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
April 2021
Apr 19
Several Top Shopify Executives Take Their Leave
A trio of top executives at e-commerce platform Shopify are leaving the company, CEO Tobias Lütke announced in a blog post April 14.
Apr 19
Amazon Prime Membership Hits 200M
Amazon’s Prime membership hit a new record: 200 million members.
Apr 19
Consumer Brand Loyalty is at an All-Time High
Almost all Americans say they are loyal to their favorite brands, bringing consumer brand loyalty to a new all-time high in 2021, a new survey revealed.
Apr 19
Target Pilots Faster Order Process for Deliveries
Target is piloting a new sortation center in its home base of Minnesota to test a first-of-its-kind facility that aims to speed up the online delivery process.
Apr 16
Online Grocery Sales Not Slowing Down
Online grocery sales rose 43% in March compared to the same month in 2020, underscoring just how important omnichannel solutions have become a year into the Covid-19 pandemic.
Apr 16
Trend Talk Video: What Shoppers are Doing on Retailer Website, with P2P’s Peter Breen
Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter sat down with Peter Breen, editor in chief of the Path to Purchase Institute, for the latest episode of Trend Talk to discuss what shoppers are really doing on retailer websites.
Apr 16
Dollar Tree Jumps Into the Retail Media Game with its Own Network
There’s another new entrant into the retail media playing field--discount retailer Dollar Tree recently announced its plans to launch a retail media network, Chesapeake Media Group.
Apr 16
Dollar General to Hire 20K in Spring Hiring Event
Dollar General is looking to add up to 20,000 new employees in a five-day hiring blitz April 19 through April 23 across its store, distribution, transportation and corporate operations.
Apr 15
Mercato Raises $26M in Funding Round
Mercato, an e-commerce platform that helps independent grocery retailers and specialty food stores deliver online orders, has raised $26 million in a funding round.
Apr 15
Walmart to Transition Workforce to Full Time
Walmart is transitioning the majority of its workforce to full-time employment by the end of the fiscal year, leaving the retail giant with 100,000 more full-time positions than it had five years ago.
Apr 15
After February Freeze, Retail Sales Soared in March
After a slow February, retail came roaring back in March, according to the National Retail Federation.
Apr 14
Movers & Shakers: Executive Hirings at Dollar Tree, Impossible Foods and Conagra
Welcome to Movers & Shakers, a roundup of the latest executive hirings from around the retail industry.
Apr 14
There’s a $125B Opportunity for Retailers to Reduce Return Rates
As consumers flocked to digital solutions to make purchases during the Covid-19 pandemic last year, retailers faced a growing--and costly--problem: surging return rates.
Apr 14
Taco Bell Debuts Digital-Only Store in NYC
Taco Bell is not just thinking outside the bun--it’s reimagining the role of the store employee entirely in a new, digital-only store concept opening in New York City’s Times Square.
Apr 13
Criteo Retail Media Adds New Partners in API Program
Criteo, a global technology company that places ads across retail media platforms for brand advertisers, is expanding its API program with five new partners.
Apr 13
Lowe’s Debuts Shopping Experience Tailored to Pros
Home improvement big box retailer Lowe’s is rolling out a new store format targeted for its Pro customer base, including a tailored shopping experience designed with speed and convenience in mind.
Apr 13
Retailers Need to Clean Up Shop Before Welcoming Shoppers Back
Not all retailers are prepared to welcome back consumers in store, with empty racks and messy shelves harming their reputations among would-be-shoppers.
Apr 13
Amazon Introduces Private Grocer Label
Amazon is expanding its private label offerings--this time, in the grocery sector.
Apr 13
Nabisco’s ‘Trick Shot Challenge’ Asks Consumers to Play on Walmart’s Website
A new promotional Trick Shot Challenge has appeared on Walmart’s home page, marking Nabisco’s official sponsorship of the National Basketball Association and offering a $50,000 grand prize.
Apr 12
McDonald’s is Vacating Hundreds of Walmart Locations
McDonald’s is pulling out of hundreds of Walmart store locations, as changing shopper behavior has frayed the success of the partnership between the two mega-businesses, according to Progressive Grocer.
Apr 12
BJ’s Wholesale Club CEO Dies at Age 49
The CEO and president of BJ’s Wholesale Club, Lee Delaney, passed away unexpectedly April 8 at age 49, the company announced.
Apr 12
Vaccinated Consumers Want to Return to Stores
As more consumers are getting vaccinated against Covid-19, they’re feeling ready to shop in store again, according to a new report from IBM’s Institute for Business Value.
Apr 12
Amazon is Taking Over Empty Malls for Distribution Needs
Amazon has become a dominant force during the Covid-19 pandemic, and it has already taken over 25 unused malls over the last few years to fulfill its distribution needs.
Apr 09
Amazon Wins Warehouse Union Vote
Amazon workers based in an Alabama warehouse have voted not to unionize, ending the largest workforce threat to the e-commerce giant.
Apr 09
Amazon’s Brand Equity Doubles Walmart, Target
Amazon stands above the top big box retailers Walmart and Target in the eyes of consumers, who view the e-commerce giant as a unique trendsetter in comparison with its leading retail competitors.
Apr 09
SoftBank’s $2.8B Micro-Fulfillment Investment Signals E-Commerce Needs
One of the biggest funds in the world has made a $2.8 billion investment to acquire a 40% stake in the leading micro fulfillment center, underscoring the increasing role of automation as e-commerce booms, Progressive Grocer reported.
Apr 09
Mall Vacancies Continue Rising in 2021
Mall vacancies continued to trend upwards during the first quarter of 2021, increasing from 10.5% at the end of 2020 to 11.4%, according to a Chain Store Age report.
Apr 09
Walmart Taps Disney Exec for New Chief Creative Role
Walmart is taking a page from Ikea by tapping an executive from another industry to serve as its newly created chief creative officer.
Apr 09
Trend Talk Video: The Evolving Role of Grocers in Health Care, With Progressive Grocer's Mike Troy
Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter sat down with Mike Troy, editorial director of Progressive Grocer, in the inaugural episode of Trend Talk to discuss the long-haul trend of grocers expanding into health care and the recent changes in the sector brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Apr 08
Amazon’s Digital Ad Market Share Soars to 10%
Amazon is one of the most dominant names in digital advertising, with the e-commerce giant’s total share of the U.S. digital ad market reaching 10% in 2020, according to eMarketer.
Apr 08
Amid Huge Growth, Dollar Tree Goes on Hiring Spree
Dollar Tree is hiring for thousands of full- and part-time associates and managers across the nation as the company, under its Dollar Tree and Family Dollar brands, expands in 2021.
Apr 07
Target to Diversify Products, Spend $2B with Black-Owned Businesses
Target is planning to increase spending and add more than 500 products from Black-owned businesses as part of its commitment to support these businesses through a new program, Forward Founders.
Apr 07
Online Shopping Surge During Pandemic Reached $900B
The surge of online shopping during the Covid-19 pandemic led to an additional $900 billion in e-commerce spending in 2020, giving retailers a lifeline, Chain Store Age reported.
Apr 07
Retail Imports to Remain Elevated Through Summer
Elevated retail import levels brought on by the massive surge of e-commerce during the Covid-19 pandemic are expected to last at least through summer 2021, with retailers and workers firing on all cylinders to keep up with consumer demand.
Apr 06
What the Next Wave of Retail Media Networks Looks Like
Retail media advertising networks, or advertising networks in general, started out as a way for retailers to monetize their platforms. According to Spencer Baird of Inmar Intelligence, that’s “code for if there's a way to monetize this, let's monetize this.”
Apr 06
Fresh Market Names First-Ever Head of Diversity
The Fresh Market has appointed Gerald L. Walden Jr. as its first-ever deputy general counsel and head of diversity.
Apr 06
Retail Industry Groups Jump Into Mastercard, Visa Fee Lawsuit
Two of the largest retail industry groups are jumping into a decade-long lawsuit challenging fees tied to credit card transactions, seeking rights to represent their own interests and the interests of their members in changing rules that require retailers to pay those fees.
Apr 06
New Concept Store From Dick’s Sporting Goods Will Host Sports Events
The nation’s largest sporting goods retailer, Dick’s Sporting Goods, has unveiled a new store concept that includes an outdoor turf field and running track, rock-climbing wall and a high-tech batting cage.
Apr 06
CVS Health Announces $38 Covid-19 Antibody Testing at MinuteClinics
CVS Health has announced the availability of relatively low-cost Covid-19 antibody testing at its more than 1,100 MinuteClinic locations within CVS stores.
Apr 05
More Shopping Done Online Exposes New Cybersecurity Risks
As shoppers flocked to digital venues to make their purchases in 2020, cybercriminals took aim and exposed the mounting vulnerabilities of e-commerce channels.
Apr 05
Labor Board Says Amazon Illegally Fired Two Activist Employees
Amazon was in the wrong when it fired two employees who brought up concerns about the retailer’s climate change impact and working conditions for its warehouse employees, according to a decision by the National Labor Relations Board.
Apr 05
Retailers are Top Advertisers on Facebook
Retailers are the No. 1 advertisers on Facebook, according to a recent analysis from MediaRadar that was reported by Chain Store Age.
Apr 05
Trader Joe’s Seeks to Make Shopping Easier for Autistic Customers in New Partnership
In a first, Trader Joe’s has teamed up with a free app dedicated to increasing accessibility to people with cognitive and intellectual disabilities that will benefit its shoppers with autism.
Apr 02
Consumer Spending in Apps Hits New Milestone
Consumers are making more purchases than ever through apps, reaching a record $32 billion in the first quarter of 2021, according to a new report from App Annie.
Apr 02
These Retailers Were Most Impacted by Suez Canal Blockade
The temporary blockade of the Suez Canal after the cargo ship Ever Given ran aground at the end of March revealed deep vulnerabilities in the global supply chain, and some retailers were hit with delays and costs.
Apr 02
Amazon Considered Opening Brick-and-Mortar Discount Stores
Before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, e-commerce giant Amazon considered opening discount stores to sell home goods and electronics, Bloomberg reported.
Apr 02
Walgreens Expands Financial Services Business
Walgreens has linked up with InComm Payments in an expansion of its financial services business.
Apr 01
Welcome to the New Retail Leader!
While the name remains the same, the vision of Retail Leader has changed.
Apr 01
$24B: The Cost for Grocers to Operate During Covid-19
Forced to rapidly adapt to new working conditions and changing shopper behaviors, food retailers invested $24 billion to continue operating during the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Apr 01
How the Retail Media Ecosystem has Shifted With Shopper Habits
David Peterson, vice president of sales at Roundel--the retail media branch of Target--explained during the Path to Purchase Institute’s recent Retail Media Forum virtual event how changing shopper behaviors have coincided with an influx of brands and retail agencies looking to maximize retail media strategies through a mix of digital and in-store targeting.
Apr 01
Amazon Web Services Names New CEO
Adam Selipsky, CEO of data visualization company Tableau, will become the new CEO of Amazon Web Services, according to a March memo.
Apr 01
How Biden’s Infrastructure Plan Impacts Retail
With a proposed corporate tax hike, retail industry groups sounded off Wednesday in opposition of President Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure plan funding methods, citing the potential hits to retailers.
March 2021
Mar 30
Bed, Bath & Beyond Appoints Two Execs from Wayfair, Walmart
Bed, Bath & Beyond has pulled in two new executives from high-profile retailers, Wayfair and Walmart, to shore up its $3 billion digital business.
Mar 30
Albertsons Teams Up with Google to Become a Retailer ‘Fit for the Future’
Food and drug retailer Albertsons has partnered with Google in a multiyear agreement that aims to make shopping easier and more convenient by bringing together the grocer’s broad reach and Google’s capabilities.
Mar 29
Blocked Cargo Ship in Suez Canal is Freed
The cargo ship that slipped into the side of the Suez Canal and held up billions in global trade for six days has been freed, multiple news outlets have reported.
Mar 29
New Consumer Index Charts What Sticks with Buyers
Some shopping behaviors that appeared during the Covid-19 pandemic and left retailers on their heels to quickly adapt are likely to stick around, according to a new index comparing repeat behaviors of shoppers.
Mar 29
Retail Warehouses are Taking Over Empty Spaces
A rising demand for retail warehouses from big-box stores are turning empty spaces, such as shopping malls, office buildings and even golf courses, into industrial sites to fill e-commerce needs.
Mar 29
Supply Chain Risk is a Top Concern for Retail CEOs
Retail CEOs are worried about their supply chains, as the effects of rapidly-changing consumer behaviors and Covid-19 disruptions are still in place.
Mar 29
Forum to Define Retail Media Landscape, Provide Activation Strategies
Understanding the evolving retail media landscape--and learning how to leverage it to grow business--is especially important for product marketers in 2021, as pandemic-impacted consumers more frequently go online to explore and purchase products.
Mar 26
Amazon Adds Merchandise to Music App
Amazon Music is putting merchandise purchasing options right alongside artist pages, ensuring the e-commerce giant’s media player is also a store.
Mar 26
The Top Global Retailers of 2021
Walmart emerged as the top global retailer of the year, according to a new global ranking from the National Retail Federation and Kantar.
Mar 26
7-Eleven Adds Taco Drive-Thru to Evolution Store
Taco Bell is experimenting with a new concept: Adding a drive-thru for Laredo Taco Company, which shares space with the convenience retailer at one of its Evolution stores in Dallas.
Mar 26
Store Openings Outpace Closings in 2021
A year into the Covid-19 pandemic, things may be turning around for retailers opening new brick-and-mortar stores.
Mar 26
goPuff Raises $1.15B, Doubles Valuation
Consumer goods micro-fulfillment company goPuff raised $1.15 billion in a recent funding round, bringing its valuation to $8.9 billion.
Mar 26
Ikea Snags Ad Man for New Chief Creative Officer Role
Swedish furniture company Ikea has named Linus Karlsson its chief creative officer, a newly-created role that will cover both product development and marketing and communications.
Mar 26
Consumer Easter Spending May Set New Record
Consumers are eager to spend money this Easter season, and the average figure may break a new record, according to a survey from the National Retail Federation.