Department Stores

  • A brown-brick facade with a white "Kohl's" sign decorates a cream-colored building and main entrance of a store, with small trees in the foreground.
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    Courtesy of Kohl's
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    Without a permanent chief, Kohl’s leans on old turnaround plans

    Some of ex-CEO Tom Kingsbury’s ideas are bearing fruit. But declines in Q1 are the latest in a “very long line of poor results,” GlobalData analysts said.

    By • May 29, 2025
  • A tree with bare branches sits to the left of a mall store, with a blue sky above.
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    "Macy's Burlington Mall" by JJBers is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Macy’s sees opportunity to take share as tariffs roil pricing

    The department store posted better-than-expected Q1 results, but its momentum is challenged by uncertainty in both supply and demand.

    By • May 28, 2025
  • A department store at night.
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    "Lights out for Hudson's Bay" by bigfarmer8 is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Hudson’s Bay to lay off more than 9K employees by mid-June

    The move affects about 90% of the workforce, with just over 100 people staying on to help the iconic Canadian department store wind down.

    By • May 28, 2025
  • People walk around in front of Saks Fifth Avenue and Hudson's Bay department stores.
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    "Hudson's Bay" by Jeff Hitchcock is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Canadian mall developer snaps up more than 2 dozen Hudson’s Bay leases

    Ruby Liu plans to open "a new modern department store concept," though it’s unclear whether the stores can continue to operate under the iconic brand.

    By • May 27, 2025
  • A downtown department store building
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Nordstrom leaves Wall Street on a high note

    The department store returns to family control with traffic and sales comps up, and in a position to steal share from Saks Fifth Avenue.

    By • May 27, 2025
  • Closeup of an entrance to a department store.
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    Permission granted by Liza Amlani, Retail Strategy Group
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    Hudson’s Bay to sell IP to Canadian Tire Corp. for over $21M

    CTC views the move as “patriotic” and has bid on several of the iconic retailer’s leases.

    By Dani James • May 16, 2025
  • A rendering of Wayfair's large-format store in Yonkers, New York.
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    Courtesy of Wayfair
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Kohl’s plans to refinance, Wayfair expands large-format concept

    The department store intends to refinance with a $360 million offering of new senior secured notes, while the home goods retailer said another larger store is on the horizon.

    By Retail Dive Staff • May 16, 2025
  • Gray clouds over a Kohl's store, with an entrance to Sephora.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Kohl’s paperwork reveals board member left due to governing concerns, lack of transparency

    Emails show that Christine Day resigned from her board role due to a disagreement with the company — a disparity from a previous SEC filing. 

    By • May 13, 2025
  • A mall store with a "JC Penney" banner in white letters on a wood-paneled background.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    J.C. Penney swings to a loss

    Last year’s sales declines and steep net loss put the retailer at the bottom of the struggling department store sector, an analyst said.

    By • May 12, 2025
  • Model Ashley Graham wears all black in front of a white backdrop.
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    Courtesy of JCPenney
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    J.C. Penney to launch plus-size collection with model Ashley Graham

    The line will be available both in stores and online starting this fall.

    By Laurel Deppen • May 7, 2025
  • Gray clouds over a Kohl's store, with an entrance to Sephora.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Kohl’s CEO fired over conflicts of interest

    Ashley Buchanan, who only took the post in January, was terminated for cause following an investigation into vendor transactions, the department store said.

    By • May 1, 2025
  • Radar: Geolocation and the Customer Journey on a blue gradient background
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    Alyssa Eckel-Martin/Retail Dive
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    Sponsored by Radar

    [Podcast] Geolocation and the Customer Journey

    Find out how geolocation tools bridge the gap between physical and digital shopping.

    By Retail Dive's studioID • April 28, 2025
  • Closeup of an entrance to a department store.
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    Permission granted by Liza Amlani, Retail Strategy Group
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    Hudson’s Bay gives up on final 7 stores, including Canada’s last Saks 5th Avenue location

    The liquidation is the end of a retailer whose roots date to the 1600s, and leaves a big gap for many brands and their Canadian customers.

    By • April 25, 2025
  • A large white sign reads "Nordstrom Rack" in dark blue capital letters.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Nordstrom to cut Rack, Last Chance from loyalty points program

    Instead, customers shopping at Nordstrom Rack can receive a 5% discount on eligible purchases with a Nordstrom credit card.

    By Howard Ruben • April 23, 2025
  • Nordstrom's New York City flagship opened in October 2019.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Could tariffs sink Nordstrom’s go-private deal?

    The risk is small, but not zero, and could grow if the fallout from new trade policies worsens, according to William Blair analysts.

    By • April 23, 2025
  • A Saks store in Chicago.
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    Kaarin Moore/Retail Dive
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    Saks Global to close fulfillment center, cut 450 jobs

    The luxury department store joins Kohl’s in being particularly vulnerable to tariffs’ impact on consumer spending, according to Moody’s Ratings analysts.

    By • April 21, 2025
  • A cream-colored J.C. Penney storefront with signage in red letters.
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    Courtesy of J.C. Penney
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    J.C. Penney operator axes 9% of corporate roles

    The downsizing at Catalyst Brands comes less than two months after 250 corporate employees, or 5% of that workforce, were laid off.

    By • April 11, 2025
  • A JCPenney ad in Times Square
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    Permission granted by JCPenney
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    How J.C. Penney’s new brand positioning is subverting consumer expectations

    Out-of-home ads that don’t feature labels want consumers asking “It’s from where?” as the retailer pushes to modernize while promoting value.  

    By Chris Kelly • April 11, 2025
  • Joanna Griffiths, Knix founder and president, holding a Holt Renfrew shopping bag in front of a Knix display.
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    Courtesy of Knix
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    Knix expands presence in Canada through Holt Renfrew partnership

    The DTC intimates brand will land in six of the department store’s locations and on its website through a deal that deepens its reach in the country.

    By Howard Ruben • April 4, 2025
  • an overhead shot of a large Kohl's retail location in a mall
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Kohl’s tech chief exits amid broader leadership change

    Chief Technology and Digital Officer Siobhán Mc Feeney departed the retailer Wednesday, according to a securities filing.

    By Roberto Torres • April 3, 2025
  • A busy city corner with people, buildings, trees and streetposts.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Macy’s chief operating and financial officer to exit

    Capri Holdings exec Thomas Edwards will step into the role as the company completes a “purposeful evolution” of its C-suite, CEO Tony Spring said.

    By • April 1, 2025
  • People walk around in front of Saks Fifth Avenue and Hudson's Bay department stores.
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    "Hudson's Bay" by Jeff Hitchcock is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Hudson’s Bay to eliminate 200 corporate roles

    Impacted employees will have their last day on Friday, while the company restructures and undergoes store liquidations.

    By • April 1, 2025
  • A massive downtown department store building.
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    "Exterior view of historic Neiman Marcus flagship store in Dallas, Texas as seen from Commerce Street." by Dfwcre8tive is licensed under CC BY 3.0
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    Neiman Marcus in downtown Dallas to stay open through the holidays

    Parent company Saks Global, in concert with the city, is evaluating alternate plans for the location as a potential art, fashion or entertainment destination.

    By • March 31, 2025
  • People walking toward a Macy's store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Bloomingdale’s merchant jumps to Macy’s to lead children’s, men’s

    Daniel Leppo, whose career launched 30-plus years ago at the luxury department store, brings merchandising strength in need at Macy’s.

    By • March 25, 2025
  • Three people wearing items from Universal Standard
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    Courtesy of Universal Standard
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    Universal Standard lands in Nordstrom

    After launching on the department store’s website earlier in the year, the women’s apparel brand entered 20 Nordstrom stores over the weekend.

    By Howard Ruben • March 24, 2025