Why the Best Retail Technology Makes Associates More, Not Less, Visible
Retailers are grappling with chronic labor shortages and an expanding list of associate responsibilities, prompting a rethink of how automation is deployed. Tim McCracken Jr. argues that technology should free floor staff to engage customers rather than replace them. McKinsey research shows personalized human interaction can boost store revenue by up to 15%, while 84% of retailers report staffing gaps hinder service. Effective automation removes background tasks, allowing associates to focus on judgment, problem‑solving, and real‑time interaction.
Oner Active to Open First Store in NY as UK Sportswear Brands Bet on US
Oner Active has secured a 10‑year lease for a flagship store at 0 Bond Street in New York, marking the brand’s first permanent brick‑and‑mortar location. The women‑focused activewear label, which has operated solely online and has no physical stores in...
Why Your Life Is Now on Subscriptions
Subscription services now touch almost every aspect of daily life, from streaming and grocery delivery to car features and even toilet paper. Research from Bango shows the average American holds 5.2 subscriptions and spends about $69 a month, though other...
Liquid I.V. and FLO Want to Make Nostalgia and Hydration a Summer Vibe
Liquid I.V., the Unilever‑owned electrolyte drink, has rolled out its summer "Say Yes" campaign in partnership with British R&B collective FLO. The effort introduces a nostalgia‑driven Sugar‑Free Ring Pop Cherry flavor and a fleet of hydro‑trucks that will sample the product at...
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[ TOMORROW ] State of Retail 2026: From Insight to Execution
Retail executives face accelerating demand volatility, margin pressure, and the need for real‑time pricing, inventory, and merchandising decisions. Many still rely on fragmented data and manual workflows, slowing insight delivery. UiPath’s upcoming webinar, featuring Catherine Frame and Ali Galasso, will...
Banuba Advances AI Try-On Platform as Retail Goes Digital
Banuba has upgraded its AI‑powered virtual try‑on platform, adding contact‑lens try‑on, hair‑dye and makeup options to its Shopify plugin and introducing a one‑photo eyewear digitisation tool. The enhancements also include faster processing, bulk inventory handling and a simplified onboarding flow...
BestPOSApp Launches Free Offline POS System for Restaurants, Retail Stores, Pharmacies, Gyms and Supermarkets
BestPOSApp has launched a completely free, offline‑first point‑of‑sale platform that serves restaurants, retail stores, pharmacies, gyms and supermarkets. The system runs on a local‑first database, delivering zero‑latency checkout and syncing to the cloud only when an internet connection is restored,...
Digest: Alibaba Pushes ‘Chat-to-Buy’ With Qwen AI; Amazon Data Coming to Netflix Inventory Next Week; Instagram Eyes Long-Form CTV Push
Alibaba is embedding its Qwen AI assistant into Taobao and Tmall, enabling chat‑to‑buy experiences where users can search, compare, and purchase via text or voice. Amazon’s shopping data will be integrated into Netflix’s ad inventory in the UK and EMEA...
EBay Promoted Listings Rule-Based Campaign Listing Exclusion
eBay has added a rule‑based campaign listing exclusion option to its Promoted Listings platform, allowing sellers to omit specific items even when they meet campaign criteria. Advertisers can enter individual item IDs or bulk‑select up to 10,000 listings to exclude,...
Gen Z 'Serial Returners' Surge as Traditional Returns Deterrents Lose Impact
New research from Ingrid shows Gen Z serial returners have jumped to 53% of shoppers, up from 15% in 2023. Half of these shoppers report account suspensions for high return volumes, while traditional deterrents like fees are losing impact. Retailers...
The Marketers Rewriting the Brand Playbook Are Coming to Atlanta
Brandweek 2026, Adweek's annual summit, will convene top marketers in Atlanta Sept 15‑17. The three‑day event will feature Coca‑Cola Global CMO Manuel Arroyo, FIGS CMO Bené Eaton, Starbucks Global Chief Brand Officer Tressie Lieberman, Rev. Dr. Bernice King and local sports figures. Attendees will...
The Cost of a Bargain
The article uses a street‑level fruit‑vendor encounter to illustrate how Indian consumers equate a bargain with perceived value, often demanding refunds if expectations aren’t met. It argues that value is subjective, tied more to the cost reduction achieved than to...
Alo Rides the Cannes Wave With Wellness-Fueled Luxury Push
Alo, the Los Angeles‑based activewear label, has turned Cannes’ Croisette into a luxury wellness destination by opening permanent "sanctuary" spaces in Cannes and Saint‑Tropez and staging a pier pop‑up with custom beds and a juice bar. The brand is also...
Amazon’s Quick Commerce Blitz Rattles Blinkit’s Playbook
Amazon is accelerating its 10‑minute delivery push in India with Amazon Now, now handling 450,000‑500,000 orders daily from roughly 500 dark stores. The service’s orders are growing 25% month‑on‑month and Prime members are tripling their purchase frequency. Blinkit, the sector’s...
Is There a Right Way to Sell Skincare to Kids?
Generation Alpha’s tween market is prompting a wave of new skincare brands while forcing legacy beauty giants to rethink how they market to children. Companies like Sincerely Yours and Yes Day target early loyalty, whereas major players adopt anti‑marketing tactics to calm...
Exclusive: Can Saks Get Back on Track? CEO Van Raemdonck Makes His Case
Luxury retailer Saks Global has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, launching a four‑month sprint to restructure. CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck told Business of Fashion that the plan hinges on the enduring buying power of American luxury shoppers and a leaner operating model....
Beauty Briefing: What to Know About Sephora’s and Ulta’s AI Partnerships
Sephora has integrated OpenAI's ChatGPT into its online and in‑store platforms, offering shoppers instant, conversational product recommendations. Ulta Beauty struck a partnership with Google to embed the Gemini generative AI model in its digital assistant, aiming to personalize the browsing...
Kurt Geiger Turns Summer Season Into Growth Engine for Accessories Business
British footwear and accessories label Kurt Geiger is leveraging its summer “Cabana” collection as a growth engine, focusing on resort‑driven, mood‑centric accessories. Chief Creative Officer Rebecca Farrar‑Hockley says summer is the brand’s most important trading period, and the line blends English...
EDEKA’s Smart Retail Strategy Is Redefining Customer Experience
EDEKA has launched an interactive self‑order kiosk system, developed with eyefactive, that lets shoppers browse, select and purchase items via touchscreen interfaces inside its stores. The kiosks replace traditional service counters for many transactions, delivering faster checkout and a more...
Why Gen Z Is Forcing India to Rethink Loyalty
India’s 377 million Gen Z consumers are abandoning traditional point‑based loyalty programs in favor of portable, experience‑driven rewards. They expect brands to deliver relevance in every interaction, turning loyalty into an active, personal choice rather than a passive accumulation of points. Companies...
Style Edit: Tiffany & Co. Brings New York Flair to Hong Kong’s Lee Gardens
Tiffany & Co. opened a new flagship store in Hong Kong’s Lee Gardens, featuring a Tiffany Blue Box Café slated to launch next month. The boutique’s design draws on a historic bamboo print from founder Louis Comfort Tiffany’s collection and...
Gen Z Shoppers Driving Traffic Growth at Simon’s Malls, CEO Says
Simon Property Group reported first‑quarter traffic growth driven by Gen Z shoppers, with retailer sales per square foot up 12% year‑over‑year to $819. CEO Dave Simon highlighted investments in property updates and a tenant mix that includes new youth‑focused brands...
Forget Costco: The Best Place To Buy Large Kitchen Appliances, Per Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports surveyed nearly 10,000 shoppers from January 2023 to May 2024, evaluating 23 retailers for large kitchen appliances. Abt Electronics reclaimed the top spot for the 14th straight year with a 91‑point satisfaction score, praised for selection, pricing, and service. Costco...
Lessons From the Social Media Food Battle
In March, a promotional video of McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski taking a tiny bite of the new “Big Arch” burger went viral for all the wrong reasons, prompting memes and criticism for its lack of authenticity. Competing chains and grocery...
A New Erewhon Competitor Just Opened in West Hollywood with No Marketing or Social Media. It’s Counting on You to...
Laurel Supply, a new high‑end grocery store, opened directly across from Erewhon in West Hollywood. The owners of the neighboring Laurel Hardware launched it without a press release or social‑media campaign, banking on the shop’s striking design and organic word‑of‑mouth....
How Naturepedic Is Scaling Operations and Retail for Organic Growth
Naturepedic, the leading certified organic mattress brand, is scaling its retail footprint and wholesale channel to drive organic growth. The company now operates 18 corporate stores and plans to add eight to ten locations in high‑potential markets such as Southern...
Aldi Scotland Invests £8m in Lower Prices to Support Shoppers
Aldi Scotland is spending over £8 million (about $10 million) in the first quarter of 2026 to slash prices on roughly 500 everyday items, from fresh produce to personal‑care goods. Flagship cuts include Frasers Macaroni Cheese now £1.09 ($1.38) and Frasers Ready‑Made...
Walmart Blanketing Southeast With Remodeled Supercenters, Additional Locations
Walmart announced a massive rollout of 650 store remodels and 20 new locations through 2027, with a particular focus on the Southeast. The company has already invested $675 million in Alabama and $1.5 billion in Florida over the past five years, upgrading...
Sampling Grows Retail Sales at Awake Chocolate
Awake Chocolate, a caffeinated chocolate brand founded in 2012, pivoted from food‑service sales to direct‑to‑consumer and retail after the pandemic shut down its original channels. Retail locations—now at least a dozen chains and thousands of stores—have become the fastest‑growing segment,...
GameStop's $68,000 Charizard Pokémon Card Is Already a Saga
GameStop has introduced $5,000 Pokémon Power Packs that give buyers a 0.4 % chance at ultra‑rare cards, including a first‑edition 1999 Charizard valued at about $68,000. Tracking data shows the Charizard has been pulled three times, with each winner opting to...
Target to Invest $5B in 130 Store Remodels This Year, and some Will Have Expanded Grocery
Target announced a $5 billion investment to remodel more than 130 stores and open 30 new locations in 2026. The upgrades will feature updated layouts, larger fresh, frozen and dry grocery sections, modernized checkout areas, and energy‑efficient lighting and HVAC systems....
Priority Payables Rockets 36% as Enterprise Giants Join
Priority Technology Holdings reported Q1 2026 revenue of $249.6 million, up 11.1% year over year. Its Payables segment led growth, surging 36% to $32.4 million as larger enterprise customers increased both buyer‑funded (up 37%) and supplier‑funded (up 31%) revenues. Treasury Solutions grew...
What Really Happens when States Add Delivery Fees to Online Orders
U.S. states are mandating small delivery fees—typically under $1—on online orders, prompting concern among retailers about price sensitivity. New research published in the Journal of Business Logistics shows that shoppers are far more likely to accept these fees when they...
EY: Consumer Brands Jostle for Position in E-Com Marketplaces
EY’s "State of Consumer Products" report finds consumer brands are now battling for shelf‑space inside e‑commerce marketplaces as much as for consumer attention. More than 77% of surveyed executives say strategic partnerships with retailers, platforms and digital channels are essential...
EXEC: UK’s Shoe Zone Posts Steeper Loss in Half as Sales Drop 12 Percent
Shoe Zone, the UK’s biggest off‑price shoe retailer, posted a net loss of £5.3 million (about $7.2 million) for the six months to 28 March, more than double the loss a year earlier. Revenue fell 12 percent to £62.9 million ($85.8 million) as the chain operated...
Food Lion’s Norman on Building Loyalty — Digitally
Food Lion’s MVP loyalty platform, anchored by the Shop & Earn feature, has become a cornerstone of its digital strategy across ten states. The program lets shoppers earn rewards, load coupons, and donate points to the Food Lion Feeds hunger‑relief...
Consumer Use of Augmented Reality Is Influencing Purchases
A Clutch Research study shows 60% of U.S. consumers have tried AR or VR, and 58% say they’ve purchased after using AR features. Regular use sits at 35%, but 54% plan to increase immersive tech usage over the next two...
Subdued Reports 20% Revenue Increase in 2025 at €196.5 Million
Subdued, the teen fashion label owned by Osit SpA, posted 2025 revenue of €196.5 million (about $216 million), a 20% increase year‑over‑year. Retail sales drove the growth, delivering €176.5 million and representing 86.6% of total revenue, while e‑commerce added €20 million ($22 million), up 20.9%. International...
The Hidden Cost of Automation: Managing Liability in the Age of AI
Retailers are accelerating AI and third‑party platform adoption to stay competitive, but the rapid rollout is creating a liability blind spot. When an AI tool misprices a product or leaks data, legal responsibility often falls on the retailer, not the...
Walmart Closes a Location
Walmart shut its Lincolnwood, Illinois store at 6840 N McCormick Blvd., marking one of several closures among major grocers in May 2026. The data, sourced from ScrapeHero, shows Walmart and Publix each closed a store while also opening two new locations. Kroger led closures...
To Make the Most of Retail Media, Brands Need to Break Out of Its Silos
Retail media networks (RMNs) have become a go‑to channel for brands because they tie ad impressions directly to purchases, offering clear bottom‑funnel results. However, most campaigns are run in isolation, relying solely on retailer‑owned shopper data that only reflects existing...
Alipay AI Pay Further Engages Its 100 Million Users With New Delegated Payment Feature on Taobao
Alipay AI Pay has launched a delegated payment feature on Taobao, allowing its 100 million users to complete purchases with AI‑driven authorization instead of manual entry. The new flow uses biometric and behavioral signals to verify transactions in real time, streamlining...
Square for Drive-Thru Debuts and Other Digital Transactions News Briefs From 5/11/26
Block Inc.’s Square unit rolled out Square for Drive‑Thru, a joint solution with The Howard Company and Nanonation that merges order capture, kitchen workflow and customer handoff for fast‑food lanes. PayPal announced a multiyear sponsorship with the Seattle Seahawks, becoming...
Streetwear Brand Sundae School's New Chinatown Store Offers Visitors a 'Mental Vacation'
Sundae School, the Korean‑inspired streetwear label founded by Dae Lim, opened its first brick‑and‑mortar shop in Manhattan’s Chinatown. The 500‑square‑foot space, designed like a traditional Korean Buddhist temple, features pastel pink curtains, metal pillars and a calming aesthetic. The store...
Shein Accuses Rival Temu of ‘Industrial-Scale’ Copyright Violations
Chinese fast‑fashion giant Shein has lodged a formal complaint accusing rival marketplace Temu of large‑scale copyright infringement. Shein claims Temu reproduces thousands of its product images, designs and descriptions, effectively copying its catalog. The dispute highlights intensifying competition between ultra‑low‑price...
Weigel’s Marks 95 Years with Summer Loyalty and Value Push
Weigel’s is marking its 95th anniversary with a summer‑long "Just Getting Started" campaign that centers on a 95‑cent pricing platform covering beverages, fuel‑savings days, CPG discounts and bundled value meals. The retailer is amplifying digital engagement through the MyWeigel’s Rewards...
Flashfood Launches Loyalty Integration to Offer Grocers More Shopper Insights
Flashfood introduced a loyalty integration feature that lets shoppers link grocery loyalty accounts to its app, with Meijer as the first retailer to adopt it. Within two weeks, over 20,000 users connected their mPerks accounts, providing Meijer with richer shopper...
The Scoop: Gap CEO Connects Brand’s Cultural Relevance with Concrete Turnaround Goals
Gap CEO Richard Dickson says the company’s turnaround now hinges on cultural relevance rather than pure operational fixes. He has brought designer Zac Posen on board, dressed Kendall Jenner at the Met Gala, and hired a chief entertainment officer to produce content...
Wakefern Names Own Brands Director
Wakefern Food Corp., the cooperative behind the ShopRite banner, has promoted Chris Ruane to director of its own‑brands division. The new team will steer strategy, growth and loyalty for private‑label lines such as Bowl & Basket, Wholesome Pantry and Paperbird. Ruane brings roughly...
Shein Accuses Temu of Large-Scale Copyright Infringement
Shein has taken Temu to the High Court in London, alleging the rival platform copies its designs on an industrial scale. Temu counters that the lawsuit is a tactical effort to suppress competition and protect its market foothold. The case...