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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Senators Dick Durbin and Roger Marshall are seeking to attach their Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) to the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing bill, hoping to secure a Senate vote. The CCCA would require banks to provide merchants with alternatives to Visa and Mastercard, which together control roughly 77% of the U.S. credit‑card market. The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from the Electronic Payments Coalition, which calls it a “credit card mandate,” while merchants argue that swipe fees add 1‑2% to everyday purchases. The effort follows previous attempts to pair the bill with other legislation, such as the Genius Act.
Pip Organic, a family‑owned kids fruit drink brand, achieved Certified B Corporation status in March 2026, joining over 2,500 UK businesses with the badge. The certification required a score of at least 80 points on B Lab’s rigorous B Impact...
Retailers are shifting perception of first‑party data from cost to revenue asset. As third‑party identifiers disappear, brands are packaging privacy‑safe audience segments for partners, creating new monetization opportunities. Successful implementation requires a reliable identity layer, robust governance, cross‑functional ownership, and...
In this episode, the host reflects on the response to their recent article, "The Distance Between Intent and Experience," using the piece as a springboard to explore the broader theme of transition—from initial intent through to lived experience. They dissect...
The North American Hardware and Paint Association’s Independent Retailer Index shows 57% of independent home‑improvement stores reported year‑over‑year sales growth in Q4 2025, a 29% increase from the previous quarter. Transaction counts remained flat, with only 32% seeing gains, while...
Can I just say how much I love the Lifecycle Stage Map on Omnisend. Right there are your important segments to email.
Marketers are discovering that AI can automate data‑heavy tasks, but it cannot set strategy or build trust. The most successful teams pair AI’s speed with human judgment, using automation to execute a clear, human‑crafted vision. Without human direction, AI‑driven campaigns...
Amazon is rolling out a new supercenter model that doubles as a fulfillment hub, with the first site slated for Orland Park, Illinois in 2027. The hybrid design dedicates roughly half the space to warehousing and the rest to a traditional...
Retailers and public‑space operators are abandoning camera‑based analytics in favor of radar‑based people counting solutions that respect privacy. Traditional video systems capture personally identifiable information, triggering GDPR obligations, costly consent processes, and public distrust. Radar sensors operating at 60 GHz millimetre‑wave...
Abercrombie & Fitch announced it will factor a 15 percent U.S. tariff into its fiscal 2026 outlook, projecting net‑sales growth of 3‑5 percent and earnings per share between $10.20 and $11. The company estimates the tariff will shave about 70 basis points...
Simbe announced that its autonomous shelf‑scanning robot Tally has earned UL 3300 certification, making it the first retail robotics company to achieve the standard. The certification validates Tally’s mechanical, electrical and software safety after passing more than 40 rigorous tests for...
Revieve released its Beauty & Wellness Index 2025, showing guided diagnostics now initiate 60‑75 % of beauty journeys and deliver two‑to‑three‑fold higher completion rates. The data, drawn from millions of AI‑driven skin analyses, quizzes and virtual try‑ons, highlights longer engagement, especially in...
Retail leaders are urged to prioritize operational velocity—the speed at which campaigns, inventory signals, and creative assets can be adjusted—over merely tracking click costs. The article argues that agility, not additional tools, is the true growth catalyst, recommending automated kill...
American Express is leveraging direct conversations with cardholders who have faced fraud to gather real‑time intelligence on scam tactics. The data helps the firm refine detection models as U.S. consumers lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25 percent rise. Executives...
Giro Sport Design has teamed up with UK retailer VIA to extend its direct‑to‑retail footprint in Britain. Starting in 2025, the partnership will showcase a curated range of Giro road and gravel helmets and footwear, including 2026 launches, within VIA’s...
Co‑op Live in Manchester has opened Europe’s first AI‑driven, frictionless self‑serve market, built with Oak View Group, AiFi and Boxbar Tech. Shoppers tap a cashless card, pick items, and leave while computer‑vision cameras track each purchase. The system is designed...
In a recent Video Forum, Justin Honaman, global head of retail, restaurants and consumer goods business development at Amazon Web Services, explained the concept of agentic commerce and its potential to reshape retail interactions. He highlighted how AWS’s cloud and...
Brooks Brothers, the United States' oldest continuously operating apparel brand, launched the "Make It Yours" campaign to reposition itself for a new generation of shoppers. The initiative emphasizes individuality while honoring the label's heritage, showcasing classic items such as Oxford...
The U.S. Postal Service has placed an embargo on Priority Mail Express shipments until Friday following a chemical spill at FedEx’s Memphis World Hub on Feb. 25. The spill forced a partial shutdown of the facility, which can sort up to 484,000 packages...
Jelly‑textured beauty products are experiencing a resurgence, driven by high‑profile launches from Sol de Janeiro, Makeup by Mario and Milk Makeup. Sol de Janeiro introduced a solid‑stick Jelly Perfume Balm that promises ten‑hour fragrance longevity, while Mario unveiled a two‑in‑one Jelly Jar Lip & Cheek...
Decathlon has launched a consumer e‑bike leasing service in Belgium, offering daily and monthly rates that include maintenance, insurance and zero‑deductible theft coverage. The subscription starts at €1.25 per day or €38 per month, with contract lengths of 12, 24...
Face masks are undergoing a major transformation as next‑generation formulations packed with high‑performance ingredients move them from occasional indulgences to core steps in daily skincare routines. UK retailer Boots reports selling a mask every five seconds, underscoring the category’s rapid...
Kérastase, the L’Oréal‑owned luxury hair‑care brand, is reviving its Chronologiste line with a new “Caviar of Longevity” formula. The launch centers on an Overnight Youth Serum that combines patented Pro‑xylane and ochrohyta algae to protect hair function and scalp health....
Hailey Bieber’s e.l.f.-owned beauty brand Rhode has signed actress Sarah Pidgeon as the face of its spring collection. The line introduces two new Pocket Blush shades—Teacup pink and Candy Apple red—the first red hue for the product. Limited‑edition Peptide Lip...
Dutch Bros opened its first Los Angeles walk‑thru store near USC in late November, marking the chain’s initial foray into an urban, drive‑thru‑free format. The location has become the chain’s top‑performing shop, with mobile‑order traffic three times the system average....
Cracker Barrel’s traffic fell 10.1% YoY in the quarter ending Jan. 30, driving a 7.1% same‑store sales decline, the second consecutive period of steep foot‑traffic loss after its controversial logo change. The chain has shifted focus to food quality, service and its...
Target announced a $2 bn turnaround plan aimed at reviving growth after several quarters of sales decline. Central to the strategy is the rollout of premium Beauty Studios that combine specialty‑level presentation with broad accessibility, alongside a 30% expansion of its...
True Beauty Lashes has partnered with Perfect Corp. to launch LashLovr, an AI‑driven personalized lash‑matching and virtual try‑on platform. The service uses Perfect Corp.’s Virtual Try‑On and Face Analyzer APIs to overlay recommended lashes on a shopper’s face in real...
Synchrony’s March 2026 "In Sync with Consumers" survey shows more than half of U.S. shoppers are devoting extra time to locate the best price, with generative AI playing an expanding role. Over 52% of consumers used Gen AI during the holiday...
U.S. apparel imports in 2025 show the category’s share of consumer spending slipping to 2.08%, down from 2.10% in 2023 and 2.23% in 2021. The decline signals a reshaping of sourcing strategies, with analysts highlighting four emerging trends: accelerated nearshoring...
Adidas reported a robust sales surge in 2025, propelling net profit up 67 percent. The company credited the growth to heightened consumer demand across its footwear and apparel ranges. Executives highlighted a renewed focus on "strategic discipline," encompassing tighter cost...
Retail brands face heightened scrutiny in 2026 as the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) wields expanded powers under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. Greenwashing can also be prosecuted as a criminal offence under the Economic Crime...
Bloq.it and Evri have sealed a multi‑year partnership to embed Bloq.it’s NEXT smart lockers and its new standalone returns unit, drop, across hundreds of Evri locations in the UK. The first installations launch in March 2026 at East of England...
Zeeman announced that Boudewijn van Nieuwenhuijzen will assume the chief executive role on August 1, 2026, succeeding Erik‑Jan Mares after a nine‑year tenure. Van Nieuwenhuijzen brings more than two decades of international retail, FMCG and wholesale experience, most recently as CEO of Super Indo,...
On March 18, Jysk opened six new stores in Belgium, five of which occupy former Leen Bakker premises, raising its national store count to 76. The retailer plans ten more openings later this year, targeting at least 125 locations across...
Retailers such as Disney Store, ASOS, Zara and others are shifting to micro‑influencers for campaigns. These creators have modest followings but are deeply embedded in niche communities, delivering higher engagement and authentic storytelling. Agencies like Coolr and Iris note that...
Schwarz Group, the parent of Lidl and Kaufland, received approval from Romanian competition authorities to acquire a majority stake in La Cocoș, a retailer operating large hypercash stores. The deal cements Schwarz’s market‑leadership position in Romania, where Ahold Delhaize currently ranks second....
Country Road Group posted a 2.3% rise in total sales and a 2.5% increase in comparable store sales for the first half, driven by stronger performance at Country Road, Witchery and Politix. The modest growth aligns with the company’s January...
In this episode, Jeff Hendricks, Chief Customer Officer of Bimbo Bakeries USA, discusses how the company is leveraging real‑time customer and POS data to close the gap on missed sales and improve supply‑chain execution in an omni‑channel environment. He explains...
Amazon updated its Business Solutions Agreement on March 4, 2026, adding a new Agent Policy that bans AI agents from accessing its seller platform unless they self‑identify and can be shut down on request. The agreement also forbids using Amazon’s...
Asics opened a 304 sqm flagship store at Melbourne’s Chadstone Shopping Centre, its second‑largest Australian location. The larger format lets the brand display its full performance portfolio—running, netball, football and licensed apparel—in a single space. Designed with Japanese‑inspired timber and bamboo,...
Daniel Langer argues that luxury buying decisions are driven first by emotion, with rational analysis serving only as post‑purchase justification. He notes that ultra‑high‑net‑worth individuals have risen 44 % since 2019, yet many clients now view luxury as overpriced because brands...
British actress Vanessa Kirby has been appointed Lancôme’s new global ambassador. The partnership underscores the brand’s emphasis on “sophisticated vulnerability” and everyday natural beauty, resonating with Kirby’s personal history and recent transition to motherhood. She will headline upcoming campaigns for...
The Malaysian grocery landscape just changed forever. 🚨 Thai retail giant CP Axtra (the power behind Lotus’s) is officially acquiring 100% of The Food Purveyor for RM1.66 billion. 💰 By Q4 2026, the group will control 120 stores nationwide, blending the scale...
Hong Kong‑based Sau Lee, founded by designer Cheryl Leung in 2014, has positioned itself as a modern Chinese heritage label for American consumers. By reimagining classic cheongsam silhouettes with contemporary prints, diverse sizing (00‑14) and price points from $228 to...
The modern male shopper has moved from muscle‑centric marketing to demanding ingredient transparency and functional benefits. Protein brands now highlight whey isolate purity, grass‑fed sourcing and the absence of additives, while men increasingly view protein as everyday nutrition. Skincare, haircare...
The Vitamin Shoppe unveiled its first Suppie Awards, a brand‑focused accolade created with Hearst Magazines, while supplement‑tracking startup SuppCo launched a “Tested by SuppCo” certification program featuring a roster of leading supplement brands. Both initiatives aim to provide third‑party validation...
The emerging conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran threatens the flow of oil and liquefied natural gas through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially pushing crude prices above $100 a barrel. Higher energy costs are expected to translate into...
An unusually warm February in India, with temperatures up to 31.9 °C, triggered a 25‑30% jump in sales of beverages, ice‑cream and air‑conditioners compared with the rain‑soaked February of 2025. Executives say the early heat is providing a strong tailwind for...
Shop price inflation in the UK slowed to 1.1% year‑on‑year in February, down from 1.5% in January, as intense retailer competition curbed price growth. Non‑food prices fell 0.1% while food inflation stayed elevated at 3.5%, reflecting persistent pressure on grocery...
