Retail news that keeps industry pros in the know
Retail Brew delivers the latest retail industry news and insights surrounding marketing, DTC, and e-commerce to keep leaders and decision-makers up to date.
In collaboration with TalkShopLive and Rolling Stone magazine, actor Kate Hudson will host a special living room concert for her debut album this Friday, which will double as a shoppable simulcast featuring autographed CDs and themed merchandise. TalkShopLive calls it “social selling,” and like Hudson’s new musical career, it’s an attempt to become a crossover hit.
Here’s what else is going on in retail:
In data: It’s a big week for data releases. The Bureau of Labor Statistics will drop the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday, and some are worried it won’t show enough cooling prices to spur the Fed to lower rates, while others are concerned that inflation could be settling at a higher rate than is healthy for the economy. The March report showed prices rose 3.5% year over year, a slight uptick from the previous month. Meanwhile, we’ll get to see how inflation is (or isn’t) influencing consumers, as the Census Bureau will release monthly retail sales numbers for April on the same day. The March report marked the second straight month of sales increases, rising 4% year over year.
In earnings: Some heavy hitters report this week, including Home Depot on Tuesday and Walmart on Thursday. Topics that may come up include Walmart’s recent decision to close its health clinics, and how Home Depot is managing the continued pull-back in DIY demand from its pandemic heights. The retailers could also provide updates on recent deflationary trends and efforts to increase volume with higher ad spend.
In conferences: Starting on Thursday, the National Retail Federation will host its annual Employment Law Conference, which this year is being held in Denver, Colorado. The members-only event will feature sessions on topics like workplace AI tools, “Labor Department overreaches,” and pay transparency. The retailers will convene as a national conversation continues around how companies treat their employees, some of whom are actively organizing to demand changes from their employers. Right now, for instance, the first unionized Apple store is threatening to strike.
In design: In other industry gatherings, apparel brands including Gucci, LLBean, and Hermès will meet Wednesday with a group of architects and construction professionals at the Harvard Club of New York City to discuss retail design. The attendees will share their design strategies and provide insight on their latest brick and mortar projects.