Today's Retail Pulse
World Cup fuels retail showdown as Nike, Adidas, Puma and New Balance gear up for 2026 tournament
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co‑hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is projected to add more than $40 billion to global GDP. Leading sportswear brands are planning high‑profile product drops and experiential activations to capture the surge in soccer enthusiasm.
Modern Retail Podcast: Marketing Is Experiencing an AI Reckoning
In the latest Modern Retail Podcast, co‑hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels, joined by executive editor Anna Hensel, examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping retail marketing. They note that rising customer‑acquisition costs and a more discerning shopper base are driving brands to use AI for sharper targeting and faster creative production. At the same time, many marketers remain cautious about replacing human talent or entrusting mission‑critical tasks to still‑evolving AI platforms. The discussion highlights both the opportunities and the hesitations surrounding this AI reckoning.
Revolve Group Net Sales Grow as AI’s Role Expands for Shoppers
Revolve Group reported a 10.4% year‑over‑year increase in net sales to $324.37 million for Q4 2025, driven by AI‑enhanced personalization, search and styling tools. Beauty product sales surged 43%, while net income rose 58% and adjusted EBITDA grew 44%. Executives highlighted...
BlueLinx Bets on AI as It Navigates a Soft Housing Market
BlueLinx Holdings is reshaping its digital roadmap around artificial intelligence while steering through a soft housing market that left full‑year 2025 sales essentially flat. The company skipped a multi‑million‑dollar traditional ecommerce build, citing rapid AI‑driven changes in ordering behavior. Q4...
Resideo Pushes Connected Products and Digital Buying Tools
Resideo Technologies reported Q4 revenue of $1.895 billion, a 2% increase, and net income of $136 million, while full‑year sales hit a record $7.472 billion, up 11% from 2024. A one‑time $527 million loss, linked to ending a Honeywell indemnification agreement, turned the annual...
Mirakl Turns Profitable as Recurring Revenue and Marketplace Activity Grows
Mirakl announced full‑year profitability for 2025, driven by a 23% jump in annual recurring revenue (ARR) to $218 million. Marketplace and dropship activity surged, processing roughly $15 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV), a 31% increase year‑over‑year. New products such as Mirakl...
Katana Cloud Inventory Review 2026: The Honest Guide for Shopify Brands That Make What They Sell
Katana positions itself as the only Shopify‑native cloud inventory and manufacturing platform, unifying real‑time inventory, production planning, and shop‑floor execution. It targets Shopify brands that make their own products, charging a $299 per‑month Core plan plus optional add‑ons and a $2,000...
Scooters Coffee Reaches 900 Stores Nationwide with 83 New Locations Added in 2025 Across 32 States
Scooter’s Coffee announced it has reached 900 stores nationwide, adding 83 new locations in 2025 across 32 states. The expansion represents a 10% increase over the prior year, following a 16% growth spurt in 2024. The company attributes the growth...
AI, Clean Beauty and U.S. Growth Reshape Global Cosmetics Outlook
The global cosmetics market is forecast to reach $704.17 billion by 2032, expanding at a 5.25% CAGR from $492.18 billion in 2025. Skincare dominates, representing 48% of revenue, with the United States driving premium growth through anti‑aging, SPF, and microbiome‑friendly products. Artificial‑intelligence...
Home Depot Launches Real-Time Delivery Tracking for Large Items
Home Depot has introduced real‑time delivery tracking for all large‑item orders, expanding a feature previously limited to small parcels. The rollout leverages handheld devices used by drivers to log checkpoints, giving customers live visibility into the status of bulky shipments...
Sprouts Coming To Vacant Highland Park 99 Cents Only Store
Sprouts Farmers Market has signed a lease for the former 99 Cents Only store at 6235 York Blvd. in Highland Park, Los Angeles, with plans to open a new grocery outlet in 2027. The existing 21,000‑square‑foot building will be demolished and...
Builders FirstSource Partners With Blitzy to Implement AI Software Development
Builders FirstSource (BFS) announced a strategic partnership with Blitzy AI, an autonomous software development platform designed for product development. The collaboration introduces an agentic software development lifecycle, enabling BFS to modernize its technology stack and accelerate delivery. Within the first...
Boot Barn Strengthens Its Country Music Ties With New Stagecoach Sponsorship
Boot Barn announced its debut sponsorship of the Stagecoach country‑music festival, serving as the official boot retailer and presenting sponsor of the new Mustang Stage. The partnership includes on‑site activations, custom giveaways, and a pre‑festival in‑store loyalty event at its...
NRF’s Retail’s Big Show Is Driving the Next Wave of Restaurant Innovation
The National Retail Federation’s Retail’s Big Show in New York is now a proving ground for restaurant technology, showcasing AI, automation, and data‑driven loyalty tools that were once retail‑only. Sessions highlighted Dine Brands’ 34% cut in ticket‑resolution time and the...
Mint Velvet’s Brand Campaign Activations Take over the Capital This London Fashion Week
Mint Velvet is turning London Fashion Week into a city‑wide showcase, deploying brand activations in Underground stations and a wrapped London cab to spotlight its Spring Leather and Suede jacket line. The retailer also hosted an intimate editor dinner with...
Whole Foods Market Triples Pitch Day Capacity for Q2 2026, Offering up to 50 Brand Slots
Whole Foods Market announced a three‑fold increase in its Q2 2026 Pitch Day capacity, offering up to 50 dedicated slots across Grocery, Whole Body and Specialty categories. Applications open on 27 February and close on 27 March, with the pitch event slated for...
Local Food, Real People, Better Experiences: The Rise of the Modern Farm Shop
Shoppers increasingly demand traceable, locally‑sourced food, prompting a resurgence of modern farm shops. The Farm Retail Association notes that roughly 75 pence of every £1 spent at farm retailers stays within the local economy, reinforcing community wealth. Yorkshire‑based Farmer Copleys became...
Mercatto Expands with New Location in Port Credit
Toronto‑born Italian chain Mercatto is opening its first location outside the city core, Mercatto Centrale, in Mississauga’s Brightwater waterfront community on March 13, 2026. The 8,500‑square‑foot restaurant offers over 290 seats, including a 90‑seat patio, and introduces an exclusive brunch menu. Operated by...
H‑E‑B Announces Major Remodel and Expansion of 83 & Lincoln Store in Harlingen
H‑E‑B has launched a comprehensive remodel and expansion of its 83 & Lincoln store in Harlingen, increasing the footprint to nearly 112,000 square feet. The project, slated for completion in early 2027, adds expanded departments, a refreshed exterior, and a...
Giant Tiger and the Canadian Women’s Foundation Partner on International Women’s Day Shirt
Giant Tiger Stores Limited has launched its fourth‑year exclusive International Women’s Day shirt in partnership with the Canadian Women’s Foundation, with 100% of profits earmarked for the foundation’s gender‑equity programs. The design, created by Ottawa‑based queer artist Linh VH Nguyen in collaboration with...
Financial Fluency Doubles Owners' Cash Extraction From Revenue
If you don't have financial fluency, your chances of turning business revenue -> personal cash plummet. I have the data to prove it. I surveyed 200+ store owners as part of the 2026 eComFuel Trends Report (full report coming soon). One of the...
5 Shoes & Retail Apparel Stocks Capitalizing on Premiumization Trends
The Shoes & Retail Apparel sector is riding a premiumization wave, with consumers favoring high‑quality, performance‑driven footwear and apparel that command higher price points. Digital acceleration and direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) strategies are boosting margins, inventory efficiency, and customer engagement across brands....
Target to Remove Certified Synthetic Colors From Entire Cereal Assortment
Target Corp. announced that by the end of May it will stock only cereals free of certified synthetic colors across all stores and online. The initiative follows internal guest insights showing a sustained shift toward products without artificial additives, especially...
TikTok Shop Scraps Controversial Shipping Overhaul Under Seller Pressure
TikTok Shop announced on February 17, 2026 that it is pausing the enforcement of a policy that would have eliminated independent shipping for U.S. sellers, keeping the existing fulfillment model in place for now. The original mandate required merchants to...
Amazon and Shopify Now Control Nearly Half of U.S. E-Commerce
Amazon now commands roughly 35.7% of U.S. online retail, generating about $440 billion in 2025, while Shopify’s merchant network accounts for 14% of the market. Together they control 49.7% of the $1.2 trillion U.S. e‑commerce landscape, up from 43% in 2021. This...
3 Numbers that Highlight Grocers’ Evolving Approach to Health and Wellness
Grocers are rapidly embedding health and wellness into their core business, with 96% of food‑industry companies now reporting formal nutrition strategies. The FMI survey shows that registered dietitian nutritionists lead 79% of wellness decision‑making, while pharmacy leadership influence has climbed...
Amazon Backs OpenAI with $50B, Co‑develops Custom Models
AMZN confirms today, in addition to $50b backing of OpenAI, it will co-develop custom models to power Amazon consumer tools, as reported by The Information I first reported details in @ReadTheAisle last week on Rufus shopping assistant being involved https://t.co/60Z6WBfyvh
PayPal, Rainforest Join Forces
PayPal announced a partnership with Atlanta‑based Rainforest to embed PayPal, Venmo and buy‑now‑pay‑later services directly into Rainforest’s software platform. The integration is designed to accelerate merchant payouts, cut late‑payment incidents and shift transaction volume away from cash and checks. Rainforest,...
DESIGNME Launches Rooting for All Women Campaign
DESIGNME, a Canadian vegan hair‑care brand, launched the “Rooting for All Women” limited‑edition campaign on Feb. 27, 2026. The initiative celebrates women’s personal and professional transformations and donates a portion of sales, up to $10,000, to women‑focused charities, including Montreal’s Chez Doris....
Lloyds Stops Opening some Bank Accounts for Customers in Branches
Lloyds Banking Group announced it will no longer open joint, premium or student accounts in its branches, and staff will not switch customers from other providers. Customers seeking new accounts will be directed to the bank’s app or website, though...
Topshop Sets World Record: First Fashion Show with AI Live Shopping
Topshop staged a world‑first AI‑powered fashion show in Manchester, replacing the traditional runway with a hybrid physical‑digital experience. Shoppers used the bespoke Front Row AI app to buy each silhouette in real time while models walked, and later tried the...
Thin Retail Margins Force Sellers to Pass Tariffs
"Many sellers simply don’t have much of a choice but to pass on the cost of tariffs. 'At a certain point—because retail is, as you know, a mid-single digit operating margin business—if people’s costs go up by 10%, there aren’t...
National Pizza Chain Closing Hundreds of Locations After Brutal Drop in Sales
Papa John’s announced plans to shutter roughly 300 underperforming U.S. restaurants by the end of 2027, with about 200 closures slated for this year. The move follows a 5.4% drop in same‑store sales across North America and a broader flat‑lining...
The Friday Checkout: ShopRite’s Integrated Approach to GLP-1s
ShopRite, part of Wakefern Food Corp., has introduced a limited‑time "Wellness Your Way" starter kit for customers beginning GLP‑1 therapy. The kit bundles medication samples, coupons and a dietitian‑crafted wellness guide, explicitly tying the chain’s pharmacy and grocery divisions. The...
Amazon Deepens AI Push with $50B OpenAI Investment
Amazon announced a multi‑year partnership with OpenAI, committing $50 billion—$15 billion upfront and $35 billion conditional—to accelerate AI adoption. The deal includes a stateful runtime on Amazon Bedrock, exclusive AWS distribution for OpenAI Frontier, and an expanded $100 billion Trainium compute commitment over eight...
Albertsons Cos. Names Brian Rice to Board of Directors
Albertsons Companies announced that Brian Rice, the executive vice president and global chief information officer of McDonald’s, will join its board of directors on February 25, 2026, expanding the board to 11 members. Rice brings more than three decades of...
Floor & Decor Targets 500 U.S. Stores in Eight Years
Floor & Decor FY23 10-K: "We believe there is an opportunity to significantly expand our warehouse-format store base by a low- to mid-teens annual percentage growth rate over the near-to-medium term, reaching at least 500 in the U.S. within approximately eight...
The Hidden Surge in Sales Promotion Fraud: What Retailers Must Prepare For in 2026
Sales promotion fraud is accelerating as retailers launch richer incentives in 2026, and AI‑powered bots and synthetic identities are now automating claim submissions at scale. Fraudsters exploit loopholes in cashback, rebate and trade‑in programs, using deep‑fake receipts and coordinated “promotion...
Avery Dennison First to Integrate Pragmatic Chips at Scale
Avery Dennison has become the first company to mass‑produce NFC inlays that embed Pragmatic Semiconductor’s NFC Connect FlexIC chips. The partnership delivers low‑cost, edge‑level intelligence for consumer packaged goods, supporting digital brand experiences and compliance tools such as Digital Product...
Lakeside Shopping Centre Announces Arrival of Fashion Heavyweight Urban Outfitters
London’s Lakeside Shopping Centre announced that Urban Outfitters will open a 6,500‑square‑foot store on the lower level in summer 2026. The new outlet will feature the retailer’s own brands alongside labels such as Levi’s, Dickies and Carhartt WIP, and will...
Why Sourcing Shifts Are Easier Said than Done when Battling Tariffs
Tariff volatility under the Trump administration is forcing U.S. brands to rethink where they source products. Executives like Brooklinen's COO note that shifting production to a new country takes months, not weeks, and domestic cotton supplies are limited. Companies are...
As 'Shockwaves And Shenanigans' Recede, Investors Move Fast To Snap Up UK Retail Bargains
UK retail property is re‑emerging as a high‑yield asset class, with prime shopping centre yields near 8% and secondary assets offering double‑digit returns. Transaction volumes in 2025 were modest at £5.83 bn, but the market saw a flurry of marquee deals,...
Il Makiage Owner Oddity Tech Shares Plummet Despite ‘Record’ 2025 Performance
Oddity Tech posted a record 2025, with revenue climbing 25% to $810 million and adjusted EBITDA reaching $163 million, driven by Il Makiage, SpoiledChild and the new MethodIQ launch. The fourth quarter saw revenue up 24% to $153 million and gross profit rising 20%,...
Inside Lookfantastic’s Second UK Store and Its Play to Be the ‘Immersive’ Retailer in the North
Lookfantastic, the THG‑owned beauty e‑commerce platform, opened its second UK brick‑and‑mortar location in Bristol’s Cabot Circus on 27 February. The 3,000‑sq‑ft store is designed as an intuitive, immersive environment that showcases premium brands such as Jo Malone, Tom Ford and YSL...
Burger King's Store-Level Profitability Runs Into a Beef Cost Wall
Burger King has been steadily boosting store‑level profitability, posting double‑digit earnings growth across its U.S. locations. However, a sharp rise in beef prices—up roughly 35% since early 2025—has begun to erode those gains. The chain responded with modest menu price...
Inside eBay’s London Roadshow
eBay held its first London roadshow, five years after the inaugural Sheffield event, gathering UK sellers to discuss AI tools and community support. The highlight was the “AI Activate” program, a partnership with OpenAI that gives 10,000 sellers funded access...
Molton Brown Opens 1970s-Inspired ‘Sanctuary’ Store in London
Molton Brown has launched a new flagship in London’s Broadgate district, reviving the brand’s 1970s salon roots with a calming, nature‑infused interior. The store showcases the full fragrance range and a growing refill collection for hand and body products, aligning...
Interparfums Sales Hit Record $1.49 Billion Due to ‘Several Blockbuster Fragrances’
Interparfums reported a record $1.49 billion in total sales for 2025, with fourth‑quarter revenue climbing 7 % to $386 million and full‑year growth of 2 %. The company beat expectations despite macroeconomic headwinds and new U.S. tariffs, driven by a resilient portfolio of prestige...
The Handbag Clinic Strengthens Circular Luxury Presence with Larger Selfridges Space and Continued Pop-Ups
The Handbag Clinic has opened a larger in‑store space on Selfridges London’s third‑floor Womenswear, showcasing around 80 authenticated pre‑loved luxury handbags. The expansion follows an 82% year‑on‑year income rise and a 59% jump in repair and restoration revenue. The brand...
Textile Exchange Unveils Three-Step Pathway for Action Cohort Members
Textile Exchange launched a three‑step Action Cohort pathway to accelerate responsible raw material production. Step one introduces voluntary data reporting in 2026, becoming mandatory for brands and retailers in 2027; step two pushes members to source more from verified preferred...
Rakuten Ichiba, Google Team on YouTube Shopping Experience
Rakuten Ichiba has become the inaugural Japanese partner in Google’s YouTube Shopping affiliate program, allowing shoppers to purchase marketplace items directly from YouTube videos. When viewers tap the “View Products” overlay, product names, prices, and a link to the Rakuten...