The Robin Report’s Post

"Unlike Walmart, which remained in the Walton family, or Target, which handled its transformation from family-owned business to public corporation far better, Kmart underwent very early rapid growth and then began a long period of coasting and decline." "While Kmart has long been viewed as a sort of downmarket Walmart clone, it’s worth noting that Kmart came first—not just because the company that became Kmart goes back to 1899, but because the opening of the first modern Kmart in 1962 beat the opening of the first Walmart by a few months. It was not until the 1990s that Walmart became a major national player in the discount department store industry. It’s more accurate to say that Walmart beat Kmart at its own game than that Kmart failed to properly imitate Walmart." "Like Kmart, Howard Johnson’s made several attempts to revitalize its business. A parade of managers who had none of the personal investment of the chain’s founder, Howard Deering Johnson, successively took the reins. The company began to introduce new restaurant concepts, and it underwent a series of acquisitions as well as the division of its hotel and restaurant businesses. All of this flux and churn depressed morale, eroded managerial continuity, and left the once-great restaurant half of the company to fend for itself as its numbers dwindled." "Throughout this long, slow decline, nobody seriously attempted a “reboot” of the company; nobody bothered to attempt monetizing whatever goodwill the name still held, by, say, bringing back the real recipes of the famous 28 flavors of ice cream. That kind of investment or passion or capital was gone." "Despite the former ubiquity of both Howard Johnson’s and Kmart—and notwithstanding the nostalgia of their small communities of fans—both chains have left hardly a trace in the popular culture. In business, as in life, past performance is no guarantee of future results. The demise of Howard Johnson’s, and likewise that of Kmart, is a cautionary business tale. But it’s also a humbling and almost spooky story." Kmart Elegy A formerly dominant American retail chain nears extinction by Addison Del Mastro The Bulwark (X: @BulwarkOnline) https://lnkd.in/ed7hFsgj And here is an article showing images of the rise and fall of a store whose building was once the tallest department store in the world and which in the course of the decline of the city of Detroit was eventually demolished in 1998. But as history seems to be like a revolving door (Jorge Drexler dixit) a new building has been erected on this site that will house the headquarters of another company that has also seen better times in the past, GM (https://lnkd.in/egtC4395) The life and death of Hudson's department store The Detroit News https://lnkd.in/eRzShcBe

📰 Inland News The retail and entertainment destination shopping center is shadow-anchored by Target and includes sub-anchors Marshall’s, Kohl’s, Ross, HomeGoods, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Burlington, Edward’s Theatre and other national retail and restaurant tenants offering shoppers a diverse mix of retail and entertainment options. #rentv #news #inlandempire #southerncal

The grand opening of TnT Supermarkets in the US was nothing short of spectacular! The excitement and massive crowds prove there's a huge appetite for high-quality Asian grocery experiences. With 7 more locations planned in the coming future, TnT supermarkets will attract huge traffics to their stores. This launch raises the bar for the entire sector, and I predict it will revolutionize Asian supermarkets in the US within the next 5 years. Here's why this matters for CPG brands: Cross-cultural appeal: As The New York Times reports, Asian supermarkets are attracting a growing , 30% non-Asian customer base. Changing demographics: With second-generation Asian Americans increasingly embracing aspects of Western culture, demand for products like yogurt, cereal, and other breakfast staples will continue to rise within this market segment. Inflation and evolving consumer habits: While inflation may be reducing overall grocery trips, consumers are still seeking value and quality. Expanding the pie: CPG brands, are you strategically positioned to be an "everywhere brand"? Now is the time to consider how your products can cater to the evolving needs and preferences of this dynamic consumer base. Chobani can definitely spend more efforts to reach out to this demographics. #TnTSupermarket #CPG #grocery #retail #AsianAmerican #consumertrends #marketing #brandstrategy #innovation #Chobani

How long would you wait? Today is the grand opening of Randy’s donuts in Phoenix, Arizona. Are you the type of person who likes to go to the #grandopening ? Generally, I like to let the hype wear down. But this store is in my area of focus and I wanted to share this video with you. #retailrealestate #commercialrealestate #arizona #marketupdate #drivingmymarket

Brilliant concept! Check out the interview with the CEO👇👇👇 #knoops #amazingconcept #greatbusiness #top

Monday Morning Store Walks ...were one of the best things Harris Teeter adopted when Rod Antolock came on board somewhere around 2000. Rod became a legend for helping stores execute exceptionally, keeping things simple, and having fun while doing it. Monday morning store walks included a rotating model store from each district. Every store leader from that district came to the model store that week. Each department was walked, key initiatives reviewed, well designed displays highlighted, best practices shared, challenges communicated and solved, technology and policy changes discussed. Since the model store rotated every week, every store got the chance to shine. And shine they did. Stores were polished, bathrooms were clean, out of stocks addressed, out of date items marked down, dairy rotated, produce culled, back rooms organized, clutter cleaned up. While technology does serve to make stores better operations, Monday morning store walks gave stores a chance to truly excel, to show everyone they could be the best. That pride in your work was invaluable. Customers benefitted, associates benefitted, and so did the bottom line. Retail Insight #modelstore #grocery #innovative #loyalty #customersatisfaction #waste #foodwaste #onshelfavailability #outofstocks

Smoothie King (SKFI) opened 84 new stores in 2024, with 100+ expected in 2025. The Dallas-based brand continues to expand in areas like Chicago, one of its fastest-growing markets http://ow.ly/U7kr105XFJS

Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga dive into the joys of barbecues, long weekends, and even those little pet peeves. 🍔☀️ What’s your favorite part of the holiday? Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/gXCpdjPD #retail #retailing #advertisingandmarketing #onlineshopping #shoppingandtheretailindustry 

Mouseflow is heading to eTail🌴Palm Springs! I am looking forward to meeting fellow retail analytics enthusiasts. Drop a comment or DM if you'd like to connect while we're there! #eTail #RetailAnalytics #RetailTech