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First Edition
It’s that time of year again — time to put on the prognosticator hat and take a stab at foreseeing what’s ahead for the retail industry in the coming year. There are a few things that seem certain: Customer expectations never stand still — and just to up the ante — they’re also not consistent. Here are STORES’ predictions for the retail industry in 2019.
Looking back at all the great content STORES Magazine produced in 2018, it’s hard to narrow down a favorite. Sure, the Top 100 and Hot 100 retailers, along with industry predictions and ideas to steal, are perennial favorites. However, readers may come for the lists, but they stay for the in-depth reporting. Here are a few other articles readers found compelling over the past year.
Future is the overarching theme of the December issue of STORES. When considering what’s in store for retail, there are a few that top the list: future technology that will shape the industry, forward-thinking designs that will change the shape of apparel and how the look and feel of stores is likely to morph in the years to come.
The mantra, “Know me to serve me,” reflects a key goal of all retailers, says T.J. Papp, vice president of digital and ecommerce with fashion company Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. That is, to effectively serve and retain customers, retailers need to know not just their sizes, but their preferences for style, fit, color and other attributes.
NRF is proud to provide our members with the online Retail Buying Guide to search for trusted vendors, products and services in the retail industry. Our guide is a user-friendly forum designed to bring suppliers and purchasers together. You can search by keyword, location, company name or category. Available whenever you need it, the Retail Buying Guide makes it easy to locate products and professional services geared to the retail industry. Click here to visit the online Retail Buying Guide! To advertise, please contact Sarah Allen for more information.
Trends
Leave it to a worn-out college student to develop the latest in coffee. Looking for a lift to make it through classes and basketball back in 2015, Jordan DeCicco was not impressed by energy drinks and bottled coffees laden with sugar and carbs. So he came up with his own, using a blender in his dorm room.
The mobile app PetSmooch, available for both iPhone or Android, gives dogs and cats their own profiles. But the site does more than help those with common interests find each other; pet parents can purchase “smooches” for posts they especially enjoy, and each purchase translates to an indirect donation to a pet cause or charity.
The digital edition of STORES includes must-read pieces, including the articles featured here. Read the current issue and browse the archives for issues you may have missed. 
NRF News
The use of social media and multichannel shopping were two major retail trends on the rise during the five-day Thanksgiving weekend, according to NRF Director of Retail and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen. In this episode of NRF’s Retail Gets Real podcast, Cullen breaks down the Thanksgiving weekend shopping data to answer questions about what people are buying, where they’re shopping and how they are finding deals.
For some retailers, challenging the traditional business model has its rewards. At NRF 2019: Retail's Big Show, Tina Sharkey of Brandless and Neil Blumenthal of Warby Parker will be among executives from next-generation retailers discussing how smart, innovative strategies have separated their brands from the rest.
Shoppers say they plan to spend $1,000 on gifts and other items for the holidays. Hear more about gift-giving trends in this mini-episode of NRF’s Retail Gets Real podcast: Find out what consumers are most likely to buy (hint: There might be a few gift cards under the tree this year) and the most popular toys for kids — including the toy that jumped eight places to No. 3.
Retail Deals
StaffConnect, a provider of mobile employee engagement solutions, recently announced that Jerome’s Furniture, a third-generation family business, is using the StaffConnect mobile platform to build strong levels of engagement and provide business transparency from the executive level throughout the entire organization.
On December 12, fans of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts can purchase one dozen of the company's iconic Original Glazed® doughnuts for just $1 with the purchase of any dozen at participating shops across the United States.
ADT Inc., a solutions provider of monitored security and interactive home and business automation, has completed its acquisition of Red Hawk Fire & Security, a leader in commercial fire, life safety and security services and portfolio company of Comvest Partners.
Wearables company Huami has announced the U.S. availability of Amazfit Verge, the futuristic smartwatch that combines voice-controlled artificial intelligence and the ability to make phone calls in an ultramodern, sophisticated design.
Walmart store associates can now place orders for customers from Walmart.com via an app on their handheld touchscreen devices. The Dotcom Store service, brings the company’s online aisle of merchandise to its physical stores, while allowing customers to pay using all acceptable payment methods – including cash – in one seamless transaction.
Groupon has announced a distribution partnership with AMC Theatres, the world’s largest movie exhibitor. Groupon marketplace users will have greater access to the movies through AMC’s thousands of theaters and screens across the United States, beginning in early 2019.
Columbia Sportswear is unveiling the Star Wars™: Empire Crew Parka – a limited edition jacket inspired by the original cast and crew while filming the iconic ice planet Hoth scenes of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. The themed jackets will be available online and in-store at select Columbia-branded retail locations in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea.
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