Coach's department store exit pays off, e-commerce suffers hit

The upscale handbag retailer's second quarter results show it can afford to exit department stores that don’t (or can’t) sell its goods at premium prices.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 31, 2017

Macy's sells Frango chocolates business to Garrett Brands

The struggling retailer still plans to sell Frango products in the Frango Café at its State Street store in Chicago and at more than 350 additional Macy's locations.

By Dan O'Shea • Jan. 30, 2017

Office Depot names Lenovo exec as new CEO

Gerry Smith replaces Roland Smith, who signaled his intention to step down three months after Office Depot’s proposed $6.3 billion merger with rival Staples fell apart.

By Jason Ankeny • Jan. 30, 2017

Retail execs slam Trump's immigration ban, vow support for refugees

Business leaders from Nike, Amazon, Starbucks and other companies are denouncing the immigration and travel ban instituted by executive order late Friday.  

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 30, 2017

Gymboree CEO to step down amid possible $1B debt restructuring

The children’s apparel retailer is the latest victim of falling mall traffic and the heavy debt burden of its private equity ownership.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 30, 2017

Walgreens, Rite Aid cut merger price, will divest more stores

Walgreens Boots Alliance is prepared to divest up to 1,200 Rite Aid stores to obtain regulatory approval, while the drugstore rivals agreed to extend their merger process end date to July 31.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 30, 2017

Canadian footwear retailer Shoes.com shutters operations

The company faced strong competition from rivals Zappos, Amazon and Shoebuy, now owned by Wal-Mart’s Jet.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 30, 2017

Wal-Mart, feds struggle to settle bribery investigation

Organizations that plead guilty to federal crimes can be blocked from winning government contracts, meaning the country’s largest grocer could lose its access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 30, 2017

Wal-Mart tweaking pay, training programs

The retail giant is putting emphasis on more well-rounded training to boost customer service as well as to attract and retain better-skilled workers.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 27, 2017

Retailers decry proposed 20% import tax

President Donald Trump appeared to endorse the so-called "border adjustment" tax to help finance the wall he wants to build between the U.S. and Mexico.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 27, 2017

Abercrombie cuts 150 HQ jobs amid sales woes

The retailer is the latest in the teen apparel space to lose steam.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 27, 2017

Walgreens 'in dialogue' with FTC to finalize Rite Aid merger

Walgreens Boots Alliance's CEO told shareholders that the company and Rite Aid are discussing “all the instruments and all the actions” to make the deal happen.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 27, 2017

Wal-Mart taps Tinseltown talent to craft its Oscars ads

The retailer drafted famous filmmakers Antoine Fuqua, Marc Forster and the team of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg to helm its first Academy Awards ads.  

By Dan O'Shea • Jan. 26, 2017

Amazon sails into ocean freight forwarding business

The move could allow Chinese factories a more direct path to American consumers — which would also present major challenges to Amazon's U.S.-based Marketplace sellers.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 26, 2017

Moody's: Retailers to prosper this year — except for department stores

Despite lower inventory levels and favorable seasonal weather, department stores “chalked up one of the worst retail sub-sector sales performances” in the holiday shopping period, a Moody’s analyst said.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 26, 2017

EBay posts strong holiday sales, but marketplace progress still lagging

Despite its growth, the marketplace leader failed to meet the overall pace of e-commerce in the period, and CEO Devin Wenig asked analysts for patience.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 26, 2017

How Sears arrived at death's door

With the glory days behind, and no clear path into the future, many wonder if bankruptcy is inevitable for the once-powerful retailer.

By Laura Klepacki • Jan. 26, 2017

Why do so many Chapter 11 retailers end up liquidating?

High-profile closings have contributed to the perception that retail debtors fight a more uphill battle to restructure than debtors in other verticals. But is perception reality?

By Christa Hart and Amir Agam • Jan. 26, 2017

Target overhauls chemical strategy, vows greater transparency

The retailer pledged to list ingredients in all owned and national brand products by 2020, including generics in fragrance, beauty, baby care, personal care and household cleaning categories.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 26, 2017

Wal-Mart lays off 200 Silicon Valley e-commerce employees

The retail giant’s digital team shakeup continues in the wake of last year’s $3.3 billion acquisition of Jet.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 25, 2017

Gap's Banana Republic president to step down in February

Andi Owen has been with Gap Inc. for a quarter century, but the company may want to jolt its underperforming brand with a leadership shakeup.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 25, 2017

Hedge fund suing American Apparel lenders

Standard General alleges the retailer’s lenders loaded it up with debt ahead of its second bankruptcy and suggested a turnaround was not their priority.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 24, 2017

Sephora lands exclusive with rising beauty brand Skin Laundry

Skin Laundry specializes in a laser and light skin therapy services, as well as related beauty products for use at home.

By Dan O'Shea • Jan. 24, 2017

Trump vows 'very major' border tax if manufacturing moves abroad

The president called on executives including Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank to devise a plan to increase U.S. manufacturing.

By Corinne Ruff • Jan. 24, 2017

Alibaba Q3 revenue surges thanks to record-shattering Singles Day

The Chinese e-commerce giant remains a “solid, and highly disruptive, retailer,” according to retail research agency and consulting firm Conlumino.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 24, 2017