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Supply Chain Issues Add to Economic Concerns

As the United States looks to sustain its economic recovery to pre-pandemic levels and beyond, there are potential warning signs that this might not go as smoothly as hoped. For example, though job openings climbed to a record 8.1 million in March, pointing to a surging labor demand as the economy reopens, many companies are struggling to fill those positions. Some…

The Party Is On Again

By Peter Giannetti My wife and I, like everyone, had to forgo many things the past 15 months. One thing our family and friends seemed to miss even more than we did was our annual holiday party. I’m sure it’s not extraordinary as holiday parties go, but it had become an automatic entry on our early December schedule. Its cancelation confirmed just how profoundly upended…

Off-Price Rethinks Its E-Commerce Resistance

by Peter Giannetti Off-price retailing for years has been an immovable brick-and-mortar object against the irresistible force of e-commerce. Such physical store reliance, though, was put to the test when most off-price stores had to close—without a meaningful digital commerce fallback—during the early months of the pandemic. Burlington Stores announced suspension of…

Food52 Cooks Up a Surprise

By Peter Giannetti Recent news that Food52 was acquiring Dansk probably caught more than few industry observers by surprise. Perhaps it was no surprise that Centre Lane Partners, the new private-equity owner of a Lenox business in transition, spun off a Dansk cookware and tableware brand that still holds solid brand equity despite a clear need for a revival. What may…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – April

April 30 – Target works toward goal of opening 40 stores this yearTarget appears to be on track to reach its goal of opening 30 to 40 stores this year with 12 new locations already operating, including a site along Hollywood's Walk of Fame in Los Angeles and a small-format store near the University of Georgia campus. This slide show offers a look at the retailer's newest…

Encouraging Signs From Bed Bath & Beyond

By Peter Giannetti I was greeted upon my arrival at the International Housewares Association in March with the opportunity to participate in the inaugural IHA Connect SPRING virtual event. The event’s array of keynotes, sessions and virtual product demonstrations delivered compelling insight into how developments of the past year have recalibrated practices and products…

Asia to U.S. Contracted Container Space is Sold Out

It is going to be a challenging year for the entire shipping industry. March imports in the Transpacific jumped 51%. Every major trade publication is predicting that the 2021 space issues will be much worse than what the industry experienced in 2020. The carriers have sold out all space for the 2021-22 contract period. This unprecedented space crisis is going to present many…

Look Deeper For The Real Story

By Peter Giannetti Encouraging signs at retail continue as we head toward a back half of widespread vaccination and potentially easing pandemic restrictions. But under the surface of such positive development bubbles some uncertainty for a home and housewares business that has soared as a shopper priority during the pandemic. Read past the boldfaced type of the 9.8%…

Some Things Never Change

by Peter Giannetti There were many things the past year about which I never imagined I’d have to write. The next line is one of them: I attended my first in-person trade show in 14 months. When I stepped inside the lobby of 41 Madison Avenue recently for the spring New York Tabletop Show, it began my first physical show experience since Germany’s Ambiente in February of…