Michael Hill International’s Profit Turnaround Driven by Canadian Boom
Michael Hill International reported a half‑year revenue of $370.9 million, up 3% YoY, and a net profit after tax of $22.3 million, a 32% increase despite a full‑year loss. The profit boost was driven primarily by a 70‑basis‑point lift in the Canadian gross margin to 61.5%, with same‑store sales rising 6.1% across its 82 Canadian stores. New flagship locations opened in Adelaide, Sydney and Toronto, underscoring a renewed focus on product mix and go‑to‑market execution under CEO Jonathan Waecker.
What Makes a Great Agency Partner?
Retail marketers often pick agencies based on relationships, reputation lists, price, and niche experience, but those criteria only get to the long‑list stage. The article argues that true partnership hinges on deeper factors such as transparent KPI sharing, resistance to...
What Keeps LSKD on Top of the Online CX Index
LSKD has held the number‑one spot on Humii’s Inside Retail Online CX Index for two consecutive years, posting sub‑5% abandonment and near‑100% retention. The brand’s edge stems from frictionless returns, ultra‑fast operational speed, intuitive product discovery, transparent checkout, clear loyalty...
Bunnings’ Justine Mills & CommBank’s Jo Boundy Talk Retail Media’s Transformative Business Effects
Bunnings’ marketing chief Justine Mills and CommBank’s Jo Boundy discussed the disruptive potential of retail media during B&T’s CMO Power List interview. They highlighted how Hammer Media reshapes supplier‑to‑consumer engagement and how Bunnings is now acting as a publisher, leveraging...
ThredUp Inc (TDUP) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
ThredUp reported Q4 2025 revenue of $79.7 million, up 18.5% year‑over‑year, and a full‑year revenue of $310.8 million, a 20% increase. The company completed its shift to a consignment‑based model, now covering over 90% of transactions, and posted adjusted EBITDA in every...
Aldi Confirmed as the Biggest Supporter of Scottish Farmers and Producers
Aldi has been confirmed as the leading UK retailer for Scottish produce according to the NFU Scotland 2025‑26 ShelfWatch report. The audit of 78 Scottish stores found Aldi sources an average of 65% of fresh Scottish items, far outpacing the...
Ouzo of Plomari Launches Nationwide in Marks & Spencer
Chimera Brand Development has secured a national listing for Ouzo of Plomari across 166 Marks & Spencer stores, marking the spirit’s UK retail debut just seven months after the distributor was appointed. The Greek‑heritage ouzo, Greece’s top‑selling anise spirit, will be positioned as...
Waitrose Takes Triple Crown as IWSC Relaunches National Drinks Retail Awards
Waitrose secured a rare triple crown at the 2026 IWSC National Drinks Retail Awards, winning the Classic Supermarket, Online Supermarket and Sustainable Supermarket trophies. The awards were relaunched with five new categories and a £15,000 educational bursary programme for buying...
AMELIORATE Launches in 116 Tesco Stores
British dermatology brand AMELIORATE has entered 116 Tesco stores across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, bringing its clinically proven skincare line to mainstream shoppers. The launch spotlights the Transforming Body Lotion, an award‑winning product formulated with the proprietary LaH6...
Apple Retail Stores and Corporate Offices in UAE Temporarily Closed
Apple announced the temporary closure of its corporate offices and five Apple Store locations across the United Arab Emirates after a sharp escalation in the Middle East conflict. The shutdown aligns with new guidance from the UAE Ministry of Human...
System Report: VLMs Unlock Efficiencies for All World Machinery
All World Machinery Supply, a Roscoe, Illinois distributor of 15,000 machine‑part SKUs, tackled a storage crunch and labor bottlenecks by installing four Kardex vertical lift modules (VLMs) and an in‑house conveyor system. The VLMs cut the warehouse footprint by 75%...
Special Report: 2026 Productivity Achievement Awards
Modern's 2026 Productivity Achievement Awards recognized top performers in warehousing/distribution, innovation, and e‑fulfillment. Performance Health won Warehousing/Distribution for a streamlined distribution center, reduced packaging waste, and improved KPI tracking. Staples earned the Innovation award for its integrated robotics platform, autonomous...
Productivity Solution: Andrews Streamlines Beverage Delivery
Andrews Distributing partnered with Big Joe Forklifts to deploy the LPT40 DSD, a pallet truck that integrates a scale for delivery‑by‑weight verification. The system replaces manual case counting, cutting stop times by up to 43% and easing navigation in tight store...
Faster, Better, Stronger: Growth Awaits at the Newly Imagined National Hardware Show
The National Hardware Show has been rebranded as NHS Concept to Commerce, targeting the full product lifecycle from ideation to shelf. The 2026 Las Vegas event introduces dedicated pavilions for global manufacturers, brands, inventors and an AI‑driven Product Journey Experience...
In Real Life: Align Your Operation’s Digital and Brick-and-Mortar Presence
Retailers now have a digital twin that AI evaluates when generating search overviews. An optimized Google Business Profile serves as the new Yellow Pages, feeding AI the first impression of a store. Consistency of name, address, and phone across online...
Tight Connections: A Retailer’s Key to Success in the Fastener Category
The fastener aisle at Gus Bock’s Ace Hardware in northwestern Indiana has become a major revenue engine thanks to a close partnership with its fastener vendor. The vendor supplies planograms, color‑coded bulk bins, and an online ordering portal that give...
The Third-Largest Coffee Chain in the U.S. Actually Sells Very Little Hot Coffee
Dutch Bros, founded by two Oregon dairy farmers, has become the third‑largest coffee chain in the United States, trailing only Starbucks and Dunkin’. The chain’s 1,140 locations serve roughly 90% of their beverages cold, focusing on highly customizable energy drinks...
Nintendo NY and San Francisco Announce In-Store Events for March 2026
Nintendo’s two U.S. flagship stores—New York and San Francisco—have announced a trio of in‑store events for March 2026. The lineup includes the Pokémon Pokopia launch on March 5, a Mario Day meet‑and‑greet on March 10, and a Mario Tennis Fever tournament on...
It's Time for Banh Mi to Go National, Says This Vietnamese Sandwich Pioneer
Vietnamese sandwich pioneer Bun Mee, founded in San Francisco in 2011, operates five Bay Area locations. The brand is launching its first New York City outlet through a franchisee, marking its inaugural entry into the East Coast market. This move...
E-Commerce 2026 Trends: Building Loyalty and Trust with AI-Powered Visual Experiences
Retailers are accelerating AI‑powered visual experiences to boost loyalty. Hyper‑personalisation delivers up to 16% higher commercial impact, while AR/VR try‑on lifts conversion by 94%. Brands will adopt staged, transparent AI content, focusing on complex, interactive experiences. Trust hinges on consent...
How Micro Fulfillment Hubs Make Same-Day Delivery for Small Retailers Possible
Micro‑fulfillment centers (MFCs) are compact, technology‑driven hubs placed within 5‑10 miles of consumers, enabling same‑day or even two‑hour deliveries for small retailers. By decentralizing inventory, they cut last‑mile distances and reduce shipping costs, directly addressing the 21% cart‑abandonment rate tied...
Modern Retail Podcast: Marketing Is Experiencing an AI Reckoning
In the latest Modern Retail Podcast, co‑hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels, joined by executive editor Anna Hensel, examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping retail marketing. They note that rising customer‑acquisition costs and a more discerning shopper base are driving...
Revolve Group Net Sales Grow as AI’s Role Expands for Shoppers
Revolve Group reported a 10.4% year‑over‑year increase in net sales to $324.37 million for Q4 2025, driven by AI‑enhanced personalization, search and styling tools. Beauty product sales surged 43%, while net income rose 58% and adjusted EBITDA grew 44%. Executives highlighted...
BlueLinx Bets on AI as It Navigates a Soft Housing Market
BlueLinx Holdings is reshaping its digital roadmap around artificial intelligence while steering through a soft housing market that left full‑year 2025 sales essentially flat. The company skipped a multi‑million‑dollar traditional ecommerce build, citing rapid AI‑driven changes in ordering behavior. Q4...
Resideo Pushes Connected Products and Digital Buying Tools
Resideo Technologies reported Q4 revenue of $1.895 billion, a 2% increase, and net income of $136 million, while full‑year sales hit a record $7.472 billion, up 11% from 2024. A one‑time $527 million loss, linked to ending a Honeywell indemnification agreement, turned the annual...
Mirakl Turns Profitable as Recurring Revenue and Marketplace Activity Grows
Mirakl announced full‑year profitability for 2025, driven by a 23% jump in annual recurring revenue (ARR) to $218 million. Marketplace and dropship activity surged, processing roughly $15 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV), a 31% increase year‑over‑year. New products such as Mirakl...
Scooters Coffee Reaches 900 Stores Nationwide with 83 New Locations Added in 2025 Across 32 States
Scooter’s Coffee announced it has reached 900 stores nationwide, adding 83 new locations in 2025 across 32 states. The expansion represents a 10% increase over the prior year, following a 16% growth spurt in 2024. The company attributes the growth...
AI, Clean Beauty and U.S. Growth Reshape Global Cosmetics Outlook
The global cosmetics market is forecast to reach $704.17 billion by 2032, expanding at a 5.25% CAGR from $492.18 billion in 2025. Skincare dominates, representing 48% of revenue, with the United States driving premium growth through anti‑aging, SPF, and microbiome‑friendly products. Artificial‑intelligence...
Home Depot Launches Real-Time Delivery Tracking for Large Items
Home Depot has introduced real‑time delivery tracking for all large‑item orders, expanding a feature previously limited to small parcels. The rollout leverages handheld devices used by drivers to log checkpoints, giving customers live visibility into the status of bulky shipments...
Sprouts Coming To Vacant Highland Park 99 Cents Only Store
Sprouts Farmers Market has signed a lease for the former 99 Cents Only store at 6235 York Blvd. in Highland Park, Los Angeles, with plans to open a new grocery outlet in 2027. The existing 21,000‑square‑foot building will be demolished and...
Builders FirstSource Partners With Blitzy to Implement AI Software Development
Builders FirstSource (BFS) announced a strategic partnership with Blitzy AI, an autonomous software development platform designed for product development. The collaboration introduces an agentic software development lifecycle, enabling BFS to modernize its technology stack and accelerate delivery. Within the first...
Boot Barn Strengthens Its Country Music Ties With New Stagecoach Sponsorship
Boot Barn announced its debut sponsorship of the Stagecoach country‑music festival, serving as the official boot retailer and presenting sponsor of the new Mustang Stage. The partnership includes on‑site activations, custom giveaways, and a pre‑festival in‑store loyalty event at its...
NRF’s Retail’s Big Show Is Driving the Next Wave of Restaurant Innovation
The National Retail Federation’s Retail’s Big Show in New York is now a proving ground for restaurant technology, showcasing AI, automation, and data‑driven loyalty tools that were once retail‑only. Sessions highlighted Dine Brands’ 34% cut in ticket‑resolution time and the...
Mint Velvet’s Brand Campaign Activations Take over the Capital This London Fashion Week
Mint Velvet is turning London Fashion Week into a city‑wide showcase, deploying brand activations in Underground stations and a wrapped London cab to spotlight its Spring Leather and Suede jacket line. The retailer also hosted an intimate editor dinner with...
Whole Foods Market Triples Pitch Day Capacity for Q2 2026, Offering up to 50 Brand Slots
Whole Foods Market announced a three‑fold increase in its Q2 2026 Pitch Day capacity, offering up to 50 dedicated slots across Grocery, Whole Body and Specialty categories. Applications open on 27 February and close on 27 March, with the pitch event slated for...
Local Food, Real People, Better Experiences: The Rise of the Modern Farm Shop
Shoppers increasingly demand traceable, locally‑sourced food, prompting a resurgence of modern farm shops. The Farm Retail Association notes that roughly 75 pence of every £1 spent at farm retailers stays within the local economy, reinforcing community wealth. Yorkshire‑based Farmer Copleys became...
Mercatto Expands with New Location in Port Credit
Toronto‑born Italian chain Mercatto is opening its first location outside the city core, Mercatto Centrale, in Mississauga’s Brightwater waterfront community on March 13, 2026. The 8,500‑square‑foot restaurant offers over 290 seats, including a 90‑seat patio, and introduces an exclusive brunch menu. Operated by...
H‑E‑B Announces Major Remodel and Expansion of 83 & Lincoln Store in Harlingen
H‑E‑B has launched a comprehensive remodel and expansion of its 83 & Lincoln store in Harlingen, increasing the footprint to nearly 112,000 square feet. The project, slated for completion in early 2027, adds expanded departments, a refreshed exterior, and a...
Giant Tiger and the Canadian Women’s Foundation Partner on International Women’s Day Shirt
Giant Tiger Stores Limited has launched its fourth‑year exclusive International Women’s Day shirt in partnership with the Canadian Women’s Foundation, with 100% of profits earmarked for the foundation’s gender‑equity programs. The design, created by Ottawa‑based queer artist Linh VH Nguyen in collaboration with...
5 Shoes & Retail Apparel Stocks Capitalizing on Premiumization Trends
The Shoes & Retail Apparel sector is riding a premiumization wave, with consumers favoring high‑quality, performance‑driven footwear and apparel that command higher price points. Digital acceleration and direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) strategies are boosting margins, inventory efficiency, and customer engagement across brands....
Target to Remove Certified Synthetic Colors From Entire Cereal Assortment
Target Corp. announced that by the end of May it will stock only cereals free of certified synthetic colors across all stores and online. The initiative follows internal guest insights showing a sustained shift toward products without artificial additives, especially...
3 Numbers that Highlight Grocers’ Evolving Approach to Health and Wellness
Grocers are rapidly embedding health and wellness into their core business, with 96% of food‑industry companies now reporting formal nutrition strategies. The FMI survey shows that registered dietitian nutritionists lead 79% of wellness decision‑making, while pharmacy leadership influence has climbed...
PayPal, Rainforest Join Forces
PayPal announced a partnership with Atlanta‑based Rainforest to embed PayPal, Venmo and buy‑now‑pay‑later services directly into Rainforest’s software platform. The integration is designed to accelerate merchant payouts, cut late‑payment incidents and shift transaction volume away from cash and checks. Rainforest,...
DESIGNME Launches Rooting for All Women Campaign
DESIGNME, a Canadian vegan hair‑care brand, launched the “Rooting for All Women” limited‑edition campaign on Feb. 27, 2026. The initiative celebrates women’s personal and professional transformations and donates a portion of sales, up to $10,000, to women‑focused charities, including Montreal’s Chez Doris....
Lloyds Stops Opening some Bank Accounts for Customers in Branches
Lloyds Banking Group announced it will no longer open joint, premium or student accounts in its branches, and staff will not switch customers from other providers. Customers seeking new accounts will be directed to the bank’s app or website, though...
Topshop Sets World Record: First Fashion Show with AI Live Shopping
Topshop staged a world‑first AI‑powered fashion show in Manchester, replacing the traditional runway with a hybrid physical‑digital experience. Shoppers used the bespoke Front Row AI app to buy each silhouette in real time while models walked, and later tried the...
National Pizza Chain Closing Hundreds of Locations After Brutal Drop in Sales
Papa John’s announced plans to shutter roughly 300 underperforming U.S. restaurants by the end of 2027, with about 200 closures slated for this year. The move follows a 5.4% drop in same‑store sales across North America and a broader flat‑lining...
The Friday Checkout: ShopRite’s Integrated Approach to GLP-1s
ShopRite, part of Wakefern Food Corp., has introduced a limited‑time "Wellness Your Way" starter kit for customers beginning GLP‑1 therapy. The kit bundles medication samples, coupons and a dietitian‑crafted wellness guide, explicitly tying the chain’s pharmacy and grocery divisions. The...
Amazon Deepens AI Push with $50B OpenAI Investment
Amazon announced a multi‑year partnership with OpenAI, committing $50 billion—$15 billion upfront and $35 billion conditional—to accelerate AI adoption. The deal includes a stateful runtime on Amazon Bedrock, exclusive AWS distribution for OpenAI Frontier, and an expanded $100 billion Trainium compute commitment over eight...
Albertsons Cos. Names Brian Rice to Board of Directors
Albertsons Companies announced that Brian Rice, the executive vice president and global chief information officer of McDonald’s, will join its board of directors on February 25, 2026, expanding the board to 11 members. Rice brings more than three decades of...