Author Archives: Tom Ryan, Retail Wire

In the first major post-holiday report, Mastercard projected U.S. retail sales grew 3.0 percent in the expanded selling season from Oct. 11 through Dec. 24, short of 2019’s four percent gain, but ahead of a forecast for 2.4 percent growth. Mastercard SpendingPulse tracks online and in-store spending with all forms of payment. The Wall Street […]

Reckless expansion and heightened competition for natural and organic foods were factors behind the recent bankruptcies of Fairway, Earth Fare and Lucky’s Market, but each chain faced unique challenges. Fairway, a New York institution known for its wide selection of cheeses and cheap produce, filed for Chapter 11 on Jan. 23. The bankruptcy was attributed […]

In December UPS anticipated a whopping 26 percent year-over-year surge in the number of returns it would process on January 2, National Returns Day. Those levels would represent the seventh consecutive record number of returns. The surging rate of returns is occurring largely due to strong online growth. Estimates for returns of online purchases range […]

Tom Ryan, RetailWire Zappos has announced the launch of Goods for Good, a site featuring over 150 eco- and socially-conscious brands. Zappos features products on Goods for Good under the following categories: Vegan products constructed without animal parts or possessing components synthesized from animal parts, such as glue. Give Back products that have some community […]