Today's Retail Pulse
Luxury brands surge into Bangkok’s premier malls
Siam Piwat’s flagship centers, Siam Paragon and IconSiam, are seeing a rapid influx of luxury retailers as Bangkok climbs to the world’s fourth spot for new luxury openings. Since 2023, more than 40 luxury houses and concept stores have launched, adding over 14,000 sqm of premium space, with The Row and Roger Dubuis debuting their first Southeast Asian boutiques.
New Sustainable Sampling Innovations for Beauty and Fragrance
Sampling Innovations Europe unveiled three eco‑focused sampling formats—Easy Dose, Thermoformed and Multi‑Use Sachet with Cap—to meet rising consumer and regulatory demands for greener beauty packaging. Easy Dose delivers 98% product optimisation using single‑material PP, paper or aluminium, while the ultra‑light Thermoformed container weighs under one gram and incorporates 80% recycled PET. The Multi‑Use Sachet adds a reusable cap, extending trial periods from 10 ml to 40 ml. All three solutions are fully recyclable and positioned as premium, low‑waste alternatives for brands.
Inspiration 2026, Gattefossé Launches Its New Haute Couture Formula Collection
Gattefossé unveiled its Haute Couture formula collection, a six‑product line that translates runway materials—cotton, velvet, silk, cashmere, elastane and vinyl—into sensory skin‑care textures. The series stems from a year of R&D and features proprietary actives such as Emulium® Dolcea MB, Lipocire™ A SG and...
Akeneo PX Pulse Data Reveals How Transparency and Data Have Become Retail’s Most Valuable Currency
Akeneo’s latest PX Pulse survey shows sustainability transparency is now a core consumer expectation. 41% of shoppers demand proactive disclosure of product origins and environmental impact, while 72% say such transparency boosts trust. The study also finds 77% regularly seek...
𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲
In this episode of Retail in Real Time, host Chris Niesen examines Target’s handling of post‑Valentine’s Day floral inventory, highlighting the lack of price adjustments or clearance cues for perishable seasonal items. He points out that the failure to implement...
Lightning Round: Fashion Week Trends, 2016 Throwbacks, Robert Duvall & Curling | Fast Five Shorts
In this six‑minute lightning‑round episode, the hosts riff on upcoming fashion trends from New York Fashion Week, championing structured tailoring over grunge and dark romanticism for 2026. They then reminisce about 2016 pop culture hits before shifting to a brief...
Are ChatGPT Ads the Next Retail Channel? | Fast Five Shorts
Target and Albertsons are piloting conversational ads in ChatGPT, where sponsored product suggestions appear alongside user queries based on keywords. Early results show a 40% monthly traffic lift for Target, and the ads are clearly labeled and separate from the...
Is Pay Transparency the New Standard? | Fast Five Shorts
The episode discusses Co‑op’s new gender‑pay‑gap toolkit, launched with YHTL and Diversity in Retail, which will guide businesses from 2027 on identifying gap drivers, creating action plans, and improving recruitment, mentorship, and flexible working. Guest Jen explains that while UK...
Nike’s Brand Reset Hits Converse | Fast Five Shorts
Nike’s restructuring of Converse has led to a work‑from‑home directive for many employees ahead of anticipated layoffs, highlighting the brand’s steep revenue decline and reliance on the Chuck Taylor line. Analysts on the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five debate whether...
Kohls: The Robin Report Retail Miss of the Week, 2.21.26
The episode critiques Kohl 's recent rollout of a "Deal Bar" promotional space, comparing it to historic in‑store discount concepts like A&S’s O‑tables, Kmart’s Blue Light Specials, and Target’s Bullseye Dollar Spots. The hosts argue that Kohl’s chronic execution failures at...
From Corporate Iftars to Deep Discounts, Ramadan Reshapes Dubai Business
Ramadan slows Dubai’s relentless pace, trimming private‑sector workdays by two hours and compressing school schedules. Evening becomes the new business hub as hotels and convention halls host corporate iftars and late‑night suhoor gatherings that double as networking platforms for Muslims...
Historic Supreme Court Decision Ends Trump’s Tariffs
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6‑3 ruling on February 20, 2026, striking down President Trump’s sweeping global tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The decision, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, holds that the Constitution reserves...
Gen Z Is Shifting the Future of Retail
Generation Z is redefining retail by favoring in‑person experiences despite their digital upbringing. A recent Retail Dive survey shows 69 percent prefer brick‑and‑mortar stores, with three‑quarters visiting weekly, prompting brands to create hybrid, experience‑focused spaces. Architects like RDC are translating online identities...
5 Things: Free Grocery Store a Hit in NYC
Polymarket, a crypto‑based prediction market, staged a five‑day pop‑up grocery store in New York that offered free food to ticket holders, drawing massive early‑morning lines. A Consumer Reports price‑comparison study found Whole Foods the most expensive chain while Costco delivered the...
Trump Imposes 15% Tariff Through Executive Order Following Supreme Court Ruling
President Donald Trump announced an executive order imposing a 15% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, following a Supreme Court decision that invalidated his earlier emergency‑law tariff plan. The new tariffs include exemptions for critical minerals, metals...
Policy Group Makes Proposal to Lower Grocery Prices
The Center for American Progress unveiled a three‑part federal proposal to curb soaring grocery costs. It calls for short‑term caps on staple items like eggs, milk, bread and produce, paired with incentives for participating food companies. The plan also seeks...
Amazon Replaces Walmart as No. 1 in Revenues
Amazon has overtaken Walmart as the world’s largest company by revenue, reporting $716.9 billion for its most recent fiscal year, edging out Walmart’s $713.2 billion. The shift ends Walmart’s 13‑year run at the top of the Fortune 500 and reflects Amazon’s 12.38 % revenue...
Dollar General Earns National Recognition Ahead of America’s 250th Anniversary
Dollar General received three high‑profile national honors as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, including TIME’s America’s Most Iconic Companies (ranked #44), Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies (#5 in Specialty Retailers), and Newsweek’s Most Loved Brands 2025. The discount...
Uncrustables Goes Fridge Friendly Across Full Portfolio
Uncrustables announced that its full range of frozen sandwiches will become fridge‑friendly, allowing consumers to store them in the refrigerator for up to five days while still offering the option to keep them frozen. The change, slated for a summer...
GDP Sees Slow Growth in Q4 2025
Real GDP growth slowed sharply in Q4 2025, posting a 1.4% annualized increase, down from 4.4% in Q3. The decline reflects the fallout from a historic federal shutdown, which cut government spending and removed more than one percentage point of growth....
NRF Responds to Tariff Ruling by the Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling limiting the Trump administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs, providing clearer legal boundaries for trade measures. The National Retail Federation welcomed the decision, saying it delivers much‑needed...
CAGNY 2026 Day Three: Volume Recovery, AI Divergence, and Bold M&A Bets
Day three of CAGNY 2026 highlighted divergent AI adoption, aggressive revenue‑growth management, and bold M&A moves across leading CPG firms. Kraft Heinz announced a $600 million investment in a tiered portfolio to recapture lost volume, while P&G detailed its operational “AI...
Embrace Weirdness: It Fuels Brand Cultural Equity
The best brands stay a little weird. They ship things that don’t always look scalable. They create moments that make their community lean in. JW_Anderson made a pigeon clutch. @Balenciaga sold a luxury trash bag. @MSCHF dropped the big red boot. On paper, some of...
How LegitGrails Helps Verify Saint Laurent Items
LegitGrails offers an online, photo‑based authentication service for Saint Laurent handbags, shoes, wallets and accessories. Users upload detailed images, choose a turnaround speed, and receive a digital certificate after experts and AI assess construction, materials and branding details. The service promises...
ETGIRS 2026: India’s Soft Power Edge - Kajol on Cinema, Culture and the Business of Trust
At the Economic Times Great India Retail Summit 2026, actress Kajol highlighted how Indian cinema, epitomised by the 30‑year‑old blockbuster *Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*, has become a pillar of India’s soft‑power. She argued that brands seeking global growth must tell authentic...
Sprouts Farmers Market Announces Management Changes
Sprouts Farmers Market announced Don Clark as its new chief merchandising officer and Mandy “Mandy” Rassi as chief customer officer, while current CMO Scott Neal retires. Clark brings over 25 years of CPG and retail merchandising experience, and Rassi adds...
Surface Design Show 2026 Attracts 6,000+ Visitors as ‘Material Evolution’ Drives Innovation
From 3‑5 February, the Surface Design Show in London attracted over 6,000 visitors and 180 exhibitors showcasing cutting‑edge surface and material innovations. New collaborations with RIBA and the introduction of a Workshop Stage and Sustainability Trail emphasized the event’s ‘Material...
ETGIRS 2026: Growth at What Cost? CEOs of Home Centre and USPA Call Time on Vanity Expansion
At the ETGIRS 2026 Leadership Trialogue, Home Centre CEO Jayanti Ganguly and USPA chief Amitabh Suri warned that unchecked store‑count growth is no longer a viable strategy. Both leaders emphasized profitability, brand equity and selective premium locations over blind expansion. Ganguly...
The Cut & Craft Raises the Steaks as It Gets Set to Open Brand-New Dining Space and Elegant Lounge Bar...
The Cut & Craft is set to double its footprint at Victoria Leeds, adding a high‑end cocktail lounge, stage and two private dining rooms. The expansion will raise total seating to 370 covers and introduce world‑class cocktails, champagne, and a...
Modern Milkman Launches Collections Service for Toys and Electrical Waste
Modern Milkman has introduced a Collections Service that lets customers recycle toys, cables and small electrical items alongside its existing reusable‑bottle delivery. The service partners with EMR to process mixed WEEE and with Toys4Life to resell usable toys. Each collection...
Lever Style Says ‘Asset-Light’ Model Was Saving Grace Amid Tariff Turmoil
Lever Style posted 2025 revenues of $200 million, down 10.2% amid soaring US tariffs and the liquidation of client Bonobos, yet achieved a record‑high net profit margin thanks to tight cost controls, digitalisation, and its asset‑light model. Tariffs on apparel‑producing nations...
New Brands Join Circ’s Fibre Club to Boost Textile Recycling
Textile recycling platform Circ has expanded its Fibre Club programme, adding Madewell, Reformation and C&A as new brand partners alongside supply‑chain collaborators Lenzing and Linz Textil. The cohort will develop collections using TENCEL | Circ with REFIBRA technology, which incorporates 30 % recycled...
![How [Solidcore] Picks the Perfect Location - Where We Buy #370](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/b/7/f/5/b7f53b95c37f71aae5bbc093207a2619/Where_We_Buy_cover_2024.jpg)
How [Solidcore] Picks the Perfect Location - Where We Buy #370
solidcore has accelerated its expansion, growing from 85 studios in 2022 to 165 today and targeting 205 locations by year‑end. The boutique fitness chain focuses on women aged 25‑35, emphasizing community‑driven experiences and preventative wellness. Site selection prioritizes co‑tenants such...
Delta Galil Posts Record Sales and Margins in FY25, Net Income Slips
Delta Galil reported record full‑year sales of $2.12 bn for FY 2025, a 4% increase over the prior year, while gross profit rose 5% to $900.3 m and gross margin hit a new high of 42.5%. Despite top‑line strength, EBIT slipped to $174.2 m...
New Balance Grows at Double Digits for the Fifth Consecutive Year
New Balance reported a 19% increase in global sales for 2025, reaching US$9.2 billion. The growth marks the fifth straight year of double‑digit expansion for the sneaker maker. Sales surged across most regions, with North America up 20% and Europe climbing...
Protein Hype Boosts Danone’s Sales
Danone posted €27.2 billion in turnover for 2025, delivering 4.5% comparable growth driven by a 2.7% rise in volumes and 1.8% price gains. Demand for protein‑rich and functional dairy surged double‑digit, especially in Europe, giving a lift to the group’s performance....
Kookaï to Make UK Store Debut in Soho’s Carnaby Street
Kookaï, the Australian‑owned womenswear label, will open its first permanent UK store on Soho’s iconic Carnaby Street, occupying a 1,800‑square‑foot space. The move follows strong performance across Australia, New Zealand and Europe, where the brand already runs more than 57 boutiques....
Flying Tiger Appoints New CEO as It Looks to Strengthen International Growth
Flying Tiger Copenhagen has promoted Jens Aarup Mikkelsen to group chief executive, succeeding Martin Jermiin after a seven‑year tenure. Mikkelsen, who previously led the company’s international division, will steer the retailer’s next phase of growth. The appointment underscores a strategic...
Beyond the Number: How India's Retail Leaders Plan to Actually Hit $2 Trillion
India’s retail market, valued at roughly $950 billion, aims to breach the $2 trillion mark by 2032‑34, requiring sustained double‑digit growth. Industry leaders at ET GIRS 2026 argued the target hinges on organizing the vast unorganized sector and boosting per‑capita consumption across three consumer...
10 Items or Less: Amazon, You Are Losing Focus
Amazon’s rapid expansion into logistics, entertainment and cloud services is diluting its core retail advantage, according to industry analyst Bill Wilson. The piece argues that the company’s most defensible growth lever is its Whole Foods acquisition, which still lacks a...
Publix Rolls Out Limited-Edition Ice Cream
Publix Super Markets announced a limited‑edition ice‑cream rollout for the 2026 season, adding twelve new half‑gallon flavors and four fresh pint‑size varieties while bringing back several fan favorites. The lineup features inventive combos such as Buckeyes & Fudge, Cold Brew...
Walgreens Plans to Close Houston Distribution Center, Cutting 159 Jobs
Walgreens announced it will close its 500,000‑square‑foot distribution center in Houston, eliminating 159 positions effective June 1. The company said the move is part of a broader effort to streamline its distribution network and improve operational efficiency. Deliveries will be consolidated...
London’s First Dedicated Textured Hair Concept Studio Opens
Tressly Studios is opening the United Kingdom’s first dedicated concept store and salon for Afro, curly and coily hair in Lewisham Shopping Centre on 7 March. The space blends a modern salon experience with a curated selection of culture‑first hair...
Amazon and Shopify Are Now Half of U.S. E-Commerce
Amazon generated roughly $440 billion in U.S. sales in 2025, capturing a 35.7% share of the $1.2 trillion market, while Shopify reported a 14% U.S. share, up from 12% a year earlier. Together they account for 49.7% of U.S. e‑commerce, up from...
House-Hasson Names Jeff Land as CEO
House‑Hasson Hardware Company announced Jeff Land as its new chief executive officer, succeeding retiring CEO Steve Henry after a 16‑year tenure. Land joins from Northern Tool & Equipment, where he served as senior vice president overseeing merchandising, inventory, product management,...
Canadian Tire Ends 2025 With Strong Q4 Revenue Growth
Canadian Tire Corporation reported fourth‑quarter 2025 revenue of C$4.551 billion, an 8.3% increase year‑over‑year, while consolidated comparable sales rose 4.2% in the quarter and 4.1% for the full year. The company highlighted a strong holiday season that boosted foot traffic and...
A Fresh Note for King Street as MATIERE PREMIERE Opens UK Debut in Covent Garden
French luxury fragrance house MATIERE PREMIERE has opened its first UK flagship at 31 King Street, Covent Garden, occupying a 708 sq ft space. The boutique showcases the brand’s full portfolio, built around single‑note natural raw materials, and joins an elite roster...
Blecon Launches Agent to Transform Zebra Devices
Blecon has introduced the Blecon Agent, software that activates the built‑in Bluetooth radios on Zebra Technologies frontline devices, turning them into an autonomous tracking network. The solution delivers continuous asset visibility without deploying new infrastructure or paying for cellular connectivity,...
Eldon Square Set to Welcome Oseyo’s Largest Asian Supermarket to Date
Oseyo, the UK’s largest Asian supermarket chain, will open its biggest store – a 20,000 sq ft location at Eldon Square in Newcastle – in Q3 2026. This marks the retailer’s first foothold in the North East and part of a broader regional...
Lloyds Opens Immersive Firehorse Lunar New Year Experience
Lloyds Banking Group launched an immersive pop‑up called “Year of the Horse X Year of You” on Greek Street, London to celebrate the 2026 Lunar New Year. The experience blended a nostalgic British toy‑shop vibe with Asian aesthetics, letting visitors...
What Retailers Actually Think About Agentic Commerce With Stripe's Maia Josebachvili | 5IM
In this five‑minute interview, Maya Jose Bakvili, Stripe’s CRO of AI, explains "agentic commerce"—AI‑assisted chat purchases and AI‑delegated buying—and how Stripe’s infrastructure supports retailers in this emerging space. She highlights four persistent retailer concerns: maintaining control as merchant of record,...