Tom Ryan
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Articles by Tom Ryan
Is Sephora a Threat to the East Village?
April 17, 2026 teamtime/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: News of a Sephora location soon arriving on St. Marks Place and Third Ave. in the East Village section of Manhattan has locals up in arms about how it may further reshape a neighborhood known for its counterculture and punk rock heritage, although it’s far from the first time. (Full disclosure: The author has lived on St. Marks for about 30 years.) One response to an article on the pending arrival by EV Grieve, a local blog, read, “Sephora.
Did Walmart’s Great Value Brand Need a Makeover?
April 16, 2026 mkopka/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Walmart is overhauling its biggest brand, Great Value, for the first time in more than a decade. In a statement, Walmart said the makeover is designed to produce “more modern visual identity while improving shoppability across stores and digital platforms.” Key features of the new design include: Consistent placement of nutrition information and benefit claims across all Great Value food items.
Will AI Store Managers Be Better Than Human Ones?
April 15, 2026 mast3r/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Andon Labs, a San Francisco-based AI-research firm, recently opened a store imagined and run by the “world’s first AI store owner” to explore the pros and cons of AI-managed retail environments likely arriving in the future.
Should Apple be Closing its First Unionized Store?
April 14, 2026 mrsiraphol/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Apple is closing its first-ever unionized location in Maryland — one of only two globally — and faces charges that the location’s closure came about because the store’s workers had formed a union. In 2020, over 100 Apple employees at the Towson Town Center store in Maryland voted to join the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) union.
Why Is QVC Being Tuned Out?
April 13, 2026 T.Schneider/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: QVC, the home shopping king, issued a going concern warning amid a decades-long decline in linear TV viewership and heightened competition in livestream e-commerce. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the parent of QVC and HSN said it could not file its annual report on time in light of ongoing negotiations with lenders.
Will Starbucks’ New Worker Incentives Elevate Performance?
April 10, 2026 Photo courtesy of Starbucks Tom Ryan Share: Starbucks is offering workers up to $1,200 in annual performance bonuses — as well as expanded tipping options — as it seeks to boost worker pay, further drive progress in its Back to Starbucks transformation, and possibly fend off unionization efforts.
How Can Morale Be Kept High During Lengthy Turnarounds?
April 10, 2026 Vejaa/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: “I’m so tired, and I know you are too, of talking about fixing this business,” Nike’s CEO Elliott Hill told staffers, following last week’s announcement of a bleak forecast, in a bid to shore up morale. “I want to move to inspiring and driving growth and having fun,” he added, according to a recording reviewed by Bloomberg News.
What Do Fuel Surcharges Mean For Retail?
April 9, 2026 DragosCondreaW/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Amazon will begin charging third-party sellers a 3.5% “fuel and logistics surcharge,” joining UPS, FedEx, and USPS applying such fees as the Iran war has caused a surge in diesel and jet fuel prices. “Elevated costs in fulfillment and logistics have increased the cost of operating across the industry,” Amazon said in a note to sellers. “We have absorbed these increased costs so far.
Is Reshoring Becoming More Feasible?
April 9, 2026 coffeekai/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: While active evaluation of reshoring remains the dominant stance, reshoring intent is gradually moving from informal discussions to execution, according to a KMPG survey. The survey of 300 U.S. C-suite leaders (from organizations with over $1 billion in annual revenue) taken over February and March found 39% expect to move faster on reshoring/nearshoring in the next two to three years as part of supply chain adjustments.
What Should Retailers Do About Last-Minute Shoppers?
April 7, 2026 PeopleImages.com/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Last-minute shoppers, according to numerous Reddit posts, are the bane of store associates — primarily because they interfere with closing time duties and their quest to go home. The posts are full of stories of customers coming in from two to 10 minutes before closing, then doing their full grocery shop or browsing long after the official closing. Many also throw fits when they’re told they have to leave.
Do Consumers Deserve Refunds From US Tariffs?
April 8, 2026 Jetcityimage2/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Costco, Lululemon, FedEx, UPS, eyeglass seller EssilorLuxottica, and Fabletics are among numerous companies that have been hit by proposed class-action lawsuits seeking refunds for customers facing tariff-driven price hikes over the last year.
What Caused Allbirds’ Downfall?
April 6, 2026 rarrarorro/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Allbirds, the eco-friendly wool sneaker once seen as the unofficial uniform for the Silicon Valley set, was once valued at $4 billion soon after its 2021 IPO, but last week agreed to be sold for $39 million. What happened?
Will Automated Pay Stations Pay Off For Costco?
April 3, 2026 Jetcityimage2/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Costco is piloting automated pay stations that enable members to pay for pre-scanned orders in a checkout time averaging around eight seconds. Ron Vachris, president and CEO, announced the initiative on Costco’s second quarter analyst call in early December.
Are NYC’s Laws Hampering Instacart’s Delivery Model?
April 2, 2026 burdun/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: In a blog entry, Instacart warned of “major changes” for shoppers, or its independent delivery workers, in the New York City region due to new laws over minimum pay.
Should Target Be Tightening its Associate Dress Code?
April 1, 2026 wolterke/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Target is changing its dress code for store workers — limiting their working wardrobes to only plain red shirts with blue jeans or khakis — as part of its push to elevate the in-store experience. A Target spokesperson described the updates as “really small.” For tops, Target associates can no longer wear “questionable” shades of red such as burgundy or pink.
Have Human Connections Become More Critical to C-Store Loyalty?
March 31, 2026 teamtime/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: At least at c-stores, familiarity breeds loyalty, according to a new survey. The national survey of over 600 U.S. drivers from Vontier, a provider of automation technologies, found the 24% who stop multiple times a week — described as “Super-Users” — aren’t heading to c-stores primarily for discounts.
Aerie Recruits Pamela Anderson To Highlight No-AI Models Promise
March 30, 2026 mahmoodd79/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: American Eagle’s Aerie banner has recruited former “Baywatch” star Pamela Anderson to broadcast the lifestyle brand’s pledge to “always keep it 100% real: no AI-generated bodies, no AI-generated people.
Should Costco Be Opening Members-Only Gas Stations?
March 27, 2026 vijay.fang@outlook.com/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Costco is opening its first standalone gas stations that are only accessible to the warehouse club members amid a spike in gas prices tied to the Iran war. The first standalone station will open in California in Mission Viejo in June. At 17,000 square feet with 40 pumps, it will be Costco’s largest gas terminal yet, according to USA Today.
Is Supply Chain Volatility Here To Stay?
March 26, 2026 perig76/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Driven by factors ranging from geopolitical fragmentation to accelerating technological change, resource and labor constraints, and energy transition, supply chains disruption is seen by many trade experts as no longer an exception to manage but a permanent operating condition.
Has Same-Day Delivery Become an Expectation Across Retail?
March 25, 2026 gpointstudio/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Foot Locker recently announced a partnership with DoorDash to become the latest retailer to prioritize same-day delivery. The deal allows shoppers to order sneakers, apparel, and accessories from nearly 1,300 Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, and Champs Sports U.S. locations through DoorDash.
Should IKEA Be Flattening Management?
March 24, 2026 doganmesut/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: IKEA became the latest corporation to undergo layoffs with a goal of “simplifying its organization” to speed up decision making and help reduce costs for customers. As a result of the initiative, 800 roles “may become redundant” within group functions, IKEA said in a statement. “We have grown too complex in a retail environment that requires speed and agility,” said Juvencio Maeztu, CEO of Ingka Group, IKEA.
Are Gas Price Spikes a Blow to Retail Spending?
March 23, 2026 Tom Ryan Share: The surge in gas prices since the start of the Iran war is expected to deliver more of a psychological than material impact to consumers. Harriet Torry, economics correspondent for the Western U.S. for the Wall Street Journal, estimated in a podcast that Americans spend only about 3% of their income on energy services like electricity and natural gas — with bigger expenditures including housing, 33%, and food, 14%.
Will Amazon Prime Members Pay for 1-Hour and 3-Hour Delivery?
March 20, 2026 photo_pw/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Amazon is introducing 1-hour and 3-hour delivery options in addition to the standard free same-day delivery option in certain markets, although the speedier choice comes with a fee. The new choices offer: One-hour delivery: $9.99 for Prime members, $19.99 for non-members. Three-hour delivery: $4.99 for Prime members, $14.99 for non-members.
Does David’s Bridal Have a Sizeable Wholesale Opportunity?
March 19, 2026 wolterke/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: David’s Bridal Inc., a retailer which opened as a small bridal salon in Fort Lauderdale in 1950, has launched a wholesale division promising both independent and national retailers margins of at least 70%, speedy fulfillment, and differentiated product. The initial wholesale offering features capsule collections of more than 50 gowns across the company’s designer portfolio, including Vera Wang Bride, Oleg Cassini, and Viola Chan Couture.
What’s Quince’s Secret Sauce?
March 18, 2026 sergeypeterman/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Quince, widely called out for copycatting other brands, saw 2025 sales surpass $1 billion in only its seventh year in existence — and just scored a $10.1 billion valuation in a funding round. Similar to fast-fashion sellers, the Palo Alto company claims it’s able to deliver bargains by sourcing directly from factories and eliminating the middlemen.
Will Walmart’s Fast-Track Remodels Be an Upgrade?
March 17, 2026 Image Courtesy of Walmart Tom Ryan Share: Walmart this April plans to test a “new kind of rapid remodel process” at several Walmart Neighborhood Markets designed to deliver quicker results and less customer disruptions. The primary change: Instead of stretching a remodel over several months covering different sections of each store, the main sales floor will be closed to complete the remodel within four weeks. Pharmacies and fuel stations will remain open.
Should Dollar General Add a Treasure Hunt Experience?
March 16, 2026 Image Courtesy of Dollar General Tom Ryan Share: With the treasure hunt experience proving to be a big traffic and conversion driver in recent years for Costco, off-pricers like TJ Maxx, as well as thrift shops, Dollar General wants to give it a try. Dollar General said last week it’s rolling out a completely redesigned store format in 2026, one featuring more open layouts and enhanced browsing.
Should Amazon Be Banning AI Shopping Agents From its Platform?
March 13, 2026 eplisterra/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Amazon won a temporary injunction against Perplexity to block its Comet browser from accessing password-protected parts of Amazon’s website to shop on behalf of human customers. The ruling sets a precedent for how retailers can defend against unauthorized AI data collection on e-commerce sites, but further legal battles are expected as more AI startups build autonomous shopping and browsing tools.
Does Macy’s Own Celebrations?
March 12, 2026 Image Courtesy of Macy’s Tom Ryan Share: Taking advantage of the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the 50th Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks in 2026, Macy’s launched a “Celebrations Start at Macy’s” campaign to champion “everyday celebrations to once-in-a-lifetime milestones” throughout the year.
Should Walmart Be Rolling Out Digital Shelf Labels?
March 11, 2026 Alexander2323/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Walmart announced plans to roll out digital shelf labels (DSLs) to all Walmart U.S. locations within the next year — from 2,300 currently — despite growing concerns they’ll ultimately be used to bring dynamic pricing to stores. Walmart highlighted the main benefit from DSLs, also called ESLs (electronic shelf labels), as “accurate, consistent” shelf pricing for customers.
Should Kohl’s Be Loudly Recommending its Own Brands?
March 10, 2026 Tom Ryan Share: Kohl’s is launching a “By Kohl’s” campaign highlighting the “Next Era” of its proprietary brands. The effort marks a fairly rare marketing push by a retailer directly calling out their private labels or exclusive brands as many try to attempt to improve allocations in national brands. Christie Raymond, chief marketing officer, in a Q&A posted on Kohls.com said that while Kohl’s has many fans of its owned brands, others underestimate their value.
Should Costco Be Channeling Tariff Recoveries to Members?
March 9, 2026 Jetcityimage2/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Costco plans to pass on savings from tariff refunds to shoppers through lower prices if the warehouse retailer manages to land a windfall. “As we’ve done in the past, when legal challenges have recovered charges passed on in some form to our members, our commitment will be to find the best way to return this value to our members through lower prices and better values,” CEO Ron Vachris said on a quarterly analyst call.
How Will The Iran Conflict Affect US Retail?
March 6, 2026 ruskpp/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: The Iran conflict could disrupt supply chains, drive up energy and freight costs, and weaken consumer demand depending on its duration and severity.
Will Target’s Latest Turnaround Plan, Under New CEO Michael Fiddelke, Revive Growth?
March 5, 2026 wolterke/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: At its financial community meeting, Target’s new CEO Michael Fiddelke laid out plans to return the discounter to healthy growth with investments in store updates, store payroll and training, and curation. The program is being led by four priorities: leading with merchandising authority, elevating the guest experience, accelerating technology, and strengthening team and communities.
Will a Hybrid Pharmacist Role Help Solve Labor Issues for Walgreens?
March 4, 2026 Photo courtesy of Burger King Tom Ryan Share: Walgreens has created a “hybrid pharmacist” role in an effort to combat pharmacist burnout and workforce shortages. The role enables pharmacists to split their week between working at the traditional community pharmacy some days and working from a centralized pharmacy desk on other days.
Should Burger King’s President Be Giving Out his Cell Phone Number?
March 4, 2026 Photo courtesy of Burger King Tom Ryan Share: While QSRs often solicit feedback from customers, Burger King is providing the phone number of Tom Curtis — president, Burger King U.S. and Canada — to the public to support both marketing and feedback-gathering.
How Much Of A Discount Drives New Grocery Trial?
March 3, 2026 perig76/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: New research from Kroger Precision Marketing powered by 84.51° finds that 60% of shoppers will switch to a new salty snack (same size and weight) if that product’s price is only 5% lower than the regular price with the figure jumping to 77 percent for a 10 percent discount. At a 20 percent discount, a similar 80 percent of Kroger grocery shoppers surveyed indicated they were encouraged to try the new salty snack.
Gap Brings ‘Fashiontainment ‘to Loyalty with Experiential Focus
March 3, 2026 perig76/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Building on its “Fashiontainment” strategy, Gap Inc.
Can Discounting And Smarter Displays Reduce Food Waste?
March 2, 2026 perig76/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: ©Bill Oxford via Canva.com A university study challenges the assumption that selling only the freshest items at full price is the safest way to protect perishables margins.
Can Vendors Be Doing More To Reduce In-Store Out-Of-Stocks?
March 2, 2026 perig76/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Alexander2323/Depositphotos.com Walmart introduced Scintilla In-Store, an application that gives supplier field representatives working across Walmart stores near real-time visibility into shelf inventory and store execution.
Will AI Cut Warehouse Jobs Or Drive Supply Chain Efficiencies?
February 27, 2026 perig76/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: A Gartner survey found supply chain executives are split on whether the arrival of AI-enabled automation will lead to headcount reductions, but still ranked AI innovation as the top influencer of the supply chain in coming years, beating out tariffs.
How Are Tariffs Changing Buying Behavior?
February 26, 2026 kozak_7891/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: According to a recent survey, nearly 70% of shoppers say tariffs influenced their shopping decisions, including buying more American-made products.
Should Aritzia Be Buying Fred Segal?
February 25, 2026 JHVEPhoto/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Aritzia, the fast-growing Canadian fashion boutique catering to Gen Zers, has acquired Fred Segal, the iconic West Coast retailer that helped define the “California cool” aesthetic for decades. The acquisition, for an undisclosed price, includes Fred Segal’s intellectual property and trademarks. Aritzia also signed a lease for the famed Fred Segal store on Melrose Avenue, with plans to reopen it and restore its ivy-covered façade.
What Benefits Will Amazon Offer for Bath & Body Works?
February 24, 2026 Photo courtesy of Bath & Body Works Tom Ryan Share: Joining a few other vertically-operated retailers, Bath & Body Works opened its first storefront on Amazon’s U.S. platform. Bath & Body Works is offering a limited selection of its top-selling fragrances, body washes, hand soaps, and candles for Amazon’s U.S. shoppers. Under the set-up, Bath & Body Works retains ownership of the inventory and controls pricing while using Amazon’s fulfillment network for Prime eligibility.
Is the SCOTUS Tariff Ruling a Major Win for Retail?
February 23, 2026 nialowwa/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: While the move creates other uncertainties, retail trade groups loudly applauded the Supreme Court’s ruling Friday that struck down most of President Donald Trump’s global tariffs, believing it may usher in more predictability and free up related costs.
Should Grocers Pay Online Influencers?
February 20, 2026 Tom Ryan Share: Trader Joe’s, Costco, and numerous other grocers continue to benefit from influencers on social media that showcase their product offerings, apparently with no compensation from the grocers. Not paying influencers helps grocers benefit from “earned media,” or when someone voluntarily offers a review that’s generally seen as more credible and trustworthy compared to paid advertising.
Why Have Gourmet Grocers Become Social Clubs?
February 19, 2026 sepavone/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: In some cities, a new wave of gourmet grocers are drawing long lines, viral TikTok attention — and shoppers willing to pay premium prices for prepared foods, wellness products, and an elevated retail experience. The pioneer of the trend is Erewhon, the Southern California organic grocery chain that’s been called out for it $20 smoothies, $26 bottles of “hyper-oxygenated” water, and Instagram-ready displays.
Has Storytelling Become a Rediscovered Retail Art?
February 18, 2026 TanyaFrolova/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: For Nordstrom, department stores have moved beyond discovery to places where new brands establish connections with consumers and grow fanbases through effective storytelling. “In the old days, we would go to a brand and buy their top two items and that’s how customers discovered them,” Jamie Nordstrom, CMO, recently told WWD. “Today, they don’t need a department store to introduce themselves. What we can do is tell their story.
Are Brands Sleeping On YouTube?
February 17, 2026 SpicyTruffel/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: In a recent column, Malique Morris, senior e-commerce correspondent for The Business of Fashion, argued that fashion brands are “sleeping” on the opportunity to employ longer-form content via YouTube to take consumer engagement to the next level.
Should Target Be Holding the Line on Store Pay?
February 16, 2026 wolterke/Depositphotos.com Tom Ryan Share: Target’s store employees won’t soon see an increase in the chain’s minimum wage — but will likely receive more hours to boost their take-home pay — as the discounter steps up investments in store staffing to revive sales. A Target spokesperson confirmed to the U.S. Sun that Target isn’t planning any changes to its store pay structure.
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