Know What's Happening in Retail
Know What's Happening in Retail
AI start‑ups deploy virtual‑try‑on tech to slash $850 billion retail return losses
AI start‑ups such as Catches are launching virtual‑try‑on platforms that create realistic digital twins of shoppers, aiming to reduce the retail sector’s $850 billion return problem. The National Retail Federation reports that 15.8% of U.S. sales – 19.3% online – were returned in 2025, eroding margins. Generative AI and cheap cloud compute now make these tools cost‑effective.
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Gregory Foran, Kroger’s new CEO, has backed the company’s 2023 decision to scrap its Ocado‑run automated fulfillment centers and pivot to a hybrid model that uses stores as local hubs and partners with UberEats, DoorDash and Instacart. The move is part of a $16 billion e‑commerce business that has posted seven straight quarters of double‑digit growth, with a target to reach profitability by early 2026. Kroger also created a dedicated digital unit and appointed a Chief Data and AI Officer to accelerate AI‑driven shopping experiences. These actions aim to lower last‑mile costs, boost convenience sales and lock in a $1.5 billion revenue stream from third‑party delivery by 2026.
Natural Spa Factory founder warns that beauty brands hitting £5m revenue often stall because they cling to the tactics that got them to £500k. Over‑reliance on existing retail partners, rising customer‑acquisition costs and thin margins signal deeper operational gaps. Adding...
Mobile basket abandonment has surged past 85%, up from a 75% global average last year. Retailers find traditional email and SMS recovery methods increasingly costly and less effective. New data from MobiLoud shows native push notifications, especially when used first...
Wickes has introduced a buy‑now, pay‑later (BNPL) service for its TradePro customers through a partnership with Berlin‑based fintech Billie. The new option lets tradespeople purchase materials online or via the TradePro app and defer payment for 30 or 60 days,...
Predictive AI is reshaping retail crisis management by spotting sentiment shifts and anomalies before they explode online. Retailers that reply within an hour are 85% more likely to keep consumer trust, while delays can cost billions, as seen with United...
Ross Stores Inc. opened two new discount locations in Southern California—a second Ross Dress for Less in Alhambra and a dd’s Discounts in North Hollywood. The openings kick off the retailer’s 2026 rollout plan to add roughly 85 Ross stores and...
Google Chrome’s new HTTPS‑First policy forces browsers to load sites over encrypted connections by default, warning users when only HTTP is available. Because Chrome commands a dominant share of global browsing, the change compels retail media networks to ensure every...
Amazon launched its seven‑day Spring Deal Days promotion, offering up to 45% off everyday essentials and up to 60% off select Amazon devices. The event runs through March 16, 2026 and features new deals every morning and evening across categories...
Retail Insider and the Retail Technology Show released the 2026 Retail Disruptors & Innovators Report, naming Perfect Ted co‑founder Marisa Poster as Retail Disruptor of the Year. The report ranks ten pioneers, from matcha‑tea brand Perfect Ted to AI‑driven Kingfisher...
Waitrose has teamed with AI specialist Satalia to deploy an AI‑powered route optimisation platform across its home‑delivery network. The system analyses traffic, vehicle capacity and time windows in real time, producing more efficient routes. Early data shows an 8 % reduction...
Swedish furniture retailer Ikea has unveiled a new global campaign titled “There’s No Feeling Like Home,” featuring the emotive short film “Coming Home.” The ad, directed by Justyna Obasi and set to Lucy Dacus’s cover of Carole King’s “Home Again,”...
Gap has turned its Spring 2026 campaign into a full‑length music video starring Grammy‑nominated Puerto Rican rapper Young Miko. Directed by Bethany Vargas, the film "Sweats Like This" showcases GapSweats as a creative canvas while riding the cultural wave sparked by the recent...
Lamborghini released a "Choose Your Own Drive" film for International Women’s Day, spotlighting female customers and their growing role. Women now represent one in ten owners, a 30% rise over five years, with many under 40 and a strong presence...
Retail giant Lowe’s has launched a new Marketplace platform that unifies digital and physical home‑improvement shopping. Leveraging AI‑driven content enrichment, algorithmic buy‑box selection and dynamic delivery, the platform expands assortments while simplifying the customer journey. The initiative rests on a...
Zalando has unveiled its spring‑summer 2026 campaign featuring Lily Collins as the company’s first global brand ambassador. The actress, known for her European lifestyle, fronts a series of hero videos and digital out‑of‑home assets that explore the everyday question “What...
UK card‑based consumer spending rose modestly 1% in February, with non‑essential categories hitting a six‑month high of 1.8%. Clothing sales increased 3.7% and health‑beauty purchases jumped 6.4%, while essential spend slipped 0.6%. Confidence fell across the UK and major economies...
Hourglass Cosmetics has terminated its 16‑year exclusive partnership with Australian retailer Mecca, ending a relationship that began in 2010. Starting February 17, 2026, the brand launched its own Australian direct‑to‑consumer website and, nine days later, entered Sephora Australia’s stores without...
Walmart’s purchase of Vizio gives the retailer control of a smart‑TV operating system that blends content discovery, advertising, payments and commerce on the living‑room screen. The move transforms retail media from search‑based placements to first‑screen TV inventory, especially as 2026‑model...
Teva Pharmaceuticals’ senior director of digital transformation, Dipesh Patel, discussed building digital capabilities in the over‑the‑counter (OTC) health category on the Brave Commerce podcast. He emphasized that while AI can accelerate content creation, strict guardrails and human oversight are essential...
Mytheresa has launched its "Best of Spring" menswear ad campaign for Spring 2026, featuring British actor Max Parker as the face of the collection. The visuals, shot by Zoe Joubert in Spain’s Tabernas Desert, showcase luxury labels such as Prada, Giorgio Armani, Bottega Veneta...
Facing a decline in Target’s beauty share, Walmart has aggressively repositioned itself as a premier beauty destination. The retailer expanded its assortment by adding over 1,200 new SKUs and launched dedicated in‑store beauty hubs, driving a 15% rise in foot...
In this special edition of the eMarketer "Behind the Numbers" podcast, senior analyst Minda Smiley moderates a panel with Corey Weaver, Head of Influence at Gap Inc., and Alexis Call, Director of Digital Merchandising at Stanley 1913. The discussion explores...
Based Bodyworks, a digitally native men’s grooming brand founded by influencer‑barber Lance Baker, has become a TikTok Shop sensation, posting roughly $5 million in U.S. sales in February and ranking fourth among beauty brands on the platform. The brand’s product line,...
Fabletics is debuting a denim collection after more than two years of development driven by member feedback, offering 11 styles for men and women with stretch‑focused fabrics. The line, priced between $79.95 and $174.95, will launch online and in 17...
Singapore‑based home‑goods retailer Stacked Store will open the IMBA Store, a dedicated gift shop for the immersive IMBA art venue at Gardens by the Bay, on April 3, 2026. The shop, curated and operated by Stacked Store, will sell design‑focused keepsakes, collectibles...
Every Man Jack is positioning 2026 as a breakout year by launching a brand refresh that targets two distinct consumer personas—“Jack,” the seasoned grooming enthusiast, and “Jake,” the sustainability‑focused newcomer. The overhaul includes PET packaging for better recyclability, a sub‑$10...
Travelers are increasingly prioritising value, convenience and self‑treating in airport duty‑free shops, according to the Duty Free World Council’s 2025 Global Shopping Monitor. Good value for money now drives 27% of shoppers, up from 25% a year earlier, while convenience...
The article argues that a retailer's first physical store should function as a laboratory rather than a pure concept launch. A true retail lab rigorously tests hypotheses about layout, merchandising, and customer behavior while also incorporating construction, supply‑chain, and delivery...
AKA Brands, the U.S. parent of Culture Kings and other youth fashion labels, posted a 4.4% revenue increase to US$600 million, driven by a 5.3% rise in U.S. sales and a modest 1.6% lift in Australian sales. The group expanded its...
A TikTok‑driven Easter toy egg featuring a water‑activated unicorn sold 5,769 units between March 1 and March 7, generating roughly $97,200 in revenue. Each $18.30 set contains six eggs that hatch after a 12‑24‑hour soak, revealing a grow‑and‑shrink unicorn. Influencer videos accounted...
Oz Hair & Beauty, a family‑owned Australian retailer, has exceeded $100 million in annual revenue and is set to open its 30th store, with two additional locations planned in Perth. Founded in 1986, the company grew from a single Sydney outlet...
Wairoa will host its second supermarket when the independent Baskete Supermarket opens mid‑2026 on the former New World site. The venture aims to challenge the Foodstuffs duopoly by offering lower grocery prices and a broader product range. Developer Aman Bakshi...
Amazon has launched its Multi‑Channel Fulfillment (MCF) service in Germany, extending the program to brands that sell on Amazon and through direct‑to‑consumer channels. The service lets sellers store stock in Amazon’s fulfillment centers and use the same inventory for orders...
Ekatra Retail Ventures, co‑founded by Sussanne Khan and partners, entered India’s lab‑grown diamond jewellery market with a debut collection featuring the 108‑facet Shristi Ratna cut. The launch is backed by celebrities such as Jennifer Winget, influencer Rebel Kid, and filmmaker...
Nestlé USA is launching Minor’s Kitchen, a chef‑inspired sauce line, marking the company’s first consumer culinary brand in the United States. The four‑flavor assortment—Lemon Garlic Aioli, Creamy Korean BBQ, Spicy Chili Truffle, and American Smokehouse—targets the fast‑growing at‑home condiment market,...
Costco Canada quietly introduced Off‑White hoodies at CAD 85 (about USD 62), dramatically undercutting the label’s typical $700‑$800 price point. The limited‑run pieces, offered in white, blue and black, were constructed from heavyweight 470 gsm French cotton terry and manufactured in Vietnam rather than...
Azoma has launched the Agentic Merchant Protocol (AMP), a machine‑native framework that lets brands push product data directly to AI shopping agents. The system, already adopted by L’Oréal, Unilever, Mars and Beiersdorf, centralizes catalogs, enforces brand guidelines and promises measurable...
Kroger’s annual Customer Appreciation Week runs March 11‑17, offering a mix of in‑store and online discounts, including 99‑cent soft drinks, buy‑one‑get‑one salads and 10% off private‑label brands. Each day the retailer releases new digital “Daily Deal Drops” that shoppers can clip...
True Value announced it is the Official Hardware Partner of the BIG EAST Conference, a March 11‑14 college basketball tournament. The partnership will showcase the brand on courtside LED signage, basket stanchion displays, ribbon boards, and the arena’s central videoboard. Executives...
Walmart trimmed its footprint in February, shuttering three stores, including two Sam’s Club locations. The most dramatic contraction came from Family Dollar, which closed 100 stores, largely concentrated in the South and Southeast. Dollar Tree and Walgreens also reduced locations,...
Appliance Innovation has opened its Automated Fresh Brew SimpliciTea system to convenience‑store and grocery operators nationwide after an exclusive rollout with QuikTrip. The compact, self‑cleaning platform brews tea to order, eliminating batch waste and delivering consistent hot or cold tea...
Klaviyo and Shopify have expanded their integration, adding a fully synchronized multi‑market data layer that pulls Shopify Markets' localized catalog information directly into Klaviyo. The new Locale Aware Catalogs feature automatically syncs translated product content, regional pricing, currency, and market‑specific...
Target announced the launch of Free People’s intimates line, Intimately FP, in select stores and online, offering a 42‑style assortment priced under $48. The collection includes exclusive bralettes, underwear and seasonal colourways aimed at Gen Z shoppers. The move follows Target’s 2026...
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California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) announced its first expansion beyond frozen pizza since 1999, adding new appetizers and entrée items to its consumer‑packaged goods lineup. The company will roll out these products in U.S. grocery stores in early 2027 and is...
Saks Global announced the closure of 15 additional stores, including 12 Saks Fifth Avenue and three Neiman Marcus locations, as part of its ongoing restructuring. Meanwhile, Chanel’s debut Matthieu Blazy collection sparked hour‑long lines in Paris boutiques, highlighting strong consumer appetite for...
ADvendio unveiled Revenue OS for Agentic Advertising, an AI‑driven suite that equips retailers with four specialized agents—AdOne, AdPortal, AdGateway, and AdFinance. The platform combines Salesforce’s reasoning engine with ADvendio’s operational logic to automate campaign planning, sales, data consolidation, and financial...
I've seen this so often throughout my time in the industry: short-termism and news-cycle reflexivity leading investors to fixate on the new shiny object and lose sight of the durability and therefore, cumulative disruptive impact of long-term structural trends, especially...
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Consumer credit expanded at a 1.9% annualized rate in January, with revolving balances rising 4.3% despite a modest slowdown. Premium‑fee cards, many charging over $600 annually, are witnessing heightened competition as fintechs like Robinhood and Revolut join incumbents. Research shows...
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