Serta Simmons completes Beautyrest brand portfolio with 2 launches

The company is introducing collections to a portfolio that is meant to support customers at a variety of price points. 

Another Amazon Go will close next month

The retailer will shutter its c-store in Woodland Hills, California, on Feb. 26. Its total store count has decreased by about 50% since early 2023.

Retailers have made progress on phasing out harmful chemicals, nonprofits say

Reports from Toxic-Free Future and Clean Production Action analyzed how companies are addressing PFAS, PVC and other chemicals of concern in plastics, packaging and more.

Vince Holding Corp. sells majority stake to P180, former CEO returns

Brendan Hoffman, formerly of Wolverine World Wide, is returning to the top spot at Vince after holding the role from 2015 to 2020.

Bloomingdale’s to close San Francisco Centre anchor

The move will leave the struggling mall with another space to fill, and the luxury department store’s only full-line locations outside the city.

At NRF, 40,000 humans contemplate AI

Artificial intelligence is useful to many areas of retail, from sourcing to customer service, making it a hot topic during this year’s Big Show. 

Fanatics Collectibles to open first flagship

The 8,647-square-foot store, located in London, will feature brands such as Topps, Merlin, Match Attax and Bowman.

Guitar Center reports preliminary 6.6% holiday season sales growth

However, near-term debt and dampened discretionary spending could throw the company’s growth initiatives off beat, Moody’s said.

Ulta Beauty chief marketer exits

Michelle Crossan-Matos is the latest executive to announce a departure, after CEO Dave Kimbell stepped down earlier this month and Chief Merchandising Officer Monica Arnaudo said she would leave this spring.

US store closures to again outpace openings this year

Coresight Research expects some 15,000 locations to shutter in 2025, with plans already up well over 300% year over year.

Books Inc. files for Chapter 11

The California-based retailer said the pandemic kicked off years of falling revenue and rising costs. It will close at least one store but stay in business.

Returns — and their challenges — are rising. Here’s how retailers are responding.

Companies face a multifaceted balancing act of controlling costs, stopping fraud and maintaining engagement and flexibility for customers.

Private label sales hit record in 2024

Store brand sales increased nearly 4% to $271 billion, according to a new report from the Private Label Manufacturers Association.

Home Depot expands on-demand delivery services with DoorDash, Uber Eats partnerships

The move adds to the home improvement retailer’s delivery capabilities, which also include a tie-up with Instacart.

The Weekly Closeout: Foot Locker taps Sonia Syngal for board and New Balance sales hit a record

Also joining the footwear retailer’s board is Ace Hardware CEO John Venhuizen. Meanwhile, New Balance landed $7.8 billion in global sales last year.

REI taps Nike, Athleta vet Mary Beth Laughton as CEO

Eric Artz, who has led the outdoors retailer for six years, plans to retire at the end of March. 

Trump eyes 10% China tariff hike by Feb. 1

The president floated a similar timeline for 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

Adidas sales surge 24% in preliminary Q4 results

For the full year, revenue was also up double-digits, though CEO Bjørn Gulden said the brand is “not yet where we want to be long term.”

VF Corp. confirms further layoffs

The company said the move, which follows a previously announced 242-person workforce reduction, is connected to its turnaround strategy.

Skechers opens first performance flagship

The store, located in Canada, features basketball and pickleball half-courts, as well as footwear for sports like golf and soccer.

Birkenstock brings on a new CFO as it pushes DTC strategy

Ivica Krolo will replace Erik Massmann, who helped guide the footwear brand through its initial public offering a little over a year ago.

Consumer spending forecast to grow 3.1% this year

2025 could be a “breakthrough year,” as retailers engaging with generative AI see some results, according to Deloitte.  

Costco workers vote to strike in less than 2 weeks

With a master agreement with the Teamsters set to expire in 10 days, affecting 18,000 of the retailer's workers, hundreds last week held practice pickets.

Walmart invests in automation as it sells robotics arm

The retail giant will fund the buildout of more than 400 accelerated pickup and delivery centers as part of its agreement with Symbotic.

Ulta Beauty has big plans for its personalization efforts in 2025

The company’s strategy includes putting a customer-centric lens on operations and investing in methods that can drive customer lifetime value.