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
June 2021
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 04
Harry Potter Flagship Store Opens Doors
A new Harry Potter-themed flagship store officially opened in New York City.
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 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 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
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.
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.
May 2021
May 26
As Shoppers Return, Outlet Malls See Big Opportunities
With shoppers returning back to stores eager to spend, there’s one sector of the retail industry poised to gain a lot of traction--outlet mall centers.
May 26
Trend Talk Video: Inflation in Retail with DSN’s Seth Mendelson
In this episode of Trend Talk, Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter speaks with Seth Mendelson, editor in chief of Drug Store News, about inflation’s impact on retailers.
May 26
Movers & Shakers: GNC, Big Y, Weis Markets Name New Executive Roles
Welcome to Movers & Shakers, a roundup of the most recent executive hirings across retail.
May 25
Consumers Will Spend $20B on Father’s Day
Father’s Day is poised to hit $20.1 billion in spending on gifts and other items from U.S. consumers, according to a recent from the National Retail Federation.
May 25
$2.8B Sale of At Home Runs Into Road Blocks
The $2.8 billion acquisition of home decor superstore At Home may be in trouble.
May 25
What Shoppers Are Buying Post Pandemic
With COVID-19 lockdown restrictions lifting and more U.S. adults becoming vaccinated against the virus, shoppers are returning back to stores.
May 24
Face Mask Rules Put Grocery Workers in the Middle
Grocery store workers are squarely in the middle of an ongoing national debate around mask-wearing rules as pandemic lockdown measures continue to ease.
May 24
Discount Retailers Report Comeback in First Quarter Earnings
Discount retailers are poised for growth in a post-pandemic world, with shoppers on the hunt for a good deal, according to a report from CNBC revealing shoppers are flocking back to stores.
May 24
Panera Debuts New Store Design Concept
Panera Bread is making some changes to its store with a new design to immerse customers in a bakery environment.
May 24
Amazon Consolidates Go Grocery, Shuts Down Prime Now Delivery
In separate announcements, e-commerce giant Amazon is consolidating its Amazon Go grocery stores and shutting down Prime Now.
May 21
BJ’s Wholesale Club to Open 6 New Stores
BJ’s Wholesale Club announced plans to open six more locations in its first-quarter earnings after accelerating new store openings over the last several years.
May 21
Trend Talk Video: Top Pandemic Shopper Trends with PG’s Gina Acosta
In this episode of Trend Talk, Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter speaks with Gina Acosta, executive editor of Progressive Grocer, about the top pandemic-related shopping trends.
May 21
7-Eleven to Sell 300 Stores in FTC Settlement
Convenience store chain 7-Eleven is divesting 293 stores as part of a settlement agreement with the Federal Trade Commission.
May 20
Google to Open its First Physical Store
Google is planning to open its first-ever physical store this summer in New York City.
May 20
More than 6.2M Retail Jobs Are Connected to Imports
Imports are a major job supporter for the retail industry, and workers in the sector actually depend on imports, according to a new study sponsored by the National Retail Federation and other industry groups.
May 20
British Online Fashion Retailer Links Exec Bonuses to Sustainability
Boohoo, a women’s online fashion retailer based in the U.K. is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to sustainability.
May 20
Facebook Launches New Live Shopping Series
Social media giant Facebook has launched live shopping every Friday on its platform.
May 19
Retail Industry Steps Into Biden’s Infrastructure Plan Debate
As President Biden meets with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to come up with a package addressing U.S. infrastructure needs, the retail industry is joining the conversation and feeling optimistic about a deal.
May 19
Movers & Shakers: Bed, Bath & Beyond Adds News Leaders, Weee!’s New Marketing Officer
Welcome to Movers & Shakers, a weekly roundup of the latest retail talent moves.
May 19
Target Reports Record-Breaking First Quarter Earnings
Target Corp. reported record-breaking first quarter earnings, as the retailer has capitalized on COVID-19 related shopper behavior and ramped up its private brands.
May 18
Petco Introduces Retail Media Capabilities With CitrusAd
Petco is the largest pet retailer to jump into the retail media industry through a partnership with CitrusAd.
May 18
Why Levi’s is Cross-Training Employees to Become Data Scientists
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a number of ongoing retail trends, but it also upended many business norms.
May 18
Walmart CEO Says Customers Want to Shop in High Earnings Report
Walmart blew past earnings expectations in the first quarter of 2021, reporting a same-store sales increase of 6%.
May 18
Walgreens Adds Tools to Retail Media Network
Walgreens is shoring up its retail media network capabilities in an increasingly competitive landscape.
May 17
Walmart is First Retailer to Drop Mask Mandate
The world’s largest retailer was among the first to drop its mask mandate following an announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that people vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to wear a mask indoors or outdoors, except
May 17
Convenience Store Chain Casey’s Finalizes Acquisition of Buchanan Energy
Casey’s General Stores Inc. has closed its acquisition of Buchanan Energy, owner of Bucky's Convenience Stores.
May 17
Smart & Final Grocery Chain to be Acquired for $620M
The supermarket chain will be acquired by Bodega Latina Corp. (BLC), a Paramount, California-based subsidiary of Mexican supermarket operator Grupo Comercial Chedraui (GCC).
May 17
Whole Foods Reorganizes Merchandising Teams Amid Planned Openings
Whole Foods is planning to open 40 stores after debuting two new concepts to meet the high demand for online grocery sales in 2020.
May 14
Amazon Focuses on Sustainability with $1B Bond
The world’s biggest e-commerce retailer is investing in sustainability projects through a new $1 billion bond.
May 14
April Retail Sales Virtually Unchanged
U.S. retail sales remained unchanged during April, according to latest figures from the U.S. Census Bureau.
May 14
Amazon Aims to Hire 75K, Offers Bonuses for Vaccines
Amazon is on a hiring spree with the goal to add another 75,000 employees to its workforce. And the e-commerce giant is using the COVID-19 vaccine as an incentive bonus.
May 14
David’s Bridal Launches 24/7 Wedding Video Channel
Bridal and special occasion retailer David’s Bridal has launched a 24/7 video channel on YouTube featuring reels of weddings, offering around-the-clock inspiration.
May 14
Trend Talk Video: Retail Design Trends with CSA’s Marianne Wilson
Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter sits down with Marianne Wilson, editor in chief of Chain Store Age, to talk about the latest retail design trends.
May 13
Walmart Acquires Virtual Fitting Room Platform
Walmart is making moves to capture more e-commerce customers with a new, personalized digital experience for apparel shopping.
May 13
Yeti Launches Augmented Reality Shopping Experience
In another sign that brands are looking for an edge to capture more online sales, one consumer goods technology company is leveraging augmented reality to give customers a virtual experience with products before buying.
May 13
Retailers Feeling More Positive About 2021 Rebound
With more Americans vaccinated, retailers are gaining a rosier outlook for a brick-and-mortar recovery.
May 12
Movers & Shakers: Tuesday Morning, InBev, Unilever Announce Hirings
Welcome to Movers & Shakers, a roundup of recent retail industry appointments.
May 12
Best Buy Achieves Zero-Waste Reverse Logistics Center
Best Buy is making good on its sustainability goals by reaching a new achievement with a zero-waste reverse logistics center in Chino, California.
May 11
L Brands to Spin Off Victoria’s Secret
After a failed acquisition, L Brands has decided to spin off Victoria’s Secret into its own company, separating Bath & Body Works from the intimates brand.
May 11
Gopuff Ramps Up Last-Mile Delivery with Acquisition
Gopuff, the nation’s second largest instant needs delivery service, is expanding its last-mile delivery capabilities with a new acquisition.
May 11
Mattel Launches Toy Buyback Program
Toy maker Mattel has launched a new toy buyback program that aims to extend the life of toys and improve recycling of its products.
May 11
Amazon, Walmart, eBay are Top E-Commerce Retailers
Amazon reigns as the No.1 retail e-commerce company, according to a new ranking by eMarketer.
May 10
Lowe’s Promotes Innovation in New Product List for Consumers
Home improvement chain Lowe’s is looking to sell customers on its most innovative products with a new, curated guide.
May 10
Supply Chain Strains Grocer Relationships
Numerous supply chain challenges are straining the relationship between grocers and suppliers, as late or incomplete orders pile up across the retail sector.
May 10
Walmart Acquires Telehealth Provider MeMD
The world’s largest retailer is expanding its footprint in the healthcare sector by acquiring telehealth provider MeMD.
May 10
Clothing Company Eddie Bauer Acquired
Eddie Bauer, a clothing company known for its hiking and climbing apparel, is being acquired by Authentic Brands Group and the SPARC Group. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
May 07
Trend Talk Video: The Future of Retail Robots with CGT’s Lisa Johnston
Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter sat down with Lisa Johnston, managing editor of Consumer Goods Technology (CGT) and Retail Information Systems (RIS), to talk about the future of retail robots.
May 07
Nearly Half of Shoppers Are Using Electronic Grocery Lists
Gone are the days of hard copies of handwritten shopping lists.
May 07
Home Decor Superstore At Home Acquired for $2.8B
Home decor superstore chain At Home will be acquired by global private equity firm Hellman & Friedman in a deal worth $2.8 billion.
May 07
Retail Cargo Imports Set New Record High
With retail sales booming, retail cargo imports are also setting new record highs to keep up with demand.
May 07
Retail Sales Surge Again in April
Consumers are eagerly jumping back into buying this spring, with retail sales surging once again in April.
May 06
Marketing Association Seeks Transparency in Digital Advertising
For some advertisers, throwing money behind campaigns can be a shot in the dark without any real data around the success or failure.
May 06
What Retail Can Learn from Peloton’s Recall Blunder
In a matter of weeks, interactive fitness platform Peloton has flip flopped on a recall of its treadmills after reports of serious injury and even death--with the CEO backtracking an original refusal to recall the products over safety concerns.
May 06
Circle K to Hire 20K Employees for Summer Season
Convenience store chain Circle K is recruiting for 20,000 new employees ahead of the summer season.
May 06
NielsenIQ Launches Analytics Platform for Small Retailers
Consumer intelligence firm NielsenIQ has launched a new retail analytics offering for small and mid-sized businesses.
May 05
7-Eleven Expanding Quick-Serve Restaurants
Convenience store giant 7-Eleven is adding 150 quick-serve restaurants to its stores this year, expanding on its experimental store concept at scale.
May 05
Dick’s Sporting Goods Expands New Store Concepts
Dick’s Sporting Goods is expanding and introducing new experimental store concepts, including in-store interactive experiences and an off-price brand.
May 05
Digital Commerce Spending Will Hit $11.6T
Digital commerce spending is soaring, rising to over $11.6 trillion by the end of 2021, according to Juniper Research.
May 04
Gopuff, Uber Partner Up in Essentials Delivery
Gopuff, a consumer good micro-fulfillment and delivery company, has partnered with Uber Technologies to expand its essentials delivery services.
May 04
Kroger Pilots New Drone Program with 15-Min Delivery
Supermarket chain Kroger is launching into airspace with a new drone delivery service that can drop off customer orders within 15 minutes.
May 04
Target’s Roundel Integrates with CitrusAd for Better Self Service
Target is improving the self-service options within its retail media group, Roundel, through a new partnership with media tech company CitrusAd.
May 04
At-Home Hair Colorist Madison Reed Debuts Interactive Displays
Hair care company Madison Reed is launching an interactive digital switch panel that will help customers find the right hair color.