Customers aren’t the only ones hunting for bargains these days. The discount home goods store Big Lots last month opened international buying offices in Shanghai, China, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with the goal of sussing out deals among its Asian suppliers and bringing new and cheaper products to market faster.

“Global sourcing is key to our ability to add newness and expanded assortment at extreme value prices for our shoppers,” Bruce K. Thorn, Big Lots president and CEO, said in a statement.

Thorn told shareholders back in March that Big Lots plans to grow bargains to 75% of sales by “procuring products directly from over-inventoried and distressed retailers and vendors, and through new factory direct sourcing partners domestically and overseas.”

But how does an international buying office work exactly, and how does their presence in a key supplier market translate into a fresher assortment and lower prices?

Juan Guerrero, chief supply chain officer for Big Lots, told Retail Brew that being closer to international suppliers will allow the company to move more quickly when there are opportunities to purchase items at a discount.

Keep reading here.—AV

Who is the consumer of 2024? Are they ultra-picky? Are they leaning back toward brick-and-mortar shopping? Do they delight in the chime of tap-to-pay on credit card machines?

So. Many. Qs. Which is why Placer.ai leveraged historical and current foot-traffic data + trade area analysis to better understand the current retail landscape. They give you: Meeting 2024’s Consumer.

This white paper was made to give retailers (and curious readers) a look at the consumer trends likely to shape ’24 and beyond.

Which segments have benefitted the most from previous years’ shifts? What characterizes the modern consumer? And how are legacy brands fairing?

Find out in Placer.ai’s white paper.

It takes nine months to make a baby—and, evidently, to turn around a baby brand’s social media strategy.

Last year, the team at Frida, which sells products for babies and their parents alike, found that the curated, graphic-centric content that was successful on Instagram 10 years ago just wasn’t resonating with today’s parents. So, last summer, it tapped branding expert Ashwinn Krishnaswamy, who has built a following on TikTok posting about marketing and design, to help build a new organic video strategy.

“An issue that so many companies have is they think about Instagram and this highly curated, highly polished era,” Krishnaswamy told Marketing Brew. “Now, the nature of social has changed.”

Keep reading here on Marketing Brew.—KH

On Wednesdays, we wear pink spotlight Retail Brew’s readers. Want to be featured in an upcoming edition? Click here to introduce yourself.

Beth Nunnington is VP of organic growth at digital marketing agency Journey Further, which works with retailers like Claire’s and Marks & Spencer.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? I help global brands and retailers better connect with their audiences through high-quality, relevant links and media coverage.

One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? As a comms professional, this is hard because of course, I naturally put everything I do on my LinkedIn! However, what it doesn’t immediately reveal is my passion for utilizing data and insight to inform and fuel digital PR strategies. We blend a combination of performance data (SEM and SEO insight) with brand to ensure we are driving as much ROI for clients as possible.

What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? One of the most memorable projects I’ve had the pleasure of working on was a collaboration with [experience gifting company] Red Letter Days aimed at enhancing their organic performance. Our goal was clear: to drive SEO and brand performance by creating a buzz around an experience so unforgettable that it would captivate audiences and elevate the brand’s visibility within search.

Keep reading here.—EC

Book of secrets. Every business wants one, and you’re in luck. Klaviyo analyzed 143k brands (that means you don’t have to ) and packed their findings into a choose-your-own-adventure report where you’re in charge of what you wanna learn. Get the scoop on what top performers are doin’, from successful SMS strategies to must-try cross-channel campaigns. Dig in.