Celebrate today, yes, but...

When I look at the headlines of what's happening at retail, it looks like this year, like most, will not be immune to change. While inflation is softening (finally), consumers will continue to make shifts in order to best take care of their families and finances.

"Asked how they were dealing with the higher prices, 57% of respondents said that they were buying less food, 52% said that they were buying less expensive store brands, and 48% said that they were buying less expensive national brands. Thirty-seven percent of respondents said that they were shopping at less expensive grocery stores".¹

Our collective experience over the last few years created trends

The last few years have also given rise to new routines and new consumption patterns. In a recent article, "Where are Consumers Heads - and Wallets - This Year?" two trends jumped out that highlighted opportunities at retail:

"With consumers refocusing their priorities during a stress-filled decade, Euromonitor emphasized the emerging importance of short-term buying approaches that often include surprise-and-delight items. Euromonitor’s experts recommended that businesses create campaigns targeting special occasions and offer instant gratifications that can still fit within budget constraints."²

The other day CODA, our DE&I Council was joined by Ginger as well as Our House, Working Families ERG for a panel discussion to help our company's parents and those that lead them. Here are some themes and suggestions that emerged during the conversation.

Being a parent provides us with some of life’s most precious moments, but it also can present challenging ones as well. For working parents, juggling responsibilities at home with a career can certainly be stressful. As we approach another school year and many working parents transition back to the office, the family dynamic may be changing once again!

The Top Women In Grocery (TWIG) is an award that recognizes some of the most influential women in the industry.  All across the United States, hard-working and dedicated women put their best feet forward each day to ensure success with their business, co-workers and the retail space itself. 

Happy Red Nose Day!

The other day I went grocery shopping. I took a small cart and began my usual path through the store. I didn’t find Mandarin oranges, so I asked a helpful clerk if they had any. He mentioned that while there were on promotion the next day, but had not arrived, citing supply-chain issues. I continued on with my shopping. At check out, I was presented with a bill that was higher than expected. ~ By a lot! I was aware we are experiencing price inflation but was completely caught off guard.

In fact, we are seeing the highest inflation in years. Currently, the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) inflation in the US is at 6.8%¹. While the drivers of inflation are complex, it does make sense that prices are increasing when supply-chain issues and unprecedented labor shortages are straining the system.

We begin a new year, and with it comes the motivation to "be better", to "do better".  We take what we learn from our previous and apply our own changes in order to improve ourselves.  This is what is important. As unique individuals, "better" isn't the same for everyone, and while there are some universal truths, such as getting enough sleep, eating healthy, reducing stress, and moving your body, there are many diverse thoughts as to how to accomplish those things. 

I grew up in  very small town.  So small, that I knew every first, middle and last name of every student in my graduating class.  Mostly because I had grown up with the same classmates since kindergarten.  It was a sort of community where change rarely happened, and when it did, an opinionated wave of uproar and rabble spread, regardless of the change's origin or intent.