Gap chooses Microsoft's cloud, as retailers avoid AWS

The retailer wants to use Azure for e-commerce operations and shy away from Amazon Web Services.

By Samantha Schwartz • Nov. 12, 2018

Retail and private equity: An in-depth look at the risky relationship

To explore the impact 15 years of leveraged buyouts has had on the industry, Retail Dive compiled data on acquisitions and outcomes from multiple sources. Here's what we found. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 9, 2018

Is the road to bankruptcy paved by private equity?

Retail Dive analysis found that more than 15% of retailers acquired by private equity firms over the past 15 years have filed for Chapter 11, including major names like Toys R Us and Sports Authority.

By Ben Unglesbee , Nicole Ault • Nov. 9, 2018

The 'explosion': When private equity money came for retail

Over the past 20 years, leveraged buyouts in the industry have come in two big waves as Wall Street investors sought higher returns and took advantage of cheap debt. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 9, 2018

Overloaded: Dozens of retailers burdened with buyout debt are still at risk

Saddled with loans and bonds that funded their acquisitions, virtually no private equity-owned company has a credit rating to write home about. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 9, 2018

Meet retail's hungriest private equity acquirers

A handful of investment firms bought up dozens of companies, building retail expertise and leaving a not-insignificant trail of bankruptcies in their wake. 

By Ben Unglesbee , Nicole Ault • Nov. 9, 2018

Retail's largest private equity buyouts and how they've panned out

The largest acquisitions include some household names — PetSmart, Dollar General, Staples and Toys R Us among them. Some were successfully resold. Others have struggled or gone bust.

By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 9, 2018

Sears closing another 40 stores in bankruptcy

The ailing department store keeps shrinking as it looks to divest its assets and work toward some sort of sustainable form in Chapter 11. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 9, 2018

Nike moves to dismiss claims in gender discrimination lawsuit

A motion filed in the District Court of Oregon claims that the plaintiffs "fail to plead sufficient factual matter" in the original lawsuit, filed this past August.

By Cara Salpini • Nov. 9, 2018

FullBeauty misses debt payment, buys time with lenders

S&P Global analysts downgraded the plus-size catalog retailer and e-tailer to default levels, but they anticipate it could avoid Chapter 11 with a debt deal. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 9, 2018

Sears bankruptcy hits Iconix brands hard

The brand group is also pressured by new private label initiatives in apparel and home goods by retailers like Target and Walmart.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 9, 2018

Amazon to launch holiday pop-ups throughout Europe

The e-commerce giant continues to expand its brick-and-mortar footprint through a series of temporary locations during the holidays.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 9, 2018

Adidas e-commerce sales boom 76%

The athletics retailer faces some tough challenges in coming months, including a resurgent Nike, according to Wedbush. 

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 8, 2018

Versace could pose 'distraction' for slowing Michael Kors

The company doesn't seem prepared for the kind of rehab its incoming Versace brand will require, analysts warn.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 8, 2018

Sally Beauty sales fall amid competition from Sephora, Ulta

Mass merchants, specialty retailers and pure-players are getting the best of the beauty company, but its CEO says the turnaround plan is on track.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 8, 2018

CVS pilots 'HealthHUB' store concept

Front-store retail takes a back seat at the three Houston locations, which go beyond basic medical services to bring "real change" to health care after the drugstore's merger with Aetna.

By Daphne Howland • Updated Feb. 13, 2019

Sears' past deals with ex-CEO come under fire in Ch. 11

A group of creditors said in court papers that past transactions raise the possibility that Eddie Lampert and other insiders may have worked to "siphon value away" from Sears. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Updated Nov. 7, 2018

WHSmith reportedly tried to buy Barnes & Noble. Why?

Unnamed sources told The Wall Street Journal the British book and travel chain was the mysterious bidder who ultimately walked away.

By Corinne Ruff • Nov. 7, 2018

Nordstrom taps cloud platform to streamline wholesale buying

The retailer's partnership with NuOrder aims to improve the wholesale and assortment selection process.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 7, 2018

Ralph Lauren posts 'anemic' Q2 results

The iconic American brand is celebrating its 50th anniversary, but despite improvements, there are no fireworks, analysts say.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 7, 2018

Office Depot grows despite declines in IT unit

The retailer is moving to boost profitability at CompuCom, the IT acquisition it made a year ago.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 7, 2018

8 retailers that could go bankrupt in the next year

With Sears Holdings and Mattress Firm filing Chapter 11 this fall, Retail Dive looked at other retailers that have debt, cash and competitive issues, and may be vulnerable. 

By Ben Unglesbee , Cara Salpini • Nov. 7, 2018

CVS retail sales move into the black

The drugstore eked out a comp increase in its front-of-store retail operations for the quarter, thanks mostly to its beauty category.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 6, 2018

David's Bridal prepares for possible Ch. 11 as creditor talks continue

The wedding apparel retailer is working on a potential bankruptcy filing while it tries to forge an out-of-court deal with creditors. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Updated Nov. 9, 2018

7-Eleven pilots mobile checkout to let customers skip the line

The convenience chain aims to make shopping even easier with features powered by tech, including geofencing, QR codes and mobile payments.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 6, 2018