Store Concept of the Year: Sephora

In a retail landscape where experience is increasingly key to customer enjoyment, Sephora's store concepts are tech-heavy and service-oriented in a way many brick-and-mortar retailers haven't matched.

By Cara Salpini • Dec. 4, 2017

Prepare to drop 'shopping' from retail's emphasis

The vision outlined by commercial real estate services and investment firm CBRE is already emerging at several malls and retailers, most vividly at Apple.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 4, 2017

Swarovski launches AR app experience at holiday pop-up

Perfect's YouCam apps let mobile users virtually try on holiday-inspired makeup and crystal jewelry from the brand.

By Robert Williams • Dec. 4, 2017

Disappointment of the Year: J. Crew

Amid a mass exodus of top executives this spring, J. Crew seems ill-prepared to find the way back to its core consumer base as the retailer struggles to fight off falling sales and a large debt load.

By Cara Salpini • Dec. 4, 2017

Ulta online sales soar 63%

Even as the beauty retailer boosts e-commerce and omnichannel growth, it plans to keep building stores, with 100 slated to open next year. 

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 4, 2017

Retailer of the Year: Amazon

Try as we might, there's really no competition. Whether through acquisitions or in-house innovation, Amazon is setting the bar high and everyone else is just trying to come close. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 4, 2017

CVS Health to buy Aetna for $69B

This move is a massive, if natural extension of CVS's ambitions to become an overall healthcare company and one that could alter the drugstore landscape. 

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 4, 2017

GapKids teams up with Sarah Jessica Parker

The actress has brought her style chops to various brands at different price points, and the Gap spring collection will be available worldwide.

By Daphne Howland , Cara Salpini • Dec. 4, 2017

J.C. Penney cuts ties with Russell Simmons apparel

The Def Jam Recordings co-founder, who founded Argyleculture, is facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 4, 2017

Macy's boosts holiday hiring by 7K thanks to strong traffic

Chief Stores Officer John Harper said the department store retailer has seen "high customer volume across our business" so far this season.

By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 1, 2017

Gap's rally is over, analysts say

The apparel retail giant's stock boomed 40% over the last three months, but it can only rely on the better-performing Old Navy brand so much.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 1, 2017

War with Amazon sparks change at Walmart, Target

The two big-box retailers have been especially focused on new services and competitive prices as the online giant has crept onto the scene.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 1, 2017

WeWork tests Amazon’s Alexa for Business

The co-working company, which has been eyeing retail opportunities, is turning to Amazon for work spaces powered by the popular voice assistant.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 1, 2017

Ikea entering a 'test-and-learn' phase

Amid a profit fall, the furniture retailer is focusing on how and where it sells its goods, as well as potential acquisitions.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 1, 2017

Sears slows the bleeding, but the story remains grim

Ongoing efforts to cut the department store retailer's costs reduced Sears' profit losses in Q3, but sales fell by $1.3 billion and its comparable store sales were down by an abysmal 15%.

By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 30, 2017

Costco 'destroys' November with massive sales surge

Like Amazon, the warehouse retailer enjoys a sticky membership base, and that showed up in its monthly and quarterly sales results.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 30, 2017

Simon bridges online and brick-and-mortar with 'The Edit'

The effort to reach online customers recalls "In Real Life," from GGP and could be a boon for both the mall and online sellers. 

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 30, 2017

Amazon smashes Cyber Monday record

The online behemoth said Cyber Monday was the single biggest shopping day in the company's history, surpassing its Prime Day event for the most products ordered worldwide.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 30, 2017

Duluth Trading Co. takes on L.L. Bean with 31st store opening

The Belleville, WI-based retailer is quietly expanding its customer base and physical footprint as rivals falter.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 30, 2017

Are Calvin Klein’s Amazon pop-ups dissing department stores?

Traditionally the brand releases exclusive collections through department store channels, but the partnership signals the apparel retailer is looking for new growth.

By Corinne Ruff • Nov. 29, 2017

New York & Co buys Fashion to Figure assets

The move is a vote of confidence in the significant and growing demand in the market for extended sizing.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 29, 2017

Google Home, eBay make smart speakers smarter

Shopping via the AI assistant is about to get easier, with an app that moves customers off the device and onto their smartphone.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 29, 2017

Everlane to open first physical stores

Much is made of Everlane founder and CEO Michael Preysman's antipathy toward physical retail, but the brand has sold through physical locations for several years now.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 29, 2017

Costco beats Amazon on price

The focus these days is on the emerging Amazon-Walmart price war, but new research shows that Costco handily beats the e-commerce giant across categories. 

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 29, 2017

Abt Electronics sees a 15% holiday weekend sales jump

Single-store star Abt had a stellar start to the holiday season thanks to an emphasis on customer experience. 

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 28, 2017