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
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
Baker Retailing Center
Tangen Hall, 5th Floor
115 South 40th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-573-8245
bakerretail@wharton.upenn.edu
