Nintendo Is Raising Switch 2 Prices
Nintendo announced a global price increase for its Switch 2 console, raising the U.S. price to $499.99 effective September 1, up $50 from the current $449.99. The hike also adds roughly $497 to the Canadian price, €40 to the European price (about $587), and ¥10,000 to the Japanese price (about $382). Nintendo cited “changes in market conditions” and warned of a sales decline over the next year, even as it reported 19.86 million Switch 2 units sold in FY 26, outpacing the original Switch. The company also plans higher fees for Switch Online subscriptions and playing‑card purchases in Japan.
Opinion: Europe Can’t Afford to Sit on the Agentic Commerce Sidelines
At Stripe Sessions 2026, industry leaders warned that the traditional bot‑vs‑human model of e‑commerce is collapsing as AI agents become the primary shoppers. Merchants must expose product details in a machine‑readable format, prompting the rollout of the Universal Commerce Protocol...
Does Shein Send Data to China? Irish Watchdog Investigates
The Irish Data Protection Commission has opened an investigation into Shein Ireland, the European hub of the fast‑fashion e‑commerce giant. Regulators suspect the retailer may have illegally transferred personal data of EU users to China, breaching GDPR rules. The probe...
Quiz Stores to Continue Trading in May Amid Stock Clearance Push
All 40 Quiz Clothing stores will stay open throughout May as administrators push a stock‑clearance effort, with fresh inventory arriving from distribution centres. In‑store discounts have deepened to 60‑80% across all categories, while the online shop shut down on 5 February...
Apple India Store Policy on Refunds and Exchanges
Apple clarified that products purchased at its Indian Apple Store cannot be refunded or exchanged unless they are defective. The rule applies to both the online portal and the company‑owned retail locations in major metros. Defective items covered by warranty...
The Invisible Engine Powering SA’s Informal Payment Revolution
South Africa’s informal economy, worth roughly R900 billion ($48 billion), is rapidly digitising as card payments outpace cash. Fintech firms such as iKhokha, Yoko and Flash have built lightweight payment solutions that now process over R20 billion ($1 billion) annually, with Flash alone handling...
Retailers Warn Middle East Conflict Will Push Prices Higher, with Next Leading the Charge
Retailers are warning that the Middle East conflict is driving up energy costs and disrupting shipping routes, which will eventually be passed to consumers. Next Plc, after reporting a 6.2% year‑on‑year sales rise, disclosed a £47 million (≈$60 million) loss from higher...
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[In the Picture] Modernized Librairie Club Focuses on Young Adult Literature
Librairie Club, a Belgian bookstore chain, opened its first fully renovated store in Waterloo, adding a dedicated Young Adult (YA) section—the first of its kind in Wallonia. The move builds on a multi‑year rebranding plan that has already driven a...
Bath & Body Works to Make East Midlands Debut
Bath & Body Works is opening its first East Midlands store in Nottingham’s Victoria Centre. The 1,700‑square‑foot shop occupies a lower‑mall unit and joins existing tenants such as Victoria’s Secret, Rituals and Levi’s. The move is part of the brand’s...
The AI Takeover, LuxExperience CEO, Menswear Mystery Shoppers and More in May’s Drapers
The May issue of Drapers spotlights the accelerating integration of artificial intelligence across fashion retail, previewing the Drapers Future of Fashion conference on May 20 in London. It highlights how AI is reshaping inventory management, personalization, and customer service while...
U.K. Shop Visits Dip as Inflation Bites Into Spending
Retail footfall in the United Kingdom plunged in April, with main‑street shop visits down 9.2% and shopping‑centre traffic falling 10.1%. The British Retail Consortium reported a 10.7% year‑over‑year decline in shop visits, marking the weakest performance in over five years....
Bullish on Quick Commerce, Says Walmart CEO John Furner at Flipkart Townhall
Walmart CEO John Furner told a Flipkart town‑hall in Bengaluru that the retailer is bullish on India’s quick‑commerce market. He highlighted that Walmart has already sourced more than $40 billion of goods from Indian manufacturers and is meeting Prime Minister Narendra...
Siam Piwat and Huawei Integrate Thai-First Wearable Tech Into Their Ecosystem
Siam Piwat, Thailand’s leading retail developer, has launched the OneSiam Global Visitor Card on Huawei Wearable devices, giving access to an estimated 200 million Huawei users worldwide. The integration targets high‑value tourists from China, Japan, Southeast Asia and other key markets,...
Diptyque Opens Hollywood Road Flagship in Hong Kong
Diptyque has launched a 100 sqm flagship boutique on Hong Kong’s Hollywood Road, expanding from its 2025 street‑level concept store. The two‑level duplex blends Parisian‑inspired interiors with Hong Kong’s architectural motifs, featuring a neon installation by local artist Jive Lau. The ground...
5 Takeaways From Glossy’s Leaders Dinner: Retail’s Growth Playbook Is Getting More Human
At the Glossy and Modern Retail Leaders Dinner hosted with Global Payments, senior brand and retail executives examined the forces shaping growth, including AI, climbing customer‑acquisition costs, wholesale channel volatility, shifting discovery habits, and the changing purpose of physical stores....
Luxury Briefing: Pinterest’s Luxury Pitch Is AI Discovery, Not AI Answers
Pinterest’s latest earnings call revealed a sharpened luxury strategy that pivots the platform toward AI‑driven visual discovery rather than conversational answers. The company aims to become the go‑to engine for shoppers who start with images and want instant, shoppable recommendations....
Havenly Has Been on an Acquisition Streak in the Home Space. Now, It’s Launching a Brand of Its Own
Havenly Brands, after a four‑year spree acquiring The Citizenry, The Inside, Interior Define and Burrow, has launched its first internally incubated product line, Weft, a performance rug brand sold online for $149‑$649. The collection emphasizes durability—about a third are machine‑washable...
David Jones Must Stick to Its Guns and Prioritise Its Premium Store Experience
Retailers are confronting a surge in agentic AI, with 39% of Australians already using AI for shopping decisions and 27% open to buying directly from AI tools. David Jones is responding by allocating roughly $43 million USD to a digital overhaul...
A Five-Part Examination of What Is Really Happening to China’s Department Stores
China’s department stores are in a deep slump, with sales barely up 0.1% in 2025 while the country’s GDP grew 5% and retail sales topped roughly $7 trillion. Only 22.2% of surveyed operators improved net profit, compared with 32% that grew...
Diipa Büller-Khosla Discusses Her Career Building Indē Wild
Indian‑born influencer Diipa Büller‑Khosla founded Indē Wild, an Ayurvedic‑based beauty line that recently debuted in Sephora’s US stores, marking the first homegrown Indian brand on the retailer’s shelves. Drawing on her mother’s dermatology‑Ayurveda background and her own digital‑media experience, she...
Bunnings Set To Launch Online Store For Customers In Fiji
Bunnings announced the launch of a dedicated online store for Fiji, offering 20,000 curated hardware and home‑improvement products. The e‑commerce platform will be powered by Bunnings’ Australian distribution centre and international shipping partners, with longer delivery windows clearly disclosed. The...
MacBook Deals Start at ₹65,900: Top Apple Laptops Worth Checking Out Right Now
Apple’s latest MacBook lineup is seeing steep price cuts on India’s Amazon platform, with the entry‑level MacBook Neo now listed at ₹65,900 (≈$795) and further reduced to ₹61,990 (≈$747) using an SBI credit‑card discount. Mid‑range models featuring the new M4...
Mercado Libre Sacrifices Short-Term Profits to Fuel Growth
Mercado Libre reported a 49% year‑over‑year jump in net revenue to $8.8 billion in Q1 2026, fueled by aggressive investments in free‑shipping, a new credit card, first‑party inventory and cross‑border trade. Despite the revenue surge, net income fell 16% to $417 million...
Video of the Week: From Airlines to Commerce Platforms – Aviation’s Next Profit Engine
Airlines are shifting from pure transport operators to consumer commerce and data platforms to boost thin margins. Ancillary services, loyalty monetisation, digital retailing and AI‑driven personalization now account for a growing share of revenue. The transition pushes carriers toward subscription...
Half of Luxury Shoppers Prefer Resale, and The RealReal Saw It Coming
Luxury resale is moving from niche to mainstream, with nearly half of luxury shoppers now weighing resale value and almost 60% preferring the secondary market. The RealReal leveraged its AI‑driven Athena intake system to process 35% of items in Q1,...
Looks Set to Launch Standalone Stores
Central Food Retail, the operator of Tops supermarkets, is launching its first standalone Looks beauty‑retail store at Robinson Lifestyle Srisamarn mall in Nonthaburi on May 20. Looks, already present as a beauty zone in 91 Tops supermarkets, 16 Tops Food Halls...
Beyond the Shelf: The Hidden Tech Driving Retail Efficiency
Retail stores are increasingly powered by a hidden layer of digital tools that automate inventory, warehousing, and sales processes. Inventory management software provides real‑time shelf visibility, while AI predicts demand spikes and optimises replenishment. RFID tags and automated counting cut...
Online Vendors Object to Fee Hikes
Thai online merchants are pressing the government for stricter regulation after e‑commerce platforms repeatedly raised sales‑commission fees, which now consume 22‑30% of their revenue. The Thai e‑Commerce Association has gathered complaints from about 200 vendors and will submit them to...
Relaunched Dick’s Sporting Goods Credit Card Offers 10% Back
Dick’s Sporting Goods has relaunched its private‑label credit card program with longtime partner Synchrony, rebranding it as the Dick’s Credit Card and adding a co‑branded Mastercard. Cardholders earn 10% back in ScoreCard Rewards on qualifying purchases at any Dick’s brand...
I Found Max Mara, On Running and Birkenstock on Sale This Week & Couldn’t Keep It to Myself
Rue La La, a free‑membership flash‑sale site, is featuring a wave of designer discounts this week, including Max Mara items under $50 and Birkenstock sandals under $150. The platform’s “featured events” appear unpredictably, offering deeper price cuts for a limited window. Shoppers are...
TikTok Users Are Motivated by Affiliate Links
TikTok’s shopping ecosystem is accelerating, with affiliate links prompting deeper consumer research. Donte Murry reports that 77 % of viewers who encounter affiliate content immediately search for additional product information. Comments from other users serve as a powerful social‑proof layer, influencing first‑time...
Meta's AI Agent Plans Reportedly Include an OpenClaw Competitor that Can Shop on Instagram
Meta is developing an AI agent called Hatch, modeled after the open‑source OpenClaw platform, to embed autonomous shopping capabilities within Instagram and other Meta apps. The agent has been trialed on simulated versions of services such as DoorDash, Reddit and...
Tilt Beauty Teams With The Costume Institute on Custom-Curated Kits
Tilt Beauty, a cosmetics line built for people with chronic pain and limited dexterity, has partnered with the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute to launch two limited‑edition kits in the museum store. The $60 One Swipe Set and $95...
JD Sports Quietly Closed 61 Hibbett Stores Last Year. Another 175 Are on the Chopping Block
JD Sports said it shut 61 under‑performing Hibbett stores in fiscal 2026, recording a £28 million ($36 million) impairment, while opening 44 new locations. The company plans to close another 175 Hibbett stores in North America over the next three years as...
Proposed Bill Could Put New York Wines on Grocery Store Shelves
New York lawmakers are pushing bill S.1279A/A.1328A to let grocery stores over 4,000 square feet sell wine, with a focus on New York‑produced labels. The proposal limits participation to retailers already licensed for beer and adds a 500‑foot buffer to...
Playing the Long Game: Vitalie Taittinger on Family, FIFA and Building a Brand for the Ages
Vitalie Taittinger explains how the family‑run Champagne house has used a decade‑long partnership with FIFA to reinforce its global brand rather than chase short‑term sales. The collaboration centers on a limited‑edition Brut Réserve that ties the flagship cuvée to the...
An Age-Old Approach to Promoting Produce on Social Media
Retail merchandisers are turning to social media to drive fresh-produce sales, but generational preferences dictate platform choice. According to FMI’s Power of Produce 2026 report, 48% of Gen Z shoppers use social cues for fruit and vegetable ideas, compared with only 20%...
How Kendra Scott Used 3 Simple Elements to Turn Her Jewelry Startup Into a $1 Billion Company
Kendra Scott turned her Austin‑born jewelry startup into a $1 billion company by leveraging a three‑tier retail strategy. She built a strong wholesale base through partners like Nordstrom, added experiential flagship stores, and layered e‑commerce at the top. The model not...
The Worst Trader Joe's Locations To Shop At According To Customers
Trader Joe’s remains a beloved grocery chain, but several locations consistently frustrate shoppers. Based on Reddit, Yelp and local forums, the chain’s busiest stores—such as 72nd Street in Manhattan and Union Square—suffer from perpetual lines, cramped aisles, and confusing layouts. Outside the store,...
McDonald’s Made a Strategic Pivot and Introduced a Big New Burger. It’s Paying Off
McDonald’s reported a 9% rise in first‑quarter revenue, crediting a renewed value focus and the debut of the 1,020‑calorie Big Arch burger, which sparked viral social‑media buzz. Comparable sales climbed 3.8% globally as average ticket sizes grew. CEO Chris Kempczinski...
Q1 2026 Jewelry & Watches Report: Expansion Meets Shifting Consumer Investment
The Canadian jewelry and watches market posted a 10.5% year‑over‑year sales increase in Q1 2026, driven by a blend of luxury expansion and rising investment interest in precious metals. Gold prices surged to C$4,000 per ounce (≈US$2,960), prompting a spike in...
Q1 2026 Sporting Goods & Outdoor Report: Expansion, Leadership, and Experiential
The Canadian sporting‑goods and outdoor retail sector is undergoing rapid expansion and real‑estate transformation in Q1 2026. Large‑format vacancies left by department stores are being filled by specialty retailers such as Sports Experts, JD Sports and fitness operators, while Fitness World is...
Ulta Beauty Joins Uber Eats Marketplace, Expanding Delivery Options
Ulta Beauty announced its entry into the Uber Eats marketplace, adding more than 1,500 U.S. stores for same‑day delivery of thousands of beauty products. The move, timed just before Mother’s Day, expands Ulta’s omnichannel reach and leverages Uber Eats’ push...
Point of Sale Innovations to Modernize the Shopper Experience
Salesforce’s Agentforce Commerce announced a suite of Point‑of‑Sale upgrades that unify orders, product data, inventory, and carts across online, in‑store, and back‑office channels. The platform now supports Android devices alongside iOS, letting retailers use existing hardware and reduce training time....
Gen Z Discovers Apparel Shopping IRL Is Cool
Gen Z, the first fully digital generation, is turning away from online‑only apparel buying and rediscovering brick‑and‑mortar stores for social experiences. Teens now plan mall trips with friends, film TikTok videos, and value the tactile feel of fabrics. Retailers such...
Have You Ever Meditated in a Clothing Store?
District Vision opened its first Los Angeles flagship as a hybrid retail‑and‑research space that transforms into a meditation and wellness studio after hours. The store’s modular interior, designed with SR Studio, lets it shift from showcasing sci‑fi sunglasses and New Balance collaborations...
Hey Dude Hits Austin With Country-Themed ‘Icon’ Store, the Brand’s First Full-Price Location
Hey Dude, the Crocs‑owned casual‑shoe brand, opened its first full‑price standalone store in Austin, Texas. The 3,300‑sq‑ft "Icon" location replaces an old storefront and showcases the complete product line, including exclusive collections. The launch follows a Q1 earnings report showing...
Ecommerce Trends: How Online Retailers Compete Against Amazon
GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen proposed a $56 billion acquisition of eBay, positioning the combined entity as a credible challenger to Amazon. Cohen envisions using GameStop’s brick‑and‑mortar footprint to strengthen eBay’s omnichannel fulfillment, authentication, and logistics. The move underscores a broader industry...
Inside Jeans Country: American Eagle’s First-Ever Stagecoach Activation
American Eagle debuted its first Stagecoach activation, "Jeans Country," a denim‑themed desert experience that ran April 24‑26 in Indio, California. The brand attracted roughly 2,000 festivalgoers who explored photo‑worthy touchpoints, including a customization station, an Old West lounge, and a...
After a Big Win in the Burger Showdown, Burger King Eyes Taking on McDonald's Egg McMuffin
Burger King posted a 5.8% same‑store sales increase in Q1, outpacing the broader quick‑service restaurant sector and McDonald’s 3.9% growth. The chain sits fifth in the U.S. breakfast category, behind McDonald’s, Starbucks, Wendy’s and Dunkin’. With the U.S. breakfast market...