Amy Baxter
Amy Baxter is Editor of Retail Leader and joined the brand in 2021. She previously reported on the healthcare and in-home care industry for six years, covering policy, financial news and emerging technology in the space. A Chicago native, Amy migrated to South Florida to escape winter permanently. When not writing about all things retail, she competes in sailing regattas and tends to her vegetable garden with help from her beagle.
ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR
July 2021
July 29
Dollar General Debuts Store-Within-a-Store Concept with pOpshelf
Dollar General has introduced two locations with a store-within-a-store concept, featuring combined offerings of a DG Market and pOpshelf shop.
July 29
NRF Hopeful over Infrastructure Bill Momentum
The retail industry is feeling hopeful after lawmakers made some progress on a national infrastructure bill.
July 29
HelloFresh Adds Grocery Services
Meal kit company HelloFresh has added grocery delivery services to its portfolio.
July 29
Walmart Will Make its Omnichannel Solutions Available to Other Companies
Walmart is opening up its omnichannel technology solutions for sale to other businesses, the company announced.
July 28
Walmart Will Cover 100% of College Tuition and Books for Associates
The world’s largest retailer is investing nearly $1 billion over the next five years on the development of its workforce, including covering 100% of college tuition and books for associates.
July 28
Target Makes Good on Diversity Pledge
After pledging to increase diversity at the leadership level, Target has reported a nearly 25% increase in Black representation among its officers.
July 28
Movers & Shakers: Kroger, GNC, Utz Announce Executive Changes
Welcome to Movers & Shakers, a roundup of recent executive moves in the retail industry.
July 27
Speculation Over Amazon’s Cryptocurrency Interests Grows After Job Posting
Speculation is rising that Amazon may be looking to enter the cryptocurrency space after the e-commerce giant posted a job opening for a “digital currency and blockchain product lead.”
July 27
ThredUP Buys Europe’s Remix for $28.5M
ThredUP, an online secondhand marketplace for apparel and accessories, has acquired an online resale marketplace from the U.K., Remix.
July 26
Walmart, PepsiCo Partner in Team Recognition Program
Walmart, in a joint recognition effort with PepsiCo, is launching “Every Day Heroes” to celebrate associates making a difference on their teams.
July 26
Victoria’s Secret to Test New Store Concepts
Victoria’s Secret is preparing new store concepts to test the “store of the future” later this fall.
July 26
How Parking Lots Have Transformed Into Hubs of Commerce
Shopper behavior changes during the COVID-19 pandemic have transformed the basic utility of parking lots into hubs of commerce for grocery retailers.
July 23
Gopuff to Raise $1B with $15B Valuation
Gopuff, the instant needs micro-fulfillment and delivery company, is aiming to raise $1 billion in a funding round that would bring the company’s valuation up to $15 billion.
July 23
Consumers Are Getting More Comfortable Shopping In Stores
More consumers ventured out of their homes to make shopping trips in July compared to June and May, revealing incremental improvements in the comfortability level to return to stores.
July 23
Trend Talk: Rise in Micro-Fulfillment Technology with VAI's Kevin Beasley
In this episode of Trend Talk, Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter sits down with Kevin Beasley, CIO at VAI, a supply chain and ERP provider, to dive into the rise in micro-fulfillment technology in the grocery sector.
July 23
Instacart Launches New Micro-Fulfillment Strategy
Instacart is adding a micro-fulfillment strategy to benefit its on-demand delivery services.
July 22
Target’s Partnership with Ulta Beauty Launches in August
Target and Ulta Beauty revealed more of their partnership, with plans to open the first Ulta shops within Target stores in August.
July 22
Costo Partners with Uber for Same-Day Delivery
Costco is ramping up its grocery delivery services in a new partnership with Uber to provide same-day delivery.
July 21
Diving Deeper into Publicis Groupe's Acquisition of CitrusAd
The retail media sector continues to heat up with new consolidation after Publicis Groupe announced it was acquiring retail media technology company CitrusAd.
July 21
Movers & Shakers: Ross Stores CFO Departs, Fossil Group Adds Digital Exec
Welcome to Movers & Shakers, a roundup of the latest executive movements in the retail industry.
July 20
Albertsons Taps Uber for Grocery Delivery Expansion
Uber is taking a major step into the grocery space in a new partnership with supermarket chain Albertsons to deliver groceries.
July 20
Gopuff Launches Hot Meals in Kitchen Concept
Consumer goods micro-fulfillment company Gopuff has launched a made-to-order hot and fresh foods offering dubbed Gopuff Kitchen.
July 20
15 Fastest Growing E-Commerce Retailers in 2021
Etsy and Walmart are the fastest growing retailers when it comes to e-commerce sales, according to a new ranking from eMarketer.
July 20
10 Most Recommended Retailer and Consumer Product Brands
Aldi and Trader Joe’s are the top most recommended brands in the U.S., according to global public opinion and data company YouGov.
July 20
Retailers Turn to TikTok to Fill Open Roles
Amid one of the biggest labor crunches to date, retailers are leveraging TikTok to recruit new employees for open roles.
July 19
Child Tax Credit Likely to Help Retailers Soon
Retailers are likely to see a boost in spending as the new child tax credit hits consumers’ wallets, according to CNBC.
July 19
Back-to-School Shopping Expected to Hit New Record
Retailers are bracing for an above average back-to-school shopping season as schools return to normal in-person participation in the fall.
July 19
Dollar General Launches Hiring Blitz for 50K Roles
Discount retailer Dollar General plans to hire 50,000 new employees by Labor Day, the company announced.
July 16
Retail Sales Rose in June
Retail sales were on the rise again in June, with a 0.6% bump for the month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
July 16
Piggly Wiggly Midwest Acquired by C&S Wholesale Grocers
Piggly Wiggly Midwest will be acquired by C&S Wholesale Grocers, Chain Store Age reported.
July 16
Trend Talk Video: Emerging Technology in Online Shopping with Xesto’s Sophie Howe
In this episode of Trend Talk, Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter sits down with Sophie Howe, CEO and founder of 3D foot scanning startup Xesto, about emerging technology in online shopping.
July 15
Wilson Sporting Goods Opens First Brick-and-Mortar Store
Wilson Sporting Goods has opened its first-ever physical store.
July 15
Publicis Groupe Acquires Retail Media Platform CitrusAd
Publicis Groupe has acquired retail media technology company CitrusAd.
July 15
Movers & Shakers: Amazon’s Snags Tesco Veteran; Kroger, Smithfield Foods Make Exec Changes from Within
Welcome to Movers & Shakers, a roundup of recent executive changes in the retail industry.
July 14
Hy-Vee Appoints First-Ever Chief Medical Officer
Supermarket chain Hy-Vee has appointed its first-ever chief medical officer, naming Daniel Fick, MD, to the role.
July 14
Retailers Face a Reckoning in Tight Labor Market
Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, retailers are facing one of the biggest labor crunches to date.
July 14
Brookfield Properties Malls to Introduce AR-Powered Consumer Experiences
Brookfield Properties is introducing augmented reality in more than 100 shopping center locations for a new, technology-driven consumer experience for brands and retailers.
July 13
Richard Branson Leads Billionaire Space Race
Virgin Galactic CEO has reached space before former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
July 13
Digital-First Makeup Brand Glossier Raises $80M
Glossier, a direct-to-consumer makeup brand beloved by millennials and Gen Z, has raised $80 million in a Series E funding round.
July 13
7-Eleven Franchises Are Having Trouble Filling Open Roles
Understaffing is becoming a larger problem for 7-Eleven franchise owners, according to a recent survey.
July 12
Convenience Store Chain Bumps Up Wages for the Third Time
Rutter’s, a York, Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain, has increased wages for the third time in the last 15 months, according to Convenience Store News.
July 12
See Whole Foods’ NextGen Store Launch
Whole Foods has launched a hyper-local store concept in Tampa, Florida.
July 12
L Brands to Change Name After Spinning Off Victoria’s Secret
L Brands is changing its name to Bath & Body Works, Inc. after its board of directors approved the spin off of Victoria’s Secret, which was previously announced.
July 12
Nordstrom Strikes Deal with ASOS for Stake in Four Brands
Department store retailer Nordstrom has penned a deal with ASOS to acquire a minority interest in the Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT brands.
July 09
Trend Talk Video: Returning to the New Normal with Springboard's Diane Wehrle
In this episode of Trend Talk, Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter sits down with Diane Wehrle, marketing and insights director at Springboard, about how consumers are returning to the new normal.
July 09
Retail Industry Joins Business Groups in Infrastructure Push
The National Retail Federation has joined up with a number of business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to support the ongoing bipartisan discussion for a national infrastructure bill.
July 09
Livestream Shopping Company Reaches $100M Valuation
Popshop Live, a livestream shopping community, has raised an estimated $20 million in a Series A funding round, reaching a valuation of $100 million.
July 08
Retail Cargo Continues to Soar Amid Supply Chain Constraints
Strong consumer demand is keeping cargo imports in double-digit growth figures over last year, according to the latest monthly Global Port Tracker report by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
July 08
Forever 21, Brooks Brothers Owner Goes Public
Authentic Brands Group, which includes retailers Forever 21, Brooks Brothers and more under its portfolio, has filed for an initial public offering.
July 08
Movers & Shakers: Dollar General, Instacart, Belk Name New Top Execs
Welcome to Movers & Shakers, a roundup of the latest executive appointments and changes in the retail industry.
July 08
Mall Traffic Within Striking Distance of Pre-Pandemic Levels
Shoppers are feeling more confident and hitting America’s malls once again.
July 07
Andy Jassy Takes Over as Amazon CEO
Jeff Bezos, founder and longtime CEO of Amazon, officially stepped down from his role at the helm of the ecommerce giant on July 5.
July 07
Will Home Meal Subscriptions Continue to Soar Post-Pandemic?
Food delivery and subscription meal kits saw huge growth in 2020 as consumers flocked to online solutions for their groceries needs.
July 06
3 Markets Where Retailers Need Warehouse Space
The surge in online shopping has led to a huge need for retail warehouse space, with three U.S. markets reporting the tightest squeeze for space.
July 06
Retail Industry Sees Jobs Rebound in June
More than 850,000 jobs were added to the U.S. economy in June, with the retail industry adding a significant number of workers back into the industry.
July 06
NRF: Pandemic Uncertainty Has Given Way to ‘Great Recovery’
Retailers can look forward to a rebounding second half of 2021, according to the National Retail Federation.
July 02
Dollar General Adding Fresh Food to 10,000 Stores
Dollar General is adding fresh produce to up to 10,000 of its stores as the company expands its relationship with Feeding America.
July 02
Happy Fourth of July from Retail Leader
The offices of Retail Leader will be closed for Independence Day Monday, July 5. We will resume normal publishing on Tuesday, July 6. We wish our readers a wonderful holiday!
July 02
Amazon’s Carbon Footprint Grew 19% in 2020
In the biggest year to date for Amazon, the e-commerce giant’s carbon footprint expanded 19%.
July 02
Trend Talk Video: State of the Retail Supply Chain with Radial's Laura Ritchey
In this episode of Trend Talk, Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter sits down with Laura Ritchey, chief operating officer at omnichannel commerce technology and operations company Radial, about the current state of the retail supply chain and leadership o
July 01
Shopify Introduces Online Store 2.0 with More Customization
Shopify, a popular e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems, has debuted a new Online Store 2.0 that enables merchants to make a number of customizations and updates to their stores.
July 01
Walmart Introduces Private-Label Insulin Drug
Walmart is stepping even further into the health care space by introducing its own lower-cost analog insulin drug.
July 01
Some Shopping Habits May Be Forever Changed by COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic may have changed some shopping habits forever, with consumers expecting even more from retailers.
June 2021
June 30
Movers & Shakers: Burberry, CVS Health, Red Lobster lose leaders
Welcome to Movers & Shakers, a roundup of executive leadership role changes in the retail industry.
June 30
Macy’s CEO Says Retailer is Healthier Than Before the Pandemic
After launching a new strategy just a month before the COVID-19 pandemic upended the retail industry, department store retailer Macy’s is still on track to stabilize and recover in 2021.
June 29
Store-Hailing Platform Robomart Launches in California
A new, innovative store-hailing platform that brings mobile mini-marts to customers has launched in West Hollywood, California.
June 29
Walmart to Launch New Loyalty Program with Ibotta
Walmart is teaming up with Ibotta, the cash back and rewards platform and app, in a new customer loyalty program.
June 29
The Pandemic Accelerated Retail Technology Product Launches
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the retail industry to make huge transitions almost overnight, including in digital transformations and technology innovations.
June 28
Office Depot Will Fulfill In-Store Pickup Orders Within 30 Minutes
Office Depot has revved up its omnichannel presence by offering consumers a 30-minute in-store and curbside pickup option across its 1,100 stores.
June 28
Walmart Leverages AI to Substitute Groceries
Walmart has leveraged artificial intelligence (AI) to help the retailer substitute grocery items in online orders for items that may be out of stock.
June 28
The Fashion Resale Market is Growing--And Retailers Want In
The secondhand fashion retail market is expected to double in size over the next five years, as consumers seek sustainable, more affordable items, reaching $77 billion by 2025.
June 25
Best Buy to Invest $1.2B to Diversify Operations
Best Buy is investing $1.2 billion over the next four years to diversify its business operations, from its supply chain down to advertising.
June 25
Trend Talk Video: Post-Pandemic Retail Spending Trends with Braze's Myles Kleeger
In this episode of Trend Talk, Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter sits down with Myles Kleeger, president and chief customer officer at customer engagement platform Braze, about recent retail spending habits of the post-pandemic shopper.
June 25
Biden Strikes $1T Infrastructure Deal
President Joe Biden announced he found middleground with a group of Senators to strike a $1.2 trillion infrastructure deal, which could become law pending a White House requirement that it be delivered to the President simultaneously with funding for
June 24
Retail Workers are Quitting at High Rates
With consumers stepping back into stores as states reopen and the COVID-19 pandemic improves in the U.S., a significant portion of retail workers are throwing in the towel.
June 24
Walmart Invests in Drone Company After Ramping Up Deliveries
Walmart has invested in DroneUp, a drone services provider, as the retailer continues to increase its drone delivery services.
June 24
Target Reveals Sustainability Strategy
Target has launched a new sustainability strategy, dubbed Target Forward, that aims to positively impact people and the planet.
June 23
Amazon’s Prime Sales Top $5.6B on First Day
The first day of Amazon’s Prime Day bonanza achieved more than $5.6 billion in sales, exceeding their online revenue for Thanksgiving Day 2020, Chain Store Age reported.
June 23
Kohl’s Used the Pandemic to Lean into its New Strategy
The COVID-19 pandemic will likely be remembered as a tough time in history, but for a lot of businesses the era will also be cemented as a defining moment of change.
June 23
Gopuff Makes Two Acquisitions
Gopuff, a consumer goods micro-fulfillment company, has made two recent acquisitions to improve its market position.
June 22
As Pandemic Improves, CVS Focuses on New Health Trends and Community Role
CVS Health has taken on a huge role during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing millions of tests and vaccines.
June 21
Walmart CEO Details Pandemic-Related Changes and Investments
From adding plexiglass shields to decreasing hours and reducing staffing, the COVID-19 pandemic majorly changed how stores face consumers.
June 21
Albertsons Expands Grocery Delivery with DoorDash
Albertsons has teamed up with DoorDash to provide on-demand delivery from the grocer’s nearly 2,000 store footprint across its retailer brands.
June 18
Victoria’s Secret Takes Brand in New Direction
Victoria’s Secret is finally switching up its image with a new brand direction, swapping out the infamous Angels for new brand ambassadors.
June 18
Path to Purchase Institute to Host First Live Event in Two Years
The Path to Purchase Institute is bringing the industry back together with an upcoming educational and in-person networking event, Path to Purchase Live.
June 18
A Worrying Amount of Retail Workers Plan to Leave the workforce
Up to 42% of retail workers say they plan to leave the workforce--and that’s bad news for retailers already facing a labor shortage as the U.S. reopens.
June 18
Trend Talk Video: Top Women in Grocery with Progressive Grocer's Bridget Goldschmidt
In this episode, Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter speaks with Bridget Goldschmidt, managing editor of Progressive Grocer, about the Top Women in Grocery awards from Progressive Grocer.
June 18
Preview Target’s New Store Designs
Target is revamping its store designs--and showing off a few images to preview what’s on the horizon for the retailer.
June 17
Washington Prime Group Files for Bankruptcy
Washington Prime Group, a real estate investment trust that primarily owns shopping centers, and some of its subsidiaries has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
June 17
Gopuff Launches Retail Media Platform
Gopuff, a consumer goods micro-fulfillment company, launched its own retail media platform, Gopuff Ad Solutions.
June 17
Movers & Shakers: Starbucks, Afresh, Rite Aid Make Executive Appointments
Welcome to Movers & Shakers, a roundup of the latest executive appointments in the retail industry.
June 16
Francesca’s CEO Shares Brand’s Post-Pandemic Turnaround
The COVID-19 pandemic forced retailers to survive amid a wave of challenges, including losing their physical footprints for an extended period. And that meant companies either innovated and pivoted or faced even bigger troubles.
June 15
DoorDash Ascends to Third-Largest E-Commerce Banner
DoorDash is projected to become the third largest e-commerce banner, behind Amazon and Walmart, by 2025.
June 15
Retail Sales Fell 1.3% in May
After shoppers returned to stores in droves in early spring 2021, retail sales dipped 1.3% in May.
June 15
How Home Depot Took Supply Chain Frustrations Into Their Own Hands
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a number of innovations for retailers across the industry, but it also revealed the supply chain was broken.
June 15
Netflix Adds an E-Commerce Shop
Netflix is launching a new e-commerce shop to sell apparel and accessories for its brands and shows.
June 15
Autonomous Convenience Store Launches in Poland
Żabka, the largest convenience store chain in Poland, has launched its first autonomous store with artificial intelligence company AiFi.
June 14
Amid Change in Shopper Behavior, Consumers Seek Data Protection, Transparency
More than half of consumers say the COVID-19 pandemic has permanently changed the way they shop. But e-commerce’s rise has also led many consumers to change their opinion on data sharing.
June 14
Whole Foods Hyper-Local Flagship Store Coming to Tampa
Whole Foods is planning to open a hyper-local grocery flagship store this summer in Tampa, Florida.
June 14
The Post-Pandemic Retail Recovery Continues
Malls and retailers are rebounding as consumers are feeling more confident.
June 14
Fast-Casual Brand Debuts Outdoor-Only Concept
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is set to debut a new store concept that eliminates indoor dining.
June 11
More Americans Willing to Take on Debt for Post-Pandemic Shopping
As consumers gain confidence coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, more Americans are willing to shell out and go into debt to enjoy themselves.
June 11
Trend Talk Video: Shopper Behavior Trends with Placer.ai's Ethan Chernofsky
In this episode of Trend Talk, Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter speaks with Ethan Chernofsky, VP of marketing with Placer.ai, about the latest shopper behavior trends in the retail industry.
June 11
Inflation is Highest in More Than a Decade
Prices rose 5% in May 2021, marking the highest inflation rate since 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
June 10
Rent the Runway Adds Resale Market without Membership
Rent the Runway has jumped into the resale, or recommerce space with a new offering available to all, regardless of membership status.
June 10
Best Buy Follows Other Mass Retailers, Will Close on Thanksgiving
Another retailer has joined the ranks of Walmart and Target in closing down for Thanksgiving Day.
June 10
GameStop Hires Two Amazon Execs as CEO and CFO
GameStop has tapped two former Amazon executives as its new chief executive and financial officers.
June 09
Unpacking the State of Retail and the Post-Pandemic Shopper
Retail sales are heating up and, in the post-pandemic world, shoppers hold more power than ever before.
June 09
Walmart Adds Rx Savings Program to Rival Amazon
Walmart has launched a new Walmart+ Rx program that offers savings on some of the most commonly prescribed medications.
June 09
Will Extended Payments to Suppliers Last Beyond the Pandemic?
When the COVID-19 pandemic swept the U.S., retailers were hit hard and forced to temporarily close their doors.
June 08
GNC Inks Exclusive Deal with Walmart
GNC will sell a curated assortment of products in 4,000 Walmart stores and on Walmart.com.
June 08
Kroger to Recruit 10K Associates in Hybrid Hiring Event
Supermarket chain Kroger is holding its first-ever hybrid hiring event, with virtual and in-store interviews.
June 08
Jeff Bezos is Going Into Space
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is blasting himself off into outer space as a passenger on the first manned flight from the spaceflight services company he founded, Blue Origin.
June 07
Ultra-Fast Grocery Delivery Company Raises $240M
Flink, an on-demand grocery delivery company based in Germany, has raised a whopping $240 million in a Series A funding round.
June 07
Instant Retail Service Jokr Launches in US
A company that boasts it can deliver everyday essentials and groceries within 15 minutes is launching in the U.S.
June 07
Retail Supply Chains ‘Working Overtime’ Amid Shortages
Shortages of labor, supplies, equipment and port space could impact retail supply chains for the rest of the year.
June 07
Walmart Will Close on Thanksgiving
Walmart isn’t planning to keep its doors open this Thanksgiving.
June 04
Harry Potter Flagship Store Opens Doors
A new Harry Potter-themed flagship store officially opened in New York City.
June 04
Walmart Gives Out 740K Samsung Phones With Employee Apps
Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer and the world’s largest retailer, is doling out 740,000 Samsung phones to its associates.
June 04
Trend Talk Video: Sustainability in the Convenience Sector with CSN Canada's Michelle Warren
Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter sat down with Michelle Warren, editor and associate publisher of Convenience Store News Canada, to discuss the biggest sustainability challenges and ongoing changes in the convenience store sector.
June 04
Support Grows for New Measurements to Assess Retail Industry
As e-commerce has grown, the way the retail industry’s performance is measured and assessed has remained the same.
June 03
Dormant Retail Spaces May Become Housing
Shopping malls that have fallen by the wayside over the last several years have caught the attention of California lawmakers, who are desperately seeking a solution to the state’s housing crisis.
June 03
Amazon Will No Longer Test Employees for Marijuana
Amazon is dropping marijuana from its drug screening for employees.
June 03
Etsy to Buy Gen Z Retailer Depop
Online marketplace Etsy is acquiring Depop, a global fashion resale marketplace loved by Gen Z, in a deal valued at $1.6 billion.
June 02
How Grocers are Tuning into a Growing Retail Media Opportunity
Stepping into a Kroger, shoppers might not realize the music and advertisements coming over the loudspeaker are specifically engineered to make them feel energized, happy, upbeat.
June 02
Amazon Confirms Prime Day is June 21-22
The world’s second-largest retailer has officially announced its two-day shopping promotion known as Prime Day. This year, Prime Day will fall on June 21-22.
June 01
Convenience Store Retailer to Start Accepting Crypto Currencies
Sheetz, a convenience store chain based in Pennsylvania, will soon accept bitcoin as payment.
June 01
Dollar General Credits Stimulus Checks for Higher Profit
Federal stimulus helped lift Dollar General’s profits during the first quarter of the year, according to CEO Todd Vasos, who spoke about the impact during the company’s recent quarterly earnings call.
June 01
Amazon to Take Over MGM in $8.5B Deal
E-commerce giant Amazon is acquiring movie studio Metro Goldwyn Mayer in a deal valued at $8.45 billion.
June 01
Kroger to Give Away $5M in Vaccine Incentive Push
Supermarket chain Kroger is giving away $5 million in cash prizes in a push to incentivize customers to get vaccinated against COVID-19.