Aug. 16, 2021
| Today's news and insights for retail leaders
Note from the editor
Just like that, we're already over halfway through 2021. If it makes you cringe slightly to know how fast the year is slipping away, you are not alone.
At the start of this year, the U.S. was fresh with the hope that vaccines would change the trajectory of the pandemic, and retailers looked toward a slightly brighter future. Now, the delta variant is causing a new wave of concerns and a shipping crisis is driving up costs for businesses as they try and prep for the holidays.
In January, we took a look at some of the top trends we thought would impact the space. Some, we got right: Apparel has bounced back from an abysmal 2020, more traditional retailers are pushing a DTC model every day, and Authentic Brands and Sparc Group have continued their acquisitions in the retail space.
A notable exception? Bankruptcies have been relatively few and far between. Granted, Retail Dive last year reported the highest number of bankruptcies since we started our tracker in 2017, and we certainly didn't expect bankruptcies to hit the same level this year. But still, distressed retail has been quiet in 2021.
As we all gear up for the back half of the year, we're resurfacing the outlook we released in January. Check it out here, or below, for a look back at where retail was when 2021 started. Or just to let us know what we got wrong.
Cara Salpini
Senior Editor, Retail Dive
Email | Twitter
From the Archives
The pandemic will continue to reshape the industry and accelerate trends from consumer preferences to industry norms and structures in the year ahead.
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The retailer follows Amazon in seeking a subject matter expert for a field that is still largely unproven and sorting itself out.
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After shuttering its fleet last year, the DTC beauty brand is back with a permanent location, and plans two more this fall and winter.
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Environmental concerns are top of mind for most companies. But in certain industries, the stakes of companies' sustainability efforts are especially high.
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As Adidas officially sells off Reebok, we take a look back at the brand's journey from its founding in 1958 to now.
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Estimated to be the top retail advertiser this year, the big-box store is looking to link ad planning and buying closer to creative with a longtime agency partner.
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Today’s shoppers crave instant gratification and hiccup-free transactions, abandoning carts at the very first signs of friction. Discover how brands are boosting e-commerce conversions in this
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UPDATED
Since June alone, Warby Parker filed for a public listing, Etsy acquired Elo7 and Foot Locker bought up two retailers, among many other deals.
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