Merchandising

Barnes & Noble is opening more stores for readers to shop at in the new year. After nearly two decades of "declining store numbers," the bookseller has plans to open 60 new locations across the country in 2026, in addition to the dozens opened this year. While the details are still "being worked out" as…

Fanatics will exclusively run the FIFA World Cup 2026 retail and merchandising operations, the company announced Dec. 4. The World Cup, set to take place this summer in 16 cities across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is expected to draw more than 1 million soccer fans, according to Reuters. Fanatics, the global sports platform…

Private labels used to be seen mostly as the bargain-bin versions of national brands. That perception has begun to shift and in recent years has reached a tipping point. Sales of store brands increased $9 billion to a record $271 billion in 2024 compared to 2023, according to the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA). This…

Target has given its store in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood a new look, reports CNBC. The one-of-a-kind concept store, which opened Tuesday, will have rotating merchandise, curated displays chosen by celebrities and influencers, and other kinds of special programming, Chief Guest Experience Officer Cara Sylvester said. The Minneapolis-based retailer is in the middle of…

Holiday shopping is a season of tradition. Families gather, retailers roll out promotions, and consumers search for the perfect gifts. Yet in 2025, traditions are colliding with a dramatic shift in how products are discovered, recommended and purchased. A growing share of shoppers, especially Gen Z and millennials, are kicking off holiday shopping on artificial…

The 2025 holiday season, spanning Halloween, Black Friday, and Christmas, will mark the first true test of generative artificial intelligence's influence on shopping. Up until now, consumers have largely used AI tools for vague inspiration or validation. But in 2025, we’ve seen the dynamics shift. Queries moved from “wireless earbuds” to “what’s a sustainable tech…

Year after year, data from retailers shows that their investments in holiday displays and in-store visuals pay off in the form of increased foot traffic and higher spending. This leaves little debate that shopping environments influence consumers’ impressions of retailers and the products they sell. What's up for debate? While retailers can see the overall…

After three decades in the toy industry, I've watched the retail landscape transform from a straightforward product-placement game to something far more complex and, frankly, far more exciting. The shift isn’t limited to toys — it’s happening across every category. The brands winning shelf space today aren't the ones with the biggest marketing budgets or…

Laura Bollier, CEO of VENUS Fashion, discusses the modernization of the VENUS brand, focusing on honoring its strong legacy while evolving it to meet contemporary needs. Drawing on her 25-plus years of experience in the retail industry, Bollier highlights the importance of elevated quality, intentional fit, and a curated assortment for the modern woman. In…

Search functionality has always been central to digital commerce. For years, it functioned like a rigid index, where shoppers typed in keywords and hoped the right products appeared. Now, as consumer expectations have evolved, that passive model fell behind. Today’s shoppers expect more than functional search; instead, they want guided discovery that's tailored to their…