Abercombie & Fitch cuts inventory by 30%.

This approach has resulted in higher profit margins for Abercrombie.

Welcome to the Retailist Roundup - As summer winds down, the transition to fall brings with it a surge in back-to-school trends and an uptick in business news. Here, we provide you with the latest updates in ecommerce, retail, and DTC brands, curated directly by our editors.

We've distilled the past week to present the most significant headlines, emerging trends, and insights from global retail experts. Here's a look at the standout topics this week:

New from Retailist

Jewelry loving stars such as Harry Styles and Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton are inspiring a new generation of men to accessorize with rings, bracelets and chains.

The report is specifically designed to aid senior ecommerce leaders in their strategic planning. The findings presented offer a snapshot into consumer preferences, enabling ecommerce decision-makers to sharpen their discounting and promotional strategies for 2023.

Have an exclusive scoop on a retail story? Click here to email our team.

In the News: This week’s top headlines

With supply chain ‘in a good place’, Abercombie & Fitch cuts inventory by 30%. Abercrombie & Fitch has reduced its inventory by 30% due to an efficient supply chain, leading to improved operations and increased profits. Enhanced transportation, better fulfillment rates, and increased factory production capacity have enabled the company to swiftly respond to demand and maintain disciplined inventory management. This approach has resulted in higher profit margins for Abercrombie, with other industry players like Guess Inc. and Kohl’s also leveraging improved supply chains to cut back on inventory. [Supply Chain Dive]

Flexport CEO Dave Clark resigns from logistics startup after one year in the role. Dave Clark is stepping down as CEO of logistics startup Flexport after just one year, handing leadership back to founder Ryan Petersen. Clark's decision followed discussions about the company's focus on its core freight business. This move was unexpected, as Flexport had not informed its investors prior to the public announcement, and this comes shortly after Clark's resignation from Amazon's worldwide consumer business. [CNBC]

‘Successful digital transformation should also mean return on investment.’ Leading retailers have prioritized digital transformation, investing in updating IT systems, enhancing ecommerce platforms, and utilizing data analytics. Alvarez & Marsal's Erin Brookes believes that the current environment offers retailers a chance to fully exploit technological advancements, ensuring a return on investment. This shift is evident throughout the value chain, with the rise of chatbots, AI-driven product suggestions, and automated warehouses. [Retail Week]

Aldi targets 500 new UK stores as it opens 1,000th location. Aldi has inaugurated its 1,000th UK store in Woking, Surrey, and aims to open 500 more, targeting a total of 1,500 stores in the UK. This expansion is part of Aldi's £1.3bn two-year investment plan, driven by the growing demand, with two-thirds of Brits shopping at Aldi. Additionally, Aldi was recently named the UK's cheapest supermarket for the 15th consecutive month by a consumer group. [Retail Gazette]

National Retail Federation acquires Reverse Logistics Association. The National Retail Federation (NRF) has acquired the Reverse Logistics Association (RLA), a global trade group for product returns and reverse logistics, for an undisclosed amount. This move positions NRF prominently in a rapidly growing sector of global commerce. The global reverse logistics market, valued at $731.3 billion in 2022, is expected to grow at a 9.4% compound annual rate from 2023 to 2030, driven by the expansion of e-commerce and increasing product returns and recalls. [Yahoo Finance]

More companies are failing as the Fed’s war on Inflation weighs on businesses. The Federal Reserve's interest-rate hikes have led to an increase in company bankruptcies, with a 17% jump in failed firms between July and August. This marks the 13th consecutive month of rising individual and commercial bankruptcies. The rate hikes, which saw interest rates rise from near-zero to about 5.5% between March 2022 and July, were aimed at curbing inflation but have made borrowing more costly for companies, especially smaller businesses, leading to heightened bankruptcy risks and concerns about economic turmoil. [Insider]

US House panel chair: wider Chinese iPhone ban aims to quash Apple’s market access. China has expanded its ban on state employees using Apple's iPhones, a move seen as an attempt to limit a Western company's market access, according to the chairman of the U.S. House panel on China. This comes as tensions between the U.S. and China rise, causing Apple's shares to drop by about 3%. Both Apple and China's State Council Information Office have yet to comment on the reported ban. [Reuters]

Job Board: This week’s Top Openings in DTC, RetailTech, and more

Want to submit a role to our talent board? Email [email protected].

  • Senior Process Engineer (Remote) COVER GENIUS - more here

  • Digital Retail Performance Manager (Cambridge) CARGURUS - more here

  • Senior Data Analyst - Marketplace (New York, NY) SEATGEEK - more here

  • Business Intelligence (BI) Manager (Austin, TX) INKIND - more here

  • Senior Analyst, Ad Analytics & Measurement (Chicago, IL) WALGREENS - more here

✈️ Upcoming Industry Events – mention Retailist at one of these events for 15% off a promotion bundle

Email [email protected] to learn more.

ABOUT RETAILIST

Retailist Magazine is an outlet focused on modern commerce as it relates to digital innovation. The publication examines our culture’s ever-evolving relationship with marketing, commerce and traditional retail. Our goal is to connect our audience to quality content and award programs for retail brands to tell their story of innovation. The publication was launched in Summer 2020 with overwhelming support from thought leaders across the globe.

These experts stand at the helm of their niche in retail and provide readers with real-time, trending insights to ensure you remain on the bleeding edge of commerce innovation. Contributing thought leaders include C-suite executives from Hubspot, Wix, Printful, Global-e, Zapaygo, TradeGala, Birdie, Inurface Media, and more.