No end in sight for Amazon's e-commerce growth: S&P

With a major structural shift toward more digital shopping underway, the company is poised to continue its history of dominance, analysts said. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Updated June 11, 2021

NRF now says retail sales could grow as much as 13.5% this year and top $4.4 trillion

The organization previously pegged growth at 6.5% but now says vaccines and the government's financial support to consumers have spiked the economy.

By Daphne Howland • June 11, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

The direct-to-consumer landscape in retail

More mature brands are pursuing exit strategies and expanding their reach, while traditional retailers are increasingly shifting to a DTC model.

By Retail Dive staff

Alex and Ani files for bankruptcy, hoping for a sale

Leadership turmoil and significant debt were hobbling the charm bracelet maker. Then last year came a ransomware attack and the pandemic.

By Daphne Howland • June 10, 2021

GameStop fills CEO, CFO spots with former Amazon execs

The retailer has filled out its leadership ranks with e-commerce veterans as it undertakes an overhaul of its model. 

By Ben Unglesbee • June 10, 2021

Activist shareholder behind L Brands breakup urges 'strategic alternatives' at Chico's

Barington Capital this week slammed the apparel retailer's board and said the value of its Soma lingerie brand may exceed that of the entire company.

By Daphne Howland • June 9, 2021

J. Jill rebounds from pandemic doldrums with 42% sales growth

Sales, margins and operating profit are up big time at the women's apparel seller, which had a close brush with bankruptcy last year. 

By Ben Unglesbee • June 9, 2021

Torrid returns to IPO plans as inclusive sizing catches on

The private equity-owned plus-size apparel retailer, a millennial favorite, abandoned an effort to go public two years ago.

By Daphne Howland • June 9, 2021

Walmart, Amazon simultaneously add prescription discounts to membership perks

Both giants are adding discounted medications to their paid subscription services as they expand their footprints across sectors. 

By Ben Unglesbee • June 8, 2021

Stitch Fix the latest apparel retailer to contemplate resale

The company beat expectations and raised its near-term outlook, but analysts see a murky future as it tries to expand its market.

By Daphne Howland • June 8, 2021

As pandemic wanes, dollar stores regain lost ground, grab new sales

Dollar General's "insane" new concept, Dollar Tree looks beyond $1, and Five Below makes a huge comeback: a look at the dollar field in Q1.

By Ben Unglesbee • June 4, 2021

Rent the Runway, ahead of rumored IPO, ditches subscription requirement for clothing resale

Previously, those interested in snapping up secondhand items from the rental company had to go to ThredUp or sign up for its service.

By Daphne Howland • June 4, 2021

Lululemon revenue up 88% as athleisure shows 'no signs of slowing'

A year after acquiring Mirror, the product is expected to be in 200 stores by the holidays — even as its profitability timeline is murky, according to analysts. 

By Kaarin Moore • June 4, 2021

PVH shines in Europe but stumbles at home in Q1

The apparel conglomerate also announced leadership changes ahead of what some analysts expect could be major changes in North America.

By Daphne Howland • June 3, 2021

Target, Walmart announce overlapping sales events to rival Amazon

When the e-commerce giant announced Prime Day, two of its biggest competitors responded by plotting their own deal days for 24 hours earlier.

By Maria Monteros • June 3, 2021

Etsy to buy apparel resale site Depop for $1.6B

The deal ticks key boxes for both companies — and begs the question of why a traditional retailer didn't snap up the Gen Z favorite.

By Daphne Howland • June 2, 2021

Uncertainty lingers, even as consumer confidence rebounds

There are signs of economic recovery and the end of the pandemic, especially in the U.S. But the outlook is uneven and rife with unknowns.

By Daphne Howland • June 2, 2021

Is the never-ending Sears saga finally reaching its closing chapters?

Most of what is left of the one-time empire is a footprint smaller than many regional retailers, and a whole lot of legal bills.

By Ben Unglesbee • June 1, 2021

Digital brand company Perch raises $775M to expand globally

The company scales Amazon third-party sellers and other direct-to-consumer brands, and the funds will help fuel its expansion.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • May 28, 2021

Turmoil at Sequential Brands amid late financials, strategic review

Since the fall, the company has lost a CEO and an executive chairman, and has tried to sell off assets while struggling to pay its debts.

By Ben Unglesbee • May 28, 2021

Athleta steals the spotlight in Q1 as Gap retrenches

The apparel conglomerate's namesake brand, which lost sales due to hundreds of store closures, has a lot of irons in the fire.

By Daphne Howland • May 28, 2021

Ulta posts record quarterly results as CEO Mary Dillon prepares to step down

The executive's last quarter at the helm saw sales and comps surge 65% from 2020. Both metrics also increased over 2019 figures.

By Cara Salpini • May 28, 2021

Gap, Walmart team up to unveil new home essentials brand

As the home improvement sector continues to see growth, the two retailers inked a multiyear partnership to launch over 400 products, dubbed Gap Home.

By Maria Monteros • May 27, 2021

Dick's sales surge 119% as it invests in stores, private labels

Even compared to 2019, sales at the retailer were up 52% as it prepares for the launch of the Public Lands concept later this year.

By Cara Salpini • May 27, 2021

Best Buy comes roaring out of the pandemic era with 37% sales growth

Stimulus and home renovations drove "extraordinarily high" demand at the retailer, which is preparing for permanent changes in shopping habits. 

By Ben Unglesbee • May 27, 2021

Off-pricers bounce back in Q1

Supply is still a problem, but these retailers are back in the game. All they really needed was stores to reopen.

By Daphne Howland • May 27, 2021