2026

Costco’s membership-only model generates billions that account for a large share of its profits. Walmart has adopted a different approach by offering Walmart+ alongside its traditional retail business, allowing non-members to shop while encouraging memberships with perks. This strategy has boosted membership revenue and customer spending, giving Walmart a diversified…Read More

Fashion schools are reinventing the runway to keep up with a fast-changing industry, blending AI, social media, and real-world retail experience into the classroom. As fashion careers become more competitive, they’re betting that hands-on skills and industry connections will give graduates an edge. Read the story HERE.

Incoming CEO Jason Bonfig is signaling a strategic reset: smaller store formats, more investment in advertising and customer experience. A notable rethink for a big-box electronics retailer still searching for its post-pandemic identity. Read the story HERE.

Starbucks pulled the plug on its AI inventory tool nine months after deployment. Employees reported the system frequently miscounted items, which complicated store operations and slowed down baristas. Read the story HERE.

Brands are increasingly using Substack newsletters as effective sales channels rather than just community building tools. Early adopters like The RealReal have generated significant revenue, proving that these platforms produce tangible business results alongside audience growth. Read the story HERE.

URBN is investing $150 million to expand its Nuuly rental service, creating 1,050 new jobs across the Philadelphia region. The expansion includes a new massive facility in Bucks County. Read the story HERE.

Everlane has been acquired by Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein for around $100 million, marking a dramatic shift for the once sustainability-focused brand. Co-founder Michael Preysman says he is “starting over” with a new venture called Still Radical, aimed at reviving Everlane’s original vision but with a firm “no venture capital,…Read More

The article explores the growing popularity of lab-grown diamonds and the debate over whether they can match the prestige and long-term value of natural diamonds. Retailers like Walmart and Sam’s Club have seen major growth in lab-grown diamond sales, largely because they offer the same visual and chemical qualities as…Read More

Fashion brands are no longer treating resale as just an online side hustle — they’re turning secondhand shopping into a core in-store experience. Pacsun and Faherty are among the latest retailers carving out dedicated resale sections inside physical stores, betting that younger shoppers increasingly want curated vintage and pre-owned fashion…Read More

The U.S. secondhand apparel market is projected to reach $78.8 billion by 2030, growing steadily and outpacing the broader retail clothing sector, while the global resale market could hit $393 billion. Growth is being driven largely by Gen Z and millennials, who are expected to account for over 70% of…Read More