Teen apparel retailer Rue21 files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

The struggling teen apparel retailer last month began shuttering some 400 U.S. stores, about a third of its fleet, and now it plans to reduce its debt and restructure to stay alive.

By Daphne Howland • May 16, 2017

Sears CEO slams Craftsman vendor for attempt to break its contract

"We will not simply roll over and be taken advantage of," Eddie Lampert said of toolmaker One World in a company blog post defending the retailer's record of paying its bills.

By Daphne Howland • May 16, 2017

In a new era of retail, shuttering all stores isn't the answer

As retailers face a self-reckoning amid a challenging environment, the key is to find a state of equilibrium between the old and the new, writes Bart Mroz founder and CEO of SUMO Heavy.  

By Bart Mroz • May 15, 2017

Nordstrom teams with Gwyneth Paltrow's goop brand for in-store pop-ups

The pop-in is part of a larger effort by Nordstrom to drive traffic to its flagship stores with trendy, conceptual fare. 

By Ben Unglesbee • May 15, 2017

Wal-Mart CEO to be deposed in Mexico bribery lawsuit

A U.S. District Judge said last week that Doug McMillon has sufficient "direct and personal involvement" in the dealings to sit for a deposition in a class-action suit brought by shareholders.

By Daphne Howland • May 15, 2017

Dick's Sporting Goods shakes up leadership team

Turmoil in the sporting goods market has given Dick's a boost in recent quarters, but the company appears to be taking nothing for granted.

By Daphne Howland • May 15, 2017

Out of patience, Starboard Value exits Macy's

After months of leaning on the department store chain to make a bigger real estate play, the activist hedge fund has sold its entire stake, according to a Friday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

By Daphne Howland • May 15, 2017

Report: Flipkart closes in on $1B Snapdeal acquisition

If finalized, the deal would mark the biggest acquisition in the Indian e-commerce space and strengthen Flipkart’s position against Amazon's international push.

By Dan O'Shea • May 14, 2017

Macy's plans Backstage expansion amid growing pressure for store closures

The market "probably wants to see another 100 Macy's stores close," Jan Kniffen, CEO of the consulting firm Worldwide Enterprises, said Thursday.

By Daphne Howland • May 12, 2017

Report: US retail sales rose 0.4% in April

But a core retail sales rise of 0.2% indicates that, for retailers, the picture is less rosy.

By Daphne Howland • May 12, 2017

J.C. Penney's loss is a 'necessary evil' during turnaround

Despite posting a net loss of $180 million, the department store retailer's improvements are headed in the right direction, GlobalData Retail analysts said.

By Daphne Howland • May 12, 2017

Rack buoys Nordstrom amid sector woes

While not immune to difficulties facing department stores, Nordstrom still remains the “best of the bunch,” GlobalData Retail analyst Carter Harrison said.

By Daphne Howland • May 12, 2017

Aldi says it's beating everyone on price, including Wal-Mart

The discounter claims its private label and everyday low pricing strategies make it 21% cheaper than its closest competitors.

By Jeff Wells • May 12, 2017

Spring rakes in $65M to fuel mobile commerce efforts

The infusion of capital brings the 3-year-old mobile shopping startup's total funding to $100 million.

By Dan O'Shea • May 11, 2017

Dillard's rises on earnings beat despite department store headwinds

The retailer, like its peers, will likely continue to encounter recession-like deterioration in consumer spending, according to Retail Metrics analysts.

By Daphne Howland • May 11, 2017

Macy's sales plunge 7.4% amid ongoing store closures

The department store retailer is taking some concrete, much-needed steps, but analysts wonder if it’s up to the task of turning itself around beyond its real estate play.

By Daphne Howland • May 11, 2017

Kohl's buys turnaround time with profit boost

Stores and merchandising are in better shape, but the company has more work to do, analysts say.

By Daphne Howland • May 11, 2017

Sears CEO: 'We have all the customers we could possibly want'

Eddie Lampert went out of his way to reassure shareholders at an annual meeting Wednesday that a turnaround is imminent.

By Daphne Howland • May 11, 2017

Adidas sells TaylorMade, fading out of the golf market

The athletic retailer will spin off all of its golf brands to a private equity firm in a deal valued at $425 million.

By Dan O'Shea • May 10, 2017

Amazon, Nike, Nordstrom lead the way in social media, word-of-mouth chatter

Victoria’s Secret, Adidas and Under Armour also made the top 10 list of retail and apparel brands that sparked shopper conversations, according to Engagement Lab’s latest TotalSocial rankings.

By Dan O'Shea • May 10, 2017

Can the Echo Look accelerate Amazon's push for apparel dominance?

Amazon has a new pathway into the consumer's closet, but can the e-commerce giant win in apparel? Eight experts debate whether the latest Alexa-enabled device will do the trick.

By Corinne Ruff • May 10, 2017

Report: Wal-Mart, feds settle foreign bribery probe for $300M

The figure comes in well below the proposed Obama-era settlement that was reportedly as much as $1 billion.

By Daphne Howland • May 10, 2017

UPDATE: American Eagle, Express eye Abercrombie & Fitch takeover

The embattled teen apparel retailer has hired investment bank Perella Weinberg Partners to review takeover bids from at least these two suitors.

By Daphne Howland • May 10, 2017

Bon-Ton Stores taps COO to replace CEO

Kathryn Bufano is leaving the struggling department store retailer after three years on the job amid an executive shakeup.

By Daphne Howland • May 10, 2017

What Amazon's sales tax decision means for e-commerce businesses

Just because Amazon is now collecting everywhere doesn’t mean all third-party sellers need to follow suit, writes Scott Peterson at U.S. Tax Policy and Government Relations.

By Scott Peterson • May 9, 2017