Industry

While Claire’s was once a rite of passage, the place where young girls begged to get their first pair of sparkly hoops and their ears pierced, the brand has lost momentum in recent years. Now, a seasoned retail veteran – who had her own ears pierced at Claire’s at age…Read More

For nearly two decades, Walmart held the title of the United State’s largest company by revenue – often referring to itself as a “Fortune 1” company. But this February, Amazon, roughly half the age of Walmart, crowned itself the new Fortune 1, officially surpassing Walmart’s annual revenue by ~$3 billion.…Read More

Soaring gold prices — now topping $4,600 per ounce — are squeezing Swiss watchmakers already grappling with tariffs and soft demand as consumers increasingly hold back on major luxury purchases. Brands are left with two options: raise prices and pass on costs, or absorb the impact through thinner margins. Breitling…Read More

Stoke Footwear, co-founded by industry veteran Rick Blackshaw (former president of Keds and Sperry), has launched with a mission to serve the 65 million American men it claims are overlooked by the athletic footwear industry. Rather than building shoes for elite athletic performance, Stoke focuses on everyday practicality for men…Read More

As agentic commerce enables consumers to discover and buy products through AI assistants and recommendations, retailers are increasingly leaning on exclusive merchandise to stand out— with brands like Ulta, Sephora, and Revolve at the forefront. When AI dictates which products surface, loyalty is increasingly up for grabs, as shoppers are…Read More

Gap ended 2025 strong, with 5% sales growth driven by viral campaigns and brand collaborations, marking seven consecutive quarters of gains. Other mall brands like Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works are also showing signs of recovery, but face competition and declining mall traffic. Nostalgia, especially for the ’90s,…Read More

Retailers are increasingly charging return fees this holiday season as they try to reduce the high costs of processing returns, which total an estimated $850 billion annually. Many major stores now charge between $4 and $12 for mail-in returns, while some items, such as electronics at Best Buy, can cost…Read More

More than a third of U.S. consumers (37%) took on holiday debt this season, averaging $1,223—the highest level since 2022—according to a LendingTree survey, with parents of young children hit especially hard. Many borrowers are still paying off last year’s holiday bills, and most report stress and regret, as high…Read More

AI powered styling and shopping platforms are driving personalization and tackling different friction points. OneOff matches celebrities outfits to items with over 1 million products through retailer partners like Mytheresa and creators including Emma Chamberlain. Alta plans outfits based on one’s personal wardrobe and has raised $11 million in seed…Read More

Retailers such as Zara, H&M, and Primark have been investing in beauty including offerings such as  makeup, hair care and fragrances. Despite their efforts, many of these beauty lines struggle. One of the earlier successful beauty ventures that is hard to come by again is Victoria’s Secret Beauty in the…Read More