Department Stores


  • An exterior sign on a Macy's store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Macy’s speeds up store closures to amp up turnaround

    The retailer also said that for nearly three years an employee hid about $151 million in delivery expenses but that the fraud didn’t affect sales.

    By Dec. 11, 2024
  • Puffy clouds and green trees frame a suburban department store building.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Under new ownership, Lord & Taylor revives old logo and comeback dreams

    The chief strategy officer at Regal Brands Global, which now runs the venerable department store, talks to Retail Dive about what comes next.

    By Dec. 10, 2024
  • Shoppers walk through a Macy's department store on Black Friday. A sign reads, "Give Love."
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    Kamil Krzaczynski via Getty Images
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    How retailers prepped their supply chains for 2024’s holiday crunch

    Companies adjusted inventory and marketing strategies to accommodate the shorter Black Friday to Christmas timeframe.

    By Philip Neuffer • Dec. 10, 2024
  • Bloomingdale's flagship in New York City, at night.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Activist firms demand Macy’s consider options for Bloomingdale’s

    The department store is winding up the year as it began, with investors on its case — this time it's Barington Capital Group and Thor Equities.

    By Dec. 9, 2024
  • 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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    Will Kohl’s have to close stores?

    Not long ago, in stark contrast to rival Macy’s, the department store was talking about expanding its fleet. That may be about to change, analysts say.

    By Nov. 27, 2024
  • A lit-up department store with holiday decorations in front windows and entrance.
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    Courtesy of Nordstrom
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    Nordstrom nervous about the holidays despite healthy Q3

    A slowdown early in Q4 led to a very conservative upgrade in the retailer’s expectations. Meanwhile, there is still no update on the Nordstrom family’s take-private offer.

    By Nov. 27, 2024
  • A leafy green bush sits in front of a reddish brick store against a bright blue sky, with the name Kohl's in white block letters.
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    "Kohl's" by Mike Mozart is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Amid setbacks in its turnaround, Kohl’s lowers guidance again

    Traffic, sales and profits declined in Q3, and the department store is reversing course in some areas after its tactics backfired.

    By Nov. 26, 2024
  • Martha Stewart holds a football in a baking dish in a JCPenney ad
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    Courtesy of JCPenney
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    How J.C. Penney’s ‘Really Big Deal Reveals’ campaign is faring so far

    The retailer has been averaging 13% to 15% new customers each week during the campaign appearing in Amazon Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football.”

    By Jessica Deyo • Nov. 26, 2024
  • 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 names new CEO

    The department store has tapped Michaels CEO Ashley Buchanan to lead the retailer beginning early next year, replacing Tom Kingsbury.

    By Nov. 25, 2024
  • A big red sign on the side of a large department store building.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Macy’s delays full Q3 report over millions in fraudulent expense accounting

    Starting in 2021 an employee hid $132 million to $154 million in delivery expenses, a disclosure overshadowing an otherwise decent quarter.

    By Nov. 25, 2024
  • Closeup of a storefront sign.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Target extends store hours for the holidays, Nuuly launches ‘The Thrift Shop’

    The mass merchant will be open from 7 a.m. to midnight from Nov. 30 to Dec. 23, while the subscription company debuted a perk for discounted styles.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Nov. 15, 2024
  • Nordstrom app
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    Retrieved from Nordstrom on November 13, 2024
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    Nordstrom leverages generative AI for holiday app refresh

    Among the new app features are trend reports, which blend the expertise of Nordstrom stylists with artificial intelligence to deliver relevant trends. 

    By Aaron Baar • Nov. 15, 2024
  • A store's mall entrance, with a plant in the foreground.
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    Courtesy of Dillard's
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    Dillard’s keeps the focus on expenses in Q3 as sales edge down

    Compared to some rivals, the department store is less dependent on the holiday quarter when it comes to the year’s operating profits.

    By Nov. 14, 2024
  • Actress Alison Brie wearing a red suit looking over her left shoulder.
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    Courtesy of Macy's
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    Macy’s taps actress Alison Brie for holiday campaign

    The spots, which depict Brie embodying the human version of the department store’s annual gift guide, will air across TV, digital and social channels.

    By Howard Ruben • Oct. 29, 2024
  • A person wearing a pink sweater that says "Minnie" and a striped skirt with ears on their head.
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    Courtesy of Macy's
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    Macy’s, Disney collaborate for the holidays with new collection and shop-in-shops

    Disney will have shop-in-shops in 200 locations, including the department store’s iconic Herald Square flagship in New York City. 

    By Howard Ruben • Oct. 18, 2024
  • The exterior of H&M's pop-up in New York City's Nolita neighborhood. There are metallic silver mannequins in the window with a red background.
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    Courtesy of H&M
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Foot Locker partners with the Chicago Bulls, H&M pops up in New York

    The footwear retailer’s deal includes a series of community events, in-store activations and more, while the apparel retailer’s pop-up store runs for two months.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Oct. 18, 2024
  • A person wearing a bright pink Naadam cashmere sweater from its "Soft Collection" at Kohl's
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    Courtesy of Naadam
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    Kohl’s adds digitally native cashmere brand Naadam to its assortment

    The brand’s “Soft Collection,” which is its first designed for a mass channel, will land in 100 of the department store’s locations and online on Nov. 8.

    By Howard Ruben • Updated Oct. 17, 2024
  • Martha Stewart poses alongside her JCPenney 2024 Holiday Collection.
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    Courtesy of JCPenney
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    J.C. Penney’s holiday playbook: Deals, in-store experiences and Martha Stewart

    The embattled department store is leaning into its successful “Really Big Deal Reveals” campaign and bringing back a nostalgic giveaway. 

    By Jessica Deyo • Oct. 17, 2024
  • A Christmas tree with red and gold ornaments and decorative lights in the background is pictured.
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    Liliboas via Getty Images
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    Consumers to shop at discount department stores this holiday

    In response to higher costs, shoppers will spend more time looking for deals this season, according to an ICSC survey. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 17, 2024
  • The outside of the Macy's store in Herald Square in NYC during the holidays.
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    Kaarin Vembar/Retail Dive
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    Macy’s to feature local businesses in holiday market at Herald Square

    The department store will bring hot chocolate and other vendors to its iconic flagship as it adds more newness to its own assortment.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 17, 2024
  • Bloomie's storefront in Virginia.
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    Kaarin Vembar/Retail Dive
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    Bloomie’s to open fourth location

    The 21,000-square-foot store is set to open at The Grove Shopping Center in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, on Nov. 14.

    By Howard Ruben • Oct. 16, 2024
  • A Kohl's in-store holiday display featuring Christmas trees and inflatable characters
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    Permission granted by Kohl's
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    Kohl’s nearly doubles holiday gift assortment

    The department store is leaning into value pricing this season, with “hundreds” of gifts under $10 and “thousands” of toys under $20.

    By Oct. 11, 2024
  • Authentic Brands Group, Saks team up on luxury joint venture

    Growth of a slew of Authentic-owned labels will follow the pattern set by Barneys New York, which the brand-management firm acquired in 2019.

    By Oct. 10, 2024
  • Blurry cars drive by a Macy's store entrance.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Another rough year for department stores

    The segment is undergoing a quiet shakeup in 2024, with major players pursuing varying degrees of change to their operations.

    By Oct. 7, 2024
  • Martha Stewart holds a football in a baking dish in a JCPenney ad
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    Courtesy of JCPenney
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    J.C. Penney names consulting chief marketing officer to bolster turnaround plan

    Veteran marketer Marisa Thalberg describes the 122-year-old retailer as “ripe for brand reinvigoration.”

    By Peter Adams • Oct. 2, 2024