Lowe’s Courts DIY Shoppers as AI Tools Boost Online Conversions
Lowe’s is leveraging AI to boost both online and in‑store performance, with its Mylow AI shopping assistant driving a three‑fold lift in conversion rates and handling over one million inquiries each month. The companion AI tool for associates improves in‑store customer‑satisfaction scores by 2 %. These digital advances complement a broader DIY‑focused strategy that includes next‑day appliance delivery and a new HomeCare+ subscription service. Overall, the retailer reported a 10.3 % year‑over‑year rise in net sales to $23.1 billion in Q1 2026.
Amer Sports CFO: No Visibility on Tariff Refunds
Amer Sports CFO Andrew Page said the company has received only a modest amount of tariff refunds and has no visibility on future refunds or timing. The firm posted a 32% revenue increase in Q1, reaching $1.9 billion, and projects 20‑22%...
David’s Bridal Is Ready to Help Couples Budget Their Wedding
David’s Bridal has added a free AI‑driven budgeting feature to its Pearl Planner platform, letting couples input budget, location and guest count to receive real‑time cost breakdowns. The tool allocates funds based on user priorities and regional market data, offering...
PVH Names New Americas CEO Amid Executive Shuffle
PVH Corp. announced that Adelyn Cheong, currently president of PVH China, will become CEO of PVH Americas, overseeing Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger in the region, with the appointment effective in late summer. Donald Kohler, the outgoing Americas CEO, is...
The Backroom: What’s Really Happening at Lululemon?
Lululemon announced former Nike executive Heidi O’Neill as its incoming CEO, slated to start in September, sparking a wave of criticism about her ability to turn the brand around. At the same time, founder Chip Wilson is waging a board...
Tapestry Patents AI Data Analytics Tech
Tapestry, the parent of Coach and Kate Spade, secured its first AI patent for the Mira platform, an internal analytics engine that aggregates company data and delivers insights in seconds. The company says Mira replaces days‑long manual data combing with near‑real‑time...
Former Calvin Klein Exec Will Be Banana Republic’s CEO
Donald Kohler, a former Calvin Klein executive, will assume the role of brand CEO at Banana Republic in July, marking a return to the Gap family where he began his career. Kohler most recently led PVH Americas, overseeing Calvin Klein...
At Home CEO to Retire After Leading It Through Bankruptcy
At Home CEO Brad Weston announced his retirement effective end of June, transitioning to an advisory role after guiding the home‑goods retailer through its 2025 Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Aaron Rose, the chief commercial officer since January 2025, was promoted to president,...
Marketplace Growth Is Outpacing Ecommerce. Here’s Why Payments Infrastructure Will Shape Who Scales.
Retailers such as Lowe’s, Best Buy, Ulta Beauty and Nordstrom are launching third‑party marketplace platforms, driving US online marketplace sales up 11.5% in 2025—almost double the overall ecommerce growth rate. The shift from a single‑seller storefront to a multi‑seller marketplace forces a...
1 in 5 Shoppers Left Their Wallet at Home Today. Is Your Store Ready for Them?
A McKinsey study shows one in five U.S. shoppers now leave home without a physical wallet, using phones for tap‑to‑pay across age groups. Millennials (66.7%) and Gen X (44%) have embraced digital wallets, making cash and card‑only checkout a competitive liability....
Dillard’s Is so Confident, It Opened a New Store
Dillard’s opened its first Dayton‑area store in The Mall at Fairfield Commons, taking over a former Macy’s anchor. In Q1, the retailer reported a 3% rise in retail sales to $1.5 billion and a 30‑basis‑point lift in gross margin to 45.8%....
Best Buy Debuts Consultation Spaces Within Ikea Stores
Best Buy has launched dedicated consultation spaces inside two Ikea stores—in Frisco, Texas, and Tampa, Florida—where its Blue Shirt specialists help shoppers choose appliances, place orders, and arrange delivery without leaving the Ikea showroom. The move flips the existing shop‑in‑shop model...
Wacoal America’s New CEO on Running a Brand Worn by Many, Known by Few
Wacoal America, a long‑standing intimates maker, appointed James Wheatley as CEO in April and is now prioritizing brand awareness. The company plans to expand its small network of eight outlet‑mall stores, using them as a marketing platform rather than profit...
Inflation Hits 3.8%, Outpaces Wage Growth for First Time in 3 Years
U.S. inflation rose to 3.8% in April, outpacing wage growth for the first time in three years, according to the BLS CPI. The increase was broad‑based, driven by higher energy, grocery, rent, airfare and medical costs. Navy Federal’s chief economist...
Under Armour Counts on Tariff Refunds to Help It Rebound This Year
Under Armour posted a 1% drop in Q4 revenue to $1.2 billion and a net loss of $43 million, while full‑year revenue fell 4% to $5 billion and the loss more than doubled to $496 million. The company attributes margin pressure largely to higher...