The Latest

  • A Roots storefront inside a mall, with cork and wood detailing.
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    "Roots store in Yorkdale Mall" by Roots Corp. is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Roots CEO exits, the FTC zeroes in on price

    The chief executive stepped down following the outdoor retailer’s go-private deal. Meanwhile, the agency has been focused on how retailers set prices.

  • Young woman choosing clothes with sales assistant
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    Retrieved from iStock.
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    Sponsored by Stratix Corp.

    How can associates power personalization in retail?

    Empower retail associates with mobile technology to deliver personalized, seamless customer experiences.

  • A person with long blond hair smiles, sitting sideways in a director-style chair. Water and far-off trees are in the background.
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    Courtesy of HeyDude
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    Heydude wants to sell more in North America, but is unlikely to open new stores

    The brand returned to growth in Q3 compared to its weak results last year, thanks largely to wholesale revenue from retail partners.

  • The Instacart logo is displayed on a computer monitor.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    DoorDash to buy Instacart for $17B

    The deal marks the consolidation of two major players in the retail delivery industry.

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

    The Backroom: Dynamic pricing and the anxious consumer

    With the holidays approaching, consumers are zeroed in on price now more than ever — and Walmart is taking the heat.

  • A person filling up their car at a gas pump.
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    Getty Images
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    Consumer confidence edges up on decline in gas prices: Conference Board

    “The mood among consumers remains pretty bleak,” Pantheon Macroeconomics Chief U.S. Economist Samuel Tombs said.

  • A lululemon logo displayed through a window as people walk by.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    5 of the biggest retail horror stories of 2026

    From Nike’s turnaround setbacks to Chip Wilson’s battle with Lululemon, the spookiest sights weren’t found on retailers’ shelves this year.

  • Fanatics partners with OpenAI
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    Courtesy of Fanatics
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    Fanatics revamps outfit curation tool with OpenAI

    A new version of the retailer’s Shop the Look tool generated 10% higher engagement in a pilot.

  • People and a dog going into a clothing store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Gap Inc. launches AI hiring tool in time for the holidays

    The retailer expects around 200,000 seasonal employment applications. Its new AI platform aims to reduce the administrative tasks associated with hiring. 

  • Actor Walton Goggins portrays Ebeneezer Scrooge in a dark scene where he is haunted by the ghosts of Muppets Statler and Waldorf.
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    Permission granted by Walmart
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    Walmart’s chief marketer breaks down retailer’s Muppet-fueled holiday campaign

    For a unified push during the holidays, the retailer is recreating the world of “The Muppet Christmas Carol” and extending its “Who Knew?” brand platform.

  • A person walks past a shoe store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Could this running brand rescue Vans owner VF Corp?

    The Altra footwear brand’s revenue grew 40% in Q2 and is on pace to offset ongoing declines at the company’s faltering skater brand.

    DTC
  • Person laying back on a couch with a computer and a credit card shopping.
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    Getty Images
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    Most consumers aren’t using AI for product discovery, yet

    Retailers should consider the quality of their metadata to prepare for a predicted upswing in AI usage, new research finds.

  • People walking past a city department store building.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    These 3 department stores need a good holiday

    Kohl’s, J.C. Penney and — once again— Saks Fifth Avenue have a lot riding on this year’s shopping season.

  • Image of Lord of the Rings Tales of Middle Earth art from Magic the Gathering.
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    Courtesy of Hasbro
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    Hasbro names third Wizards of the Coast president in under 5 years

    Dan Ayoub, who now leads Wizards and Hasbro Digital Games, has been playing D&D with the same group of friends since he was 10 years old. 

  • A Dollar General sign and brick storefront on a cloudy day with the company's signature black on yellow logo
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    Permission granted by Dollar General
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    Dollar General sued by FTC over ‘deceptive pricing practices’

    The agency, along with 20 states, allege that customers are charged more at the register than prices displayed on tags and in ads.

    Updated Oct. 27, 2026
  • Partners in Crime bookstore in Chicago
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    Kaarin Moore/Retail Dive
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    Genre bookstores are having a moment — especially in Chicago

    From romance to horror, genre readers are done settling for just a few shelves. Now they are coming for the entire store. 

  • People walking down the street in New York City.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Aritzia banks on store openings, product expansions to double revenue in 5 years

    The company plans to open as many as 14 U.S. stores a year and expand into bags, beauty and shoes on its path to becoming “world famous.”

  • Actor Seth Rogen, wearing a taupe overshirt, shows a pimple patch stuck to his left pointer finger while standing in a Sephora store.
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    Retrieved from Sephora on October 27, 2026
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    Sephora casts Seth Rogen for holiday ads targeted at gift-givers

    “The Studio” star plays a clueless shopper in a campaign aimed at consumers who aren’t in-the-know about beauty but are seeking thoughtful presents.

  • Belk storefront.
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    Kaarin Moore/Retail Dive
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Torrid CFO exits and Belk secures financing

    Paula Dempsey will leave the apparel retailer next month. The department store, meanwhile, will use some of its new funds for seasonal inventory.

  • A giant building with giant letters with the name Etsy on it.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    Etsy CEO addresses friction of AI vs. human creativity

    The e-commerce marketplace saw active buyers in Q3 grow for the first time in two years and is utilizing AI to improve product recommendations.

  • A Jos A Bank store in Peachtree City, Georgia
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    Courtesy of Tailored Brands
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    Jos. A. Bank puts customer experience at the center of new store concept

    The menswear retailer’s new space, which was developed using customer insights, features an area for consultations, fittings and personalized service.

  • A yellow room outfitted with yoga mats, with "take a second and breathe" on the wall.
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    Courtesy of Beyond Yoga
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    Beyond Yoga aims to have ‘many’ stores. They’ll probably be yellow.

    CEO Nancy Green says the brand color is reflective of a broader focus on joy — and making progress over perfection.

  • A room with wood furniture and decorationslike a painting and a vase of branches.
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    Courtesy of Target
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    Target overhauls Threshold home goods brand

    The $3 billion private label has improved quality, merchandising and, in some cases, prices, and added more than 800 items to the assortment.

  • A person with white hair shopping for red and green holiday decorations in store
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    Courtesy of Walmart
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    Walmart debuts longer Black Friday, Cyber Monday sales events

    The mass retailer's deal events will total 14 days this season, compared to 10 in 2025.

  • Two people wearing sports fan apparel.
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    Courtesy of Target
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    Target spruces up SoHo store, fan shops ahead of the holidays

    In both cases, a localized presentation is key to what the retailer calls its “merchandising authority.”

  • Banana Republic cover art for its "The Agency" social media content series.
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    Courtesy of Banana Republic
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    Banana Republic debuts TikTok content series in bid for younger shoppers

    The effort spotlights various styles and arrives as parent Gap Inc. continues to emphasize entertainment marketing.