Healthy Growth In The Age Of AI
Thorne’s Chief Growth Officer Mary Beech reports that AI engines now drive roughly 5% of new customer discovery, up from zero a year ago. To capitalize on this shift, she has reorganized the marketing function into a "growth laboratory" that owns both brand and performance initiatives and reports directly to revenue. The strategy leans heavily on medically reviewed, structured content to ensure accurate information surfaces in AI‑powered answer engines. Beech emphasizes education over transaction, positioning Thorne as a trusted source in a confusing wellness market.
NOVA Entertainment Partners With Retail Media Arm Of Westfield’s Scentre Group
Australian radio and podcast leader NOVA Entertainment has partnered with BrandSpace, the retail media division of Westfield owner Scentre Group, to create a unified advertising platform across 42 Westfield shopping centres and NOVA’s audio network. The collaboration offers agencies a...
Biryani Blues Bets on Regional Depth over Rapid Expansion; Plans ₹20 Crore Capex for Growth
Delhi‑based Biryani Blues is prioritising regional depth over rapid national rollout, allocating about ₹20 crore in capex to expand its company‑owned stores across North India. The chain, now operating ~80 outlets, aims for 40% revenue growth next year by adding 14...
Gong Cha Introduces ‘Red Ruby’ Store Concept at IconSiam
Gong Cha opened its sixth Thai outlet at IconSiam, debuting the new ‘Red Ruby’ store concept. The design uses ruby‑inspired red tones and sleek finishes to reinforce a premium tea image. Positioned as an experience‑oriented space with seating, the store...
Best Buy Wants to Be the Hub for AI-Powered Hardware Like Glasses, Laptops
Best Buy is repositioning itself as the go‑to retailer for AI‑powered hardware, from glasses to AI‑enhanced PCs, as its fiscal‑year revenue held steady at roughly $42 billion. CEO Corie Barry highlighted flat market share but pointed to rapid growth in emerging categories such...
Exclusive: Phlur to Expand to Mexico and Europe
Phlur, the clean‑fragrance brand backed by TSG Consumer, is rolling out its products in Mexico on April 3 via Sephora, followed by a broader launch on April 6. A second phase will see the brand enter more than 300 Sephora locations across...
MR. D.I.Y. Targets 1,500 Outlets Nationwide by 2027
MR. D.I.Y. Holding will invest 4 billion baht in 2024, allocating 2.1 billion baht for 210 new stores and 1.9 billion baht for a 160‑rai automated warehouse in Samut Prakan. The warehouse will support distribution for about 3,000 outlets by 2031, with partial operations starting...
Costco Quietly Adds Something F1 Fans Didn’t Expect
Costco has begun selling official Formula 1 apparel – caps and polo shirts for teams such as McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes – in select warehouses across the UK, Australia and Canada. The items, drawn from the previous season, are priced...
Stitch Fix Inc (SFIX) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Stitch Fix reported Q2 FY2025 revenue of $312.1 million, a 5.5% year‑over‑year decline but still above its guidance range. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $15.9 million (5.1% margin), and contribution margin reached 33% for the fourth consecutive quarter. Average order value jumped 9%...
Publix Will Pull Payment Option on App
Publix announced it will retire the Publix Pay feature in its mobile app effective March 19. Shoppers can still use Apple Pay, Google Pay, and stored gift cards at checkout. The move comes as the Florida‑based grocer posted solid Q4 results,...
This Premium Chocolate Brand Reveals How It’s Surviving the GLP-1 Craze
Lindt & Sprüngli reports that U.S. consumers using GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs are buying premium chocolate at a markedly higher rate. Fifteen percent of households on GLP‑1s generate 17.5 percent of chocolate sales, with premium sales up 17 percent versus 6.5 percent for non‑users....
UNFI Moving in the Right Direction Despite a Down Q2
United Natural Foods (UNFI) is accelerating its RELEX AI‑powered supply‑chain platform, with 12 distribution centers slated to go live next week and full rollout expected by year‑end. Operational metrics improved, showing over 6% productivity gains, an 11% reduction in shrink,...
Burger Chain Closes Its Last Location After a Decade in Business
California‑based Amy’s, the nation’s first organic vegetarian drive‑thru, has shut its final restaurant in Rohnert Park on March 8, ending a decade of brick‑and‑mortar operations. The closure follows a ten‑year experiment to bring wholesome, plant‑based meals to fast‑food consumers, with the...
Crocs to Open First Full-Price UK Store
Crocs opened its first full‑price UK mainline store on 20 March at Westfield Stratford City, a 1,496 sq ft space showcasing the brand’s complete adult and kids range, Jibbitz charms, and a Lego partnership. The launch is a cornerstone of Crocs’ 2026 retail...
‘Shrink’ Is Down at Target to Pre-Pandemic Levels and Could Signal an End Shoplifting Spree that Plagued Retailers
Target reported that its inventory shrink has returned to pre‑pandemic levels, reversing a spike that cost the retailer $600 million in 2022. The CFO credited improved inventory predictability and industry anti‑theft efforts for the decline. While shoplifting received most of the...
Home Improvement Spending Shifts in Canada
Renovation demand in Canada remains robust, driven by affluent online mass‑merchandise shoppers who also purchase electronics and sporting goods. Environics Analytics finds these consumers, averaging $150K household income, are focusing on high‑intensity projects such as basement finishing, HVAC, and roofing....
Bunnings Introducing Facial Recognition to 42 New Zealand Stores
Bunnings will deploy facial recognition technology (FRT) across its 42 New Zealand stores, beginning with a mid‑April pilot at two Hamilton locations. The rollout follows a surge in retail crime, with the retailer reporting a 9.5% rise in threatening incidents and...
Record Q4 Performance Sets up Jollibee for Sustained Expansion
Jollibee Foods Corp. posted a record fourth‑quarter operating income, up 41.9% year‑on‑year, and full‑year revenue of P305.11 billion, a 13% increase. Net income rose 5.4% to P10.87 billion, while system‑wide sales grew 16.6% for 2025. The company opened a historic 1,126 new...
Consumer Anxiety Is Reshaping Retail. Technology Is the Antidote
Consumer anxiety, fueled by rising fraud and economic uncertainty, is reshaping retail behavior, according to SOTI’s global survey. Over half of U.S. shoppers have experienced fraud, and 69% say inflation and supply‑chain issues have altered their purchasing habits. Retailers must...
First Yoboo Lifestyle Pharmacy Illustrates Colruyt Group’s Approach to Health
Colruyt Group opened its first Yoboo Lifestyle Pharmacy in Antwerp, converting the former Apotheek Noorderlaan into a health‑focused retail space. The new pharmacy combines traditional services with all‑day lifestyle coaching, self‑test kits, and a curated selection of supplements and functional...
Sally Beauty Hosting Pop-Up Event in Los Angeles
Beauty retailer Sally Beauty is rolling out “Colorfest,” a month‑long campaign centered on hair color and nail care, highlighted by a free pop‑up event at The Grove in Los Angeles on March 14. The event will feature immersive experiences and...
Petal & Pup Eyes Launch with Dillard’s, Von Maur
Petal & Pup, the Australian‑born digital fashion label for young women, is set to launch its collections in Dillard’s, Von Maur and select independent boutiques in 2026, extending its U.S. footprint beyond Nordstrom. The brand recently refreshed its visual identity and...
Walmart Is Making a Big Change to Vizio TVs Now That Vizio Is a Walmart Private Label Brand
Walmart has fully integrated Vizio into its private‑label portfolio, making the brand exclusive to Walmart and Sam’s Club stores. New Vizio smart TVs now require a Walmart account during setup to unlock full streaming and personalization features, while existing owners...
Dollar General Launches Weeklong ‘7 Days of Savings’ Event Ahead of Spring Cleaning Season
Dollar General is launching a weeklong "7 Days of Savings" promotion from March 15 to 21, targeting spring‑cleaning shoppers with rotating daily discounts on cleaning supplies, organization products, and household staples. The event showcases both national brands and Dollar General’s...
Brands Briefing: Wellness Brands Take over Expo West to Woo Retail Buyers
The 2026 Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim saw a pronounced influx of wellness brands, with startups showcasing collagen, hormonal supplements and other health‑focused products alongside traditional functional sodas and better‑for‑you snacks. Historically a food‑and‑beverage‑centric event, Expo West is now...
Urban Outfitters Builds Out Second Phase of Automation in Kansas Facility
Urban Outfitters is launching the second phase of automation at its Nuuly fulfillment center in the Kansas City area, part of a $60 million, five‑year investment plan. The upgrade targets expanded capacity, faster delivery, and lower logistics costs as the Nuuly...
3 Practical Ways Vertical AI Reshapes Fashion Retail Operations
Vertical AI is reshaping fashion retail by aligning inventory with hyperlocal demand, preventing costly markdowns, and accelerating trend analysis. Predictive models ingest local sales data, social signals, and logistics metrics to forecast store‑level needs, reducing out‑of‑stock incidents. AI agents recommend...
Tom Thumb Continues to Move Into North Texas
Albertsons’ Tom Thumb banner opened its third North Texas store, a 63,000‑square‑foot location in Argyle, marking the largest of three new stores launched within six months. The earlier December openings in Sanger (50,000 sq ft) and Sunnyvale (59,000 sq ft) also feature full‑service grocery...
Kettlemans Bagel Eyes Franchising Push as Sandwich Sales Drive Growth: Amer Wahab Interview
Kettlemans Bagel, an Ottawa‑based chain, is shifting its growth engine toward franchising and sandwich‑centric formats. The company reports an average unit volume of $4.3 million, with 63 % of sales coming from sandwiches, and is piloting 100‑sq‑ft sandwich hubs that generate $7,000...
Beavertails Eyes Growth Through Retail Expansion and Strategic Store Openings: Pino Di Ioia Interview
Beavertails is accelerating its brick‑and‑mortar footprint, posting double‑digit growth in 2026 across 164 Canadian locations while its amusement‑park and mobile‑truck segments lag with low single‑digit gains. The chain is targeting high‑traffic tourist sites such as an Alberta beach resort and...
The Drive-Thru Coffee War Is Coming to the Grocery Store
7 Brew, the fast‑growing drive‑thru coffee chain, has begun selling its ready‑to‑drink canned coffee in Walmart stores across Arkansas. The launch features three espresso‑based flavors and marks the brand’s first foray into grocery retail. The move follows Dutch Bros’ recent expansion...
How Do You Fix Thin Content Across Similar Ecommerce Product Pages? – Ask An SEO via @Sejournal, @Rollerblader
The article advises ecommerce sites facing thin‑content penalties to stop individually optimizing every product page. Instead, it recommends implementing variant schema, focusing SEO effort on category or collection pages, and using robust internal linking. Authority is built through high‑quality blog...
Henkel Acquires Not Your Mother’s, Strengthening US Hair Care Portfolio
Henkel announced the acquisition of Not Your Mother’s, a U.S. hair‑care brand, along with its parent DeMert Brands, from private‑equity firm Main Post Partners. The move bolsters Henkel’s portfolio that already includes Schwarzkopf, Authentic Beauty Concept and Got2Be, targeting stronger...
Medical Apparel Brand Knya Appoints Chintan Adeshara as Head of Retail
Medical apparel brand Knya has hired retail veteran Chintan Adeshara as head of retail to accelerate its offline expansion. The company aims to grow its footprint to more than 100 stores across India within three years, adding two new outlets each...
Brax Achieves Highest Turnover Ever
Leineweber, the parent of fashion group Brax, posted a record €388 million turnover for fiscal 2025, a 7.5% increase year‑over‑year. Excluding the newly acquired outdoor specialist Fuchs Schmitt, organic growth was 5.3%. Own‑retail channels powered the rise, with online sales up 12%...
TikTok Shop Launches Fine Art Category
TikTok Shop has introduced a Fine Art category, enabling original artwork to be sold directly on the platform. The launch includes a live sale on March 11 featuring independent artist Sophie Tea, who will showcase a 20‑piece oil collection priced at...
EBay and Liberis Launch Flexible Growth Financing for UK Small Businesses
eBay UK has teamed with finance provider Liberis to launch Flexible Growth Financing, a new product under the Seller Capital programme that will be available to eligible UK sellers from 6 April 2026. The offering provides data‑driven, on‑demand working capital with limits...
The Digital Signage Summit 2026 Sets the Global Agenda as Registration Opens for Landmark 20th Edition
Early‑bird registration is now open for the Digital Signage Summit 2026, the industry’s premier strategy forum celebrating its 20th anniversary. The two‑day event will take place May 20‑21 at the Hilton Munich Airport and convene senior leaders from retail, DOOH...
Buc-Ee’s Is Loved by Shoppers—But It Got a Big Red Flag From the Better Business Bureau. Here’s What You Need...
Buc‑ee’s, the Texas‑based mega‑convenience store chain praised for its massive locations and high customer satisfaction, received an “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau. The BBB cited nearly 90 complaints over three years—including overcharging, rude service and unresponsive refunds—and noted...
How Brits Are Redefining Shopping Habits
Britons are reshaping retail, blending physical stores, online marketplaces, social commerce, and second‑hand platforms. Adobe Express’s survey of 2,000 consumers shows digital purchases grew 29% while visits to independent stores fell 23%, and second‑hand clothing trips rose to 29%. Social...
Ocado Might Disagree, but Kroger’s Tough Decisions Around Its E-Commerce Re-Think Were the Right Thing to Do. New CEO Gregory...
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...
Established Beauty Brands Risk Stagnation without Operational Discipline, Says Natural Spa Factory Founder
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 Surges Past 85% as Retailers Shift Recovery Tactics Beyond Email and SMS
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 Adds Buy Now, Pay Later Option for Customers
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,...
Reputation at Checkout: How Predictive AI Helps Retailers Maintain Trust in a Crisis
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 Opens New Stores in Southern California
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...
Why Chrome’s HTTPS-First Policy Matters for Retail Media
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 Spring Deal Days Returns With Seven Days of Savings
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...
Disruptors & Innovators in Retail 2026 Report Launched
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 Deploys AI Route Optimisation to Improve Delivery Efficiency
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...