Walgreens confident Rite Aid merger will go through

The company expects to close only 500 stores as part of the the $9.4 billion deal, far below many analysts’ expectations.

By Daphne Howland • July 7, 2016

J.C. Penney offshores some IT jobs, but plans to beef up tech effort

Some IT jobs at the retailer's Plano, TX headquarters that have been filled by contract employees likely will be cut and offshored to its new Bangalore, India office.

By Dan O'Shea • July 6, 2016

Ikea under pressure to extend dresser recall to China

Many are criticizing Ikea's decision to limit the recall of 29 million dressers to North America.

By Daphne Howland • July 6, 2016

Report: Staples considering sale of UK stores

Many of Staples' 107 stores in the UK are in poor retail locations, which could make them difficult to sell off.

By Daphne Howland • July 6, 2016

Deadly Dhaka attack could stymie garment industry reforms

Worker activists in Bangladesh fear their cause will suffer after the Friday attack that killed 20 hostages.

By Daphne Howland • July 6, 2016

Report: Back-to-school shopping sales to grow 2.6%

But much of the rise is in e-commerce, which promises to slice into profits.

By Daphne Howland • July 5, 2016

Amazon said to be planning bookstore for NYC's Hudson Yards

The location would bring Amazon's physical store effort to the East Coast. 

By Daphne Howland • July 5, 2016

Ikea pledges higher quality as consumer expectations change

The Swedish furniture giant aims to attract new customers, including older consumers that don’t consider Ikea when it’s time to redecorate.

By Daphne Howland • July 5, 2016

Nike founder Phil Knight steps down, Tim Cook named lead independent director

Nike President/CEO Mark Parker will replace Knight as chairman, completing a succession plan initiated a year ago.  

By Daphne Howland • July 1, 2016

Dick's Sporting Goods wins Sports Authority brand name at auction

The sportswear retailer could use the Sports Authority's name for an off-price effort, one analyst speculates.

By Daphne Howland • July 1, 2016

VF unloads struggling contemporary brands unit for $120m

Israeli apparel company Delta Galil will acquire 7 for All Mankind, Splendid, and Ella Moss in what looks to be a win-win deal.

By Daphne Howland • July 1, 2016

California lawmaker withdraws bill to end 'pink tax' retail pricing disparity

Retailers and manufactures had opposed California state Sen. Ben Hueso's bill, which sought to block stores from charging more for products marketed for women and girls. 

By Daphne Howland • July 1, 2016

Court rejects Visa, MasterCard swipe-fee settlement with retailers

The NRF applauded the move, saying the deal "failed to represent the interests of retailers."

By Dan O'Shea • June 30, 2016

Belk CEO to retire, with Hot Topic head taking the reins

Sycamore Partners is bringing in Lisa Harper to replace Tim Belk, the last family member to lead the Southern department store.

By Daphne Howland • June 30, 2016

Consumer spending continues to rise, for now

Advances in spending and income bodes well for the economy, though Brexit and other uncertainties could spell trouble ahead.

By Daphne Howland • June 30, 2016

Report: Wal-Mart/JD.com deal includes incentives to deepen partnership

Provisions in the sale of Wal-Mart's Chinese e-commerce platform Yihaodian allow the U.S. retail giant to increase its stake in JD.com from 5% to 10% and gain observer status at JD board meetings.

By Daphne Howland • June 30, 2016

Is Macy's new CEO Jeff Gennette the right man for the job?

Longtime Macy's chief Terry Lundgren is stepping down, and handpicked successor Jeff Gennette is stepping in. Only time will tell if he can reinvent the retailer for today's omnichannel world.

By Jason Ankeny • June 29, 2016

Adidas expands Kanye West partnership with branded stores

The German sportswear maker describes the deal as "the most significant partnership ever created between a non-athlete and an athletic brand."

By Daphne Howland • June 29, 2016

Nike stumbles on profit dip, sluggish sales

The athleticwear giant's fiscal fourth quarter revenues increased 6% to $8.2 billion, but profit fell 2% and North American sales flatlined.

By Daphne Howland • June 29, 2016

Ikea recalls millions of dressers, chests blamed in child deaths

Six children aged 3 or younger were crushed to death by Ikea furniture and 36 others were injured, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

By Daphne Howland • June 29, 2016

Birchbox trims 12% of staff in second layoffs this year

The subscription retailer’s struggles show what can happen when an upstart company is based on a novel but easily replicable idea.

By Daphne Howland • June 29, 2016

Nike shakeup fuels speculation over CEO succession plans

Nike executive Michael Spillane's recent promotion has observers murmuring about potential successors for CEO Mark Parker.

By Daphne Howland • June 28, 2016

Wal-Mart Canada promotes Tappenden to CEO

Lee Tappenden replaces Dirk Van den Berghe, who was recently appointed to lead Wal-Mart's China unit.

By Daphne Howland • June 28, 2016

Report: Dick's Sporting Goods bids on 17 Sports Authority stores

Expected offers from Academy Sports + Outdoors as well as a rumored partnership between Modell’s and Sports Direct International did not materialize.

By Daphne Howland • June 28, 2016

Finish Line beats Q1 expectations, boosted by Adidas sales

Shares of Finish Line rose more than 20% on Friday, its biggest spike in more than seven years.

By Daphne Howland • June 27, 2016