Off-Price RetailersRead More

The Covid-19 coronavirus claimed another victim last week: The Inspired Home Show, the largest U.S. trade show for the housewares and related industries. Show organizers announced its cancellation last week. While many major trade shows for consumer products and fashion apparel have been canceled, first in Asia and more recently in Europe, the Inspired Home Show marks one of the largest such cancellations in the U.S. It comes as another big gathering for retailers, Shoptalk, also has just announced it is postponing its March event in Las …

Industry Trade Shows Wary of What Happens NextRead More

Mark Tritton most certainly learned a lot of good things during his three-plus-year tenure at Target where he helped lead one of the most impressive turnarounds in recent retail history. These are the things he has already been talking about at his new job as CEO and president of Bed Bath & Beyond. But was he out sick the day they talked about how to invest in your business? Clearly, with his recent capital investment plan that puts the majority of a $1 billion spend into stock buybacks and debt service rather than into his stores, he is …

Hey Mark, What About the Stores?Read More

How many inexpensive candles, decorative pillows, bowls and small tables and chairs does it take to equal $332 million? Apparently, quite a few because that's the amount of sales Pier 1 has cumulatively lost over the past five years, all of which came to a head on February 17 when it filed for bankruptcy and put itself up for sale. It raises the question of exactly where did those sales go and who's likely to get additional revenue as the company struggles to stay in business? While several competing retailers have benefited from Pier 1's …

The Pier 1 Bankruptcy: Guess Who Is Getting All That Business?Read More