Velocity Institute

About Christopher Durham

Christopher Durham is the president of the Velocity Institute. Prior to this he founded the groundbreaking site My Private Brand. He is the co-founder of The Vertex Awards. He began his retail career building brands at Food Lion and Lowe’s Home Improvement. Durham has worked with retailers around the world, including Albertsons, Family Dollar, Petco, Staples, Office Depot, Best Buy, Metro Canada. Durham has published seven definitive books on private brands, including Fifty2: The My Private Brand Project and Vanguard: Vintage Originals.
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Amazon, Sr. Product Manager – Private Label

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_column _builder_version="4.4.8" type="4_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.8" hover_enabled="0"] DESCRIPTION Do you have a passion for products? Do you want to work on a fast-paced new project and build a business from the ground up? Do you have proven analytical capabilities, exceptional communication, project management skills, and the ability to multi-task and thrive in a fast-paced

Amazon, Sr. Product Manager – Private Label2021-12-15T20:03:12-05:00

Networking Made Simple: 7 Ways To Connect at Velocity

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.4.8" custom_padding="0px|||||"][et_pb_row column_structure="2_3,1_3" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_column type="2_3" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.8" text_line_height="1.9em"]For the first time ever, the Velocity Conference is coming to you in a content-packed, online virtual event unlike anything you’ve attended before – the first ever global private brand event. With more than 30 retail executives from around the world presenting you have an unparalleled

Networking Made Simple: 7 Ways To Connect at Velocity2021-09-15T09:40:20-04:00

Sip into summer: Asda Launches Three New Private Brand Gins

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.8"]Ready to taste a trip down memory lane? British retailer Asda has announced the launch of three brand new private brand Extra Special gins, inspired by traditional sweet shop flavors; Extra Special Strawberry Laces Gin, Extra Special Cola Cube Gin and Extra Special Rhubarb and Custard Gin. Revel in nostalgia with these

Sip into summer: Asda Launches Three New Private Brand Gins2021-09-15T09:40:20-04:00

COVID-19 Will Separate The Optimists From The Pessimists

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" admin_label="section" _builder_version="3.22"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" _builder_version="3.25" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="|||" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.8"]This guest post comes from James Butcher is CEO of Solutions for Retail Brands (S4RB). I think we can all agree that very few people are unaffected by COVID-19, and the impact will last for months or years to come. But one thing is

COVID-19 Will Separate The Optimists From The Pessimists2021-09-15T09:40:21-04:00

Kroger’s Simple Truth Innovates On Instagram

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_column _builder_version="4.4.8" type="4_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.8" hover_enabled="0"]https://www.instagram.com/p/CBnhtZrAP5t/Cincinnati based grocer Kroger continues to innovate with its $2b+ private brand Simple Truth this time with marketing aimed directly at the social media savvy. Kroger innovation chef's Alyssa and Mike are pumping out energetic 3-4 minute recipe/cooking Instagram videos that seem to be catching the attention of

Kroger’s Simple Truth Innovates On Instagram2021-09-15T09:40:21-04:00

Just The Lobsters – Trader Joe’s

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.8"]It was only a matter of time before candy evolution would take its course and we would see which private brand Trader Joe’s Scandinavian Swimmer would rise to the top of the gummy-food chain… Turns out, it’s the Lobsters who have clawed their way to the top of our TJ's customer

Just The Lobsters – Trader Joe’s2021-09-15T09:40:21-04:00

Sweet Private Brand Fun From ASDA

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.8"]Inspired by the ‘Gin Explosion’ int he United Kingdom and the ever-growing trend of mocktails. Asda wanted to create a private brand candy design that was fun feeling, bright, and trend-inspired that could resonate with a variety of audiences. Our result was a design created by OurCreative that combines

Sweet Private Brand Fun From ASDA2021-09-15T09:40:21-04:00

7 Trends Impacting the Retail Amid a Global Pandemic and Beyond

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.8" min_height="2768px" hover_enabled="0"] As of April 2020, eCommerce year-over-year growth was up 68%, surpassing 40% of total retail sales. Convenience continues to reign supreme as more than half of consumers reported their willingness to spend more to get what they need. In 2019, 40% of consumers were willing to pay the same or more for private labels;

7 Trends Impacting the Retail Amid a Global Pandemic and Beyond2021-09-15T09:40:21-04:00

Kroger Reports Strong First Quarter 2020 Results

Kroger today reported its first-quarter 2020 results, provided a Restock Kroger progress update on the three-year transformation plan and an update to the COVID-19 response. Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen commented "The COVID-19 pandemic and the most recent instances of racial injustice have changed our country in unmistakable ways, not the least of which is

Kroger Reports Strong First Quarter 2020 Results2022-02-16T09:21:22-05:00

Velocity Conference: The Secrets to Developing Transparent Private Brands

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.4.8"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.8"]Today I am excited to announce the next presentation for the 2020 Virtual edition of Velocity Global: the My Private Brand Conference taking place August 4-5, 2020. Paul Woodward, Senior Director, Solutions Management Group, Oracle will take the Velocity stage to present The Secrets to Developing Transparent Private Brands. Paul pioneered and founded the first

Velocity Conference: The Secrets to Developing Transparent Private Brands2021-09-15T09:40:21-04:00

Velocity is the global industry association focused on retailers and their brands across all categories and channels. Velocity is leading the game-changing shift to radically transform the private label industry into RETAIL BRANDCENTRIC & CONSUMER FOCUSED. ALL retailers, manufacturers, and solution partners dedicated to helping to build Retail-owned Brands are invited to join the Institute.

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