The Latest

  • People walking around a store that is decorated for the winter holidays.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Shoppers expect less for more this holiday season. That could mean a sales decline.

    Some of the latest projections suggest spending could drop, but even those that predict growth recognize consumers are pressured.

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    S.Corwin via ChatGPT

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    Sponsored by NRG

    Power profitable growth: How retailers are elevating customer experiences while unlocking new revenue without adding operational complexity

    Retailers face increasing pressure to drive growth, elevate customer experiences and improve profitability. Discover how leading retailers are partnering with NRG.

  • A blue-lit Adidas storefront at night.
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    Courtesy of Adidas
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    Adidas’ record Q3 is salt in the wound for Nike

    Preliminary figures show revenue reaching $8.1 billion, as the sportswear giant takes “significant” share from its rival. 

  • A frustrated man talks on the phone with customer service while looking at his laptop.
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    Getty Images
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    Why customers are fed up with AI chatbots

    Few things will cause a customer to immediately request — or demand — a live agent like a bot that misunderstands them.

  • A group of people in grey sweatpants and hoodies at an outdoor food stand.
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    Courtesy of Nike
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    Nike hired Elliott Hill to fix a couple problems. They keep growing.

    Three years ago, Nike executives touted “strong growth” across Converse and Jordan Brand. Now, both are declining by double digits — and so is China.

    DTC
  • A red bullseye logo with the word Target underneath decorates a storefront against a bright blue sky with puffy white clouds.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Target touts holiday bargains as consumers stress out about their finances

    The offer includes what the mass merchant calls “luxe-for-less gifting.” But with apparel and home in turnaround mode, its strongest category is toys.

  • Actress Zendaya posing on white sandy floor wearing black jacket, tank top and athletic sneakers
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    Courtesy of On's Q2 2025 image library
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    Teen spending up 6% as they trade athletic apparel for fashion

    While footwear was down and traditional athletic brands lost share, Target and brands including On gained ground, per a survey from Piper Sandler.

  • A massive lit-up sign with the tilted blue "Hasbro" logo and cartoon images looms over a dark room.
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    "Hasbro booth" by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Magic: The Gathering reaches record $600M in quarterly revenue

    Parent company Hasbro raised its 2026 financial outlook as it reported its strongest quarter of the year.

  • Actor D'Arcy Carden speaks to a group alongside a painted portrait of Target mascot Bullseye in a holiday ad from the retailer.
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    Permission granted by Target
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    Target unwraps high-concept holiday ads focused on gift-giving academy

    Actor D’Arcy Carden serves as Chief Giftologist in a new campaign that will be supported by a bigger creator push around YouTube and TikTok.

  • a carton of popcorn, televisions and full shopping bags on a picnic blanket on a field of grass, against a blue sky.
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    Courtesy of Walmart
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    Walmart enlists Sam’s Club in latest challenge to Amazon Prime

    The retail giant has bundled its Walmart+ and Sam’s Club Plus memberships for a savings of nearly $100, which could appeal to stressed-out consumers.

  • A rendering of in-store gaming stations at Best Buy stores.
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    Courtesy of Best Buy
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    Can Best Buy be the new gaming boss?

    The electronics retailer is piloting a gaming hub that brings together content, deals and preorders, and will also open a dedicated gaming hub inside a store in California.

  • A model stands on a train platform wearing a white Anthropologie dress and oversized gray coat
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    Permission granted by Anthropologie
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    Anthropologie’s holiday marketing seeks to balance emotion, business impact

    Sentimental ads and a creator-led social series are complemented by offerings like a new DoorDash partnership, CMO Barbra Sainsurin said.

  • Aerial shot of Mattel's headquarters in California.
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    The image by Jelson25 is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    Mattel names second CFO in under 18 months

    Peter Griffith joins from a biotech company. Paul Ruh, who has been CFO since the spring of 2025, will serve as an adviser through the end of the year.

  • The outside of a Gap store, with a tree visible inside the window on the right side.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Former Estée Lauder exec no longer with Gap Inc.

    John Demsey began advising for the retailer about a year ago as the company sought to revamp its beauty business.

  • A building with a sign that says "The Real Real."
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: The RealReal secures fresh financing, Roots buyout advances

    The resale marketplace refinanced to help strengthen its balance sheet, while the apparel brand's shareholders approved its acquisition by Marquee Brands.

  • Returned items being prepared for an outbound shipment at a Happy Returns hub.
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    Courtesy of Happy Returns
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    UPS’ Happy Returns comes to TikTok Shop

    Pacsun and Everlane are among the retailers tapping into the new integration ahead of the post-holiday returns rush.

  • A sporting goods storefront against a bright blue sky
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Dick’s Sporting Goods’ seasonal hiring slips

    The athletics retailer is echoing a national pattern of retailers pulling back on hiring workers for the holidays. 

  • People walking around a store that is decorated for the winter holidays.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    NRF forecasts 4.2% holiday sales growth, muted seasonal hiring

    Spending may top $1 trillion as consumers grapple with higher prices.

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    Shaun Lucas/Retail Dive/Retail Dive, data from Getty Images
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    High prices push September retail sales up 6.7% over last year

    The categories tracked by Retail Dive saw broad-based growth, though month-over-month comparisons show signs of a slowdown.

    Updated Oct. 15, 2026
  • A large warehouse sits on a lot with trucks and a parking lot
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    Courtesy of Walmart
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    Walmart opens next-gen California facility to boost West Coast fulfillment

    The 900,000-square-foot site is equipped with an automated storage and retrieval system to help increase order capacity to enable faster shipping.

  • Pink Suede products from Bath & Body Works
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    Courtesy of Bath & Body Works
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    Bath & Body Works expands partnership to all Ulta stores for the holidays

    Pink Suede is back as a limited-edition scent exclusive to Ulta. Meanwhile, customers can shop a curated selection of seasonal products at the beauty retailer through Dec. 26.

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    Adeline Kon/Retail Dive
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    Tracker

    The running list of retail deals in 2026

    Since July, Hot Topic was acquired, Tailored Brands filed for an IPO and more.

    Updated Oct. 8, 2026
  • Halloween decorations and costumes.
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    Getty Images
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    Halloween without candy? What shoppers are cutting from budgets this year

    Nearly two-thirds of shoppers plan to skip some purchases this year, including staple items like costumes and candy, a new LendingTree survey finds.

  • People walking in front of a clothing store, with puffy clouds in a blue sky.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Nordstrom Rack comes back to San Francisco

    The off-price retailer left its Union Square location three years ago but is reopening a 51,500-square-foot store in fall 2027 as the city’s retail revitalization continues.

  • A group of people in grey sweatpants and hoodies pose inside a hair salon.
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    Courtesy of Nike
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    Deep Dive

    Gen Z, Gen Alpha and the AI-ificiation of retail this holiday season

    AI is “rewiring” the brains of today’s youth, at the same time that they’re craving physical experiences. Can retailers strike the right balance?

  • A taxi speeds by a Lululemon storefront in SoHo.
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    Courtesy of Lululemon
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    Lululemon restructures raw materials team, lays off 7 people

    The changes came in August, a spokesperson told Retail Dive, just a few weeks before the arrival of new CEO Heidi O’Neill.