The Latest

  • A shopper browses an aisle of snacks with the sign "maxx every dollar" behind her.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    6 retail trends to watch in 2026

    From pricing dynamics to the shifting state of malls, here are the trends we’ve got our eye on in 2026.

  • REI CEO Mary Beth Laughton speaking during the National Retail Federation's Big Show in New York City
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    Courtesy of The National Retail Federation
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    In the age of AI, REI is turning to its human employees to win

    The retailer’s “green vest” associates serve as a key differentiator — both in stores and online — in an increasingly AI-driven world, according to CEO Mary Beth Laughton.

  • A Macy's store, with parked cars in front and a palm tree on the left.
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    "Beautiful December Sky Over the Mid-Century Modern Macy's at Grossmont Center, La Mesa CA" by Joe Wolf is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
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    Macy’s targets another 14 stores for closure

    The department store’s downsizing plan is key to its turnaround and will ultimately entail shuttering about 150 locations.

  • Tall trees in front of a bike, boat and ski store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    L.L. Bean names company veteran next CEO

    Greg Elder has been with the outdoor retailer for almost 20 years, most recently as chief retail officer overseeing stores, wholesale and other operations.

  • 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 pilots AI tool to halt decoy returns fraud

    The company's Return Vision software compares returned products with images from the retailer, a capability being used by Everlane and others.

  • Beige storefront with red lettering saying Bob's Discount Furniture
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    Courtesy of Bob's Discount Furniture press kit
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    Bob’s Discount Furniture files for IPO

    The furniture chain aims to use the proceeds of its IPO to pay down debt and plans to more than double its store footprint by 2035.

  • A palm tree in front of a light-colored building, against a blue sky.
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    Courtesy of Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation
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    S&P Global Ratings downgrades Saks Global on missed interest payment

    The luxury giant is unlikely to make good within the grace period or achieve promised savings from last year’s $2.7 billion merger, the analysts said.

  • Kendra Scott Launches Fine Jewelry
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    Courtesy of Kendra Scott
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    Kendra Scott taps Athleta vet as CEO

    Chris Blakeslee, who previously served as chief executive at the Gap-owned activewear brand, also held positions at Alo Yoga and Bella+Canvas.

  • Close-up of a smart cart screen.
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    Courtesy of Amazon
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    Amazon to roll out updated Dash Carts to more Whole Foods stores

    The latest version of the smart carts, which includes a real-time savings tracker, will expand to more than 25 of the specialty grocer’s locations this year.

  • The Nike "swoosh" on the side of a building, with another building seen behind it.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Nike sells Rtfkt, Hanky Panky gets acquired

    The athletics giant shut down the virtual sneaker company about a year ago, while the intimate apparel brand found a new home. 

  • Exterior of Walmart store with a sign that reads "grocery" and two cars parked in front.
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    Sam Silverstein/Retail Dive
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    Walmart adds tech veteran to board as it preps for AI era

    Shishir Mehrotra, who co-founded an AI platform and also has experience at YouTube, joins the board ahead of John Furner’s move to CEO.

    Updated Jan. 8, 2026
  • Children playing and jumping wearing bright colored clothing
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    Permission granted by Hanna Andersson
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    Hanna Andersson names Toys R Us vet chief digital officer

    Kacey Sharrett, who was most recently the head of DTC at GoPro, will oversee the children’s apparel brand’s digital ecosystem and customer experience. 

  • A Target storefront exterior
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    Dani James/Retail Dive
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    Target grows wellness assortment, again

    Following a similar play last year, the mass retailer is expanding the product category by 30% with a focus on offering "thousands" of items for under $10.

  • Two screenshots of Target app using the Find Bullseye hunting feature
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    Permission granted by Target
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    What shaped retail’s holiday season in 2025

    It was a year of AI-generated gift recommendations, tariff upheaval and increased financial stress on shoppers.

  • Exterior sign for a GameStop store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    GameStop floats CEO pay entirely tied to performance

    Ryan Cohen would have to reach sky-high goals to receive the lucrative compensation, a setup resembling Elon Musk’s at Tesla.

  • People walking by Nordstrom's New York City store at the holidays.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    US e-commerce spend reached nearly $258B over the holidays

    Adobe Analytics data found consumer spending grew 6.8% compared to 2024, with buy now, pay later usage reaching a new high.

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    Kendall Davis/Retail Dive
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    Podcast

    The Backroom: Contemplating retail in 2026 with Doug Stephens

    The retail strategy adviser talks about trust in the age of emerging AI and the industry’s potential to shape our society.

  • E.l.f. Beauty game on Roblox
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    Courtesy of E.l.f. Beauty
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    E.l.f. Beauty launches virtual makeup experience on Roblox

    The cosmetics company seeks to attract Gen Alpha and Gen Z shoppers in the gaming universe with avatars that reflect their aesthetic. 

  • A stone building with a Converse storefront on the street level.
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    The image by Jörg Zägel is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    Could Nike sell Converse?

    Revenue declines and a 44% drop in demand creation may indicate it’s time to divest the brand, according to BNP Paribas.

  • AI assistant apps icons for OpenAI ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Anthropic Claude. are pictured on a smartphone screen.
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    Getty Images
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    A look at retail’s year of AI news

    Retail may be lagging behind other industries in the adoption of artificial intelligence, but 2025 was still transformative. Here’s a recap of retail’s biggest AI-related news this year.

  • An empty store with a "retail space available" window sign.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Claire’s plans tech upgrades despite financial setbacks

    The retailer will take steps to elevate customer in-store experiences by improving its technology foundation. 

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    Provided by Amazon

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    Amazon expands rural delivery with Oklahoma last-mile station

    The 30,000-square-foot facility in Weatherford is slated to break ground early this year, and the city said it will improve delivery speeds in the area.

  • A person walks through an aisle within a Home Depot store.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    How Home Depot sped up its supply chain — and what comes next

    The home improvement retailer has built an expansive network of distribution centers for faster deliveries. It's now looking to maximize the potential of those assets.

  • People shopping on a downtown street.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    December sales drop over 2% at small retail businesses despite traffic bump

    Even at the holidays shoppers prioritized essentials, and inflation-adjusted discretionary sales at smaller stores fell 1.8% year on year, per Fiserv.

  • An orange and white Ulta Beauty storefront with a tree in front
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    Dani James/Retail Dive
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    Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty to launch at Ulta

    The beauty brand will be available online and at the retailer's stores starting in February, with exclusive offerings and a donation campaign.