The Retail Focus Podcast

We talk mixed earnings from Sketchers and Sherwin Williams, and more on the proposed Walgreens buyout of Rite Aid that has now been postponed to 2017.  Additionally, the NRF releases positive projections regarding Halloween seasonal sales, and early data backs up the optimism.  Finally, will anyone follow REI’s lead and shun Black Friday this year?

Private equity firm Onex strikes a deal with Supervalu for Save-A-Lot, entering the U.S. off-price grocery market for the first time.  Additionally, eBay and Tractor Supply Company announce mixed quarterly earnings, and The Tile Shop continues to thrive. Our guests are Kay Hilgenkamp and Erin Swanson Russell of Goodwill (Eastern Nebraska and Southwest Iowa), who discuss the unique nature of thrift and consignment retail.

Cabela’s enters into a tentative agreement to be taken private by Bass Pro Shops…we’ll discuss the impacts of the deal on outdoors retail.  Also, Walmart shrinks their expectations for brick-and-mortar growth while investing heavily in e-commerce, the NRF releases expectations for the holiday shopping season, and more on grocery e-commerce from Amazon and Meijer.

After Costco released their latest quarterly earnings, the retail world gets more perspective on how the switch from AmEx to Visa may have been beneficial for the bulk goods retailer.  We also explore Whole Foods’ deepened partnership with Instacart, and more clarity on the Walgreens-Rite Aid proposal. Our interview guest is Drew Ann Long, creator of Caroline’s Cart, who discusses the process behind re-designing the modern shopping cart for the special needs population.