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Why do companies go private?

There's news that department store chain Nordstrom is looking to go private, after a previous attempt failed.
Nordstrom's stock jumped 10% last week after a report said the company is looking to go private.
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Retailers like Macy's want a bigger slice of e-commerce ad sales

Mar 13, 2024
Selling ads on e-commerce sites is a $50 billion industry. Amazon dominates retail media, taking in about 75% of ad dollars.
Macy’s has announced plans to close 150 underperforming stores across the U.S. in coming years.
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Why prices are dropping at furniture retailers like Ikea

Mar 12, 2024
Furniture prices fell 3.7% over the last year, according to the latest Consumer Price Index report.
Demand for furniture spiked at the beginning of the pandemic, but now manufacturing and shipping costs have eased, making price cuts to furniture possible.
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Some manufacturers may ramp up inventories this year

Mar 11, 2024
Businesses have spent the last year and a half trying to whittle down excess inventories. Some businesses still have work to do, but others are likely to build those inventories up this year.
If manufacturers do ramp up production, it would be the first expansion the sector has seen in 17 months.
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Businesses are breathing new life into unused warehouse space

Mar 8, 2024
Many businesses bulked up on warehouse space early in the pandemic. Now, storing extra inventory isn’t as important, and surplus warehouse space is being put to alternative uses.
Retailers — especially smaller retailers — aren't using their warehouses as much as they were a year ago, said Zac Rogers, who helps put together the Logistics Managers Index.
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The art of the private label brand

Mar 5, 2024
And why Target considers them key to keeping customers spending.
Private label sales reached an all-time high in 2023. Target has over 45 of its own private label brands.
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Retailers are stuck in a cycle of constant sales

Jan 17, 2024
Once consumers adjust to a 24/7 promotion environment, it hard for companies to stop.
Online shopping has given consumers the ability to compare prices in real time, giving retailers more incentive to offer deals.
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For public good, not for profit.

Bloated inventories are dragging down some sectors of the economy

Jan 11, 2024
Clothing companies and bike stores are some businesses that still have excess inventory — and that has ripple effects through the economy.
The bike industry has been oversupplied for more than a year, says Jeff Cayley, CEO of Worldwide Cyclery, and many stores are offering deep discounts.
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After the holidays, retailers hope to keep the party going

Dec 27, 2023
Even though holiday shopping numbers were solid, retailers might see a slower start to 2024 when consumers' credit card bills come due.
While retailers may encourage January shopping, the push could turn off consumers  after an earlier-than-usual start to the holiday selling season.
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Faced with an onslaught of returns, retailers are telling shoppers: "Just keep it."

Dec 1, 2023
“Returnless refunds” or “keep it" return policies have now been adopted by more than half of major retailers, according to a new survey.
One reason retailers have adopted "keep it" return policies is that shipping and re-shelving can cost a lot.
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