News•Jan 14, 2026
Wellness Briefing: The Collabs and Campaigns Winning ‘New Year, New You’ Marketing, Plus News
The wellness sector’s January push centers on high‑impact "new year, new you" collaborations, notably fast‑casual restaurant tie‑ins and the quirky "Quitters’ Day" anti‑resolution campaign. Brands are leveraging these seasonal moments to capture early‑year consumer spend and differentiate in a crowded market. Meanwhile, fitness app Strava has filed for an IPO, Alo Yoga announced a senior leadership reshuffle, and creatine products are flooding shelves after a 2025 sales explosion. These moves signal both strategic branding and capital‑raising activity across the industry.
By Glossy
News•Jan 13, 2026
Always-On Retail: How MVNOs Are Solving the Multi-Location Connectivity Challenge
Retailers face costly network outages, with Gartner estimating $5,600 lost per minute, and 81% experiencing POS downtime annually. Traditional wired broadband can take weeks to install, delaying store openings and offering limited redundancy. Full‑service Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) like...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 13, 2026
The Perfume Shop Reports Strong Festive Performance
The Perfume Shop posted a robust festive season, with perfume bottle sales climbing 6% year‑on‑year. Between 30 November and 24 December customers purchased over 1.58 million bottles, averaging more than 63 000 per day. December sales rose 1.6%, led by Dior Sauvage, Carolina Herrera Good Girl and Chanel Coco Mademoiselle,...
By The Retail Bulletin
News•Jan 13, 2026
Sofa Club Hires Paul Brennan as Managing Director
Sofa Club has appointed former Marc Jacobs executive Paul Brennan as its managing director. Brennan, who previously held senior roles at Yoox Net‑A‑Porter, Browns, John Lewis and most recently JW Anderson, will lead the brand’s UK expansion. The hire aligns...
By The Retail Bulletin
News•Jan 13, 2026
Sosandar Boosted by Surge in Ecommerce Sales
Sosandar’s revenue rose 10% to £13.4 million in Q3, driven by a strong ecommerce surge. Online sales jumped 27% thanks to higher site traffic, better conversion rates, and larger order volumes. Brick‑and‑mortar stores also outperformed the prior year. CEOs say the...
By The Retail Bulletin
News•Jan 13, 2026
Tools for Fast Search-Query Analysis
Ann Smarty highlights three Chrome extensions that streamline Google Search Console query analysis. Query Scout overlays page‑level query data and offers a $29 upgrade with pre‑built intent filters. Find Real Prompts extracts longer, AI‑style queries and can feed them to ChatGPT for...
By Practical Ecommerce
News•Jan 13, 2026
The 1% Advantage: How Store Layouts Quietly Decide Who Wins in Retail
Retail store layouts can silently erode sales by confusing shoppers, a problem now quantifiable with in‑store analytics. Misplaced product adjacencies can shave up to 30% of traffic, while clear sightlines and logical groupings boost dwell time and basket size. Target’s...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 13, 2026
How Inviting Consumers to ‘Ask Ralph’ Deepens Their Connection to the Ralph Lauren Brand
Ralph Lauren unveiled "Ask Ralph," an AI‑driven styling assistant now live on the Polo brand’s mobile app, built with Microsoft Azure AI and Copilot Studio. The agent taps real‑time inventory to deliver personalized outfit recommendations that echo the company’s timeless...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 13, 2026
Home Depot Launches Creator Portal
Home Depot unveiled the Home Depot Creator Portal, a centralized hub that links digital content creators with the retailer’s DIY and décor ecosystem. The platform offers creators campaign opportunities, training resources, product catalogs, and storefront capabilities to monetize their home‑improvement...
By Retail Customer Experience
News•Jan 13, 2026
How to Make Every Shopping Experience Memorable
Retailers must move beyond product focus to craft memorable, emotion‑driven shopping journeys across both physical and digital channels. Consumers now expect seamless integration of in‑store tactile experiences with online interactivity such as virtual try‑ons and live demos. Personalized gestures, loyalty...
By Retail Customer Experience
News•Jan 13, 2026
Beauty Briefing: How Beauty’s Beleaguered Makeup Brands Can Turn It Around
Estée Lauder is divesting its once‑iconic makeup brands Too Faced, Smashbox and Dr. Jart as it reshapes its portfolio, while Pat McGrath Labs also puts assets up for sale. The makeup category, however, is showing a resurgence, with NielsenIQ reporting a 9 % year‑over‑year...
By Glossy
News•Jan 13, 2026
Limited Inventory and Thoughtful Partnerships: How Brands at NRF Are Making the Most of TikTok Shop
Brands at the NRF Big Show highlighted how TikTok Shop is reshaping fashion and beauty commerce, with U.S. sales soaring over 400% and now accounting for more than 20% of social commerce. Success stories like Pacsun’s 11,000 pairs of jeans...
By Glossy
News•Jan 13, 2026
Walmart Adds AI Leader to Board
Walmart announced the appointment of Shishir Mehrotra, the chief executive of AI‑focused productivity suite Superhuman, to its board of directors. The move underscores Walmart's intent to embed advanced artificial‑intelligence capabilities across its retail operations. Mehrotra brings deep expertise in generative...
By Retail Technology (Magazine)
News•Jan 12, 2026
Why E.U. Ecommerce Rules Seem Complex
EU ecommerce regulation has evolved into a complex ecosystem of overlapping directives, including the E‑Commerce Directive, GDPR, Digital Services Act, and upcoming Digital Product Passport. The rules aim to boost consumer trust through mandatory transparency, safety, and accessibility, but they...
By Practical Ecommerce
News•Jan 12, 2026
‘Instagram Is the Leading Social Commerce Platform in Germany’
Instagram has emerged as Germany’s top social commerce platform, with 15% of consumers purchasing directly on the app or via redirects. Overall, three in ten Germans shop through social media, while Facebook (14%) and YouTube (11%) follow. Bitkom’s research shows...
By Ecommerce News Europe
News•Jan 12, 2026
Dick’s Sporting Goods Chairman Ed Stack on House of Sport, Corporate Culture and Fixing Foot Locker
Dick’s Sporting Goods Chairman Ed Stack outlined the retailer’s aggressive expansion of its experiential House of Sport stores, a cultural overhaul, and the recent Foot Locker acquisition at NRF 2026. The 150,000‑sq‑ft House of Sport concept now operates 35 locations with 15 more...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 12, 2026
REI CEO Mary Beth Laughton on How the Co-Op Is Changing, Ecommerce and AI
REI CEO Mary Beth Laughton outlined the three‑year Peak 28 transformation at NRF 2026, emphasizing culture, product relevance, service, and a revamped membership program. She detailed how AI will augment, not replace, the brand’s human expertise, adding employee‑generated content to...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 12, 2026
AI in Luxury: Why LVMH Won’t Let AI Eclipse Humanity or Creativity
LVMH is embedding AI across its 75 maisons, positioning the technology as a catalyst for human creativity rather than a replacement. The group’s “AI for All” initiative equips every employee with generative tools while each brand retains its unique DNA...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 12, 2026
Luxury Vintage Retailer Deploys Digital Wave Platform for Systems Upgrade
What Goes Around Comes Around, a luxury vintage retailer, is rolling out Digital Wave Technology's ONE platform as part of a digital modernization push. The initiative replaces legacy product information management, financial planning, and supply allocation systems with an AI‑native...
By Retail Customer Experience
News•Jan 12, 2026
Hanna Andersson Hires Kacey Sharrett as Chief Digital Officer
Hanna Andersson announced the appointment of Kacey Sharrett as chief digital officer. Sharrett will steer the brand’s digital ecosystem and customer experience. She arrives with nearly two decades of leadership in e‑commerce, direct‑to‑consumer, and performance‑marketing, most recently heading GoPro’s global DTC...
By Retail Customer Experience
News•Jan 12, 2026
Brazil’s Oldest Perfumery Is Making a Play for US Fragrance Consumers. And No, It’s Not Sol De Janeiro
Brazilian heritage brand Granado, founded in 1870, is accelerating its U.S. expansion after posting 12% revenue growth in 2025 and 95% year‑over‑year sales growth in the United States. The company opened its first New York store in January 2024 and...
By Glossy
News•Jan 12, 2026
Asos Tests the Return of Topshop and Topman Stores in the US
Parent company ASOS revived Topshop and Topman in the United States with a 17‑day pop‑up in New York’s SoHo district. The activation showcased curated selections from the brands alongside ASOS’s premium lines, providing a physical touchpoint for U.S. shoppers after...
By Glossy
News•Jan 12, 2026
NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show Puts Agentic AI Centre Stage
The NRF 2026 Retail’s Big Show highlighted agentic AI as the year’s headline technology, with major retailers and solution providers unveiling tools that can autonomously make decisions on pricing, inventory and customer engagement. Demonstrations ranged from AI‑driven demand forecasting engines...
By Retail Technology (Magazine)
News•Jan 11, 2026
Early AI Signals From Holiday Sales
Adobe reported a record $257.8 billion in U.S. online holiday sales in 2025, with mobile commerce exceeding 50% of transactions. AI‑driven traffic to ecommerce sites surged 693% year‑over‑year, yet it still represented a tiny fraction of total visits. Salesforce estimates AI...
By Practical Ecommerce
News•Jan 9, 2026
The RealReal Cuts Asset Protection Expenses 60% with AI-Powered Video Solution
The RealReal has implemented Motorola Solutions' AI‑enabled video security system to automate the search for individual luxury items across its facilities. By inputting a simple physical description, the platform can locate a specific product in seconds instead of days, slashing...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 9, 2026
58% of Consumers Use AI Tools to Research Products
ChannelEngine’s 2026 Marketplace Shopping Behavior Report shows AI tools now assist 58% of shoppers during product research, while the share of consumers beginning their journey on marketplaces fell to 37%, a 10‑point drop from last year. Marketplaces still outrank search...
By Ecommerce News Europe
News•Jan 9, 2026
Pacsun Looks Beyond the Standard App with New Co-Creation Platform
Pacsun unveiled the PS Community Hub, a digital platform that blends social interaction, creator monetization, and co‑creation with traditional shopping. Launched in early January, the hub lets everyday users and influencers collaborate on fashion ideas, earn affiliate commissions, and shop...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 9, 2026
Macy’s to Close 14 Underperforming Stores Even as It Touts ‘Bold New Chapter’ Performance
Macy’s announced the closure of 14 underperforming stores in 12 states as part of its "Bold New Chapter" transformation. CEO Tony Spring highlighted stronger results from the "Reimagine 125" pilot stores and growth in luxury banners Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury. The...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 9, 2026
From Collectible AR Cards to Blockchain Games: How to Revitalize Loyalty Programs
Loyalty programs still generate strong ROI, yet consumer satisfaction remains under 50% in the U.S. and Canada. Traditional point‑based schemes convert only about 5% of shoppers, leaving the majority disengaged. Retailers are turning to gamified experiences that blend augmented reality...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 9, 2026
Ecommerce Success with Fractional Talent
The Starters, launched in late 2023, is a two‑sided marketplace that connects ecommerce brands with vetted fractional talent, now hosting over 600 freelancers and serving 500 client brands. The platform differentiates itself by charging freelancers zero commission and requiring brands to...
By Practical Ecommerce
News•Jan 9, 2026
Online Sales Grow 19% During Christmas in Portugal
Online shopping in Portugal surged during the 2025 Christmas period, with ecommerce transactions up 19% and total online spend rising about 14% compared with the same window in 2024. E‑commerce accounted for 18% of all sales transactions and 21% of...
By Ecommerce News Europe
News•Jan 9, 2026
Creative Realities Launches Digital Drive-Thru 2.0
Creative Realities unveiled Digital Drive‑Thru 2.0, a modular digital menu‑board platform designed to streamline installation, maintenance, and scaling for quick‑service restaurants and other drive‑thru venues. The system reduces installation complexity, complies with municipal regulations, and lets operators add or adjust components...
By Retail Customer Experience
News•Jan 9, 2026
United Supermarkets Brings Back Interactive Loyalty
United Supermarkets, together with TCC Global, has relaunched its interactive "28-Day Challenge" loyalty campaign across the United, Albertsons Market, Market Street and Amigos banners. The program delivers weekly shopping challenges, digital coupons and personalized rewards through a mobile interface. TCC...
By Retail Technology (Magazine)
News•Jan 8, 2026
Online Growth Expected in Bulgaria
Bulgaria joined the eurozone on January 1, becoming the 21st member and eliminating currency conversion for cross‑border transactions. The move grants local financial institutions access to Europe’s central payment systems, streamlining payments for online retailers. Despite this, e‑commerce adoption remains modest,...
By Ecommerce News Europe
News•Jan 8, 2026
GameStop Closing up to 200 Stores This Month as Board Approves $35B Performance-Based Pay Package for CEO
GameStop announced it will shutter up to 200 U.S. stores this month, adding to the 590 closures completed in FY2024. The retailer also unveiled a performance‑based compensation plan for Chairman and CEO Ryan Cohen that could be worth as much...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 8, 2026
David’s Bridal Debuts Ambassador Program for Creators, Customers and Associates
David’s Bridal has launched the David’s Style Squad, an ambassador program that enlists creators, frontline associates, and loyal customers to produce shoppable user‑generated content. Participants earn commissions ranging from 5% to 20% on net sales, with top performers receiving early‑access...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 8, 2026
Acquiring Customers via Google Ads
Google Ads introduces a New Customer Acquisition feature that lets advertisers assign incremental conversion values to first‑time buyers, influencing bid strategies. By inputting a target ROAS and using average order value, the platform can suggest a higher value—e.g., $46.27 versus...
By Practical Ecommerce
News•Jan 8, 2026
Digital ID in Mobile Wallets Is Helping Pull Shoppers Back In-Store
Digital IDs embedded in mobile wallets are streamlining checkout and verification, turning smartphones into trusted identity hubs. Retailers are leveraging this capability to blend online convenience with in‑store experiences through loyalty programs, targeted messaging, and tap‑based interactions. Early adopters report...
By E-Commerce Times
News•Jan 8, 2026
From Compliance to Competitive Advantage: Maximizing 2D Barcode Impact Ahead of Sunrise 2027
Retailers must upgrade all POS scanners to read GS1 Digital Link 2D barcodes by early 2027, a deadline known as Sunrise 2027. The change replaces static UPCs with dynamic QR‑style codes that can carry batch data, sustainability attributes, and consumer‑facing...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 8, 2026
e.l.f Beauty Launches Roblox Game
Cosmetics brand e.l.f Beauty has launched a new makeup game Glow Up! On Roblox
By Retail Technology (Magazine)
News•Jan 8, 2026
UK Retail Innovation Council Reveals 2026 Agenda
The UK Retail Innovation Council has unveiled its 2026 agenda, outlining the strategic priorities its Executive Committee will tackle in early 2026. The roadmap emphasizes AI‑driven personalization, sustainable sourcing, and deeper omnichannel integration. It also flags supply‑chain resilience, real‑time data...
By Retail Technology (Magazine)
News•Jan 7, 2026
PepsiCo Deploys AI-Powered Digital Twins of Manufacturing Facilities to Test Expansion Plans
PepsiCo has teamed with Nvidia and Siemens to create AI‑driven, physics‑based digital twins of its U.S. manufacturing and warehouse sites using Nvidia Omniverse and Siemens Digital Twin Composer. The virtual replicas let AI agents simulate layout changes, catching up to...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 7, 2026
Holiday Ecommerce Sales Near $260 Billion with AI Driving 20% of Transactions
Consumers set a new record for holiday ecommerce, reaching $257.8 billion, a 6.8% year‑over‑year increase. Mobile devices drove 56.4% of online transactions, while aggressive discounts pushed electronics off‑price by 30.9%. Salesforce estimates U.S. online sales at $294 billion, contributing to a $1.29 trillion...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 7, 2026
Target’s New Year’s Resolution: More Wellness (30% More, in Fact)
Target is accelerating its wellness strategy in 2026, boosting its health‑focused product assortment by 30 percent. The retailer launched Target Wellness Week, running through Jan. 10, with deep discounts, personalized Circle 360 offers, and its first in‑store wellness events. New private‑label lines...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 7, 2026
1800Flowers.com Appoints Alexander Zelikovsky as CIO
1800Flowers.com announced Alexander Zelikovsky as its new chief information officer, a move designed to accelerate the retailer’s digital transformation agenda. Reporting directly to CEO Adolfo Villagomez, Zelikovsky will steer enterprise‑wide technology strategy, covering applications, data architecture, cybersecurity, and business intelligence....
By Retail Customer Experience
News•Jan 7, 2026
2025 Holiday Shopping Went AI
The Liveops 2025 Holiday AI & Customer Service Report shows the U.S. holiday season became the first fully AI‑driven shopping period. AI chatbots answered roughly 40% of consumer queries, while voice assistants processed 15% of purchases. Personalized AI recommendation engines...
By Retail Technology (Magazine)
News•Jan 6, 2026
Nespresso Opens NYC Flagship Brimming with Coffee-Flavored Experiential Retail
Nespresso unveiled its eighth and largest flagship store in New York City, occupying 13,900 square feet in the Flatiron district. The two‑level space combines a refreshed boutique design with experiential zones, including a Hidden Cup Coffee Bar serving functional and zero‑proof drinks,...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 6, 2026
Albertsons Media Collective Launches Store-Level Measurement to Gauge Ads’ True Impact
Albertsons Media Collective has launched a store‑level incrementality measurement system that isolates the true sales lift generated by in‑store ads. The solution pits test stores exposed to media against rigorously matched control stores, creating a statistically validated counterfactual. In a...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 6, 2026
White House Delays Increase in Furniture Tariffs for One Year
President Donald Trump has postponed the scheduled increase in tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities from January 1, 2026 to January 2027, keeping the existing 25% tariff on timber and lumber in place. The original Section 232 order...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Jan 6, 2026
5 Roadblocks Slowing Commerce Media…and How to Clear Them
Commerce media is projected to exceed $100 billion, but retailers face five key implementation roadblocks. First‑party data often remains siloed, limiting precise audience segmentation. Manual audience creation, fragmented channel activation, lack of self‑service tools, and slow, opaque measurement further hinder growth....
By Retail TouchPoints