The Latest

  • Hilary Duff for Reebok
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    Courtesy of Reebok
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Reebok partners with Hilary Duff and Saks Fifth Avenue launches fall campaign

    The pop icon is the athletic retailer’s latest ambassador. Meanwhile, the department store, and sister brand Neiman Marcus, debuted seasonal campaigns. 

  • Pixelated person using a phone
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    Permission granted by Veriff
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    Sponsored by Veriff

    Preparing your platform for agentic commerce: How to authenticate AI buying agents vs. synthetic bots

    Marketplaces spent a decade building systems to keep bots out. In agentic commerce, some of those bots are now your best customers — and the rest are harder to spot.

  • A person walks toward a store entrance.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Five Below’s ‘maniacal focus’ on the customer pays off

    CEO Winnie Park attributed some of its Q2 success to a shift away from traditional media spending channels last year.

  • The facade of a Petco store.
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    Bruce Bennett / Staff via Getty Images
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    Petco loses millions due to loyalty program

    When Petco Perks launched in Q2, “customer point redemption volumes far exceeded our initial projections,” CEO Joel Anderson said.

  • Exterior of an Ulta store
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    Kaarin Vembar/Retail Dive
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    Ulta’s use of Flock technology causes upset online

    The retailer drew attention on social media this week for its use of automated license plate readers at some locations as the technology has drawn widespread public criticism. 

  • Alexa+ on a device.
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    Courtesy of Amazon
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    Amazon Prime members now get free Alexa+ access

    The new perk follows a quarter of double-digit growth in Prime membership as Amazon and rivals emphasize the importance of their paid membership programs.

  • A red and purple store display of Target's back to school assortment
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    Courtesy of Target
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    How AI is powering Target’s back-to-school push

    The mass retailer is utilizing AI for wish lists and recommended actions on its e-commerce site, Target’s senior vice president of technology told Retail Dive.

  • A row of people with their arms akimbo look away from the camera.
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    Courtesy of Victoria's Secret & Co.
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    Victoria’s Secret embraces nostalgia, entertainment trends

    The lingerie giant has also worked to improve core product like bras, which boosted Q2 sales growth across brands, categories and channels.

  • Walmart now delivers Dunkin'
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    Courtesy of Walmart
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    Walmart shoppers can now get Dunkin’ delivered alongside orders

    The service follows a similar announcement with Subway as the retailer aims to become a contender in the restaurant delivery space.

  • A plain white strip mall building with large glass windows. A bold yellow sign with black letters reads “DOLLAR GENERAL” above the entrance. The address “1801-B” is displayed on the door, and a trash bin is placed outside.
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    Alamy
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    Dollar General deploys AI across distribution centers, stores

    The retailer is using Relex Solutions’ supply chain platform to manage ordering schedules, lead times, supplier coordination and fulfillment methods.

  • An Untuckit storefront
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    Courtesy of Untuckit
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    Untuckit acquired by Randa

    The deal will provide the DTC apparel brand with capital, global sourcing and “market-leading retail relationships” to support its next phase of growth.

  • External shot of an Ollie's.
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    The image by JJBers is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Ollie’s Bargain Outlets will plow $15M into lower prices

    The retailer aims to protect its low-price leadership, as Q2 comps fell in a highly competitive environment and tough consumer backdrop.

  • The exterior of Bed Bath & Beyond's co-branded concept with The Container Store
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    Courtesy of Bed Bath & Beyond
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    Deep Dive

    Inside Bed Bath & Beyond’s ambitions to transcend retail

    A rebrand to Neighborhood Intelligence positions it as “bigger than a retail company.” But a slew of recent acquisitions has drawn skepticism.

  • J Peterman
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    Ben Unglesbee/Retail Dive
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    J. Peterman appears to have folded

    The quirky catalog retailer, made famous by “Seinfeld,” has stopped taking orders and faces allegations of violating Ohio consumer laws.

  • The entrance to a mall store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Sephora to pilot TikTok Shop experience

    The beauty retailer will debut exclusive monthly drops through the social media's e-commerce feature with content-led videos and a TikTok Live.

  • A person wearing a Helly Hansen-branded wind breaker over looks a sea.
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    Courtesy of Kontoor Brands
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Arc’teryx vet heads to Helly Hansen, Avon North America to be acquired

    Kontoor Brands tapped C.J. King to lead Helly Hansen’s North American sports division, while Regent’s deal reunites the beauty company with Avon International.

  • Amazon fulfillment center
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    Ethan Miller/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Amazon’s ad auction surcharges secretly bilked brands of billions, FTC alleges

    Internal documents indicate Amazon knew its practices could damage advertiser trust, but Amazon says the FTC doesn’t understand the business.

  • The exterior of a retail store.
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    Retrieved from Boscov's on August 31, 2026
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    Boscov’s revamps e-commerce fulfillment operations

    The company expects to reduce out-of-stocks and improve the omnichannel experience for customers through a unified inventory management system, CEO Jim Boscov said.

  • A single-story retail store with beige siding and a large yellow sign reading “Dollar General” above the entrance. Two parked cars and several electric scooters are visible in front of the building. A tall street sign with the same branding stands near the road.
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    Alamy
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    Dollar stores gain as Americans stretch budgets

    Dollar General and Dollar Tree both reported second quarter increases in average ticket and traffic amid a tough macroeconomic backdrop.

  • Store mannequins dressed in activewear.
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    Courtesy of Kohl's
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    Kohl’s names Walmart fashion alum as chief merchant

    Ryan Waymire, who has also had merchandising roles at Wayfair, FabFitFun, Amazon and Target, will replace Nick Jones.

  • A Home Depot storefront with a blue sky and lawnmowers in front
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    Nate Delesline III/Retail Dive
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    The Home Depot extends AI assistance in local stores

    The retailer expanded its AI shopping assistant, Magic Apron, to include localized store knowledge to help customers quickly find items, ask product-specific questions and get project advice. 

  • A quotation mark on a blue background.
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    Kendall Davis/Retail Dive
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    Podcast

    The Backroom: A sit-down with Ron Johnson

    The retail veteran shares his journey with Apple, the infamous stint with J.C. Penney and more ahead of the release of his memoir, “Shop Different.”

  • A Williams-Sonoma store with a customer walking by.
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    Joe Raedle / Staff via Getty Images
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    Williams-Sonoma AI assistants drive customer engagement — and conversions

    Customers who use Olive, Williams Sonoma’s AI agent, convert at three times a higher rate than those who do not.

  • View of Kohl's storefront with logo
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Kohl’s unites marketing, digital under new chief customer officer role

    The position combines media, loyalty, digital commerce and other functions under one title. Chief Marketing Officer Christie Raymond will depart the company.

  • Barnes & Noble storefront in Chicago.
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    Kaarin Moore/Retail Dive
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    Take a look inside the new Barnes & Noble in Chicago

    As the retailer builds out its store footprint, a location in the heart of the Illinois city is keeping readers in The Loop.

  • Blue razors and body products in a lineup
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    Permission granted by Dollar Shave Club
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    Dollar Shave Club acquires body care brand Truly Beauty

    Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but both brands will retain their distinct identities as Truly Beauty markets to a different customer base.

    DTC