Retail Stores

Nearly half (49 percent) of U.S. retailers are using store intelligence technologies (including artificial intelligence/machine learning, cameras, etc.), with the number continuing to grow as technology continues to evolve. And one concept that's gaining traction is sensor technology, which could enhance the in-store experience for brands, retailers and consumers. As retailers, in conjunction with brands,…

Shoppers increased their spending at a better-than-expected pace in August from July, helped by back-to-school shopping, even as President Donald Trump’s tariffs start to hurt the job market and lead to price increases, reports AP News. Retail sales rose 0.6 percent last month from July, when sales were up a revised 0.6 percent, according to…

Claire's, a mall boutique chain favored by tweens, teens and young women, is set to close more than 290 stores as part of its bankruptcy process, reports USA Today. Stores to be closed include 235 Claire's locations in the U.S. and 56 Icing stores. The filing also listed 830 stores — 785 Claire's locations and…

Ulta Beauty and Target announced late last week that they have decided to end a deal that opened makeup and beauty shops in hundreds of Target’s stores, reports CNBC. In a news release, the companies said the partnership — which also added some of Ulta’s merchandise to Target’s website — will end in August 2026.…

Best Buy announced late last week that it will test mini-showrooms in some of its stores featuring Ikea products to show off kitchen design elements from the home retailer beside home appliances from the electronics store. Beginning this fall, the program will debut in 10 Best Buy stores across Florida and Texas. Each store will…

The retail industry is undergoing a massive shift, and the ripple effects are putting traditional brick-and-mortar retailers on high alert. In 2024 alone, U.S. store closures amounted to 7,325, the highest since 2020, and it's only getting worse. Coresight Research predicts store closures will reach approximately 15,000 by the end of this year. While e-commerce represents…

Remember when “let me check in the back” was the best shot at finding what you came for? That version of retail, where stores were showrooms and the backroom was just overflow, doesn’t cut it anymore. Today, every store is being asked to do more: fulfill online orders, manage tight delivery windows, and create a…

Performance lifestyle brand Vuori is accelerating its international expansion with new brick-and-mortar stores across Asia, reports Fashion United. This will include its first locations in Seoul, South Korea, in September through a franchise partner, followed by another debut location in Beijing, China, this October, as the brand continues to focus on adding retail stores in…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is undeniably transforming the retail industry, streamlining operations and redefining the future of work. However, much of the conversation to date has centered on AI’s impact on supply chain logistics, marketing optimization, technology infrastructure and contact experience systems. One crucial segment, though, has remained largely absent from this discourse: frontline retail workers.…

Retail’s economic playbook has been rewritten. In today’s high-stakes retail game, the rules aren’t just changing — they’re being upended entirely. Did you know that while 38 percent of retailers believe they’re transformation leaders, only 5 percent actually are? And that actual leaders are growing three times faster with a 70 percent better customer retention…