Retail Stores

What Amazon’s Big-Box Move Means for Retail Media and Brands
February 23, 2026 at 10:02 am

While Amazon.com entering the big-box format with its largest-ever store will be framed as a push to compete with Walmart and Costco and win more physical baskets, the real story is more focused on attribution and retail media. This is more than an expansion of where Amazon sells products. Rather, it’s expanding where it can…

Inside the Quiet Comeback of the Mall
February 11, 2026 at 8:58 am

For years, many assumed that malls were nearing the end of their relevance. New consumer research points in the opposite direction. The American mall is adjusting to new expectations and attracting shoppers who want experiences that online retail cannot provide. Accruent’s 2025 Retail Survey found that 70 percent of consumers want to see more traditional…

How AI Helps Retail Stores Stand Out for Gen Z
February 10, 2026 at 12:14 pm

Meet the Gen Z shopper: phone in hand, switching between TikTok and Instagram while moving through the world around them. Their attention shifts quickly, shaped by a constant feed of tailored content and instant recommendations. They value authenticity and newness, and they decide within seconds whether something feels worth their time. For retailers, this poses…

Eddie Bauer Stores Likely to Close as Operator Nears Bankruptcy
February 2, 2026 at 5:59 pm

Outdoor apparel chain Eddie Bauer's nearly 200 stores in the United States and Canada may soon be on the chopping block. An entity of retail holding company Catalyst Brands, which owns the license rights to operate Eddie Bauer stores across North America, is prepping a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, sources familiar with the situation told Business…

Allbirds to Close All Full-Price US Stores
January 28, 2026 at 3:24 pm

Sustainable footwear brand Allbirds announced Wednesday it would be shuttering all full-price U.S. stores by the end of February in an effort to focus more on e-commerce and partnerships as part of its multiyear turnaround strategy. It will keep its two U.S. outlet stores and its two full-price London stores open. San Francisco-based Allbirds said…

Amazon to Close All Amazon Fresh and Go Stores
January 27, 2026 at 9:59 pm

Amazon.com is closing its branded brick-and-mortar grocery stores, with the company consolidating its physical strategy under the Whole Foods name, reports CNN Business. The closures, which affect its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go locations, were announced Tuesday and amount to about 70 stores across the United States. In a blog post, Amazon said while it…

2026: The Year In-Store Media Becomes Real-Time, Responsive, and Radically More Creative
January 27, 2026 at 10:53 am

Retailers spent the past few years modernizing e-commerce and loyalty programs. 2026 is the year in-store experiences get the same treatment. Two shifts will reshape in-store media: artificial intelligence-powered dynamic content informed by real-time signals, and talent driving innovation with curiosity instead of convention. Together, these forces will close operational gaps between marketing and merchandising,…

Discount Grocer Aldi to Open 180+ Stores in US in 2026
January 13, 2026 at 2:47 pm

Aldi plans to open more than 180 stores in the U.S. this year, including on the traditional turf of rival supermarkets and big-box stores. The German grocer’s latest growth plans follow an already aggressive expansion over the past decade. Aldi, which is known for its low prices, small stores and emphasis on private brands, has…

AI and Gen Z: How Technology is Reviving the In-Store Experience
January 12, 2026 at 11:59 am

For years, headlines foretold the demise of brick-and-mortar retail. As e-commerce boomed and digital convenience reshaped consumer behavior, many predicted physical stores would fade into irrelevance. However, today's flagship locations tell a different story. Shoppers, especially digital natives like Gen Z, are showing up in person for immersive brand experiences, hands-on product demos, and personalized…

Barnes & Noble to Open 60 New Stores in 2026
December 22, 2025 at 3:39 pm

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…