Department Stores

  • 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.

    By Lara Ewen • Oct. 16, 2026
  • People crossing the street in front of a Saks Fifth Avenue storefront
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    Courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue
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    Saks channels ‘main character energy’ for first post-bankruptcy holiday

    A few months after its parent company exited Chapter 11, a leaner Saks Fifth Avenue is out to show it still has holiday heft.

    By Nicole Silberstein • Oct. 14, 2026
  • The entrance to a mall, with a white pickup truck parked to the right. Explore the Trendline➔
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    "Dartmouth Mall, Dartmouth, Massachusetts" by JJBers is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from Retail Dive

    From Saks’ post-bankruptcy path to the impact of GLP-1s, here’s a look at the stories shaping the industry.

    By Retail Dive staff
  • FAO Schwarz at Nordstrom in New York City.
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    Courtesy of Nordstrom
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    Nordstrom expands FAO Schwarz offerings, debuts new app features for holidays

    The department store revamped its Nordy marketing character and is offering same-day beauty deliveries at select locations this season.

    By • Oct. 13, 2026
  • People, cars and buildings on a busy city corner.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Where has the aspirational luxury consumer gone?

    High-end brands have raised their prices in the post-pandemic economy. They’re selling less in part because fewer consumers can afford them.

    By • Oct. 13, 2026
  • People walking down the street, past storefronts.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Bloomingdale’s merchant jumps to Bluemercury

    Stacie Borteck Dattner will report to Bluemercury CEO Alexandre Choueiri, the former Kering Beauté executive who arrived in August.

    By • Oct. 9, 2026
  • A series of wood shelves stocked with food items at a Nordstrom store.
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    Courtesy of Nordstrom
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    In New York, Nordstrom brings gourmet foods to its evolving pop-up space

    The Corner Market features a selection of locally and globally sourced comestibles and housewares, with a focus on luxury gifting. 

    By Lara Ewen • Oct. 1, 2026
  • A space within a department store with beauty product displays, with an overhead sign reading "JC Penney Beauty."
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    J.C. Penney loses share, launches marketplace as sales continue to slide

    Total Q2 net sales fell more than 8%, but bright spots included activewear and, of all things, beauty.

    By • Sept. 21, 2026
  • Macy's
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Macy’s rolls out AI inventory replenishment tool

    The forecasting capability is moving from pilot to broader implementation as the retailer targets improved in-stock levels and operational efficiencies.

    By Kelly Stroh • Sept. 18, 2026
  • Gray clouds over a Kohl's store, with an entrance to Sephora.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Kohl’s turns to Babies R Us as Sephora falters

    The department store is bringing the brand to more stores and adding an exclusive collection. Meanwhile Sephora at Kohl’s sales are down this year.

    By • Sept. 14, 2026
  • Chewy, fulfillment center, conveyor belt
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    Permission granted by Chewy
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Chewy’s sales jump and a retail exec turns politician

    The pet retailer scored more than 7% net sales growth in the most recent quarter. Meanwhile, former Hudson’s Bay CEO Helena Foulkes could soon be Rhode Island’s governor.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Sept. 11, 2026
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Macy’s plows tariff refunds into its rebound

    The department store has been backing away from promotions, so refunds will mostly go toward long-term growth plans rather than price cuts.

    By • Sept. 10, 2026
  • Traffic including cars and a cyclist ride by a Bloomingdale's store under blue skies, as a nearby pedestrian crosses the street.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Saks who? Bloomingdale’s hits sales volume record

    As Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus work on their post-bankruptcy turnarounds, Macy’s Inc.’s upscale department store is taking market share.

    By • Sept. 10, 2026
  • 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.

    By • Sept. 1, 2026
  • A Macy's storefront
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Macy’s names senior vice president of creative, production

    The retailer is bringing back former staffer Maya Dukes to lead its creative strategy as it executes on its Bold New Chapter strategy. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Aug. 31, 2026
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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.”

    By Retail Dive Staff • Aug. 27, 2026
  • A Sephora shop inside of Kohl's in Milwaukee
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    Courtesy of Kohl's
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    Is Sephora becoming a problem for Kohl’s?

    Sales at the beauty shop-in-shops fell for the second straight quarter, and the department store expects that to continue for the rest of the year.

    By • Aug. 26, 2026
  • The Pokemon Balloon at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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    Courtesy of Pokemon
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Target’s home turnaround and Macy’s 100th parade countdown

    Long lead times in the category mean a rebound will take time. Meanwhile, the department store is setting its sights on its centennial Thanksgiving Day Parade.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Aug. 21, 2026
  • A brown-brick facade with a white "Kohl's" sign decorates a cream-colored building and main entrance of a store, with small trees in the foreground.
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    Courtesy of Kohl's
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    Kohl’s navigates choppy back-to-school season with another round of deals

    The department store, which is leaning on value to woo back customers, just a few weeks ago priced thousands of school supplies under $25.

    By • Aug. 19, 2026
  • A person wearing Ted by Ted Baker.
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    Courtesy of Ted by Ted Baker
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    Ted by Ted Baker debuts at Macy’s

    The Authentic-owned brand is available at the retailer’s U.S. locations and online and offers a more relaxed silhouette than the main collection, which is carried at Bloomingdale’s.

    By Lara Ewen • Aug. 19, 2026
  • A group of people standing outside pose for a photograph.
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    Courtesy of J.C. Penney
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    To lure in shoppers, J.C. Penney takes aim at off-price stores

    In a new campaign the department store touts its fashion and home assortments as affordable, but superior to the finds at discounters.

    By • Aug. 17, 2026
  • A department entrance at a mall.
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    Getty Images
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    Dillard’s gains market share

    Sales barely rose, tariff refunds padded the bottom line and customers were choosy, but the retailer held its own in Q2, analysts said.

    By • Aug. 13, 2026
  • A mall store with a "JC Penney" banner in white letters on a wood-paneled background.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Private equity firm tries again to buy 100-plus J.C. Penney stores

    Onyx Partners, whose previous bid fell through, is offering $934 million for the properties.

    By • Aug. 3, 2026
  • People walking by stores and crossing the street in a city, with a small red car in a wide crosswalk.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Macy’s disappearing billboard and Reformation’s IPO

    The department store’s iconic sign in Herald Square was taken down. Meanwhile, the apparel retailer went public on the low end of its price range.

    By Retail Dive Staff • July 31, 2026
  • Gray clouds over a Kohl's store, with an entrance to Sephora.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Kohl’s debuts AI shopping assistant

    What started as a Mother’s Day Gift Finder has evolved into a digital shopping assistant that aids with product discovery. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • July 30, 2026
  • Dark clouds over a store entrance. A brick-red exterior wall with a "Kohl's" sign.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Kohl’s board chair exits

    John Schlifske announced his retirement and director Wendy Arlin has stepped into the role. 

    By • July 30, 2026