Retailers invest in physical stores despite online growth

Target is making bold moves this holiday season. With 20,000 new products — over half exclusive — and expanded next-day delivery to 35 metro areas, the retailer is doubling down on convenience, value, and experience. It’s clear this strategy is more than seasonal; it’s a signal of Target’s intent to reassert its merchandising authority and regain consumer trust amid a challenging retail climate. With leadership transition underway and a renewed focus on operational agility, Target is positioning itself not just for a strong Q4, but for long-term relevance. But the question remains: is this enough, and is it in time? Consumers have shifted habits, competitors have surged ahead, and Target’s recent earnings show the urgency. The holiday season will be a litmus test — not just for sales, but for brand loyalty and operational resilience. If Target can deliver on speed, value, and experience, it may just turn the tide. If not, it risks falling further behind in a retail landscape that’s evolving faster than ever. https://lnkd.in/gvtCucM7

After announcing its rollout of 20,000 new products ahead of the holidays, Target plans to open seven new stores this fall (most larger than the average footprint), Dani James shares in Retail Dive. It’s a bold bet on scale at a crucial inflection point for the retailer. But adding square footage and SKUs only works when the experience holds up across every location. Successful #StoreGrowth is supported by clear planogram consistency, strong inventory visibility, and merchandising strategies that actually reflect shopper demand. Otherwise, more space and more stuff just turn into more complexity. What do you think of Target's announcement?

𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐜𝐨’𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚: https://lnkd.in/gDMvMUYC A centerpiece of Costco Wholesale's multi-year digital strategy is personalization, which is now directly tied to its retail media ambitions. Our story above recaps the recent earnings call, including a recent Kimberly-Clark digital campaign at the retailer. The campaign delivered a:  ✔️ 14-to-1 ROAS ✔️ 22% lift in traffic to product pages  ✔️ 45% increase in digital sales of promoted items #personalization #retailmedia

It’s becoming obvious that the gap between Walmart and Target isn’t just widening — it’s redefining the retail landscape. Target once positioned itself as “cheap chic” — a brand that elevated mass retail through curation, design, and a sense of taste. They primed and marketed themselves better than anyone, turning stores into destinations. Walmart, on the other hand, focused on value with humility — building quietly, integrating systems, connecting stores to digital, and perfecting execution. Now the tables have turned. Target got greedy — chasing short-term wins, confusing pricing with value, and losing the clarity that made it magnetic. Walmart stayed the course — refining the flywheel between price leadership, digital convenience, and operational discipline. What was once Target’s magic has now become Walmart’s momentum. Walmart has become the anchor of value. Target can still be the anchor of style — but only if it stops reacting and starts leading again. Because when both players are strong, the entire retail ecosystem thrives. Because in retail — just like in sports — the game is only exciting when both teams are playing to win. #RetailStrategy #Merchandising #BrandDifferentiation #Target #Walmart #RetailInnovation #Omnichannel #Leadership #ConsumerTrends #RetailInsights #BusinessTransformation #MerchCulture #Ecommerce #CX #RetailEvolution

How do you create retail media strategies that truly resonate? Michele Roney, our EVP of Retailer CX, shared powerful takeaways from our Retail Media Report Card on designing with the retailer in mind while driving meaningful outcomes for shoppers and brands. #GroceryShop Groceryshop

The easy dollars in retail media are gone. What’s emerging is a more mature, more competitive marketplace where only a handful of players are pulling ahead. Our SVP & GM, Nick Drabicky, connected with Modern Retail’s Anna Hensel on how Amazon remains the pace-setter, but CPG and beauty-driven networks are building real momentum. From Walmart and Target to Ulta Beauty and SEPHORA, the opportunity is there, but scale and influence alone won’t be enough. The real differentiator is how retailers evolve beyond selling placements and build a true advertising business. One that drives repeat investment, long-term budgets, and measurable brand growth. Get the full story at the link in the comments. #RetailMedia #RMN #Advertising

Retail media is no longer just Walmart vs. Amazon as new vertical specialists (Chewy, Sephora, Uber) are crashing the Top 10, per the Sensor Tower 2025 Media Report. #retailmedia #fmcg #retail #media https://lnkd.in/eGf_kmuk

#WalmartLocationBasedPriceScraping : Transforming Retail Pricing Strategies Retail goes local. Prices vary not just by product, but by city, store format, neighborhood income, local competition, and delivery zones. Walmart’s regional pricing and emerging digital shelf label strategy underscore how important geographic context has become. With location-based price scraping from Walmart, businesses can: ✅ Track Price Variations by Region — Compare the same SKU across ZIP codes, urban vs rural stores ✅ Detect Local Competitive Moves — Spot price drops or promos triggered by nearby competitors ✅ Optimize Pricing for Local Demand — Adjust pricing strategies based on cost of living, consumer behavior & purchasing power ✅ Align Inventory & Promotions — Push locally relevant deals & stock for high-demand stores ✅ Map Out Digital vs In-Store Price Gaps — Understand where omnichannel pricing differs and what that means for margins & customer trust Geographic price intelligence moves your pricing strategy from generic to hyper-targeted—boosting relevance, conversion, and profitability. Explore: https://lnkd.in/dtmKpwqd #WalmartPricing #LocationBasedPricing #RetailData #GeographicPricing #CompetitiveIntelligence #DynamicPricing #WebScraping #RetailAnalytics #HyperlocalRetail #PriceVariations #SmartRetail #DataDrivenDecisions #InventoryAlignment #MarginOptimization #PricingStrategy

📍Creating Success by Owning the Shopping Mission Not all retail success stories are about being the biggest anymore—it’s about being the smartest. Today’s strongest operators don’t just sell products—they fulfill specific shopping missions. Whether it’s Walmart’s grip on essentials or Target’s one-stop convenience, winners in today’s retail landscape are those who understand exactly why customers walk through the door—and build everything around that. This strategic focus is reshaping everything from merchandising to expansion planning. 🔑 Key Highlights: - Mission-Based Models Are Winning: Chains like Dollar Tree, Costco, and Target are thriving by building around customer intent, not just shelf space. - Strategy Beats Scale: It’s no longer about how many stores you have, but how well each store answers the customer’s need. - Loyalty Through Adaptation: To keep customers coming back, operators are expanding assortments and integrating tech to meet demand for convenience and speed. As retail continues to evolve, understanding the shopper’s mission isn’t just an edge—it’s the future. Full article here: https://lnkd.in/ef3DV7hd #Matthews #RetailRealestate