The Latest

  • 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
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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.

  • 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. 

  • 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%.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • David's Bridal opens a store in Naperville, Illinois.
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    Courtesy of David's Bridal
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    David’s Bridal reshapes C-suite for the AI era

    The retailer named a CTO, chief global transformation and operations officer, and is on the hunt for its next CFO.

  • A quotation mark on a blue background.
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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.

  • A GameStop location.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    GameStop closed over 700 stores last year

    That amounts to more than 1,300 over the past two fiscal years, though the gaming retailer said it doesn’t expect any major footprint reductions in 2026. 

  • A hanging store sign with REI's logo on it.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    REI faces possible anniversary sale boycott after abandoning labor talks

    The REI Union, expressing confidence that the retailer’s customers would join workers in sending a message, will finalize a decision by May 1.

  • A boot display in Tecovas' SoHo flagship in New York City
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    Permission granted by Tecovas
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    How Tecovas is leveraging AI to improve the store experience

    The boot brand is using the tech to help with inventory replenishment and allocation, and foster better interactions between associates and customers.

  • A store entrance on a sunny day.
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    Courtesy of Nordstrom
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    Nordstrom to close 2 full-line stores despite top-line strength last year

    Anchors at malls in Delaware and Texas will close this spring, but the off-price Rack fleet continues to grow, with plans to add 23 locations in 2026.

  • A store employee wearing a red Target vest puts health and beauty products on a store shelf.
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    Courtesy of Target
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    Retailers report shrink levels down from pandemic highs

    Is the improvement from addressing theft, operational weaknesses or accounting gaps? It’s probably a combination, but most aren’t saying.

  • Amanda Bailey, Lowe's Vice President of Customer Marketing and Loyalty, speaks to an audience at Shoptalk Spring
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    Permission granted by Shoptalk
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    How Lowe’s creator network is winning over the next generation of shoppers

    The home improvement retailer has partnered with content creators like MrBeast to connect with Gen Alpha long before they purchase their first home.