The Latest
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Deep Dive
Checkout-free payments may yet rise
Rapidly advancing AI could let cashierless payment companies succeed where Grabango failed, industry insiders and observers say.
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Sponsored by Trillora Packaging Solutions
How customer-centric is your packaging?
The end user’s experience with your organization’s packaging has a huge impact.
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Victoria’s Secret expects $10M hit to Q2 operating income from cybersecurity breach
Newly arrived marketing chief Elizabeth Preis has been tasked with customer acquisition as the lingerie giant continues to lose market share.
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Franchise Group exits Chapter 11
The company leaves bankruptcy having sold The Vitamin Shoppe, shut down American Freight and restructured its remaining banners under a new entity.
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Tracker
The running list of major retail deals
In May alone, Andie made its first acquisition, E.l.f Beauty snapped up Rhode and Skechers went private.
Updated June 9, 2025 -
GameStop sales drop in key categories amid ongoing strategic shift
However, the company swung to a net income in Q1 and reported an improvement in its operating loss.
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Lowe’s launches creator network to build bonds with millennials, Gen Z
Leading creator MrBeast has joined the effort, which will see the brand serve as exclusive building partner for the second season of “Beast Games.”
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Column
The Weekly Closeout: Nike appoints innovation chief and retailers face cyberattacks
The athletics retailer filled in the role behind John Hoke, while Victoria’s Secret, Adidas and The North Face have recently reported security breaches.
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Walmart debuts Sparky, its generative AI assistant for customers
Joining Wally, an AI assistant for merchants, Sparky will summarize reviews for customers and help shoppers plan purchases.
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Marks & Spencer restores some online-order operations following cyberattack
The department store chain six weeks ago was one of the first targets in an international spree of attacks disrupting retailers.
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Tariffs squeeze off-price retailers more than expected
The major players likely have greater exposure to import levies than previously thought, though their value proposition remains an advantage.
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Amazon to shutter Nevada fulfillment center in August
The previously announced closure comes as the e-commerce giant builds a same-day delivery facility in the region.
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Designer Brands pulls guidance but is ‘cautiously optimistic’ about back to school, holiday
Tariffs have scrambled supply and demand more than anticipated. But its confusing value proposition isn’t helping, one analyst says.
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Q&A
How Stitch Fix’s brand platform is helping drive transformation
Chief Marketing Officer Debbie Woloshin speaks about artificial intelligence and staying agile in her first interview since joining the company.
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Amazon delivery robots offer $7.1B annual savings opportunity: report
The tech could position Amazon retail as an AI play, according to Bank of America Securities analysts.
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Dr. Martens plans shift to ‘consumer-first’ mindset
After revenue fell by double digits in the latest fiscal year, the footwear brand is instituting a new growth strategy.
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Deep Dive
What went wrong at Target?
The mass merchant is looking to turn around falling sales and declining customer sentiment. But first, it needs to diagnose its own problems.
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Bark eyes price increases to offset tariffs
The company delivered its first adjusted EBITDA positive year, after the company “lost $58 million and burned nearly $200 million in cash” three years ago, according to its CEO.
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Dollar General expands home offering with celebrity brands, designers
The company is focusing on affordable prices from recognizable, national brands, including Ki by Kathy Ireland.
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Column
The Weekly Closeout: Foot Locker sales fall and GameStop makes a bitcoin play
In the lead-up to its acquisition by rival Dick’s, the athletics retailer said it saw soft traffic trends. Meanwhile, the gaming retailer’s stock fell on its latest move.
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For more consumers, back-to-school shopping starts now
Many parents consider this year to be “financially challenging” or “stressful,” in part due to price hikes, according to a survey.
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DTC footwear brand Oofos opens first stores
A location in Virginia has already opened and the active recovery brand will open locations in Georgia and Florida later this month.
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Podcast
The Backroom: Breaking down Dick’s Sporting Goods’ deal to acquire Foot Locker
The team discusses the implications of the surprise acquisition, how Dick’s is defending it and why the stakes could be different for each retailer.
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Walmart challenges consumer perceptions with ‘Who Knew?’ campaign
In a 60-second spot set to The Who’s “Who Are You,” “White Lotus” star Walton Goggins dishes on the retailer’s perks following a January brand refresh.
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Ollie’s takeover of Big Lots leases ‘off to a very strong start’
The company took over dozens of leases at the start of the year, and openings have been “smoother than we had anticipated,” executives said.
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Retail job cuts surge in 2025’s first half
In the U.S., job losses were up 274% from last year, while hiring plans remain “historically low,” according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas.