Industry

Luxury brands are leaning into the Labubu craze, elevating the $27 “ugly-cute,” rabbit-esque stuffed monsters from collectibles into high-fashion accessories. Now, retailers are testing premium demand for the status symbol: at the U.S. Open, Naomi Osaka sported a crystal-encrusted Labubu (~$500 from A-Morir), and Parisian maison Moynat is rolling out…Read More

In just over a decade, Apple Pay has become a dominant force in U.S. payments, accepted by 85% of retailers compared to only 3% in 2014. A key catalyst was a separate but related change in the country’s payment infrastructure: in 2015, Europay, Mastercard, and Visa mandated the adoption of…Read More

Professionals in commercial real estate are looking to find new ways to win over buzzy brands to smaller markets or older development, in a time when closure of traffic drivers likeJoann, Party City and Rite Aid means more vacancies. In the second quarter of 2025, nationwide retail availability increased to…Read More

Alo Yoga is making a bold move into high-end fashion with the launch of a new line of Italian-made leather handbags priced from $1,200 to $3,600. CEO Danny Harris is framing the debut under the campaign “Luxury is Wellness,” emphasizing that modern luxury is shifting away from traditional markers like…Read More

Following Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement announcement on Instagram, which quickly drew over 30 million likes, brands across industries jumped at the chance to join the celebration with themed marketing and humorous social posts. Olipop offered a 13 percent discount with a pun on one of Swift’s lyrics, while…Read More

Louis Vuitton has officially entered the beauty space with the launch of its debut makeup line, La Beauté Louis Vuitton, developed in collaboration with renowned makeup artist Pat McGrath. The collection includes 55 lipsticks and 10 tinted lip balms priced at $160 each, along with eight eyeshadow palettes costing $250.…Read More

Hermès reported a 9% rise in second-quarter sales to €3.9 billion, driven by continued demand for its iconic handbags, though signs of a broader luxury slowdown are emerging. Despite outperforming competitors like Chanel and Louis Vuitton, growth slowed in its fashion, silk, and beauty divisions, causing shares to drop up…Read More

OpenAI is quietly testing a checkout feature within ChatGPT that would let users complete purchases without ever leaving the platform. While the move could streamline online shopping and boost sales, many startup founders worry it signals a shift toward a “pay-to-play” model that favors large retailers with deep pockets. In…Read More

The impact of Donald Trump’s trade war is now being felt at the consumer level, as apparel prices rose 0.4 percent between May and June, the first increase since March, amid a broader inflation spike. This price uptick comes as newly implemented tariffs begin to affect goods hitting U.S. shelves,…Read More

Bonobos co-founder Andy Dunn has launched a new social media app called Pie, designed to combat social isolation by helping users form real-life friendships. Inspired by his own struggle to make friends after moving to Chicago, Dunn created the platform to foster group-based social experiences powered by AI. Through acquired…Read More