British philosopher Alan Watts once said, “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it and join the dance.” As the American retail landscape continues to change, it seems as though mass merchandiser chains are joining this “dance.”

More than 20 years ago, Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer began carrying its first craft brew. Today, the retailer remains committed to the growing industry and supporting up-and-coming local breweries across the Midwest, it says.

The world of retail is ever-changing, and retailers continually have to innovate and adapt to the changing times and consumer.

During the recession, private-label products enjoyed increasing popularity as consumers looked for new ways to save on everyday purchases during the economic downturn. In fact, U.S. consumers spent $120 billion on private-label products during the past year, marking a year-over-year increase of 2.1 percent, according to Chicago-based Information Resources Inc. (IRI). However, this growth now seems to be leveling off, and this small uptick was largely driven by price increases, it reports.

Social media channels have allowed many of us to make connections that previously weren’t possible. For instance, my Swedish penpal from when I was in third and fourth grade found me on Facebook a few years ago, allowing us to make the international connection once again.

In today’s fast-paced world with little down time, consumers are looking for quick, in-and-out shopping trips that fit into their busy lifestyles, says Susan Viamari, editor of thought leadership at Information Resources Inc. (IRI), Chicago.

With more than 2,500 different paths to purchase, it’s no surprise that consumers are changing how they shop, where they shop and when they shop.

Between 2010 and 2012, the mass merchandisers channel declined nearly 3 percent, according to data from Euromonitor International, Chicago.