May 30 – Variety Wholesalers Plans Final Wave of Big Lots Reopening’s on June 5
The success of the Big Lots reopening effort has spurred the retailers new owner, Variety Wholesalers, to explore options for acquiring additional Big Lots locations, the parent company said. From: HomePage News
May 30 – Placer.ai: Are Malls Cool Again?
Empty anchor implants like entertainment brands, fitness centers and restaurants are increasingly building new traffic. From: Chain Store Age
May 30 – Ulta Raises Guidance after Surpassing Q1 Expectations
Kecia Steelman, Ulta president and CEO, said that the company has a tariff mitigation plan in place, noting its exposure to duties as they have been introduced is very limited. From: HomePage News
May 30 – Aldi U.S. names new CEO
The top leadership change places a longtime executive of the company in its driver’s seat and comes as Aldi continues to rapidly expand its U.S. store footprint. From: HomePage News
May 30 – Costco Cites Non-Foods Gains in Strong Q3 As It Manages Tariff Effects
“Consumers are responding to new non-foods products at Costco”, Executive VP and CFO Gary Millerchip said, adding shoppers “remain very choiceful in their spending on discretionary items.” From: HomePage News
May 29 – Best Buy Reduces Guidance, but Earnings Top Wall Street Estimates
Overall and domestic comparable sales decreased 0.7%. Domestic online comps increased 2.1%.From: HomePage News
May 29 – Kohl’s Sees Turnaround Taking Hold with Q1 Beat, Reaffirmed Guidance
Kohl’s CEO Jill Timm says initiatives the company has adopted are taking hold, but more progress remains to be made. From: HomePage News
May 29 – SpartanNash Sees Q1 Net Sales Growth of 3.7%
Food solutions company SpartanNash has reported a net sales increase of 3.7% to $2.91 billion, driven by an increase in volume in the retail segment, partly offset by lower volume in the wholesale. From: Progressive Grocer
May 29 – Burlington Q1 Sales, Earnings Gain as it Adjusts to Tariff Pressure
CEO Michael O’Sullivan reaffirmed guidance, maintaining that the company can handle tariff pressure on margins. From: HomePage News
May 29 – UPDATE: Appeals Court Pauses Trade Court Ruling Blocking Trump Tariffs
A federal appeals court on Thursday granted the Trump administration’s request to pause a lower-court ruling blocking most tariffs imposed this year by the White House. From: HomePage News
May 28 – Conference Board: Consumers Rethink Spending Despite Confidence Gain in May
Consumers were more positive about current business conditions than last month, but their appraisal of current job availability weakened for the fifth consecutive month. From: HomePage News
May 28 – Dick’s to Open First House of Sport in Michigan
The Dick’s House of Sport will mark the first location for the concept in Michigan. From: Chain Store Age
May 28 – Williams-Sonoma Acquires Dormify IP Out of Bankruptcy
Williams-Sonoma indicated it plans to relaunch Dormify in 2026. Dormify previously worked on back-to-college initiatives with The Container Store. From: HomePage News
May 28 – Macy’s Lowers Full-Year Earnings Guidance After Q1 Wall Street Beat
Tony Spring, Macy’s chairman and CEOS said Macy’s experienced better performance during the quarter in parts of the home furnishings assortment, particularly in big-ticket goods. From: HomePage News
May 28 – Dollar General Celebrates 18th Year Partnering with Habitat of Humanity of Greater Nashville
In addition to volunteering at the build sites, Dollar General also donated housewarming gifts filled with DG products to celebrate each recipients’ new homeownership. From: Drug Store News
May 27 – Sally Beauty Scales Back Guidance After Mixed Q2 Results
Sally Beauty posted mixed second-quarter results and adjusted its guidance downward, citing uncertain economic prospects as the year progresses. From: HomePage News
May 27 – Wegmans Awards College Scholarships to 1,500+ New Employees
Since the program began in 1984, more than 48,000 Wegmans employees have been awarded scholarships totaling $150 million. From: Progressive Grocer
May 27 – Consumers Aim to Buy Ahead of Possible Tariff Upcharges
According to a survey from tech-driven financial services provider Bread Financial, 44% of consumers are saving more money in anticipation of higher tariffs. From: HomePage News
May 27 – Lowe’s Taps Outside Expertise to Accelerate Marketplace Development
Lowe’s is working with the technology provider Mirakl to give consumers more options on the company’s marketplace, launched in December 2024.From: HomePage News
May 26 – Some Small Businesses are Swearing Off Tariff Price Hikes. It’s Costing Them.
Corvidae Creations in Hammond, Louisiana is one of many small businesses across the country promising not to raise prices on customers despite import taxes. From: CNBC
May 23 – Marshalls Promotes Online ‘Upgrade Shop’ at JFK Airport Popup
The Marshalls Upgrade Lounge offers complimentary amenities and premium perks reflecting on-trend fashion, top beauty brands and travel essentials available from the off-price retailer. From: HomePage News
May 23 – Ross Revises Earnings Guidance in Face of Tariffs After Strong Q1
Ross CEWO Jim Conroy said mounting macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges in the marketplace, notably prolonged inflation and evolving tariff activity, have created uncertainty in the market. From: HomePage News
May 22 – Survey: Consumer Tariff Awareness Could Trigger Brand Switching
76% said they were either very likely (36%) or somewhat likely (40%) to consider purchasing brands they’ve never bought previously if they offer better prices or value. From: HomePage News
May 22 – Williams-Sonoma CEO Talks Mitigating Tariff Impact: ‘We’ve Been Busy’
CEO Laura Alber told Cramer Williams-Sonoma is looking at how to do more manufacturing in the U.S., and she claimed that most of the outfit’s upholstery is being made and assembled domestically. From: CNBC
May 22 – Williams-Sonoma Outlines Tariff Mitigation Plan After Q1 Beat
Williams-Sonoma stated the company is maintaining its fiscal 2025 and long-term guidance while absorbing incremental costs in the existing tariff environment. From: HomePage News
May 22 – BJ’s Anticipates Minimal Tariff Impact as Q1 Sales, Earnings Gain
The company expressed confidence in strategic initiatives, as well as its ability to manage cost volatility, including tariffs and input inflation. From: HomePage News
May 21 – Lowe’s Cites Pricing Management to Offset Tariffs After Q1 Beat
Although sales and earnings slipped in the first quarter, Lowe’s Cos. topped a Wall Street estimate and reaffirmed its guidance, saying it was in a good position to deal with tariffs and associated economic challenges. From: HomePage News
May 21 – TJX CEO Touts Favorable Home Product Position Following Solid Q1
In a conference call, John Klinger, TJX senior executive vice president and CFO, said comps in apparel and home categories increased with home outperforming apparel. From: HomePage News
May 21 – Target Aims to Streamline Operations, Hold Prices After Q1 Miss
Brian Cornell, Target chair and CEO, said in a conference call that, as the company looks for ways to mitigate the effect of tariffs, raising prices would be a “last resort.” From: HomePage News
May 20 – CVS Acquires 64 Rite Aid Stores in the U.S. Northwest
As Rite Aid’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings continue, the CVS Health division said it also had acquired the prescription files of 625 Rite Aid pharmacies across 15 states. From: HomePage News
May 20 – Marianne Thompson to Lead Strategic Integration of Do it Best and True Value
In this new role, Thompson will report to Do it Best president Nick Talarico and unify systems, optimize operations and enhance service delivery across all brands. From: Hardware Retailing
May 20 – Home Depot Says It’s Holding the Line on Prices After Mixed Q1 Results
The company noted that, among product categories offered by Home Depot, appliances, plumbing, indoor garden, electrical, outdoor garden and building materials saw positive comps. From: HomePage News
May 20 – Done Deal: Nordstrom completes acquisition by Nordstrom family and Liverpool
With the completion of the transaction, Erik and Pete Nordstrom will lead the company as co-CEOs. From: Chain Store Age
May 20 – Former Family Dollar COO MacNaughton Returning as Chairman, CEO
Duncan MacNaughton will return as chairman and CEO of Family Dollar following Dollar Tree’s divestiture of the business. From: HomePage News
May 19 –Target Offers Members No-Markup, Same-Day Delivery from Other Shipt Retailers
The company asserted it intends to transform the Target Circle 360 membership into an access point for what has become a digital shopping center that includes retailers aligned with Target’s affiliated Shipt delivery service. From: HomePage News
May 19 – Dillard’s Notes Expense Control as Q1 Sales, Earnings Slip
Sales and earnings slipped during Dillard’s first quarter, but the company came through the period better than Wall Street expected. From: HomePage News
May 19 – Numerator: Memorial Day Celebrators Primed to Grill, Cook at Home
93% of Memorial Day celebrators intend to buy something for the holiday weekend. From: HomePage News
May 16 – Placer.ai: Q1 Store Visit Patterns Favor Off-Price Banners
Placer.ai noted foot traffic was up across the off-price sector with the increases largely due to inflation-conscious shoppers seeking favored brands without spending a lot more money. From: HomePage News
May 16 – Target Launching 10,000 New Items in Summertime Celebration
Target will run discounts throughout the summer-oriented product assortment to raise the profile of the company’s seasonal initiatives. From: HomePage News
May 16 – Hudson’s Bay to sell IP to Canadian Tire Corp. for over $21M
The deal will add to CTC’s growing list of Canadian banners, which already includes Party City’s Canadian business, Canadian Tire, Mark’s and more. From: Retail Dive
May 16 – QVC Orchestrates 1-for-50 Reverse Stock Split
QVC Group announced its board of directors approved a 1-for-50 reverse stock split of the company’s Series A common stock and Series B common stock. From: HomePage News
May 16 – Whole Foods Market Dazzles in Vegas with Enhanced Shopping Experience
The 46,500-square-foot outpost at 2475 S. Town Center Drive welcomed shoppers on May 15. From: From: Progressive Grocer
May 16 – Census Bureau: Retail Sales Remain Solid Despite Tariff, Economic Concerns
The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor recently reported that core retail sales were up 0.9% seasonally adjusted month over month in April and 7.11% unadjusted year over year. From: HomePage News
May 15 – Pottery Barn Debuts ‘Dorm Concierge’ To Support Pick-Up Orders Near College Campuses
The free personalized service helps dorm product shoppers use Pottery Barn Teen’s Pick Up Near Campus function, building on a design service, mobile app, bedding visualizer tool and a wish list feature already launched. From: HomePage News
May 15 – Walmart CEO McMillon Says Price Increases Coming After Solid Q1
Walmart intends to calibrate forecasts and partner with suppliers to adjust quantities over time, McMillon said, as the company navigates tariff impacts on costs. From: HomePage News
May 15 – Dollar Tree Surpasses 9,000 Stores Across North America
Dollar Tree commemorated this achievement locally with a grand-opening celebration on May 15 at the official 9,000th store, in Plano, Texas. From: Progressive Grocer
May 15 – Wayfair Plans Brick-and Mortar Expansion with Yonkers, NY Location
News about the Yonkers stores follows on the announcement of a metro Atlanta Wayfair store, set to debut in 2026, and the opening of the company’s first large-format namesake store in Wilmette, IL. From: HomePage News
May 15 – Buc-ee’s Starts Construction on First Arizona Location
The 74,000-square-foot store will feature 713 parking spaces, 120 parking spaces and Buc-ee’s typical offerings of Southern-inspired food and snacks and pristine bathrooms. From: Convenience Store News
May 14 – ISM: Services Sector Expands for 10th Straight Month in April
Economic activity in the services sector increased for the 10th consecutive month in April. From: HomePage News
May 14 – Ikea U.S. Launches Rewards Program for ‘Family’ Members
To celebrate the new benefit, Ikea U.S. will host a limited time “Spend and Earn” promotion from May 7 to May 26. From: HomePage News
May 14 – Home Improvement Satisfaction up from 2024; Lowe’s Now Leads Sector
J.D. Power’s report found that Lowe’s ranked highest in customer satisfaction with a score of 680, and Ace Hardware ranked second at 672. From: Chain Store Age
May 14 – Numerator: Home Cooking Prevails as Consumer Confidence Slips in April
To save money, consumers are cooking at home, cited by 40%; shopping for items on sale, by 39%; and using coupons/discount codes, by 38%. From: HomePage News
May 14 – Ace Sets Q1 Revenue Record as Earnings Dip
First-quarter revenue reached record heights for Ace Hardware Corp., but the cooperative turned in lower profits, citing timing and investments as the main causes of the earnings slip. From: HomePage News
May 13 – Latest Dolly Parton Collection Rolls Out at Dollar General
The Dollar General Dolly Parton program is a collaboration involving the retailer, the entertainer and Lifetime Brands, which is licensed to develop and market Dolly Parton kitchenware and tabletop. From: HomePage News
May 13 – Wayfair Taps Former NBA Star Blake Griffin to Host Chair-Ades Sweepstakes
As the Wayfair “Master of Chairemonies”, Griffin brings comedic charm to the campaign, the company noted, after his role in the recently run Wayfair Game Night ad. From: HomePage News
May 13 – JCPenney Operator Turns to Loss for Fiscal Year
Penney Intermediate Holdings, which has been operating the JCPenney business, reported a turn to a loss for its fiscal year ended February 1. From: HomePage News
May 12 – Meijer Continues Supercenter Rollout with Three Ohio Openings
Meijer has opened three new 159,000-square-foot supercenters in Austintown, Medina and Richmond Heights, OH. From: HomePage News
May 12 – Beyond Extends Kirkland’s Partnership with New Investment, Terms and Licensing Deal
The companies stated that they have entered into an agreement that results in Beyond acquiring the rights to the Kirkland’s brand. From: HomePage News
May 12 – Michaels deepens assortment of baking and entertaining products
Michaels has launched over 700 cooking, baking and entertaining items, according to a company press release Thursday. From: Retail Dive
May 12 – NRF Welcomes U.S.-China Tariff Pause, Forecasts Import Decline in May
The National Retail Federation, while projecting a slowdown at U.S ports, applauded the White House announcement that U.S. and China agreed to a steep tariff reduction for 90 days as negotiations for a permanent trade deal continue. From: HomePage News
May 9 – NRF: Consumer Spending Ahead of Tariffs Boosted April Retail Sales
Retail sales grew in April, but they did so as many consumers moved up purchases to dodge higher prices than they expected to come with tariffs, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor. From: HomePage News
May 9 – Survey: 85% of Mid-Sized Supply Chain Firms ‘Prepared’ for Tariffs
Middle-market supply chain companies are investing in technology to keep up with their larger counterparts. From: Chain Store Age
May 9 – HomeGoods Enlists Jennifer Hudson to Help Consumers Find Time Off
The “Finding Time Off” campaign encourages people to carve out time for the things that fulfill them, including spontaneous trips to HomeGoods for new inspiration. From: HomePage News
May 8 – Meijer Opens 3 Supercenters in Northeast Ohio
The stores offer new, larger, height-adjustable changing tables in the family restrooms for the added convenience and dignity of customers with disabilities, and their caregivers. From: Progressive Grocer
May 8 – Beyond Officially Relaunches Buy Buy Baby Online with Promotions, Tokenized Security
Beyond has officially relaunched Buy Buy Baby online in time for Mother’s Day. From: HomePage News
May 8 – QVC Q1 Loss Increases with Restructuring, Tariffs Impacting Operations
As the company continues restructuring its business even as it wrestles with tariff issues, QVC Group posted a higher net loss in the first quarter as revenue declined. From: HomePage News
May 8 – EXCLUSIVE Q&A: Tractor Supply Company talks supply chain, AI, tariffs — and more
Tractor Supply Company is scaling and enhancing its use of supply chain automation as it embarks on an aggressive growth strategy. From: Chain Store Age
May 7 – Coresight: High-Income, Younger Consumer Groups Remain Most Optimistic About Economy
The market researcher noted that high-income segment sentiment turning net positive may be a leading indicator that signals an economic uptrend if macro conditions stabilize. From: HomePage News
May 7 – Survey: Supply Chain Execs Divided on Tariff Response
45% of supply chain leaders anticipate that passing costs along to their customers will be their primary strategy for mitigating new tariff costs. From: HomePage News
May 7 – iRobot Sales Slide in Q1 As Loss Deepens, Company Rethinks Path Forward
As it conducts a strategic review of business alternatives, iRobot sales slid in the first quarter and fell into the red. From: HomePage News
May 6 – QVC Ties in with TikTok Shop Super Brand Day to Celebrate ‘Age of Possibility’
The collaboration with the social media platform follows QVC Group’s launch of a 24/7 live social shopping experience with TikTok Shop. From: HomePage News
May 6 – Woof Gang Opens First Wisconsin Location
The milestone marks the brand’s official entry into its 27th state, with plans for over 70 new store openings this year. From: Chain Store Age
May 6 – Numerator: Gen Z Biggest Mother’s Day Gift Givers
Numerator determined that 74% of consumers plan to celebrate the event this year, with 58% planning to spend between $25 and $100 on purchases. From: HomePage News
May 6 – Rite Aid Seeks Chapter 11 Protection Again, Plans Strategic Asset Sale
The most recent filing comes after Rite Aid emerged from bankruptcy protection in September 2024, after almost a year in Chapter 11 proceedings and shedding $2 billion in debt. From: HomePage News
May 5 – Lowe’s Rolls Out Employee AI Assistant Across All Stores
The company is launching the AI tool, the Mylow Companion, to all store employees to boost customer service and speed associate onboarding. From: HomePage News
May 5 – Walmart Launches Program for Small Businesses
The program Grow with US is aimed at providing small U.S. businesses with training, mentorship and resources needed to grow their business with Walmart. From: Hardware Retailing
May 5 – Beyond Announces Early Closing Date for Overstock Tokenized Security
Beyond has announced that its Commercial Strategies subsidiary has met the minimum target offering amount of $250,000 for its current Regulation Crowdfunding offering. From: HomePage News
May 5 – The Fresh Market Makes Its Greater Charleston-Area Debut
The Fresh Market also continued its commitment to supporting a local food bank with every new store launch. From: Progressive Grocer
May 5 – Walmart Next Generation Supercenter Features ‘Elevated’ Home Department
The Cypress supercenter is part of a Walmart plan to build or convert more than 150 stores over the next several years. From: HomePage News
May 2 – Amazon Q1 Beats Street as Innovations Launch to Boost Shopper Support
The first quarter was dynamic for Amazon, with earnings and revenue that surpassed Wall Street expectations, and the introduction of additional tools designed to make shopping more satisfying.
From: HomePage News
May 2 – Pottery Barn Brings All-American Charm to Collection with Designer Sikes
Among the banner’s collaborations, according to Monica Bhargava, president of Pottery Barns, the Sikes collection “beautifully captures the essence of timeless design infused with a modern sensibility.” From: From: HomePage News
May 2 – Publix Q1 Comps, Adjusted Earnings Advanced
In the first quarter, which ended March 29, Publix’s comparable sales and adjusted earnings gained momentum. From: HomePage News
May 1 – Sprouts Farmers Market Equips Itself for Expansion
The specialty grocer has reported its sales jumped 19%, totaling $2.2 billion, in the first quarter ended March 30. From: Progressive Grocer
May 1 – Kohl’s Fires CEO Buchanan, Citing Policy Violations in Vendor Dealings
Kohl’s said Buchanan’s termination is unrelated to company performance, financial reporting, results of operations, and the termination did not involve any other of its personnel. From: HomePage News
May 1 – The Home Depot Expands Tax-Free Shopping to More Military Families
The program, initially applied to only large appliances, has expanded to include almost all online products for over 34 million eligible military exchange customers. From: Hardware Retailing
May 1 –Wayfair Confident It Can Cope with Tariffs After Exceeding Q1 Expectations
Wayfair’s first-quarter earnings beat Wall Street expectations as the home furnishings retailer addressed how tariffs would affect the business. From: HomePage News
May 1 – Brookshire Grocery Appoints New COO, CFO
Regional grocer Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC) has named Jerry LeClair its new COO and Mandy Tomlin its new CFO. From: Progressive Grocer
May 1 – Kirkland’s Furnishes Bed Bath & Beyond, Overstock Update After Q4 Earnings Beat
As its relationship with Beyond evolves and China tariffs loom, Kirkland’s expressed optimism about the future as the retailer topped a Wall Street earnings estimate while posting comparable sales gains in bricks-and-mortar locations. From: HomePage News
