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Covering the latest news in the retail industry

  • June 19, 2025

    • Tesla has been asked by Texas lawmakers to delay its planned June 22 Robotaxi launch in Austin until September, aligning with the implementation of a new autonomous vehicle law (via Electrek).
    • Nike has delayed the launch of its highly anticipated NikeSKIMS activewear collaboration with Kim Kardashian due to internal production issues, with a new release expected later this year (CNBC).
    • David’s Bridal has partnered with Shopify to overhaul its omnichannel experience, uniting online and in-store operations with real-time inventory access, interactive displays, and a reimagined POS system (via David’s Bridal).
    • Amazon is requiring some corporate employees to relocate to central hubs like Seattle and Arlington, potentially affecting thousands, as the company aims to consolidate teams (via Bloomberg).
    • Netflix has partnered with French broadcaster TF1 to stream its live and on-demand content in France starting next summer. The move marks Netflix’s push into traditional TV and could pave the way for similar deals elsewhere (via The New York Times).
    • China’s 618 shopping festival set a new record with 855.6 billion yuan ($119 billion) in sales, but average daily spending declined due to an extended sales period (via Reuters).
    • Goop is opening its seventh permanent store in Aspen, Colorado, with plans to grow to 20-30 brick-and-mortar locations in the coming years (via Modern Retail).
    • H&M is using real-time data via RFID and AI tools to help store staff adjust displays and inventory based on what’s selling, bringing more flexibility and e-commerce-style insights to its physical stores (via Glossy).
    • Walgreens closed 71 stores in May — part of over 100 pharmacy closures nationwide — while dollar stores continued their aggressive growth, with Dollar General and Dollar Tree opening a combined 67 new locations (via Supermarket News).
    • Social platforms like Reddit and Pinterest are expanding into retail media by partnering with CVS and Instacart, respectively, to combine audience engagement with shopper data and drive more targeted, measurable ad campaigns (via Modern Retail).

  • June 18, 2025

    • Kirkland’s is rebranding as The Brand House Collective and converting many of its stores into Bed Bath & Beyond Home locations. The move is part of a broader strategy to become a multi-brand retail operator and revive legacy names like Bed Bath & Beyond, Overstock, and buybuy Baby (via Kirkland’s).
    • Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told employees that AI will cut corporate jobs in the coming years, citing efficiency gains. The announcement sparked internal backlash, with workers questioning leadership’s vision (via Business Insider).
    • Japan’s exports fell 1.7% in May — the sharpest drop in eight months — as shipments to the U.S. plunged 11.1%, driven by steep declines in auto exports. Analysts warn that worsening trade conditions could continue to weigh on Japan’s economy (via CNBC).
    • Walmart is developing shoppable ads for Vizio TVs that would let viewers make purchases directly with their remotes, part of its plan to expand retail media following its $2.3 billion acquisition of Vizio (via PMNTS).
    • Meta has reportedly offered OpenAI employees signing bonuses of up to $100 million in an aggressive bid to recruit top AI talent, according to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Altman says that so far, none of OpenAI’s top staff have accepted the offers (via CNBC).
    • The Trump Organization announced a $499 smartphone it claims is “built in the U.S.,” but analysts say it will likely be made in China, making it subject to tariffs championed by Trump himself. Experts say full domestic production is unrealistic (via Fortune).
    • Albertsons Media Collective has launched an in-store digital display network, starting with a pilot this summer, to boost brand engagement and enhance the shopping experience (via Albertsons Companies Inc.).
    • Tractor Supply Company plans to open over 90 new stores in 2025 — including up to 10 Petsense locations — with even more expansion coming in 2026. The retailer also recently acquired 18 Big Lots leases to support its growth (via USA Today).
    • 35% of retail executives say they plan to adjust prices in response to rising tariffs, with many already passing costs to consumers or pressuring suppliers, according to new data from 7thonline (via Sourcing Journal).
    • ASOS has opened its first U.S. pop-up store in New York City. The pop-up, running through June 22, offers curated summer styles and may lead to similar activations in other U.S. cities (via Forbes).

  • June 17, 2025

    • U.S. retail sales dropped 0.9% in May, a steeper decline than expected, as consumers pulled back amid economic uncertainty. However, core sales — which exclude categories like autos and gas — rose 0.4% (via CNBC).
    • Kraft Heinz announced it will remove all artificial dyes from its U.S. food products by the end of 2027, responding to growing consumer concerns and pressure from Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (via CNN).
    • At Home has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to close 26 locations as part of a restructuring to eliminate $2 billion in debt. The company expects ownership to transfer to its lenders holding most of its debt (via CBS News).
    • Amazon has announced that Prime Day 2025 will run for four days, from July 8 to 11, doubling the length of last year’s event to give shoppers more time to access deals (via Amazon).
    • OpenAI has secured a $200 million contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to develop AI tools for administrative tasks, data analysis, and proactive cyber defense. The one-year contract signals a shift from OpenAI’s earlier stance against military applications of its technology (via The Verge).
    • Coca-Cola has tapped Jennifer Aniston to return as the face of Smartwater in a new global ad campaign (via CNN).
    • WhatsApp will begin displaying ads for the first time, placing them in the app’s Updates tab while maintaining end-to-end encryption for personal messages. This marks a move away from the platform’s original ad-free philosophy and opens new revenue opportunities for Meta (via The New York Times).
    • Google reportedly plans to end its relationship with Scale AI following news that rival Meta is acquiring a 49% stake in the data-labeling startup (via Reuters).
    • Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol is trying to win back employees with his “back to Starbucks” strategy, which includes improving store culture, adding more seating, promoting internally, and giving managers greater control over staffing (via CNBC).
    • Tesla plans to pause production of its Model Y and Cybertruck at its Austin factory during the week of July 4 for line maintenance and improvements, as it prepares for the highly anticipated Robotaxi launch later this month (via Business Insider).

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