The Latest

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  Deep Dive

  Why Dick’s Foot Locker acquisition is a big bet on Nike

  Foot Locker took a big hit when Nike started pulling away from wholesale partners. But if the brand makes a comeback — and gets product innovation firing again — Foot Locker’s fortunes could change.

  Operations

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  Dollar Tree completes $1B sale of Family Dollar

  The discount retailer sold the banner to private equity firms more than a decade after acquiring it for about $8.5 billion.

  Operations

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  Retail accelerates investments in generative AI

  The industry is also one of the leaders of AI agent and multiagent system adoption, according to a Capgemini report. 

  Technology

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  S&P Global Ratings downgrades Saks, warns latest financing deal is ‘tantamount to a default’

  Saks Global emphasized that there’s no default related to its new agreement with bondholders, calling the rating updates “common and expected with transactions like these.”

  Operations

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  As Champs reimagines stores, mall convenience meets e-commerce perks

  The sports retailer’s new store concept uses technology for an experience that blends its digital and physical channels.

  Operations

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  Lululemon increasing markdowns at ‘alarming rates’ as momentum fades

  In a research note, Jefferies analysts called out inconsistent pricing for identical items and the consequences of attempts to lure younger shoppers.

  Operations

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  Eastside Golf opens first store

  The brand launched the store at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport in partnership with Paradies Lagardère, which operates travel retail and the PGA Tour stores.

  Operations

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  Q&A

  Small business isn’t quitting checks

  The paper check will persist for decades for small companies, despite the growth of digital payments, BillGO’s CEO predicts.

  Operations

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  Trump rolls out reciprocal tariffs for Japan, South Korea, others

  The U.S. detailed the rates it will impose on imports from certain countries starting Aug. 1 in identical letters shared by the president Monday.

  Operations

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  Online summer sales expected to be the equivalent of ‘two Black Fridays’

  Events including Amazon Prime Day are expected to boost digital sales as price-conscious consumers seek discounts, per Adobe.

  Marketing

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  The retail inventory method vs. cost accounting in the tariff era

  Wild swings in margin estimates under RIM calculations led Walmart executives to pull their profit guidance in May.

  Operations

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  Stores remain dominant, even as digital, AI shopping grows

  Physical retail is still the most popular channel to shop, but as AI tools become more prevalent, retailers will need to rethink in-person offerings, EY’s Jon Copestake says.

  Operations

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  Funko CEO exits after a little over a year

  In the interim, the toy company appointed Michael Lunsford, who said it has "yet to achieve the full potential of Funko."

  Operations

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  US preps for August return of country-specific reciprocal tariffs

  The Trump administration plans to reinstate the levies Aug. 1 after alerting individual trading partners of their specific duty rates starting Monday.

  Operations

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  J.C. Penney to hold down prices for back to school, holiday despite Q1 declines

  Sales and profit slumps were relatively modest, a sign the department store’s merchandising and marketing efforts are paying off.

  Department Stores

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  Joann supplier going out of business

  Design Group Americas, whose portfolio includes sewing pattern brands like McCall’s, Simplicity, Butterick and Vogue, was sold off in May for $1.

  Distressed Retail

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  How Target is tackling back-to-school marketing with dual campaigns

  Two new efforts feature tactics like influencer marketing as the big-box store prioritizes promoting value and an on-trend product assortment.

  Marketing

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  Adidas unites superstars across music, sports, fashion in culture play

  The campaign celebrates the Superstar sneaker and features Samuel L. Jackson, Missy Elliott and more.

  Marketing

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  Levi Strauss to lay off hundreds with Kentucky distribution center closure

  The company is changing its distribution strategy from an owned model to a mix of owned and third-party operated centers.

  Operations

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  Can Lululemon make a federal case out of ‘dupe culture’?

  In a lawsuit against Costco over a variety of apparel designs, the athleisure brand laments the proliferation of “LululemonDupes” on social media.

  Marketing

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  US back-to-school shopping expected to reach over $33B

  Inflation, tariffs and supply chain uncertainty are shaping purchasing decisions this year, according to Coresight Research. 

  Marketing

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  Academy Sports and Outdoors eases tariff pressure with multilevered strategy

  The retailer in Q1 frontloaded $85 million in evergreen products like bicycles to offset duty-driven product cost increases.

  Operations

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  Customers are ditching Shein and Temu. Can Amazon win them over?

  Third-party sellers that fulfill orders through the e-commerce giant’s network may stand to gain as the fast-fashion giants face heightened tariffs.

  Operations

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  Best Buy taps Walgreens CIO to lead its tech organization

  Neal Sample will succeed Brian Tilzer, who served as the electronics retailer’s chief digital, analytics and technology officer for seven years.

  Operations

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  Francesca’s veteran joins Kirkland’s as CFO amid transition to ‘Brand House Collective’

  Andrea Courtois, who also had financial roles at La Senza, Lane Bryant and Lands’ End, replaces longtime Kirkland's executive Mike Madden.

  Operations

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