Retail Therapy: Dolce & Gabbana's 'slave sandal' and Steve Harvey's eggs

Every week, we bring you the most interesting retail reads from around the Web. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • March 4, 2016

Staples closing 50 stores amid dim outlook, falling sales

The retailer saw a profit in the fourth quarter that still missed expectations and said this quarter would also see sales fall.

By Daphne Howland • March 4, 2016

Barnes & Noble to shutter fewer stores than expected, new prototype stores coming

Despite a botched website relaunch, the retailer is hanging in there with a strong Q3, helped by sales of paperbacks and non-book goods.

By Daphne Howland • March 4, 2016

Consumer confidence drops on economic insecurities

The index’s snapshot of consumer sentiment suggests that the economy’s bounce from the Great Recession is not reaching everyone sufficiently.

By Daphne Howland • March 4, 2016

Costco raising minimum starting hourly pay

While Costco institutes wage increases for the top end of its pay scale every year, it's been nine years since the low end has seen a hike.

By Daphne Howland • March 4, 2016

American Eagle reports healthy Q4, even healthier expectations

The teen apparel retailer is being boosted by sales at its Aerie brand, which features "real" women as models and eschews photoshopping in promotions.

By Daphne Howland • March 3, 2016

Target announces major changes to enhance in-store experience

The retailer, which also announced a collaboration with Finnish design company Marimekko, says it aims to be Americans’ all-around retailer.

By Daphne Howland • March 3, 2016

Costco misses expectations as wealthier shoppers tighten purse strings

Members appear to be scaling back spending as the volatile stock market hits their wallets.

By Daphne Howland • March 3, 2016

Theft-prevention tag maker Checkpoint acquired for $443m

Checkpoint Systems offers advanced RFID inventory control systems that help retailers track and secure merchandise from source to shelf.

By Ian P. Murphy • March 3, 2016

Why low gas prices don't bug Costco

Low fuel prices hurt the warehouse retailer less than other station retailers, for a number of reasons.

By Daphne Howland • March 2, 2016

Abercrombie shows surprising strength in Q4

The retailer’s merchandising changes have enabled it to ease up on heavy discounting in addition to selling more, according to its report.

By Daphne Howland • March 2, 2016

ModCloth hires 3 execs to help with brick-and-mortar expansion

The retailer enjoys a strong sense of self and loyalty among its shoppers, which it calls its “community.”

By Daphne Howland • March 2, 2016

Was Ron Johnson right?

Ron Johnson’s time at J.C. Penney is universally seen as a disaster. But what if some of the ideas he had are exactly what department stores need today?

By Kelsey Lindsey • March 1, 2016

Sports Authority files for bankruptcy

The company will close or sell around 140 stores in the upcoming months. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • March 1, 2016

Jet buys home furnishings e-retailer Hayneedle

The acquisition brings the upstart online marketplace an array of household goods.

By Ian P. Murphy • March 1, 2016

Report: Sports Authority may sell stores to Dick's

But nothing will happen until the struggling Sports Authority files for bankruptcy, sources told Bloomberg.

By Daphne Howland • March 1, 2016

Dollar Tree misses expectations after Family Dollar acquisition

Even an improving economy is failing to dent consumers' need for low prices.

By Daphne Howland • March 1, 2016

Amazon unsettles UK grocery market with Morrisons deal

The U.K. supermarket space is seeing turmoil, with pricing and delivery wars rampant.

By Daphne Howland • March 1, 2016

Lumber Liquidators taps Lowe's vet during 'pivotal time'

Dennis R. Knowles comes aboard as COO amid worse-than-expected sales and fears of a cancer risk in the retailer's laminate flooring.

By Daphne Howland • March 1, 2016

Amazon veteran joins Target in supply chain fix

Arthur Valdez has been an operations executive at Amazon for 16 years.

By Daphne Howland • March 1, 2016

Cardlytics unveils consumer insights data product

The data intelligence provider's Platform Solutions will measure the impact of campaigns and help hone segmentation. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Feb. 29, 2016

Wayfair reports strong sales as more customers return to buy

The e-retailer and its sites benefited greatly from strong holiday sales, and its repeat-customer number is especially notable.

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 29, 2016

Zappos wants to make Leap Day a national holiday

The company gave all of its 1,600 employees Feb. 29 off, including those at its 24-hour, seven-days-a-week call center.

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 29, 2016

J.C. Penney's luxury it can now afford: paying down debt

In its earnings report last week, the rebounding retailer put an emphasis on cost-trimming and debt reduction.

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 29, 2016

Wal-Mart to train store managers in new customer service academies

The move comes as the retailer is spending $1 billion on boosting wages and training for workers. 

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 29, 2016