From Prime Day to LCBO Strikes: Canadian Retail Sales in July 2024

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September 20, 2024

The Canadian retail market showed mixed results in July 2024, with overall sales up 2.0% YOY. However, when excluding automotive, food, and pharmacies, there was a slight decline of 0.5% YOY in discretionary spending. This indicates a continued cautious consumer sentiment and shifting spending patterns across various retail categories.

A significant factor influencing the retail landscape was the LCBO strike, which had a notable impact on alcohol sales in Ontario. Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores experienced a substantial decrease of 6.6% YOY, with YTD figures also down by 3.8%. This decline not only reflects the immediate impact of the strike but also suggests a broader trend of changing consumer preferences regarding alcohol consumption. Interestingly, the impact on Supermarkets and Other Grocery Stores was less pronounced, with only a 1.0% YOY decrease, indicating a potential shift in where consumers are purchasing their alcoholic beverages.

In contrast to the challenges faced by the alcohol sector, General Merchandise Stores demonstrated strong performance with a 3.1% YOY increase. This growth can be attributed in part to the success of promotional events such as Amazon Prime Day in July. Many Canadian brands strategically offered competitive sales and discounts around this period, contributing to the category’s robust growth, with YTD figures up 4.7%. However, Prime Day still impacted e-commerce sales, with an increase of 6.9% YOY.

For likely the first time since its legalization, the Cannabis retail sector faced headwinds, reporting negative growth with sales down 3.9% YOY and 1.0% YTD. This unexpected downturn came despite anticipations of a strong July performance due to the LCBO strike, which was expected to drive consumers towards cannabis products. The sector’s challenges were further highlighted by the announcement that Tokyo Smoke would be closing 29 stores and filing for creditor protection, signaling potential oversaturation and regulatory challenges in the cannabis retail market.

As we move into the fall season, several factors are likely to influence retail performance:

How will smaller basket sizes/spend during the back-to-school shopping period impact overall retail performance?
What is the anticipated impact of having multiple Prime Day events (Summer and Fall) on the overall holiday retail performance?
What effect will the reduced occurrence of wildfires compared to past years have on retail markets, especially in areas previously impacted by such events?
How can retailers mitigate the impact of unexpected weather-related disruptions?
How are YOU strategizing your marketing efforts given that holiday promotions are starting earlier each year?

For support with your holiday strategy, reach out to the team at JCWG!

Canadian Retail Sales by Product Category, Same Month Comparison

Sales for the Month of July	Jul-24	Jul-23	YOY
All Stores	69,457,362	68,124,865	1.96%
Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers	19,194,078	18,097,693	6.06%
Gasoline Stations	7,096,643	6,917,023	2.60%
All Stores Less Automotive	43,166,641	43,110,149	0.13%
Food and Beverage Stores	13,337,704	13,574,500	-1.74%
Supermarkets and Other Grocery Stores*	9,265,663	9,360,078	-1.01%
Convenience Stores	795,198	841,735	-5.53%
Specialty Food Stores	964,156	910,886	5.85%
Beer, Wine and Liquor Stores	2,312,688	2,461,800	-6.06%
Health and Personal Care Stores	5,619,743	5,217,743	7.70%
All Stores Less Automotive, Food, and Pharmacies	24,209,194	24,317,906	-0.45%
General Merchandise Stores	9,310,224	9,035,070	3.05%
Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronic and Appliance Stores	3,444,385	3,546,934	-2.89%
Furniture Stores	1,184,967	1,263,925	-6.25%
Home Furnishings Stores	688,443	660,250	4.27%
Electronics and Appliance Stores	1,570,975	1,622,759	-3.19%
Clothing and Accessories Stores	3,382,989	3,411,564	-0.84%
Clothing Stores	2,624,181	2,608,757	0.59%
Shoe Stores	389,022	429,164	-9.35%
Jewellery, Luggage and Leather Goods Stores	369,786	373,643	-1.03%
Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book and Music Stores	3,791,708	3,971,133	-4.52%
Building Material and Garden Equipment	4,279,887	4,353,207	-1.68%
Miscellaneous Store Retailers	2,489,722	2,608,501	-4.55%
Cannabis Retailers	440,701	458,435	-3.87%

Canadian Ecommerce Sales

Ecommerce Sales	Jul-24	Jul-23	Percent Change
Year-to-Date	25,675,930	24,331,857	5.52%
Year-Over-Year	3,589,532	3,356,461	6.94%

Canadian Retail Sales by Store Category, Year to Date Comparison

Year-to-Date, Ending July	Jul-24	Jul-23	YTD
All Stores	454,122,846	449,674,856	0.99%
Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers	125,761,558	124,551,331	0.97%
Gasoline Stations	45,114,367	45,124,827	-0.02%
All Stores Less Automotive	283,246,921	279,998,698	1.16%
Food and Beverage Stores	87,963,074	87,323,125	0.73%
Supermarkets and Other Grocery Stores*	62,861,860	61,777,492	1.76%
Convenience Stores	4,996,503	5,158,594	-3.14%
Specialty Food Stores	5,995,128	5,714,539	4.91%
Beer, Wine and Liquor Stores	14,109,585	14,672,497	-3.84%
Health and Personal Care Stores	38,305,606	36,236,257	5.71%
All Stores Less Automotive, Food, and Pharmacies	156,978,241	156,439,316	0.34%
General Merchandise Stores	60,394,775	57,700,970	4.67%
Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronic and Appliance Stores	23,489,825	23,748,424	-1.09%
Furniture Stores	7,797,891	7,991,644	-2.42%
Home Furnishings Stores	4,619,352	4,817,671	-4.12%
Electronics and Appliance Stores	11,072,583	10,939,106	1.22%
Clothing and Accessories Stores	21,652,503	21,942,001	-1.32%
Clothing Stores	16,743,907	16,886,867	-0.85%
Shoe Stores	2,528,628	2,623,653	-3.62%
Jewellery, Luggage and Leather Goods Stores	2,379,967	2,431,480	-2.12%
Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book and Music Stores	24,642,527	25,851,025	-4.67%
Building Material and Garden Equipment	26,798,608	27,196,897	-1.46%
Miscellaneous Store Retailers	16,044,263	16,991,296	-5.57%
Cannabis Retailers	2,887,003	2,917,017	-1.03%

Retail Trade, Canada, All Stores, by Geographic Regions

Region	Year-to-Date 2024	Year-to-Date 2023	YTD
British Columbia	61,219,601	61,273,325	-0.09%
Vancouver	30,586,666	30,125,219	1.53%
Alberta	58,733,440	58,610,552	0.21%
Prairies*	30,212,334	29,590,842	2.10%
Ontario	169,063,064	167,759,320	0.78%
Toronto	76,009,265	76,439,840	-0.56%
Québec	102,031,569	100,701,098	1.32%
Montréal	50,683,653	50,251,622	0.86%
Atlantic Canada	31,220,769	30,180,687	3.45%
Territories*	1,642,073	1,559,031	5.33%

Thrifting growing into a mainstream retail choice for Canadians: Value Village (Study)

By

Mario Toneguzzi

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September 20, 2024

Value Village 3 — Calgary Value Village Boutique. Photo by Samantha Ungaro

Value Village, the largest for-profit thrift operator in the Canada for value priced pre-owned clothing, accessories, and housewares, has released its 2024 Thrift Report indicating how thrifting, a once niche activity, is growing into a mainstream retail choice for Canadian consumers.

“Our data clearly shows that Canadians’ attitudes and interests towards thrifting is changing how people shop,” said Nicole McPherson, Vice President of Canada Field Operations, Value Village. “With more than 40 per cent of Gen Z thrifting, we expect momentum and trends in the industry to continue. The change is driven by a number of factors including economic, environmental and social benefits.”

Value Village said the survey confirms that secondhand shopping is growing in popularity across all age groups and demographics, making it clear that thrift is reshaping the retail landscape:

90 per cent of Canadian consumers have engaged with a thrift store through shopping, donating, or both (up from 83 per cent in 2022); nearly one in three have thrifted in the past year alone, and more than 40 per cent of Gen Z are thrifters.

In-person thrift store experiences continue to dominate. Secondhand shoppers report spending 6.8 times more at brick-and-mortar thrift stores compared to online resale. Eighty-three cents of every dollar they spend on pre-owned apparel is spent in-store.

Calgary Value Village Boutique. Photo by Samantha Ungaro

Value Village said the survey shows that more than three in 10 consumers say that secondhand clothing makes up more than a quarter of their wardrobe, and nearly 40 per cent of thrifters purchase secondhand clothing at least once per month. Gen Z consumers rely on secondhand clothing even more – six in 10 say more than a quarter of their wardrobe is secondhand.

The survey found that Canadian consumers say they shop many secondhand categories beyond apparel, with more than eight in 10 having bought at least one non-apparel category. Leading categories include books (46 per cent of Canadian consumers), furniture (38 per cent of Canadian consumers), home décor (34 per cent of Canadian consumers), and housewares/kitchenware (32 per cent of Canadian consumers).

“Thrift, a once-niche retail segment, is having a major cultural moment,” said Value Village Chief Executive Officer Mark Walsh. “It is incredibly encouraging to see shoppers of all ages, and particularly younger generations, embrace the secondhand economy. This is the kind of mentality that is going to start to truly make a difference in embedding a reuse mindset in our global culture.”

Other key findings from the survey:

Drivers behind the popularity of thrift go beyond the historic draws of thrifting; while wallet-friendly prices and eco-friendly satisfaction continue to factor into shoppers’ decisions, there are several broader cultural trends contributing to the gain in momentum around thrifting;
There is an emphasis being placed on unique style. Six in 10 respondents like owning unique, one-of-a-kind items. More than one in three thrift shoppers say that secondhand is more stylish than new clothing;
Treasure hunting is a consistent draw. Half of thrift shoppers say they started thrifting because of the potential treasure hunt, and more than seven in 10 thrifters say they enjoy the treasure hunt of searching for items; a large majority of thrifters (two in three) say they have found a treasure while thrifting;
Thrifting is becoming a social pastime. Citing the enjoyment of shared experiences with friends and family, more than 40 per cent of thrifters say they consider thrift shopping a social activity that they like to do with others. Nearly eight in 10 thrifters say they spend more than 30 minutes in a store when thrifting.
Value Village said it has found a reuse for over 3.2 billion pounds of reusable clothing and housewares over the last five years, while also generating $580 million in revenue for its non-profit partners’ vital community programs and services.

Recently, the retailer opened its latest boutique concept in downtown Calgary on Stephen Avenue.

“Our Value Village boutiques tend to be located in more urban areas where retail space might be more limited. A few of our boutiques, like Calgary’s Stephen Ave or Toronto’s Brunswick House, are located in iconic or historic buildings, which offers a unique shopping experience for thrifters. Our sales floors are also merchandised a little differently than our traditional stores,” explained McPherson.

“The stores themselves are smaller than our standard Value Village locations and focus more on women’s and men’s clothing, shoes and accessories, and occasionally books and media. Due to the smaller size, our Value Village Boutique locations do not have Community Donation Centres like our traditional retail stores. Yet, despite some of these differences, our boutiques follow the same model of our larger stores where our merchandise is sourced through our more than 20 nonprofit partners across Canada.

She said the company currently has seven boutiques in Canada, including four in Toronto, two in Vancouver and one in Calgary.

“We are always looking for opportunities to bring our thrift experience to communities. Company wide, we are targeting opening approximately 25 or more new stores annually from 2025 through 2027. There’s no doubt that Canadians’ attitudes and interests towards thrifting is changing. Data from Value Village’s 2024 Thrift Report highlights how thrifting, a once niche activity, is growing into a mainstream retail choice for Canadian consumers,” added McPherson.

Randy Harris, President and Founder of Trendex North America, said “Sales of the Canadian resale apparel market in 2023 totalled C$4.2 billion vs C$71.6 billion in the United States. Last year Canadas Value Village was Canadas largest seller of preowned clothing.”

Related:

Retail sales on the increase: Statistics Canada report

By

Mario Toneguzzi

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September 20, 2024

Retail sales increased 0.9 per cent to $66.4 billion in July. Sales were up in seven of nine subsectors, led by increases at motor vehicle and parts dealers, reported Statistics Canada on Friday.

The report said core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers—were up 0.6 per cent in July and in volume terms, retail sales increased 1.0 per cent in July.

“Statistics Canada is providing an advance estimate of retail sales, which suggests that sales increased 0.5 per cent in August. Owing to its early nature, this figure will be revised. This unofficial estimate was calculated based on responses received from 52.4 per cent of companies surveyed. The average final response rate for the survey over the previous 12 months was 89.4 per cent,” said the federal agency.

In July, the largest increase in retail sales in July was observed at motor vehicle and parts dealers (+2.2 per cent). Higher sales at new car dealers (+2.3 per cent) led the increase, followed by other motor vehicle dealers (+5.6 per cent). Lower sales at used car dealers (-0.8 per cent) were offset by gains at automotive parts, accessories and tire retailers (+1.0 per cent), said StatsCan.

Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors (-0.6 per cent) were down in July. In volume terms, sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors decreased 1.7 per cent, it said.

“Core retail sales increased 0.6 per cent in July, posting their second consecutive monthly increase. The gain was led by higher sales at food and beverage retailers (+0.8 per cent) and general merchandise retailers (+0.8 per cent). Sales at food and beverage retailers were up on higher sales at supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) (+1.2 per cent) and, to a lesser extent, specialty food retailers (+2.1 per cent) and convenience retailers and vending machine operators (+0.4 per cent),” explained Statistics Canada.

“Higher sales were also reported at health and personal care retailers (+1.2 per cent) in July. The largest decrease in core retail sales in July came from building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (-1.4 per cent).

On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail e-commerce sales were up 3.4 per cent to $4.1 billion in July, accounting for 6.1 per cent of total retail trade, compared with 6.0 per cent in June, added the federal agency.

“Today’s rebound in retail sales was led by stronger auto sales, which recovered from an operational setback in June. This was enough to bring three-month average auto sales growth into positive territory for the first time since January. The rest of the categories also told an encouraging story as growth in core sales accelerated on the month, likely driven by strong population. We expect the rebound in durable goods will support growth in goods spending for Q3 resulting in total personal consumption expenditures gain of 1.0 per cent quarter-on-quarter (annualized). See our forecast,” said Maria Solovieva, CFA | Economist, with TD Economics.

“A good start to the quarter is unlikely to sway the odds decisively on whether the Bank of Canada will cut rates by 50 basis points in October. Despite the good news today and another month of projected growth, the downward trend in retail spending per capita is clear. In addition to employment and inflation figures, the Bank’s communication will be critical to watch for any signs of change in the pace of easing.”

Related Statistics Canada Article: Retail sales drop in June: Statistics Canada

Anatomy of a Leader: George Barakat, Founder and CEO of MedWorks

By

Mario Toneguzzi

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September 20, 2024

George Barakat is a long-time believer in empowering customers, patients, and associates.

The Founder and CEO of MedWorks™ Inc. excels at working with business leaders in different organizations to facilitate change and acceptance of new approaches.

Today, he possesses a comprehensive knowledge and understanding for retail healthcare, supply chain and manufacturing, with a clear vision on how to implement related business strategies. He has traveled extensively nationally and internationally building and sustaining important global relationships and partnerships.

Barakat maximizes business growth by creating effective operational strategies, while delivering an unparalleled customer experience.

Barakat was born in Toronto, was raised in Brampton and today lives in Halton Hills.

His background in education is finance, accounting and marketing.

He always knew that he wanted to be in business.

When he was in high school, Barakat and a friend started a musical consignment business.

“My father would take us over to the flea market on a Sunday and we would have a booth set up with drums, guitars, ukuleles and literally sell musical instruments at the flea market which was great and on the Monday we would go back and pay the vendor and get some more instruments and away we went,” said Barakat.

“I knew I kind of loved being in business when I had to negotiate the sale of 32 ukuleles to a competing vendor at the market and it was a very interesting negotiation. But I always loved being in business. I always loved providing services and efficiencies and product to citizens and consumers. I’ve always said, even back then as a kid, you’ve got to have the best service the best product. Your handshake is your bond and what you provide to people has to be of quality.

“You’ve got to be able to deliver in this world. That’s the key,” he said.

MedWorks is an App that empowers people to make health and wellness more accessible by bringing together services already out there and available today, in one convenient place. MedWorks brings healthcare and wellness to your door – or to your device.

Prior to MedWorks, Barakat was founder of Jack Nathan Health and served as the CEO of Jack Nathan Health® for 15 years. He is also Past President and CEO of Laila’s Inc. (art publishing and manufacturing).

For about four decades, he has cultivated and managed partnerships with some of the largest global retailers at the highest levels.

Barakat has a simple response when asked what it was about the healthcare industry that attracted him.

“Taking care of people. It was looking at the largest portion of the population and being able to make a difference. I believe that when you look at a problem or a problem like healthcare and access to healthcare, you’ve got to address these issues at the largest possible point,” he said about Jack Nathan Health in Walmart locations.

“My mindset and my passion and my heart has always stayed in that same thought process. Now with MedWorks we took the learnings of during COVID and post COVID of how the restaurant industry and grocery industry revolutionized the ability to order and have goods delivered right to your door and broadened the selection and the availability. And when we created MedWorks we thought why shouldn’t your healthcare work this way too?”

Barakat said it’s important to be able to think out of the box.

“You always have to look at when you’re communicating with any organizations small or large you have to have their customer in mind first and you have to get it right. In every organization I’ve ever done business with the first and foremost item or thing they look at and they have to address is how is this going to benefit our customer,” he said.

“And if the organization isn’t thinking that they’re probably not thinking correctly. If you get that right and you can provide honest and earnest efficiencies and products and services that are going to benefit their consumer base then what you’re doing is you’re taking care of the one thing the most important thing because every retailer, every business out there, if they’re not looking after their customer, then they’re failing.

“If you get that right, then you have to do is make sure that the program you put together with the retailer or with the individual or the corporation is mutually beneficial for you and them. And if you get those two points right you’re building out a strategy and a relationship that will span a lifetime.

“How I approach it with my team is the same thought process. I don’t believe in anybody drinking the kool-aid. I believe in making the kool-aid together. But you can’t do that if everybody isn’t focused on the consumer first, what that is going to be, how do you service that, how do you provide the best and most efficient product and service for your citizens.”

In developing a corporate culture, he said, the most important thing is to have the consumer in mind.

“It has to be,” said Barakat.

He currently serves as a board member on the Convenient Care Association of America, a non-profit organization, comprised of the largest retailers and health organizations in North America.

Previous Anatomy of a Leader features:

ReturnBear continues to expand its reach in the circular economy (Interview)

By

Mario Toneguzzi

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September 20, 2024

RETURN BEAR 20220224 — Photo courtesy of ReturnBear

The recent report Global Fashion Agenda details the advantages of circular fashion and the roadmap to its realization and a recent survey revealed that 45 per cent of brands have set targets to generate at least 10 per cent revenue from circular business models by 2040.

ReturnBear, a leader in end-to-end reverse logistics, is at the forefront of the circular fashion industry. Its returns processes support top brands like SKIMS, True Classic, and Sol Kyst.

Brands are trusting ReturnBear to optimize the full lifecycle of their ecommerce returns in both domestic and international markets. It combines comprehensive returns software with specialized reverse logistics services to give consumers a local return experience while reducing operating effort and logistics costs.

Sylvia Ng

“We launched Canada’s first and only instant refund network and we give merchants access to over 1,000 locations across the country in locations like Staples, Cadillac Fairview, HBC stores, etc.,” said Sylvia Ng, CEO of ReturnBear.

“And we’ve also more recently begun our expansion internationally. So we now have hubs in the U.S. in Portland and in Buffalo and we recently launched in the UK just north of London and we’re launching in Australia soon, before the end of the year.

“It’s focusing on cross-border returns. If we’re talking about sustainability, cross-border right now is growing at double the rate of domestic ecommerce but cross-border is also contributing to an outsized portion of emissions because as you can imagine there’s longer distances you travel when you’re dealing with cross-border returns. So what we’re trying to do with all these locations that we’re building up is obviously to keep products local where we can when the merchants can resell and get that back into their inventory as fast as we can without needing to ship it back and forth across borders.”

The company was founded in October 2021 but it didn’t launch until mid-way through 2022.

Ng said that by keeping products locally, carbon emissions can be reduced by about 40 per cent.

“It’s a huge thing and costs obviously are just kind of directly related to that. We reduce costs by around 30 to 50 per cent depending on the cases,” she said.

“The environmentalist in me is happy to see especially the younger generations care. Unfortunately I think the data still points to the fact that as much as we care, it doesn’t trump costs not in this day and age when inflation is obviously a factor in your decision making for buying.

“A lot of what we’re seeing is that merchants, and especially the ones that we work with, have to juxtapose both and ideally you reduce costs while saving on the emissions and sustainabilities in order for you to drive sales and that is obviously what ReturnBear is trying to do and we are trying to do both at the same time.”

Ng said Europe tends to be ahead in their thinking on sustainability. There are more regulations in place regarding sustainability than in North America.

“As a Canadian I would say I tend to think that we as Canadians are very good when it comes to sustainability but I think we still have a ways to go in terms of getting the regulations in place and us as consumers pushing our regulators to get more in place so that our businesses can also align with those goals.”

ReturnBear has the support of Koru, Cadillac Fairview and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in helping brands optimize their customers’ return experience while retaining revenue and reducing shipping costs.

It helps brands achieve sustainability objectives by reducing the number of packages in transit, the distances they have to travel, and by streamlining item recovery to avoid sending products to landfills.

In a previous Retail Insider article, Ng said: “The growth of e-commerce has spotlighted one of online retail’s biggest problems: returns. More online shopping means more online returns. Returns are costly for merchants and a hassle for customers, and up until now there has been no streamlined process to make this easier for Canadians,” said. “We are on a mission to make retail returns easy and accessible for everyone. We are proud to expand ReturnBear and provide a cross-country solution for Canadian retailers and shoppers alike.”

Reitmans sees comparable sales growth of 3.5% from a year ago in Q2

By

Mario Toneguzzi

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September 19, 2024

Exterior of Reitmans at West Edmonton Mall. Photo: Reitmans

Reitmans (Canada) Limited, one of Canada’s leading specialty apparel retailers, has reported comparable sales growth of 3.5 per cent for its fiscal 2025 second quarter compared to the previous year.

In a news release on Thursday, the retailer said:

Net revenues increased 0.4 per cent to $215.5 million
Adjusted EBITDA increased 21.9 per cent to $23.4 million
Gross profit margin increased 330 basis points to 59.1 per cent
Results from operating activities (“ROA”) increased 13.8 per cent to $21.5 million
Net earnings improved 17.2 per cent to $15.7 million

“We had an excellent second quarter and one of our best quarters of the past 10 years,” said Andrea Limbardi, President and CEO of RCL. “Despite operating 16 fewer stores compared to the same period last year, our net revenues were up slightly, underscoring how strongly our product offering resonated with our customers.

“Our teams successfully navigated supply chain challenges and avoided late deliveries, which ensured our stores had the right inventory at the right time. We read summer trends well, benefited from favourable weather, and successfully drove higher sales dollars and units per transaction. All of that, in addition to being less promotional during the quarter, contributed to improved gross margins and higher profitability.

“This is an exciting time for our business. We see a lot of opportunity for continued growth, selectively and strategically expanding our footprint in all three retail brands and doubling down on our menswear business. The ongoing modernization of our distribution facility remains on track and will ultimately help support our long-term vision. While the overall retail environment continues to be affected by economic uncertainty and logistics issues, we are well-positioned to drive profitable growth.”

Although Canadian consumers continued to tighten discretionary spending, net revenues were maintained mainly through improved sales dollar and units per transaction, said the retailer, adding that comparable sales, which include e-commerce net revenues, increased primarily due to increased sales per transaction.

The company operates 389 stores under three distinct banners consisting of 224 Reitmans, 85 PENN. Penningtons, and 80 RW&CO.

Randy Harris, President and Founder of Trendex North America, said, “Trendex in its Canadian Apparel Insights monthly newsletter noted that Reitmans Q2 2024 results were outstanding in light of consumer spending. However it needs to be noted that the retailers ecommerce sales fell 1.3% during the quarter and 4.8% in the first half of this year.”

Musician Post Malone partners with beverage brand poppi

By

Mario Toneguzzi

-

September 19, 2024

Screen Shot 2024-09-19 at 4.15.15 PM — Photo from poppi Instagram

poppi, the viral prebiotic soda brand revolutionizing soda for the next generation, has announced a partnership with 9x diamond-certified and GRAMMY® Award-nominated musician, Post Malone, who recently made a lifestyle change in part by giving up traditional soda.

In a news release, the company said Post has found his perfect match in poppi, a prebiotic soda with 5 grams of sugar and 25 calories per can.

“Since his now-famous public break up with traditional, sugary soda, Post has been drinking poppi – the full-flavored, deliciously refreshing modern soda that gives people the freedom to love soda again. The authenticity of his personal soda story, the positive impact it has had on his health, and his genuine love for the brand quickly got the attention of the poppi team, including Texas-based founders Allison and Stephen Ellsworth,” it said.

“The partnership was so authentic for both poppi and Post, and we could not be more excited,” said Allison Ellsworth, Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer at poppi. “We’re on a mission to revolutionize soda for the next generation, and who better to help us usher that message than global superstar Post Malone who has such an impactful, personal story to share.”

The beverage company said it is debuting a custom 12oz can of Wild Berry poppi, Post’s favorite flavor, exclusively at Kroger. Labeled “Posty’s Soda,” the unique can tells his story of quitting soda until he found poppi, with a classic Post aesthetic and nod to Texas, where both he and poppi are from.

“I’m excited to partner with Allison, Stephen and the entire poppi team to bring the future of soda to everyone,” said Post.

What originally started as a home-brewed concoction quickly became a farmers’ market favorite turned Shark Tank investment and is now available at major retailers. poppi’s brand-first approach, cultural cache, and rapid growth has nurtured an incredibly loyal fan base, including celeb fans like Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner, Billie Eilish, Russell Westbrook, Jennifer Lopez, Olivia Munn, and more.

Rebelstork secures investment to help growth plans

By

Mario Toneguzzi

-

September 19, 2024

Emily Hosie - Photo courtesy of Rebelstork

Rebelstork, North America’s largest baby gear returns recommerce marketplace, has announced a new investment funding that will help the company build upon its innovative solution to the baby gear industry’s pressing returns crisis.

Launched in 2020, Rebelstork said its proprietary technology diverts the largest assortment of overstock and retailer-returned baby gear away from landfills and into customers’ homes at a fraction of the retail price. The $18M Series A was led by Maveron Ventures with participation from Serena Ventures, Marcy Venture Partners, and existing seed investor Golden Ventures.

“We are seeing an exciting shift in the retail industry where global iconic brands and mass retailers are majorly stepping up to change the bad habits in their returns supply chain,” said Emily Hosie, Founder and CEO of Rebelstork. “At the same time, we’re seeing a new generation of shoppers embracing returns recommerce in a big way. Rebelstork has created the solution. Our innovative technology and marketplace was created to bridge the gap by offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution for both parents and brands.“

Rebelstork said it is partnered with more than 2,500 brands across 45 categories (including leading baby brands Million Dollar Baby, BabyBjörn, 4moms, and Ergobaby), as well as mass retailers, including Target to create new revenue streams and mitigate return costs using the Rebelstork technology and marketplace. It said it has also seen significant traction among a new generation of shoppers who are driving the demand by opening their minds to quality-checked open-box (never used, simply returned) discounted goods.

“The rise of online shopping and the convenience of purchasing items without physically seeing them has led to a surge in returns across all retail verticals, costing the industry more than $800B annually and the baby gear industry, specifically, close to $16B annually. Rebelstork is the first company to effectively build the technology required to address the challenge of returns and overstocks, saving over 12 Million pounds of waste from landfills annually. Through the development of several proprietary technologies and processes, Rebelstork has emerged as the gold standard for baby gear returns recommerce. By giving each item a unique identifier and implementing a rigorous quality-check process dubbed the “Rebby Pinky Promise,” Rebelstork provides supply partners with a sustainable solution, addressing their challenges and concerns while creating a new revenue stream. This innovative approach ensures that only quality-approved returns are resold, diverting these products from landfills and promoting a circular economy,” explained Rebelstork in a news release.

Rebelstork said its REV™ pricing technology has become the AI market-maker in the price-reduced baby gear market by providing the real-time pricing strategy to optimize ROI and its unique deal batch technology system streamlines the returns recommerce process, providing full transparency and comprehensive insights for their partners into the handling of their products.

“As the returns crisis continues to escalate, finding sustainable solutions will be crucial for both businesses and consumers in the long run,” said Jason Stoffer, General Partner at Maveron. “Emily and the Rebelstork team invented a new market while creating impressive technology to do it effectively. They are proving to the retail industry that there is a solution that is better for our planet while also generating a new revenue stream for partners. Their innovative approach benefits savvy shoppers and contributes to a more environmentally conscious and socially responsible generation of consumers.”

Female-founded and proudly certified as a B-Corporation, Rebelstork was established to empower shoppers, brands, and retailers to participate actively in the circular economy. Rebelstork plans to use the Series A investment to launch new products, expand operations, and grow the team.

Tupperware Bankruptcy Filing Shakes Iconic Brand’s Future

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Retail Insider

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September 19, 2024

Tupperware, the iconic food storage brand that revolutionized home organization, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid ongoing financial struggles. The company is at critical juncture as it seeks to protect its brand while pursuing a digital transformation.

Decades of Success Give Way to Modern Challenges

Tupperware’s journey began in 1946 when chemist Earl Tupper created airtight plastic containers inspired by paint can seals. The brand exploded in popularity during the mid-20th century, largely due to its innovative sales model of home-based “Tupperware parties.” These gatherings allowed women to run their own businesses, selling products within their social circles.

However, recent years have seen Tupperware facing mounting financial difficulties. Sales have steadily declined since 2018, with the company struggling to compete against rising competition from cheaper alternatives and online platforms. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a brief sales boost, but it wasn’t enough to reverse the overall downward trend.

Tupperware Bankruptcy Filing: A Path to Transformation

Tupperware’s president and CEO emphasized that the bankruptcy process is intended to support moving the company to a digital-first strategy.

The company reported over $1.2 billion US in total debts and $679.5 million US in total assets in its bankruptcy petition. Tupperware’s stock has plummeted 75% this year, closing at approximately 50 cents per share prior to the announcement.

The Future of Tupperware Parties and Sales Model

Despite the financial turmoil, Tupperware maintains that there are currently no changes to its independent sales consultant agreements. The company still partners with a global sales force of over 465,000 consultants who sell products on a freelance basis across nearly 70 countries, including Canada.

Related Retail Bankruptcy Articles: Lastman’s Bad Boy Furniture Proceeds to Liquidation Following Bankruptcy

Canada Goose Partners with Marchon for Luxury Eyewear

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Retail Insider

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September 19, 2024

Toronto-based performance and outerwear brand Canada Goose is partnering with Marchon Eyewear to introduce an eyewear collection. This collaboration is a first for Canada Goose as it expands its product line into the luxury eyewear market.

Marchon Eyewear Canada Goose Partnership Unveils Sustainable Vision

The exclusive, long-term global licensing agreement between Marchon Eyewear and Canada Goose will bring a new line of sun and optical styles to consumers worldwide. Set to debut in Spring 2025, the collection will feature Canada Goose’s signature design elements and performance features.

Sustainability at the Core of New Eyewear Line

Both companies say that they share a commitment to sustainability, which is reflected in their choice of materials for the new eyewear line. The collection will incorporate eco-friendly options such as Eastman Acetate Renew™, plant-based resin, and titanium.

Thomas Burkhardt, President of Marchon Eyewear, highlighted the shared values of quality, craftsmanship, and design between the two companies. Dani Reiss, Chairman & CEO of Canada Goose, views it as an opportunity to create a lifestyle brand and deepen connections with consumers across all seasons.

The new eyewear collection will be available through various channels, including select optical retailers, department stores, Canada Goose stores, and online platforms such as www.canadagoose.com and www.eyeconic.com in the US.

This strategic move allows Canada Goose to extend its brand presence beyond outerwear, offering customers a complete luxury performance experience. It also provides Marchon Eyewear with an opportunity to leverage Canada Goose’s strong reputation in the premium market. Canada Goose, which began selling outdoor wear including parkas, has since expanded into categories including fashion, footwear, accessories and even swim wear.

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Tupperware Bankruptcy Filing Shakes Iconic Brand’s Future

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Canada Goose Partners with Marchon for Luxury Eyewear

Marchon Eyewear Canada Goose Partnership Unveils Sustainable Vision

Sustainability at the Core of New Eyewear Line

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