Marketing

  • The outside of the Macy's store in Herald Square in NYC during the holidays.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Kaarin Moore/Retail Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Macy’s revamps Santaland, brings back Holiday Square

    The department store is leaning into the festive season at its Herald Square flagship in New York with a variety of activations.

    By Lara Ewen • Oct. 23, 2026
  • A giant building with giant letters with the name Etsy on it.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Etsy updates AI use policies to emphasize craftsmanship

    While it’s implementing more AI, the online marketplace now requires at least one authentic, non-AI generated image in most seller listings.

    By • Oct. 23, 2026
  • A Macy's building with the word "Believe" written on it in bright lights. Explore the Trendline➔
    Image attribution tooltip
    Cara Salpini/Retail Dive
    Image attribution tooltip
    Trendline

    A look at the 2026 holiday season

    From price-conscious shoppers to ever-changing tariffs, retailers have a lot to juggle this holiday season.

    By Retail Dive staff
  • Bath & Body Works Feel Good concept store
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Bath & Body Works
    Image attribution tooltip

    Bath & Body Works introduces new store concept

    The Feel Good concept is now open in Charlotte, North Carolina, and features easy navigation and enhanced testing experiences.

    By • Oct. 23, 2026
  • Belk storefront.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Kaarin Moore/Retail Dive
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Torrid CFO exits and Belk secures financing

    Paula Dempsey will leave the apparel retailer next month. The department store, meanwhile, will use some of its new funds for seasonal inventory.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Oct. 23, 2026
  • A yellow room outfitted with yoga mats, with "take a second and breathe" on the wall.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Beyond Yoga
    Image attribution tooltip

    Beyond Yoga aims to have ‘many’ stores. They’ll probably be yellow.

    CEO Nancy Green says the brand color is reflective of a broader focus on joy — and making progress over perfection.

    By • Oct. 22, 2026
  • A frustrated man talks on the phone with customer service while looking at his laptop.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Why customers are fed up with AI chatbots

    Few things will cause a customer to immediately request — or demand — a live agent like a bot that misunderstands them.

    By Matt Vartabedian • Oct. 22, 2026
  • Actor D'Arcy Carden speaks to a group alongside a painted portrait of Target mascot Bullseye in a holiday ad from the retailer.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Target
    Image attribution tooltip

    Target unwraps high-concept holiday ads focused on gift-giving academy

    Actor D’Arcy Carden serves as Chief Giftologist in a new campaign that will be supported by a bigger creator push around YouTube and TikTok.

    By Peter Adams • Oct. 21, 2026
  • A red bullseye logo with the word Target underneath decorates a storefront against a bright blue sky with puffy white clouds.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Target touts holiday bargains as consumers stress out about their finances

    The offer includes what the mass merchant calls “luxe-for-less gifting.” But with apparel and home in turnaround mode, its strongest category is toys.

    By • Oct. 21, 2026
  • a carton of popcorn, televisions and full shopping bags on a picnic blanket on a field of grass, against a blue sky.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Walmart
    Image attribution tooltip

    Walmart enlists Sam’s Club in latest challenge to Amazon Prime

    The retail giant has bundled its Walmart+ and Sam’s Club Plus memberships for a savings of nearly $100, which could appeal to stressed-out consumers.

    By • Oct. 20, 2026
  • A rendering of in-store gaming stations at Best Buy stores.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Best Buy
    Image attribution tooltip

    Can Best Buy be the new gaming boss?

    The electronics retailer is piloting a gaming hub that brings together content, deals and preorders, and will also open a dedicated gaming hub inside a store in California.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 20, 2026
  • A model stands on a train platform wearing a white Anthropologie dress and oversized gray coat
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Anthropologie
    Image attribution tooltip

    Anthropologie’s holiday marketing seeks to balance emotion, business impact

    Sentimental ads and a creator-led social series are complemented by offerings like a new DoorDash partnership, CMO Barbra Sainsurin said.

    By Peter Adams • Oct. 20, 2026
  • Pink Suede products from Bath & Body Works
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Bath & Body Works
    Image attribution tooltip

    Bath & Body Works expands partnership to all Ulta stores for the holidays

    Pink Suede is back as a limited-edition scent exclusive to Ulta. Meanwhile, customers can shop a curated selection of seasonal products at the beauty retailer through Dec. 26.

    By • Oct. 16, 2026
  • A building with a sign that says "The Real Real."
    Image attribution tooltip
    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: The RealReal secures fresh financing, Roots buyout advances

    The resale marketplace refinanced to help strengthen its balance sheet, while the apparel brand's shareholders approved its acquisition by Marquee Brands.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Oct. 16, 2026
  • Bealls holiday campaign For the Haul of It.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Bealls
    Image attribution tooltip

    Bealls to debut mobile app

    The app is intended to create a more connected shopping experience across channels, while also supporting the retailer’s strategy around loyalty.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 15, 2026
  • People crossing the street in front of a Saks Fifth Avenue storefront
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue
    Image attribution tooltip

    Saks channels ‘main character energy’ for first post-bankruptcy holiday

    A few months after its parent company exited Chapter 11, a leaner Saks Fifth Avenue is out to show it still has holiday heft.

    By Nicole Silberstein • Oct. 14, 2026
  • FAO Schwarz at Nordstrom in New York City.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Nordstrom
    Image attribution tooltip

    Nordstrom expands FAO Schwarz offerings, debuts new app features for holidays

    The department store revamped its Nordy marketing character and is offering same-day beauty deliveries at select locations this season.

    By • Oct. 13, 2026
  • Shoppers pause at an acquarium tank inside a Scheels store in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Cara Salpini/Retail Dive
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    Reporter’s notebook: Inside Scheels’ sporting goods wonderland

    Come for the sporting goods, stay for the animatronic Abe Lincoln. And whatever you do, don’t expect your average retail experience.

    By • Oct. 13, 2026
  • A group of people in grey sweatpants and hoodies pose inside a hair salon.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Nike
    Image attribution tooltip
    Deep Dive

    Gen Z, Gen Alpha and the AI-ificiation of retail this holiday season

    AI is “rewiring” the brains of today’s youth, at the same time that they’re craving physical experiences. Can retailers strike the right balance?

    By • Oct. 13, 2026
  • A Lowe's storefront with the company's blue and white signage
    Image attribution tooltip
    Nate Delesline III/Retail Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Lowe’s launches Black Friday deals in October

    As shoppers seek Black Friday and Cyber Week discounts, Lowe’s is spreading out its sales events.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 12, 2026
  • Storefront of Spirit Christmas
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Spirit Halloween
    Image attribution tooltip

    Spirit Halloween to transform dozens of locations to Spirit Christmas

    The spooky retailer will expand its Christmas concept, now in its third year, to 44 locations this season.

    By • Oct. 12, 2026
  • Panelists at Advertising Week New York
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Sarah Merians Photography for Advertising Week New York
    Image attribution tooltip

    Why Free People prioritizes cultural co-authorship in celeb tie-ups

    At Advertising Week, chief marketer Jack Reynolds explained why the Urban Outfitters-owned retailer ceded control when working with musician Willow.

    By Chris Kelly • Oct. 12, 2026
  • A customer presses the image of the ChatGPT app on their phone.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Virtual try on launches on ChatGPT

    Users can take or upload a selfie to generate images and see how clothing and accessories look on them prior to purchase. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 9, 2026
  • A building with a pitched roof and "Athleta" in big block letters is seen at a slant from below.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: E.l.f. Brands pushes into fragrance and is Athleta’s C-suite shakeup an opportunity?

    The beauty brand has launched its first fragrance and body care collection, while the Gap Inc. brand is searching for a new CEO after Maggie Gauger went to Lululemon.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Oct. 9, 2026
  • People walking down the street, past storefronts.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Bloomingdale’s merchant jumps to Bluemercury

    Stacie Borteck Dattner will report to Bluemercury CEO Alexandre Choueiri, the former Kering Beauté executive who arrived in August.

    By • Oct. 9, 2026
  • A phone with Tik Tok Shop pulled up.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Photo illustration by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    TikTok to add AI-powered discovery and one-click checkout

    The social media platform is hoping to capitalize on its role as a product discovery engine by adding a conversational AI agent and simpler checkout.

    By Bryan Wassel • Oct. 7, 2026