What is the outlook for retail in 2017? What macro factors will affect it? How about the continued migration to omnichannel and store closures? Multichannel Merchant Senior Content Manager spoke with Jack Kleinhenz, chief economist of the National Retail Federation at the Big Show in New York to discuss these topics and take a glimpse into the “crystal ball.”
With many more people shopping online and by mobile than ever before, and hurried customer service during the busy holiday season, retailers need to be on the lookout for friendly fraud and investing in solutions to eliminate their risk. Here is what retailers should know during this busy time of the year.
With Black Friday and Thanksgiving weekend not too far off, consumers are eager to see what deals retailers are offering for the biggest shopping weekend of the year. The National Retail Federation provided some important insight with online and in-store shopping during Thanksgiving weekend.
The financial woes of South Korean concern Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd, the world’s seventh-largest ocean freight line, is causing a ripple effect that is disrupting supply chains across retail entering the busy fall and holiday season. See what efforts are underway to address the logjam.
Retail imports based on cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to decline year-over-year for the next few months but the first half of the year should still amount to a 4.5% increase compared with the same period last year, according to the National Retail Federation.
At the same time, import volumes are returning to West Coast ports after the labor issues that plagued the first half of 2015. Busy East Coast ports like New York and New Jersey saw large spikes in the double digits last year, as shippers sought alternate means to ensure product delivery, even if it meant significantly longer transit times.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. That seemed to be what was going on at NRF BIG Show 2016 on Monday.
The National Retail Federation today called on Congress to reject a customs reauthorization bill set for a vote this week unless it includes a provision allowing states to require online merchants to collect sales tax the same as local stores.
December’s import cargo volume at major container ports will be the same as 2014 as stores bring in the last round of holiday merchandise, the NRF said.
Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 8.3% this month over the same time last year as consumers begin their holiday shopping. That’s a dramatic difference from this time last year, the National Retail Federation says.
NRF is forecasting online sales to increase between 6% and 8% to as much as $105 billion. See what other projections NRF made for the holidays.