NRF’s Top 100 Retailers list began as a rundown of top department and specialty stores. As the industry evolved, the list ranked the largest companies by sales; those who made the list this year have high levels of efficiency, strong brand recognition and innovate with technology.
Rachel Dalton, director of ecommerce and omnichannel insights at Kantar, the agency that compiles NRF’s Top 100 and Hot 100 lists, joined the Retail Gets Real podcast to break down this year’s lists.
Walmart has dominated the Top 100 list for years and 2020 is no different, as the retailer maintains its strong core strategy, Dalton said. Following close behind at No. 2 is Amazon, a leader in the digital space with a vision of being the “everything store,” delivering on-demand products and services. A key pillar for Amazon is its Prime loyalty program, Dalton said, where 57 percent of U.S. shoppers were members last year. These members tend to shop and spend more, fueling Amazon’s growth.
Check out our full 2020 Hot 100 Retailers list here.
Those on the Hot 100 list, which ranks the fastest growing retailers, include both large and small retailers that have invested in digital, omnichannel and creating memorable customer experiences.
Lidl is No. 1 on the Hot 100 this year. Its model of discovery and weekly themes is a unique factor that most big box retailers can’t compete with. “You want shopping to be efficient and convenient, but you also want to enjoy yourself while you're doing it,” Dalton said. “I think that's a big theme across the Hot 100.”
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