The Latest

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    Shaun Lucas/Retail Dive/Retail Dive, data from Getty Images
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    Retail sales rise 5% in February

    Consumers continued spending despite financial worries, though the report reflects an economy untouched by the Iran war and rising gas prices.

    Updated April 1, 2026
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    Stock.adobe.com/晨 晨

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    Sponsored by MindBridge

    Retail’s hidden margin risk isn’t external, it’s operational

    Small financial inconsistencies at scale are quietly compounding into material loss.

  • A Nike storefront at The Grove shopping center in Los Angeles, California.
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    Cara Salpini/Retail Dive
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    Nike’s recovery taking longer than expected. Is patience running thin?

    CEO Elliot Hill on Tuesday said the company is not satisfied, but that he’s confident in the direction. 

  • A blue Amer Sports banner hangs on a building, with American flags blowing.
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    Permission granted by Amer Sports
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    Why Amer Sports is all in on IT modernization

    The parent company of Salomon and Arc’teryx will boost capital expenditures to $400 million amid ongoing infrastructure overhauls.

  • A Dollar Tree store with a large green and white sign above the entrance, located in a shopping center. The building has a beige exterior with green trim and large windows displaying promotional signs. Several parked cars are visible in the foreground, and a leafless tree stands on the left side of the image under a clear blue sky.
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    Alamy
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    Dollar Tree makes distribution, tech upgrades

    As part of its supply chain modernization efforts, the retailer is replacing its legacy systems with AI-powered platforms.

  • An illustration of a person hanging onto a coin in rough seas.
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    Adeline Kon/Retail Dive
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    Tracker

    The running list of major retail bankruptcies

    A number of companies have experienced bankruptcies at the start of 2026, including Saks Global, Pat McGrath Cosmetics and Francesca’s. 

    Updated Nov. 25, 2025
  • Exterior of an Allbirds store in Washington, D.C.'s Georgetown neighborhood
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    Caroline Jansen/Retail Dive
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    Aerosoles owner agrees to buy Allbirds for $39M

    Sales plummeted last year and the direct-to-consumer footwear brand, which has never turned a profit, closed all full-price U.S. stores in Q1.

  • Gigi Perez plays guitar in a Hollister video
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    Courtesy of Hollister
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    Why Hollister made a music video instead of a traditional ad campaign

    The Abercrombie & Fitch Co. brand teamed with singer-songwriter Gigi Perez to cover a Green Day classic as part of its largest summer campaign to date.

  • Photo of the black exterior of a New Balance store
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    Permission granted by New Balance
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    New Balance partners with Kizik’s parent company for hands-free tech

    The licensing deal with HandsFree Labs will bring slip-in sneakers to New Balance customers by next year.

  • People walking in a mall near a Macy's department store at the holidays
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Macy’s introduces AI-powered shopping assistant

    After an initial dark launch, Ask Macy’s helps users discover brands and receive personalized product recommendations. 

  • Pamela Anderson poses on set for Aerie's "100% Aerie Real" campaign.
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    Courtesy of Aerie
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    How Aerie is pushing back against AI content with Pamela Anderson

    Chief marketer Stacey McCormick explains how the brand is spreading the word around its October pledge against using AI-generated bodies in its marketing.

  • An employee assists a customer at The Home Depot store.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Consumers want associates to handle follow-up communication

    Shoppers want personalized communication, but they want it to come directly from staff, which can in turn drive sales, an Endear study found.

  • A retail store with J.Jill branding depicted from the sidewalk, featuring large planters.
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    Courtesy of J.Jill
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    J. Jill sales decline continues amid tough economic backdrop

    The apparel retailer is working to expand its customer base after a challenging holiday period, with Q4 sales dropping 3.1%.

  • Two people cross the street in denim jackets and bottoms.
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    Courtesy of Fabletics
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    Deep Dive

    Activewear isn’t over. Everything’s just apparel now.

    The lines between apparel, activewear and everything in between have only continued to blur. That isn’t a problem, except if the customer says it is.

  • The front entrance of an RH store with a blue sky
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    Nate Delesline III/Retail Dive
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    RH builds out global strategy with leadership appointments

    David Stanchak rejoined as chief real estate and transformation officer, while Veronica Schnitzius was named chief manufacturing and sourcing officer.

  • Exterior of an Ulta store
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    Kaarin Vembar/Retail Dive
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    Ulta doubled store fulfillment capabilities in 2025

    The beauty retailer grew its ship-from-store program to 1,000 stores in fiscal year 2025, while its fulfillment center footprint remained flat compared to 2024.

  • Barbie Cameron, Max Magni and Romaine Bostick at Shoptalk Spring 2026.
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    Courtesy of Shoptalk
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    Retail leaders on embracing AI: ‘We have to keep trying things’

    The theme of Shoptalk Spring was “Retail in the Age of AI.” Executives had strong opinions on the matter.

  • A New York City street.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Marks & Spencer turns to Nordstrom stores for its fashion debut

    The U.K. retailer, iconic at home but only vaguely known elsewhere, is looking to expand worldwide.

  • Various Salt & Stone products, including body wash, deodorant and body spray
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    Courtesy of Salt & Stone
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    Advent International acquires majority stake in Salt & Stone

    Following the deal, which is expected to close next month, the body care brand’s current senior management will continue leading the company.

  • Outside storefront image of The Home Depot
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    Courtesy of The Home Depot
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Gabe’s in search of top leadership and Home Depot’s latest acquisition

    After avoiding bankruptcy, the off-pricer’s CEO and a few CFOs have left. Meanwhile, the home improvement retailer bought Mingledorff’s.

  • A Dollar General sign as seen from below.
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    Scott Olson / Staff via Getty Images
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    Dollar General slashes 1,500 SKUs, boosts in-stocks

    Further SKU reductions are on the horizon as the retailer prioritizes leaner inventories and a simpler supply chain.

  • Woman looks at labeling on grocery items
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    Getty Images
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    Consumer sentiment falls 6%, hit by declining stocks, higher gas prices

    Household expectations for inflation in 12 months rose to 3.8% from 3.4% in February in the biggest one-month gain since April 2025, the University of Michigan found in a survey.

  • The Home Depot Chief Information Officer Angie Brown and Executive Vice President of Customer Experience Jordan Broggi speaking on a panel at Shoptalk Spring in Las Vegas.
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    Permission granted by Shoptalk
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    In the age of AI, Home Depot’s stores have ‘never been more relevant’

    While the retailer has been ramping up its AI-powered offerings, it aims to provide a frictionless experience across a customer’s shopping journey, wherever that may be.

  • Shoe Carnival storefront from Mesquite
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    Permission granted by Shoe Carnival
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    Shoe Carnival scales back rebrand

    In some areas customers didn’t react well to merchandising changes after stores were converted to the Shoe Station banner.

  • Someone wearing a helmet rides by a store on a motorcycle.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Designer Brands brings together US, Canada retail businesses

    The combined entity will give a “streamlined reporting structure,” and enable collaboration. Meanwhile, the retailer posted flat Q4 sales and a comps drop.

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    Kendall Davis/Retail Dive
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    Podcast

    The Backroom: Consumer resilience in trying times

    Katie Thomas of the Kearney Consumer Institute talks about nuances in the K-shaped economy that help explain why discretionary retail sales have remained strong despite shoppers’ wariness.