It’s a strategy that mid-market department store retail Hudson Bay Company followed when it purchased Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue several years ago, though its talks with another luxury market leader, Neiman Marcus, have now ended. If you can’t beat them, join them by buying them.” Both companies gain entrance into market segments they need to be in and quickly gain expertise to be successful. Interestingly, these acquisitions wouldn’t be nearly so surprising if they had happened the other way around – Amazon/Bonobos and Walmart/Whole Foods. Bonobos provides value for what the product actually is, not lowest price in the market but in the premium market it is a very well-priced product. It is a different mindset and a new direction to Walmart’s heritage mission.”

Source: Forbes June 18, 2017 11:53 UTC