CONFERENCES

Time to converge

Get ready for the Coachella of retail industry events: NRF Converge, one of retail’s largest gatherings, is next week (June 21–25). 

NRF Converge won’t have the catered fruit trays or laminated name tags of industry conferences past; it’s virtual. But the digital agenda is still stacked with headlining execs from Kohl’s, Nordstrom, and more. 

Here’s a sneak preview of the themes we’re tracking across Converge’s 160+ sessions and 300+ speakers. 

“New normals.” Sorry if you’ve muted this phrase on Twitter. Reopened retail is top of mind for NRF speakers this summer, amid store traffic rebounds and mass vaccinations. 

• Post-pandemic learnings are on the agenda, from essential retailers that scaled up store operations (Walmart, CVS) to nonessential retailers that pushed online ops (Kohl’s, Qurate). 
• If pictures from the world’s largest bumper boats California’s clogged shipping hubs are any indication, supply chains aren’t fully up to speed yet. Companies including Under Armour and PVH will outline how they’re adjusting to delays and emerging trends.  

Amping up inclusion. Last summer’s racial justice movement made retailers take a hard look at how they promote equity in staffing and shelf space. (Keep in mind: Many brands haven’t quite yet delivered on the promises they made last year...) Retail execs from Nordstrom to Neiman Marcus are slated to speak on panels about building more inclusive brands—internally and externally. 

Dream demos. Retail isn’t dead. We know, but you still need e-comm to reach younger shoppers in 2021. Our crystal ball tells us most digital commerce discussions will nod to courting Gen Z consumers, retail’s demographic du jour. 

• Some highlights: a discussion between TikTok and one-video wonders Kate Spade and Hollister, and a dive into building niche marketplaces with The Yes and Pinterest. 

TL;DR: You can command+F through earnings transcripts to get a snippet of retail leaders’ thoughts...or you can tune into NRF Converge for their latest insights. 

Stay tuned for more Retail Brew special NRF coverage around the event next week.—HL

APPAREL

Canada forever

Forever 21 has made its way back to our friends north of the border. Hudson’s Bay is bringing the brand to its department stores under a new partnership with YM Inc., Forever 21’s Canadian licensee. 

O Canada: Last Friday, Forever 21 “full-line” collections opened at two Hudson’s Bay stores in Toronto, with more shop-in-shops to come. 

• Later this summer, Forever 21 will also be available on Hudson’s Bay’s online marketplace, which it launched in March. By year’s end, the retailer expects to add 1,000+ brands to the marketplace, aka a reconfig of its e-comm website. 
• Hudson’s Bay—a 351-year-old company—is attempting to appeal to millennials and Gen Z as part of its expansion. 

Earlier this year, Hudson’s Bay introduced several millennial favorites into its collection, such as Mango Men, AFRM, and Rollas Denim. This fall, it will debut “exclusive” collabs with Jack & Jones Premium, Compania, and BDG by Urban Outfitters, among others. 

Zoom out: Aside from reaching younger customers, Hudson’s Bay has ramped up its diversity and inclusion efforts. Last month, the department store joined the 15 Percent Pledge and created a fund to support Canadian BIPOC designers.—KM

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Hit the Road, Stack

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SUSTAINABILITY

Fur the greater good

In six months, Israel will become the first country where the sale of fur is outright banned, after it passed legislation last week. 

“Animal fur coats cannot cover the brutal murder industry that makes them,” Gila Gamliel, Israel’s environmental protection minister, said in the Jerusalem Post. “Signing these regulations will make the Israeli fashion market more environmentally friendly and far kinder to animals.” 

The production and sale of fur is a hot-button issue; activists have long urged retailers to just not do it. A few that stopped: Macy’s, Prada, Tommy Hilfiger, and Saks Fifth Avenue, just this April. 

Increasingly, however, jurisdictions are taking it upon themselves to ban fur. There are currently bills in Oregon, Connecticut, Hawaii, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington to outlaw its sale or production.  

• California banned fur sales in 2019. 
• Across the pond, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is being urged to call for a global ban from infectious disease experts, who argue fur farms can be repositories for diseases like Covid-19. 

A 2020 survey found that 93% of British citizens already do not wear fur, and 72% support a ban on its sale. 

The big picture: The debate over fur doesn’t just come down to animal treatment. It’s very much a sustainability issue. A CE Delft study found the environmental impact of producing natural mink fur coats is greater than that of faux fur coats.—KM 

WHAT ELSE IS BREWING…

• Boxed, an online grocer, is going public via a SPAC. 
• Amazon is testing two new robots, Ernie and Bert, in its warehouses. 
• Mall owner Washington Prime has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 
• Apple will reportedly drop its mask requirement for US customers as early as this week.
• Starbucks filed an application to use its name on a sports stadium or entertainment venue. 

SWAPPING SKUS

Today’s top retail longreads.

Big divide: The pandemic exacerbated the pay gap between workers and CEOs—some of whom received major compensation packages in 2020. (NYT)

Chipless: Restaurants rely on computer chips to operate their POS machines, but a chip shortage is forcing some to rely less on human servers. (WaPo)

Tough adjustment: Retail workers are still apprehensive about new mask guidelines, citing concerns over enforcement and safety. (Modern Retail) 

EVENTS

The pandemic radically transformed frontline retail jobs and introduced new skills, from understanding mobile payments to curbside pickup. Come learn from the cofounder and co-CEO of Warby Parker—which will be opening up 35 new stores this year—about how he sees the future of the frontline worker.

On Tuesday, June 29 at 1:30pm ET, Dave Gilboa will join Retail Brew in conversation and give us a step-by-step guide to how Warby Parker is approaching the workforce transformation.

Ready to RSVP? We know you are. Click here to register and share your questions for Dave. Can’t wait to see you!

ICYMI

Catch up on the Retail Brew stories you may have missed.

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• Netflix partners with Shopify to introduce online store
• Startup Electric Gamebox wants to bring gaming to malls