Department Stores


  • Pillars on flanking a department store entrance.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Macy’s sticks with stores chief to lead brick-and-mortar transformation

    Barbie Cameron began at the company nearly 40 years ago and has a pivotal role as the department store scrambles to rightsize and overhaul its fleet.

    By Feb. 10, 2025
  • Are B malls having a moment?

    Companies like Simon Property Group and Walmart are throwing money at shopping centers with empty stores, weak traffic and falling sales.

    By Feb. 10, 2025
  • A shopping center.
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    The image by Joe Shlabotnik is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Simon Property Group turns to ‘B’ malls for growth

    Over the next two years, the real estate investment trust will work to make upgrades and fill empty spaces at lower-performing centers.

    By Feb. 5, 2025
  • The interior entrance to a JC Penney mall store, with fronds of a plant in the foreground.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    J.C. Penney launches business-to-business website for bulk orders

    The department store has a new digital tool that offers its catalog and personalized product support to companies and nonprofits. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Feb. 5, 2025
  • A person reclines on a bench in front of a large painting of three bears. They are wearing a plaid green outfit with a bright yellow sweater and leopard print heels that match their bag.
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    Courtesy of Nordstrom
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    Nordstrom turns to notable New Yorkers for its second NYC campaign installment

    New York is a critical market for retailers, one that Nordstrom wants to celebrate while highlighting the services at its flagship store. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Updated Feb. 3, 2025
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    Kendall Davis/Retail Dive
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    Podcast

    The Backroom: A new retail apocalypse?

    The team discusses a recent report that U.S. retailers are set to shutter many more stores than they plan to open in 2025 — and what that really means.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Jan. 30, 2025
  • 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 cuts 10% of corporate workforce

    The downsizing follows store closure plans and will mostly entail eliminating open roles, with layoffs impacting fewer than 200 people.

    By Jan. 29, 2025
  • A person wearing a white sweater and sunglasses in a lounge chair.
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    Courtesy of Bloomingdale's
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    Bloomingdale’s releases ‘The White Lotus’-themed apparel collection

    It’s not the only one. Banana Republic on the same day announced a capsule collection tied to the hit show, set to release this spring.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Jan. 28, 2025
  • A person walks along a downtown street past various shops.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Bloomingdale’s to close San Francisco Centre anchor

    The move will leave the struggling mall with another space to fill, and the luxury department store’s only full-line locations outside the city.

    By Jan. 23, 2025
  • Nordstrom raises 2024 guidance following holiday boost

    Despite concerns going into the holiday season, the company’s namesake banner and Nordstrom Rack both reported sales and comps growth.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Jan. 15, 2025
  • A large department store building seen down the block, with a person seen standing in the foreground.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Macy’s doubles down on its ‘three-brand portfolio’

    CEO Tony Spring said that Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury are stronger together thanks to back-end synergies.

    By Jan. 14, 2025
  • 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 announces store closures

    The struggling department store said 27 locations will shutter by April and an e-commerce fulfillment center will close when its lease expires in May.

    By Jan. 10, 2025
  • People walking toward a Macy's store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Small-format, off-price stores added to first round of Macy’s closures

    The 66 locations slated to shutter span 22 states and many are mall anchors, according to a list released Thursday.

    By Jan. 10, 2025
  • A photo of a Big Lots storefront.
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    Permission granted by Big Lots
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Ulta’s future and Big Lots’ store-saving deal

    The beauty retailer named a new CEO while Big Lots closed on a sale agreement that will enable it to keep hundreds of stores open.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Jan. 10, 2025
  • The interior entrance to a JC Penney mall store, with fronds of a plant in the foreground.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    J.C. Penney, Brooks Brothers operator join forces as ‘Catalyst Brands’

    The new entity features other labels owned by Authentic Brands Group and run by Sparc Group. Investors include Shein and mall REITs Simon and Brookfield.

    By Jan. 9, 2025
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    Leon Neal via Getty Images
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    8 retail trends to watch in 2025

    Each year brings unique headwinds and tailwinds. From increased attention on DEI efforts to the shifting nature of DTC, this is what we’ll be following in 2025.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Jan. 7, 2025
  • A stack of bags in various colors, all with bright patterns.
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    Courtesy of Vera Bradley
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Vera Bradley urged to sell and Fleet Feet makes an acquisition

    Fund 1 Investments in a letter pushed the accessories brand to consider strategic alternatives, while the footwear retailer bought South Sound Running.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Jan. 3, 2025
  • Radar: Geolocation and the Customer Journey on a blue gradient background
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    Alyssa Eckel-Martin/Retail Dive
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    Sponsored by Radar

    [Podcast] Geolocation and the Customer Journey

    Find out how geolocation tools bridge the gap between physical and digital shopping.

    By Retail Dive's studioID • Jan. 1, 2025
  • Neiman Marcus store in Friendship Heights, Maryland
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Saks Global names new leadership as it completes $2.7B Neiman Marcus acquisition

    Saks CEO Marc Metrick will lead the expanded company, while chief merchant Tracy Margolies will take over as Bergdorf Goodman’s president. 

    By Dec. 24, 2024
  • A downtown department store building
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Nordstroms succeed in taking company private for $6.25B

    The board unanimously approved the deal, which also includes Mexican retail conglomerate El Puerto de Liverpool and gives the founding family a majority stake.

    By Dec. 23, 2024
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    photo of Dillard's at Illinois Centre Mall by Mike Kalasnik; Macy's photo and composite by Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Deep Dive

    Should Macy’s be more like Dillard’s? Maybe.

    Activist investors are focused on finances, but the struggling department store may benefit more from studying its rival’s retail chops.

    By Dec. 19, 2024
  • A blond-haired person walks past a store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Bloomingdale’s adds fulfillment option for luxury DTC brands

    Shoppers can check on the availability of products via a DTC company’s website and pick up their order at a nearby Bloomingdale’s store.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 18, 2024
  • With puffy clouds in a blue sky, bushes surround a store with the name "JC Penney" in white letters. The store entrance is a brick arch.
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    "JC Penney" by Mike Mozart is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    J.C. Penney loss narrows in Q3 as sales declines continue

    The department store has more flexibility than others attempting a turnaround, but ongoing top-line weakness clouds its longer-term prospects.

    By Dec. 18, 2024
  • Taylor Swift book promotion for Target.
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    Courtesy of Target
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    5 retailers that need a great 2024 holiday season

    Some companies are coming off a tough quarter, while others switched leadership or are dealing with changing consumer behavior. But all of these retailers need a W. 

    By Dec. 17, 2024
  • 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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    Deep Dive

    Nordstrom and Macy’s abandoned the ‘retail inventory method’ after using it for decades. Here’s why.

    The accounting practice, embraced by department stores in the 1920s, is outdated, skews key metrics and fosters bad decisions, analysts say.

    By Dec. 16, 2024