Retailers have an inventory problem as lockdown lifestyle fades

Jun 7, 2022
As inflation hits and consumers abandon pandemic spending habits, Target and others have the wrong kind of stuff on their hands.
The home goods section at a Target store. Now that consumers are getting out and about, stores are left with too much inventory.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

For this toy store, summer is here, and so are inventory woes

May 30, 2022
Business is up at a North Carolina shop, but managing inventory and costs are headaches.
A shelf of outdoor toys at Ali Cat. "We had a great Easter," said owner Irene Kesselman. "And now we are starting to sell some of our pool toys and outdoor toys."
Ariel Jackson

When consumers feel strapped, some brands do well anyway

May 27, 2022
Strong earnings from Nordstrom, Macy's and Dollar General suggest pent-up demand and a reframing of what people consider essential spending.
Dollar Tree said groceries made up a bigger part of its sales last quarter — which could spell trouble for retailers like Walmart and Target.
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What labor shortage? Some retailers now say they're overstaffed.

May 20, 2022
Hiring too many workers — many of them part time — was an effort to avoid losing sales.
Walmart said overstaffing, among other factors, brought down its quarterly earnings. The retailer's not alone.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Retailers bulked up their inventories during the worst of the pandemic. Now they're stuck with them.

May 19, 2022
Big stores like Walmart and Target didn't foresee consumers pivoting away from shopping and toward going out.
Large retailers like Target and Walmart stocked up on goods — like office furniture or home decor — that shoppers bought during the pandemic. But consumers' spending habits are changing.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

From chocolate to real estate, small businesses are trying to create inflation game plans

Apr 12, 2022
Raise prices? Order more inventory, or less? Business owners describe how they're dealing with dramatic changes in market conditions.
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Retailers grapple with returns as online sales surge

Dec 29, 2021
Optoro, which manages returns for Target and Ikea, says consumers will send back $120 billion worth of goods this season.
Consumers will return $120 billion worth of products between Thanksgiving and the end of January, according to Optoro. Above, a UPS package handler loads a truck.
Jon Cherry via Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Holiday sales boosted by fear of empty shelves

Dec 27, 2021
An early picture of the all-important selling season looks decent.
With shoppers hunting for presents earlier, retailers enjoyed the strongest holiday sales growth in nearly two decades, according to the Mastercard SpendingPulse report.
Brandon Bell via Getty Images

Small Business Saturday helps retailers who aren't caught in the supply chain

Nov 26, 2021
Smaller businesses that sell locally sourced goods, or provide services, don't always need faraway suppliers.
With some name-brand products delayed by supply chain issues, small retailers may see a boost this holiday shopping season. Above, Small Business Saturday signage in a New York City window.
Brian Ach/Getty Images for American Express

Malls turn to luxury retailers

Nov 23, 2021
Retail centers in wealthy neighborhoods with high-end shops have survived, but middle- and lower-tier malls may struggle.
Purveyors of luxury goods have largely fared better during the pandemic than lower-end shops.
Spencer Platt via Getty Images