Target Upbeat on Q4, 2019 Results and Strategic Plans

| Douglas P. Clement

Target CEO Brian Cornell piled on superlatives when discussing Q4 and 2019 results, including six consecutive years of 25%+ growth in ecommerce sales. Same-day (order pickup, drive up and Shipt delivery) accounted for more than 80% of Target’s Q4 comparable digital sales growth of 20%, compared to 1.5% overall comp growth.

Same-Day Delivery Drives Another Ecommerce Surge in Q3 for Target

| Douglas P. Clement

Target’s strong Q3 performance, with 31% growth in ecommerce sales – just under the 34% in Q2 – continued the trend of same-day order fulfillment services driving growth. Target is the first to offer curbside pickup in all 50 states. In Q3, sales volume fulfilled by Shipt more than doubled, while curbside sales grew by more than 500%.

Toys R Us Expected to Make a Comeback for the Holidays

| Daniela Forte

Children everywhere can rejoice, as Toys R Us plans to make a comeback with stores in time for the holiday season. A year after shuttering operations in the U.S., Toys R Us will return with half a dozen stores and an ecommerce site. Here is a look at the plans the the recently-defunct-and-now-back toy company has for the holidays.

The Big Pivot: Why Is Everybody Chasing Amazon?

| Silvio Tavares

Is emulating Amazon enough to succeed? No, because very few companies have the resources. For most, winning the war means quietly striking partnerships and collaboration initiatives with competitors that were once unthinkable. At the center of these initiatives are new collaboration brokers, enabling product innovation at scale.

Can Toys R Us Make Another Comeback?

| Daniela Forte

Several former Toys R Us executives are planning to launch a new company called Tru Kids as comeback for the toy retailer that filed for bankruptcy in late 2017. Some of its lenders had taken control of its brand names and other intellectual property and Tru Kids now manages those brands.

Vacant Retail Locations Being Repurposed for Ecommerce Fulfillment

| Mike O'Brien

In an indicator of the continuing evolution of retail, more shuttered stores and malls are being converted to industrial space, especially for ecommerce fulfillment, according to a new report from commercial real estate firm CBRE. See where this is happening, what the drivers are and the prevailing local headwinds.

Target Blows Out Free Two-Day Delivery Ahead of the Holidays

| Mike O'Brien

In the never-ending pursuit of Amazon and seeking separation from other foes like Walmart, Target has announced the availability of same-day delivery in 46 states ahead of the peak holiday season from Thanksgiving through Christmas, while also eliminating its $35 order threshold for free two-day shipping as of Nov. 1.