Retail Stores

In episode 506 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Kathy Gagliano, executive vice president of merchandising at Books-A-Million, the second largest bookstore retailer operating more than 220 stores in the United States. The discussion begins with the history of the company, dating all the way back to 1917 (0:55). According to Gagliano, the…

Staples and Party City announced Tuesday a strategic partnership bringing Party City inside more than 700 Staples locations nationwide and on Staples.com, with plans to expand to additional stores by the end of 2026. The collaboration brings Party City’s selection of balloons, décor and party supplies together with Staples same-day print and marketing services. Customers…

At Shoptalk in Las Vegas last month, Total Retail Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan spoke with Paul Toms, chief marketing officer at Wayfair, one of the world's largest destinations for the home. They delve into Wayfair's multifaceted growth strategy, including the opening of physical retail stores in Chicago and Atlanta (with more locations to come), as well…

Imagine this: a shopper walks into a store, spots a sleek digital display promoting a popular item, and makes a beeline toward it, only to come away empty-handed because the item is sold out. It’s a small moment, but one that leaves a lasting impression. While retailers have invested heavily in digital signage to modernize…

Despite seeing higher year-over-year sales, Zumiez has announced it will close additional store locations in 2026. The clothing, skateboard and apparel chain targeting teens and young adults released its fourth-quarter and full-year earning report earlier this month. The Lynnwood, Washington-based company said sales increased 4.5 percent in 2025. Zumiez shuttered 17 stores last year, and CEO…

The National Retail Federation (NRF) forecasts that retail sales in 2026 will grow by 4.4 percent over 2025 to $5.6 trillion, based on a newly enhanced forecasting approach developed in partnership with Oxford Economics, one of the world’s leading independent economic advisory firms. The announcement was made last week during NRF’s sixth annual State of…

The Advance Retail Sales Report from the Census Bureau showed consumer spending was down less than feared in January. Headline sales declined 0.2 percent, a step down from December's flat reading but better than the projected 0.3 percent decline. However, better days may be on the horizon for retailers. Economists widely expect bigger tax returns this…

Retailers continue to face margin pressures driven by supply chain disruptions, inflation, changing consumer behavior and rising operational costs. Electricity is one of those rising expenses. It has outpaced overall inflation since 2022, according to the Consumer Price Index, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that retail electricity prices were up 6.8 percent year-over-year…

Holiday shopping trends revealed a sharp divide within the retail industry, and big-box stores are caught in the middle. Industry consumer spending data from the biggest pre-Christmas weekend of the year, Black Friday/Small Business Saturday, shows a clear bifurcation of shopping habits. Mid-market retailers report stagnant growth and missed targets, like Target’s 16 percent profit…

After over a decade of conversation about the decline of brick-and-mortar retail, the current state of the market is proving the industry’s resilience, with retailers fighting for physical space. The demand for well-located, quality retail space exceeds the available inventory, intensifying the competition for valuable real estate and driving rents up. Clever retailers have become…