The Weekly Closeout: Allbirds’ ‘AI-Washing’ and Nike’s Ongoing Exec Turnover
Ulta Beauty named Agustina Sartori head of agentic commerce, signaling a push to embed AI into its loyalty and e‑commerce platforms. Meanwhile, Allbirds secured a $50 million investment and announced a dramatic pivot to AI compute infrastructure under the NewBird AI brand, briefly spiking its share price before retreating. In the apparel space, Nike continues to experience executive turnover, with chief innovation officer Tony Bignell departing, casting doubt on the brand’s product turnaround. Additionally, David’s Bridal launched a sub‑$65 lingerie collection with Adore Me, expanding its wedding‑day ecosystem.
Rent the Runway Turns to Marketplace, Other Sideline Businesses to Stoke Revenue
Rent the Runway is diversifying beyond rentals by offering dry‑cleaning services to hotels, expanding its advertising arm, and launching an online marketplace in March. Revenue rose 7.7% year‑over‑year to about $330 million, while gross margin slipped, yet the company posted a...
Williams-Sonoma Names President of Rejuvenation
Williams‑Sonoma promoted longtime executive Aujsha Taylor to president of its Rejuvenation division. Taylor, who joined the company in 2003 and most recently served as senior vice president of the brand, will steer merchandising, product innovation and growth initiatives. CEO Laura...
AI Is Changing How Your Shoppers Feel About Your Brand
Retail shoppers are increasingly using large language models (LLMs) as the first point of product discovery, with eight in ten shoppers under 44 relying on AI before visiting a retailer’s site. The Rithum survey of 1,046 U.S. and U.K. shoppers...
RF vs RFID: Why Retailers Are Moving Beyond Traditional EAS
Retailers are augmenting legacy RF‑based Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) with RFID tags that uniquely identify each item. While RF still triggers alarms at exits, RFID supplies item‑level data—SKU, value, time and location of a loss event. The hybrid approach lets...
Richard Baker Subpoenaed for Communications with Ex-Saks Global CEO Marc Metrick
Unsecured creditors in Saks Global’s Chapter 11 case have issued a subpoena to executive chairman Richard Baker, demanding all communications with former CEO Marc Metrick and related transaction documents. The request also covers Baker’s affiliated entities, art and jewelry loans,...
Dollar General Bets on Beauty with Savings Event
Dollar General is launching a week‑long "7 Days of Savings" beauty event from April 10‑18, spotlighting national brands such as Maybelline, L’Oréal, Thayer’s and Old Spice. The promotion extends the retailer’s 2023 "Beauty Reinvention" strategy, which includes expanding E.l.f. Beauty endcaps...
Wacoal America CEO Retires
Mitchell Kauffman, CEO of Wacoal America, retired after a 40‑year career, staying on the board as an adviser. James Wheatley, who has been president since 2019 and previously worked at J.C. Penney and VF Corp., was appointed the new president and...
The Weekly Closeout: Reebok Returns to Hockey, Nordstrom Local Expands
Reebok is reentering the hockey market in Q4 2024 through a partnership with Wholesale Sports Inc., which will handle development, sales and distribution of a new line of ice and inline hockey equipment. Furniture retailer Ashley launched Ashley Luxe, a premium...
Bed Bath & Beyond Agrees to Acquire The Container Store for $150M
Bed Bath & Beyond announced a $150 million acquisition of The Container Store, including its Elfa and Closet Works units, slated to close in July. The deal brings over 100 retail locations and 2.2 million square feet of premium space into Bed...
QVC Group Anticipates Going Concern Warning
QVC Group has not filed its 2025 Form 10‑K, citing ongoing lender negotiations and a pending audit review. Management expects to disclose substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The retailer recently received a Fitch...
Consumers Want Associates to Handle Follow-Up Communication
A new Endear study shows that 63% of U.S. shoppers aged 24‑54 are more likely to return to a store when an associate follows up personally, and 55% have already made a purchase because of such outreach. Personalized communication matters...
Dollar Tree Makes Distribution, Tech Upgrades
Dollar Tree is overhauling its distribution network and replacing legacy systems with AI‑driven, cloud‑based platforms. In the latest quarter, inventory fell 7% year‑over‑year while sales climbed 9%, signaling improved inventory discipline. The retailer is rebuilding its Marietta, Oklahoma hub to...
The Backroom: Consumer Resilience in Trying Times
Retail Dive’s latest Backroom episode highlights that U.S. consumers remain surprisingly resilient, keeping discretionary spending steady despite persistent inflation and economic uncertainty. The National Retail Federation (NRF) projects a 4.4% rise in retail sales for 2026, outpacing most analysts, though...
How Lowe’s Creator Network Is Winning over the Next Generation of Shoppers
Lowe’s has rolled out a Creator Network, partnering with top influencers such as YouTuber MrBeast to reach Generation Alpha before they become homeowners. The program, launched in June 2025, offers creators personalized storefronts on Lowe’s site and commissions on sales,...