Black Friday has shifted from a single day of exceptional, in-store deals to a weeks-long promotional season with fewer standout discounts. Foot traffic has flattened while online shopping continues to grow, and consumers are spending less over the Thanksgiving-to-Cyber-Monday period. Experts say the event has lost its “integrity” as retailers…Read More
Gap Inc. has announced a multiyear partnership with Google Cloud to accelerate its technology and AI transformation. According to Executive VP and CTO Sven Gerjets, the goal is to use AI tools and streamlined workflows to free Gap teams to focus on what matters most—creativity, culture, and customer connection. Through…Read More
L’Oréal will acquire Kering’s beauty brands and licenses for its fashion house names, including Gucci and the prestige fragrance maker Creed, in a $4.6 billion deal. The agreement grants L’Oréal exclusive rights to produce Gucci Beauty once its current contract with Coty ends in 2028, extending for 50 years. It…Read More
Terry J. Lundgren, former chairman and CEO of Macy’s Inc., was honored with the Retail Excellence Award by Wharton’s Baker Retailing Center and the RLC Global Forum, recognizing his lasting impact on the industry. Surrounded by top retail executives and peers, Lundgren was celebrated for his leadership in transforming Macy’s…Read More
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
Baker Retailing Center
Tangen Hall, 5th Floor
115 South 40th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-573-8245
bakerretail@wharton.upenn.edu
