Continuing disruption to factory production and bottlenecks in shipping are leaving nonprofit groups short of goods for vulnerable communities worldwide.
Tag Archives: Shopping and Retail
Retailers Rethink Pandemic-Battered Manhattan
Starbucks has closed more than 40 stores, while adding mobile-order pickup counters in others. Other chains like Sonic are taking advantage of vacancies to establish themselves in New York.
‘Frankenstein’ Coupons Worth $31 Million Result in 12-Year Sentence
Prosecutors said that a Virginia couple, with fake coupons “virtually indistinguishable” from real ones, ran one of the largest coupon fraud schemes ever discovered in the United States.
No, Walmart and Litecoin Are Not Partnering
Litecoin and other digital currencies jumped by as much as 30 percent after the announcement, which was republished as legitimate by media companies.
Selfridges Is Now in the Wedding Business
Department stores are broadening their offerings to survive online sales. A London landmark will host your wedding.
Affirm and Afterpay Soar as Customers Buy Into Paying Later
Installment payment services are everywhere thanks to fresh deals with Amazon and Square. It’s a simple idea that can quickly get complicated for users.
A Jewelry Hub Hopes Gentrification Won’t Overwhelm History
In Birmingham, England, artisans worry that luxury apartments and trendy cafes may push them out of an area where jewelers have been centered since the 18th century.
Luxury’s Gray Market Is Emerging From the Shadows
New platforms and dealers able to offer steep discounts on the latest styles are becoming a powerful — and disruptive — force in the fashion industry.
The Cotton Tote Crisis
You can get cotton bags pretty much everywhere. How did an environmental solution become part of the problem?
Telfar Enlists Captcha Tests to Fend Off Bots
In an effort to combat bots, the brand has made it more difficult to “Captcha” its shopping bags. Too difficult, perhaps.
When Kmart Moved Out, Churches and Flea Markets Moved In
The retailer’s former stores are being used by tenants that might not typically get a crack at such a large haul of commercial space at an affordable price.
People Are Now Spending More Money at Amazon Than at Walmart
Proof that the online future has arrived: The biggest e-commerce company outside China has unseated the biggest brick-and-mortar seller.
How Amazon Won Shopping
Amazon might not be the best shopping site, but using it can feel like magic.
The Pandemic Cured Me of My Mindless Shopping Habit
A year without retail therapy changed my attitude toward shopping.
‘Was the Astor Place Kmart Haunted?’ and Other Thoughts on Its Closing
The big-box department store received an unexpected volume of tributes after it abruptly closed in July.
Hubert Joly Turned Around Best Buy. Now He’s Trying to Fix Capitalism.
“The more taxes I pay, the happier I am,” says Mr. Joly, who is waging a campaign to get big business to be more socially responsible.
Granny Panties of Yore Reinvented for a New Customer
ARQ undies have built a cult following based on their coverage, comfort and counterintuitive sex appeal.
Target Store Closings Show Limits of Pledge to Black Communities
The shuttering of a store in Baltimore is a sobering reminder of the realities of capitalism in a moment when corporations are promising to support Black Americans.
Grocery-to-Table Is a Challenge for Restaurants in the Pandemic
Looking for new ways to get their food to customers, chefs are reinventing their dishes as retail offerings — and it can be tricky.
What Are We Going to Wear?
Predicting the future is a huge part of retail. Trend forecasters are back at it, eyes more on TikTok than the runway, adapting to a reality no one could have predicted.
Victoria’s Secret Swaps Angels for ‘What Women Want.’ Will They Buy It?
The embattled lingerie giant is attempting the most extreme brand turnaround in recent memory: an effort not just to redefine itself but also the very idea of what “sexy” is.
The Original Ugly Sneaker Is Back: Isabel Marant’s Wedge
Remember the Isabel Marant wedge sneakers? Everyone wore them — inexplicably. Now the designer has a new version, with an even higher heel.
Retail Sales Fell in May, in Latest Sign of a Bumpy Recovery
As more of the country is vaccinated, Americans are venturing out and spending more on lodging and entertainment, but less on goods.
Netflix Online Shop to Sell Products Tied to Shows Like ‘Lupin’
You streamed it. Now you can buy it at Netflix.shop, a new site that will offer everything from a “Lupin” side table to a “Yasuke” clock.
Is the Yeezy Gap Jacket Really Any Good?
The first product of the much-hyped collaboration made a big splash. But can Kanye West actually save Gap?
Black-Owned Vintage Clothing Stores Surge
Often ignored in conversation about the booming resale industry is a long history of clothing thrifted by necessity, because of racism.
Shopping Cart Theory, and Practice
An essential tool. An inspiration for artists. A public nuisance. The humble shopping cart has been all of these in the decades since it was invented. But what does it reveal about our character?
Amazon Battles Mukesh Ambani for India’s E-Commerce Future
The American company sees big potential in the country’s nascent e-commerce market. Both sides view a troubled grocery store chain as the key to success.
At Grocery Stores, It’s Hard Work Picking Your Online Order
The technology needed to fulfill orders is costly for stores, and the workers who pick items off the shelves often feel the pressure of being tracked.
Can the Pandemic Rescue Britain’s Shopping Areas? This Town Hopes So.
In a British coastal town, a major landlord is giving away free rent for two years as part of a redevelopment plan.
For Many Workers, Change in Mask Policy Is a Nightmare
After a shift by the C.D.C., employers withdrew mask policies that workers felt were protecting them from unvaccinated customers.
Why The Coronavirus Pandemic Was a Breakout Moment for the Cannabis Industry
For many Americans, having enough marijuana was as essential as stocking up on toilet paper. And suppliers found a way to get it to them.
Gap Sees Its Post-Pandemic Future Outside of Malls
The retailer’s first-quarter sales jumped 89 percent to $4 billion from a year earlier as its e-commerce continues to grow.
A Bright Spot for Small Businesses: Deals on Manhattan Rents
Commercial landlords are negotiating, and many entrepreneurs see this as the perfect time to expand.
A New Crop in Pennsylvania: Warehouses
Huge facilities have sprouted up in and around the Lehigh Valley, fueled by the astonishing growth of e-commerce. Some residents say the area’s landscape and long-term economic health could be threatened.
Rent the Runway Is Bouncing Back
The pandemic hit the world of clothing rental hard. Now, companies like Rent the Runway say the market is booming like never before.
At Saks, Return to Office Means Mandatory Vaccines, Optional Manicures
Marc Metrick, the company’s chief executive, says employees will have more flexibility but for reasons having to do with corporate culture, “the default needs to be our office.”
Drama Book Shop, Backed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, to Open in June
The quirky bookstore, which sells scripts and other theater-related work, was acquired by a team of “Hamilton” alumni after years of struggle.
Leigh Perkins, Who Built Orvis Into a Lifestyle Brand, Dies at 93
In 28 years at the company’s helm, he turned a small mail-order fishing tackle shop into a sporting brand with stores all over the country.
Bob Koester, Revered Figure in Jazz and Blues, Dies at 88
Mr. Koester’s Delmark Records and his Chicago record store were vital in preserving and promoting music the big labels tended to overlook.
A Tahini Lemon Cranberry Bar Dreams of Whole Foods
With workers at home and stores stingy with shelf space, how is a new protein bar supposed to introduce itself? Even the food giants had to adjust.
Retail Sales Were Flat in April
Retail sales held steady in April after rising 10.7 percent the previous month, as Americans continued to spend government stimulus payments.
The Beauty Stores, Near and Far, That Are Destinations in Their Own Right
Sought-out spots for picking up finely milled soaps, hand-sculpted makeup brushes, exquisite scents and more.
The Brands Reimagining Natural Hair Care
Lines like Tracee Ellis Ross’s Pattern Beauty and Flawless by Gabrielle Union are offering customers more choices than ever — and helping to remake the industry at large.
Pharmacies Are Entering the Mental Health Market
Call it the ultimate in ‘retail therapy.’ Now you can shop for mental health services at CVS, Rite Aid and other national chains.
Covid in Hamburg: How Small Businesses Are Coping
Shops in Hamburg, Germany, have been pushed to the brink by lockdowns and curfews in the pandemic and the uncertainty of when a return to something like normal may happen.
To Save Penn Station, New York Wants to Build 10 Skyscrapers
The state says revenue from the new towers can finance the rebuilding of the rail terminal. But the pandemic has upended the need for office space.
‘We’re Suffering’: How Remote Work Is Killing Manhattan’s Storefronts
Landlords cut small retailers a break on rent during the pandemic, but stores are still struggling because too few office workers and tourists have returned.
Where Should You Buy Your Books?
Bookstore or Amazon? Curbside pickup or delivery? We answer common questions readers might have.
Consumer Goods Are Going to Get More Expensive
Retailers used to absorb much of the cost of goods when suppliers raised prices. Now, the difference is being passed on to shoppers.