Adam Blair

Eatertainment — a somewhat ungainly word describing everything from a bowling alley with a humble snack bar to immersive food-and-high-tech environments — succeeds best when it provides an escape from the everyday as well as a strong sense of community and camaraderie, according to an August 2024 report from MG2, For the Thrill of It: Eatertainment Experiences That Cater to All.

Every interaction between a consumer and a brand is part of the overall retail experience. This could be a billboard or advertisement on the street, the look and feel of a storefront design, or the physical and digital displays within a shop. They even influence how employees engage with customers and deliver value.

Save A Lot has rolled out the ReposiTrak Traceability Network (RTN) to provide automated traceability and compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act Section 204 (FSMA 204). The law, designed to prevent foodborne illnesses by strengthening the ability to track and trace food through all stages of the supply chain, will become mandatory in 2026, but Save A Lot, a discount wholesaler serving approximately 750 independently owned groceries, has committed to being ahead of the curve.

Mall operator Simon has unveiled its Meet Me @themall campaign, blending ’80s and ’90s nostalgia to capture Gen Z’s enthusiasm for in-person shopping and all things retro. The campaign is now live on premium streaming services including Netflix, Peacock, Hulu and Disney+ as well as on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Simon’s owned channels and in its shopping centers across the U.S. Additionally, Simon has launched @themall social channels on TikTok and Instagram.

Seeking to score in the fast-growing resale market, luggage brand Béis has launched Second Béis using the Trove platform. The ecommerce experience from Trove, which acquired the full-service resale platform Recurate in August 2024, includes mixed-cart functionality that allows customers to combine both new and used products in a single checkout.

After a long period of inflation, pet owners now want lower prices in the category, reducing how much they spend on pet food, treats and toys.

Host JB Smoove and panelists Michelle Rothman, Jamie Siminoff and Tabitha Brown. Photo credit: Michael Becker, Prime Video

JCPenney and Rare Beauty Brands have selected 10 finalists for the 2024 LIFT Beauty Accelerator program, which was created to empower female-identifying founders from underrepresented backgrounds. LIFT will support five early-stage brands from these communities with $10,000 grants, retail distribution and mentorship from beauty executives.

It’s understandable that retailers are frustrated by persistently high product return rates, especially for ecommerce purchases ( 15.4% following holiday 2023, according to the National Retail Federation). Retailers can try to reduce returns by charging fees or adding/keeping friction to the process, but too-stringent policies risk annoying consumers — or worse, discouraging them from making any purchase.

Dick’s Sporting Goods will expand its use of sourcing solutions from Inspectorio, incorporating traceability as it centralizes its production chain activities under the solution provider’s AI platform.