Retail sales slowdown; BigCommerce layoffs

Author

Stephen Babcock
December 16, 2022

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In November, retail sales grew 6.5% year-over-year, according to the US Commerce Department. Despite a solid Cyber Week, the total marked a deceleration from prior months, as growth hit a 16-month low. There are underlying signs of a slowdown in a holiday shopping season where people are opting for smaller items and discounts over big purchases, said GlobalData’s Neil Saunders.

It’s the end of an era in Giant Eagle’s advertising strategy, at least in Northeast Ohio. The grocer’s weekly circular will no longer be delivered in print, and will instead be available via app. This will put coupons right at the place where customers can make orders for delivery and pickup, and allows Giant Eagle to emphasize personalization.  – Winsight Grocery Business

The workforce reduction comes as the company is shifting sales and marketing resources to enterprise accounts, where it sees the biggest opportunity and most attractive unit economics. “We are implementing changes that will enhance the strength of our financial profile against the backdrop of a challenging economic environment,” said CEO Brent Bellm.

The share of goods shipped from Chewy’s automated fulfillment centers grew from 10% in 2021 to 30% this year. With savings on shipping distances and per-order costs, the pet products company is looking to open two new facilities over the next year. – Supply Chain Dive

Even though retail sales continue to grow, this year's overall retail return rate is set to remain flat when compared to 2021, according to the National Retail Federation. Still, the data is a sign that the escalation of returns during the pandemic is sticking around. The Current looks at the shopper behavior that is driving returns, and how retailers are rethinking their practices. 

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