Party City to open four times more Halloween pop-ups as in 2020

But the physical footprint still falls far short of the store count before the pandemic and acceleration of multi-channel shopping. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 10, 2021

Struggling Sequential Brands unloads Ellen Tracy, Caribbean Joe for $20M

The brand specialist is trying to pay down debt and stave off bankruptcy with asset sales. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 9, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

The direct-to-consumer landscape in retail

More mature brands are pursuing exit strategies and expanding their reach, while traditional retailers are increasingly shifting to a DTC model.

By Retail Dive staff

Square's Afterpay acquisition highlights buy now, pay later craze

The companies aim to knit together Square's small and medium-sized merchant clients with Afterpay's larger retailer customers, like Target and Sephora. 

By Lynne Marek • Aug. 9, 2021

Victoria's Secret is out in the open

The brand remained a powerhouse even when it was making mistakes. Now it's owning up to them.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 9, 2021

Walmart loses one of highest-ranking female execs to Conn's

Chandra Holt will leave her role as executive vice president of U.S. e-commerce to become the home retailer's CEO effective Aug. 9.

By Maria Monteros • Aug. 6, 2021

The Weekly Closeout: Target debuts employee degree program and REI doubles down on travel

The big-box retailer joins Walmart in tackling education assistance, while the outdoors retailer expands access to short-term rentals for members.

By Retail Dive Staff • Aug. 6, 2021

Levi's to stretch beyond jeans with Beyond Yoga

The iconic denim maker, in a play for what is becoming a staple of American fashion, will pay an undisclosed amount of cash for the DTC activewear brand.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 6, 2021

Brandless raises $118M in funding round

The company will use the money to acquire digitally native brands and invest in its social influencer program. 

By Kaarin Moore • Aug. 5, 2021

The Container Store notches its first Q1 profit in more than a decade

The struggling retailer has benefited from the pandemic fueling interest in the home and two Netflix shows fueling interest in organization.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 5, 2021

Function of Beauty acquires personalized skin care company Atolla

In a quest to make customizable beauty "the new norm," the DTC hair care brand will use the acquisition to improve its skin care offering.

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 4, 2021

Macy's wipes away $1.3B in debt

The department store is getting its financial house in order, but has more work to do if it's to sustain its recovery, analysts say.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 4, 2021

CB Insights: Retail tech funding surpasses $31B in Q2

As retailers lean into technology to solve immediate and long-term issues, investments in the space have tripled from last year, the firm found.

By Maria Monteros • Aug. 4, 2021

Hasbro, Mattel to raise prices as logistics costs increase

The toymakers said challenges in ocean shipping were among the leading factors of cost inflation, but their teams found ways to navigate the disruptions.

By Edwin Lopez • Aug. 3, 2021

Under Armour posts strong growth, but will the turnaround stick?

Results were a vast improvement over the second quarter last year, but a temporary uplift in consumer demand could also be factoring in.

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 3, 2021

Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works officially part ways

However, the brands remain tied by a settlement with the Oregon Justice Department over their ex-parent's "culture of silent harassment and fear."

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 3, 2021

The convenience of buy now, pay later creates risks: Fitch

Fast underwriting, low credit barriers and lack of reporting are hallmarks of a fast-growing market for the credit services.

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 3, 2021

Wolverine World Wide acquires activewear brand Sweaty Betty

The retailer, which is best known for its footwear, is acquiring the DTC company in an effort to expand its e-commerce strategy and product categories. 

By Kaarin Moore • Aug. 3, 2021

Foot Locker shells out $1.1B to acquire 2 athletic retailers

The expansion bid, which brings WSS and Atmos into the fold, provides the retailer with footholds in key growth markets in the U.S. and Japan. 

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 2, 2021

Gopuff raises another $1B to fuel rapid growth

The delivery company, which is now valued at $15 billion, will use the funding to expand to new locations, hire talent and build out its technology.

By Jeff Wells • Aug. 2, 2021

Walmart holds on to top spot of Fortune 500, Amazon leaps to No. 3

The pandemic drove growth at both companies, which were poised in their own ways to take advantage of changes in shopping patterns. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 2, 2021

Square to acquire buy now, pay later player Afterpay for $29B

The acquisition underscores Square CEO Jack Dorsey's ambitious plans to build a merchant and banking empire in new directions globally.

By Lynne Marek • Aug. 2, 2021

Global Brands' US business files for bankruptcy

The apparel maker owes millions of dollars in royalty money to brand owners. In Ch. 11, the company aims to sell itself off piecemeal. 

By Ben Unglesbee • July 30, 2021

Despite Prime Day, Amazon Q2 misses as pandemic boost fades

The e-commerce giant is seeing big revenue boosts from services outside of its online or store-based product sales.

By Daphne Howland • July 30, 2021

Klarna acquires platform that connects content creators, retailers

Apprl allows companies to create social shopping content and track campaign results as the payments company increases its marketing services.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • July 30, 2021

Shopify keeps up blazing growth with revenue up 57%

The e-commerce services provider also announced what it said was its largest investment ever in its online store platform. 

By Ben Unglesbee • July 29, 2021