Today's Retail Pulse
TikTok Shop launches in the Netherlands, opening in‑app commerce to Dutch brands
TikTok Shop will go live in the Netherlands on June 15 2026, offering Dutch users shoppable videos, livestreams and a dedicated storefront. The rollout is part of a simultaneous expansion into Belgium, Poland and Austria, adding to a European footprint that already hosts over 100,000 businesses across France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland.
Giorgio Armani Taps Vittoria Ceretti as Global Makeup Ambassador
Italian supermodel Vittoria Ceretti has been appointed as Giorgio Armani’s Global Makeup Ambassador. In her new role, Ceretti will headline campaigns for the brand’s makeup and skincare collections, including the launch of the Luminous Silk Foundation this month. The partnership is managed through L’Oréal, which licenses Armani Beauty. Ceretti’s longstanding work with the fashion house makes the appointment a natural extension of her relationship with the brand.
Fast-Food Sales Rise Despite Higher Gas Prices
Fast‑food giants McDonald’s, Burger King and Taco Bell posted sales growth in Q1 2026 despite a 35 percent surge in U.S. gasoline prices linked to the Iran war. McDonald’s global comparable sales rose 3.8 percent and U.S. same‑store sales climbed 3.9 percent year‑over‑year....
HSE Grows Revenue and Profitability Despite Pressure on Teleshopping Sector
German teleshopping broadcaster HSE posted a 4% revenue increase in 2025, reaching €641.6 million (about $700 million), and lifted its adjusted EBITDA margin to 14.7%. The growth came despite a broader sector slump, highlighted by Channel21’s insolvency and QVC’s Chapter 11 filing. HSE’s...
Wingstop Suffers Third Consecutive Sales Decline, 8.7% Drop
Wingstop's domestic same-store sales just dropped 8.7%. Worst quarter ever. Three straight quarters of declines. They couldn't grow even during NBA and NFL season. What's happening?
Snap Launches Promoted Places, Transforming the Snap Map Into Real-World Discovery
Snap Inc. introduced Promoted Places, a new ad product that embeds sponsored locations directly into the Snap Map. The feature debuted in Saudi Arabia, where brands like Almarai and Starbucks used it in Ramadan campaigns to drive in‑store visits. Promoted...
DoorDash Grocery Push Sparks 37% Marketplace Sales Surge
DoorDash said its first‑quarter marketplace gross order value hit $31.6 billion, a 37% year‑over‑year rise, as grocery delivery became the engine of growth. The company credited a surge in new grocery shoppers, record DashPass sign‑ups and AI‑driven operations for the jump.
Hendrick’s Opens Immersive Selfridges Experience
Hendrick’s Gin is debuting its first permanent line extension in almost ten years with Another Hendrick’s, an expression infused with orange blossom, cacao beans, rose and cucumber. To launch the 41.4% ABV spirit, the brand has created an immersive "Anotherland"...
Your Delivery Guy Might Be Your Brand Ambassador. (Sorry.)
In this episode of the Liquid Lunch Project, hosts Matthew Armiehan and Professor Luigi Rosa Bianca interview Randy Vlasic, founder of LIWMI Logistics, a third‑party trucking brokerage. Randy explains how his firm connects shippers with carriers, navigates rising diesel costs,...
Pei Wei, Gyro Hut Tap NCR Voyix to Modernize POS Operations
Fast‑casual chains Pei Wei Asian Kitchen and Gyro Hut have signed expanded technology agreements with NCR Voyix to deploy the Aloha Next point‑of‑sale platform. The unified commerce solution promises higher uptime, faster service and enterprise‑grade data tools as the brands scale. Pei Wei is reinforcing...
Vitamin Shoppe Leader Talks Delivery Strategy
The Vitamin Shoppe has launched an in‑house same‑day delivery service on its website and app, using its network of over 700 stores as local fulfillment hubs. While it continues to partner with DoorDash, Uber Eats and Instacart, the new channel lets the...
Amazon Retreats From Singapore Groceries, Leans on Cross-Border Instead
Amazon announced the closure of Amazon Fresh and its local fulfillment network in Singapore effective 6 July, ending partnerships with Little Farms and AS Watson. A small number of Singapore staff will be cut, while AWS, retail, and Global Selling operations remain intact. The...
Raising Cane’s Secret Recipe for Scaling, with CEO Todd Graves
In this episode of Masters of Scale, Todd Graves, co‑founder and CEO of Raising Cane’s, recounts how he turned a simple chicken‑finger concept into a multibillion‑dollar fast‑food chain. He emphasizes the power of relentless focus on a single, craveable product,...
One Planet Pizza Crosses £1m Sales Mark and Secures Third Asda Listing
One Planet Pizza, the UK plant‑based pizza brand, has surpassed $1.27 million in annualised retail sales and joined NielsenIQ’s Million Club. The company secured a third nationwide listing with Asda, rolling out the product at a $3.80 price point on May 11....
What Does GameStop’s ‘Audacious’ Bid for eBay Mean for Secondhand Fashion?
GameStop announced a merger with eBay that will transform its 1,600 U.S. retail locations into a nationwide hub for authentication, intake, fulfillment, and live‑commerce of secondhand goods. The plan positions GameStop as the physical backbone of eBay’s resale ecosystem, especially...
FMCG Major Emami to Acquire Majority Stake in Vedix, SkinKraft Parent Co IncNut
Indian FMCG group Emami Ltd is buying a 60% stake in IncNut Digital, the direct‑to‑consumer beauty platform behind Vedix and SkinKraft, for Rs 321 crore (~$38.7 million) in cash. The remaining 40% will be acquired over the next 4.5 years based on performance. IncNut...
ProCook Launches Trade Division
ProCook is launching a dedicated trade division to serve business customers, giving them access to the brand's full kitchen and dining portfolio. The move responds to rising demand from residential and hospitality operators seeking a reliable, one‑stop supplier. To drive...
Hamleys Expands in Travel Market with New Stores in Liverpool Street and Heathrow T2
Hamleys is expanding its travel‑retail footprint with a 500‑square‑foot pop‑up at London’s Liverpool Street Station and a 1,000‑square‑foot permanent shop in Heathrow Terminal 2, both slated to open this summer. The new locations will showcase the brand’s classic plush bears, travel‑friendly...
Can the Hugo Boss Shrink-to-Grow Plan Survive a Poor Q1?
Hugo Boss posted a weak Q1, with sales down 6.1% to $1.06 bn and EBIT plunging 42%, while gross margin improved to 62.5%. The German label is deliberately shrinking its footprint—closing 15 stores and trimming wholesale partners—as part of its “Claim 5 Touchdown”...
Farfetch Looks to Enrich Customer Experience With Speedier Deliveries
Farfetch is rolling out a new premium delivery service called Farfetch First, which guarantees free next‑day shipping on thousands of luxury items. The program launches this week across major European markets—UK, Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland—before expanding globally. The initiative...
Amazon Launches UK’s First Retail Drone Delivery Service in Darlington
Amazon has launched the United Kingdom’s first retail drone delivery trial in Darlington, using its MK30 autonomous drones to ship lightweight items such as beauty products, batteries and cables. The service, limited to customers with a garden or yard, delivers...
Atelier Ninety Five Enters Physical Retail for First Time with Selfridges Launch
Atelier Ninety Five, a premium‑priced label, opened its first physical retail space inside Selfridges, marking a significant milestone for the brand. The department‑store edit showcases a curated selection from the SS26 collection, highlighting structured tailoring, sculptural jersey and the brand’s...
Temu Caught Deceiving Shoppers, Fined $3.7M in Hungary
Hungarian Competition Authority fined Temu 13.3 billion forints (~$3.7 million) for deceptive discount practices. Temu admitted the violations, waived its right to appeal and offered a 2,000‑forint (~$5.5) voucher to affected shoppers. Despite the penalty, the platform recorded over 9 million orders and...
On Their Toes: Brands Step up Anti-Counterfeit Drive as Fake Products Flood Markets
Consumer brands in India are intensifying anti‑counterfeit initiatives as fake toothpaste, food, dairy and tobacco products flood markets. Companies such as Haleon, Nestlé, Mother Dairy and Amul are redesigning packaging with raised watermarks, adding traceability layers and tightening distributor audits....
Coty Is Pivoting CoverGirl to Gen X Market Amid 1% Decline in Net Revenue
Coty reported a 1% dip in Q3 FY2026 net revenue to $1.28 billion, with Consumer Beauty sales falling 4% to $450.7 million. Executive chairman Markus Strobel announced a strategic shift to reposition CoverGirl as a Gen X‑focused brand, leveraging core lines like Simply Ageless and...
Fashion Briefing: How Steve Madden Is Using Resale to ‘Hedge Against Tariffs’
Steve Madden halted its 2026 earnings forecast after tariffs on Chinese‑origin footwear disrupted its cost outlook. The company is launching a resale program to sell refurbished and returned shoes, aiming to recoup value and soften the tariff impact. Early resale...
EXCLUSIVE: Harvey Nichols Opens a Wellness Floor, With Pilates, Treatments and Functional Smoothies on Tap
Harvey Nichols has transformed its fourth floor into a full‑service wellness destination, featuring the Pilates in the Clouds studio, a boutique clinic, cryotherapy, IV infusions and a functional‑smoothie bar. The floor showcases athleisure labels such as Vuori, Tala and Adidas,...
Airports Are Retail Cities
Airports are evolving from mere transit points into mixed‑use "city" districts where retail, hospitality, culture, and entertainment converge. Passenger volumes have rebounded to pre‑pandemic levels, yet non‑aeronautical revenues remain below 2019, highlighting a conversion gap. Pioneering projects such as Singapore’s...
Inside RadioShack’s Audio-Fueled B-to-B Revival
RadioShack relaunched in August 2024 as a wholesale and direct‑to‑consumer electronics brand, leveraging its nostalgic appeal. About 60% of sales now come from B‑to‑B channels, with turntables and AM/FM radios driving rapid sell‑outs. The company works with over 170 authorized...
Retail Daily Minute | Target Launches Creator Commerce Programs, Old Navy Taps Marketing Veteran & Apple Readies Wallet Pass Builder
The episode covers three major retail updates: Target’s launch of two creator‑commerce programs—Club Target, a gamified platform for emerging influencers, and Target Ambassadors, a higher‑pay tier built on LTK that integrates campaign management and performance tracking; Gap Inc.’s appointment of...
Brochu Walker to Open First International Flagship in Seoul
Brochu Walker, the California‑based quiet‑luxury label, will launch its first international flagship in Seoul’s upscale Gangnam District on July 18, 2026. The five‑story, 7,100‑square‑foot space will feature two retail floors, a private VIP suite, and a design palette of Italian...
We Impersonated a Restaurant on Glovo and Chowdeck; the Platforms Never Noticed
Techpoint Africa’s investigation revealed that Nigeria’s leading food‑delivery platforms, Glovo and Chowdeck, can be duped by impersonating existing restaurants. The team created a fake vendor, supplied fabricated tax IDs and CAC documents, and was approved within 48 hours on Glovo and...
Kith Unveils Redesigned West Hollywood Flagship, Debuts Ronnie’s Pronto
Kith has reopened its West Hollywood flagship on Sunset and La Cienega, expanding from the lower level to the ground floor with a complete façade and interior overhaul. Designed with architect Ben Porto, the store now features distinct rooms for...
Cloudinary Rolls Out AI Agents to Automate E‑Commerce Media Management
Cloudinary announced the general availability of a five‑agent AI suite that automates tagging, search, workflow, moderation and coordination of visual assets for e‑commerce teams. The tools integrate via APIs with existing DAM stacks, aiming to cut manual effort for its...
Chain Stores Damage Cities Whether They Arrive or Leave
The worst thing a chain store can do is open in a city. The other worst thing a chain store can do is close in a city.
Google AI Shopping Lens Spurs 239% Jump in E‑Commerce Product Discovery
Google’s AI Shopping Lens, rolled out globally in March 2026, has driven a 239% surge in product discovery and an 84% lift in conversion for retailers that optimize their catalogs. The tool now handles over 2.3 billion visual searches daily, reshaping...
Dealmoon Rolls Out Global Super App Uniting Community, Content and Commerce for 12M Shoppers
Dealmoon, a Moon Commerce Group brand, launched a unified global super app that merges its regional platforms in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Australia and Italy. The app serves over 12 million monthly active shoppers and gives brands a single...
Hongkong Land Unveils New Retail Tenants at $8bn Shanghai Development
Hongkong Land announced a new roster of high‑end retailers for Westbund Central, its $8 billion mixed‑use development in Shanghai’s Xuhui District. Phase two introduces designer lifestyle brands such as Issey Miyake, Leica, House of Läderach, Hay and Paulmann, complementing the food‑and‑beverage...
Dollar General Unveils Integrated On‑Site/Off‑Site Retail Media Platform
Dollar General announced a new retail media solution that links its DG Media Network on‑site inventory with off‑site activation through The Trade Desk, using Kevel’s ad‑serving technology. The integration promises advertisers a single framework for planning, activating and measuring campaigns...
Vivid Seats Q1 2026 Revenue Drops, Net Loss Expands Amid Ticket‑Market Pricing Pressure
Vivid Seats Inc. disclosed that its first‑quarter 2026 revenue fell while its net loss widened, according to its Form 10‑Q filing. The company attributes the decline to pricing pressure in the secondary‑ticket market, raising questions about the sustainability of its resale...
Zalando Attributes 24% Q1 Revenue Jump to AI Boost From ABOUT YOU Deal
Zalando posted a 23.8% rise in first‑quarter revenue to €3bn ($3.2bn), saying AI‑driven personalization and logistics improvements from its ABOUT YOU acquisition powered the growth. The German‑based fashion marketplace also lifted GMV 21.7% and adjusted EBIT 38.7% year‑on‑year.
Interlink Commerce Gains Walmart Marketplace Provider Status, Targeting Mid‑Market Sellers
Interlink Commerce announced its approval as an official Walmart Marketplace Solution Provider, giving the Boston‑based integration firm direct API access to Walmart’s platform. The move positions Interlink to serve the $50,000‑$1 million‑per‑month seller segment that has been underserved by existing marketplace...
Why Kaatil Sees a Rs 20,000 Crore Opportunity in India’s Fiery Palate
Indian condiment startup Kaatil, founded in 2022, is building a $2.4 bn (Rs 20,000 crore) heat‑focused condiment category using globally familiar formats like hot sauces, chilli oils and hot honey. The brand differentiates with region‑specific chilies and a numeric heat‑scale (e.g., No. 4, No. 7,...
Tesco Clubcard Vouchers Worth £17 Million Expire This Month – How to Find and Extend Them
Tesco’s Clubcard program faces a £17 million (£≈$21.6 million) voucher expiry deadline on 31 May 2026. Vouchers normally lapse after two years, but shoppers can extend them by making a minimal purchase on the Rewards page. The retailer also lets members double or...
D Market Elektronik Hizmetler Ve Ticaret AS (HEPS) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Hepsiburada reported an 84% year‑on‑year increase in Q1 2022 GMV to 8.3 billion Turkish lira, driven by 63% order growth and a 27% rise in active customers to 12 million. Revenue surged 82% to TRY 1.2 billion, helped by a 92% jump in 1P...
Commerce.com Inc (CMRC) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Commerce.com (CMRC) reported Q1 2026 revenue of $86.8 million, up 5% YoY and ahead of guidance, while GMV rose 14% to $8.3 billion. The company posted its first GAAP‑profitable quarter with net income of $3.7 million and generated $18.4 million of operating cash flow. New...
Grove Collaborative Holdings Inc (GROV) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Grove Collaborative reported Q1 2026 revenue of $42.4 million, a 14.3% YoY decline, driven by fewer orders after an e‑commerce platform migration and reduced advertising. The company posted its first positive adjusted EBITDA in six quarters at $1.6 million and...
Warby Parker Inc (WRBY) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Warby Parker reported Q1 2026 revenue of $242.4 million, an 8.3% year‑over‑year increase, and adjusted EBITDA of $29.6 million at a 12.2% margin, slightly below prior year. Retail sales rose 13.6% while e‑commerce fell 4.1% after ending the Home Try‑On...
Want To Find The Best Sales At Costco? Here's When To Shop For Big Savings
Costco’s deepest discounts appear early in the morning, when fresh markdowns hit the floor before noon. Seasonal clear‑outs at the end of spring, summer, fall or winter also generate steep price cuts as inventory makes way for new lines. After...
Why Are People Mad at Allies of Skin?
Allies of Skin sparked a consumer uproar after posting an Instagram photo that highlighted its products in Lauren Sánchez Bezos’s Met Gala makeup prep. Followers accused the brand of aligning with a politically charged figure and many vowed to stop purchasing,...
Gas Price Hike Won’t Deter Food Delivery Spending
Anyone that believes consumers would get skidish after $5/gas prices should look at DoorDash and Uber Eats reports. These businesses exist because of consumer disposable income. If the consumer was going to be crushed by higher gas prices, we would...