March 31 – Numerator: Most Consumers Planning At-Home Easter Celebrations
The top intended purchases for Easter are food (75%), candy (63%), and decorations (28%), yet 11% of Easter celebrants plan to purchase gifts ranging from toys to plants. From: HomePage News
March 31 – JCPenney Rebuilds Home Business with Expanded Brands, Sharper Merchandising
Upgrading the home shopping experience is an important part of JCPenney’s push into home and housewares products. From: HomePage News
March 31 – Pottery Barn Kids Launches Collection with Fashion Brand Tutu du Monde
Prices range from $24 for a washcloth, $27.50 for a hooded towel and $29.50 for either of two water bottles to $849 for an eight-foot by 10-foot Ombre Stars Rug. From: HomePage News
March 31 – March Consumer Confidence Ticked Up as Future Concerns Linger
Consumer outlook for income prospects was mixed to slightly negative in March as 19.2% of consumers expected their incomes to advance, From: HomePage News
March 31 – Consumers Embracing Buy Now Pay Later with Some Abandonment Issues
When asked about the future, 60% of respondents said they would use BNPL for larger or unexpected expenses, 53% for purchases that are difficult to pay for upfront and 50% for spreading costs over time to manage monthly cash flow. From: HomePage News
March 30 – Anthropologie Launches Home Collection with Brazilian Fashion House Farm Rio
The new initiative with the brand includes 51 home SKUs at prices ranging from $16 for a juice glass and $1,298 for a flatwoven indoor/outdoor rug. From: HomePage News
March 30 – Online Shoppers Aren’t in as Much of a Hurry to Buy as You Might Think
The study — the 2026 U.S. Consumer Study “Before They Buy” from RTB House, a performance marketing company, found only 40% of new customers arrive at e-commerce sites with a specific item in mind. From: HomePage News
March 27 – Home Cooking, Leftovers Helping Consumers Cope with Rising Food Prices
New research by agriculture insights and research firm Stratovation Group and food and agriculture communications agency Inspire reveals 39% of households are addressing rising food costs by eating at home more. From: HomePage News
March 27 – JLL: Grocery-Anchored Centers Notch the Highest Occupancy Rates
Shoppers focused on high-quality offerings are driving traffic to fresh-format and specialty stores. From: Chain Store Age
March 27 – Restoration Hardware Names Furniture Veteran Schnitzius President to Boost Manufacturing
New president and chief manufacturing/sourcing officer Veronica Schnitzius will lead RH efforts to build a global manufacturing platform that combines owned, joint-ventured and outsourced manufacturing. From: HomePage News
March 27 – Study Reveals Generational Differences in How Sustainability Impacts Purchasing
The survey identified Millennials as the most proactive group when it comes to seeking sustainability information from brands and retailers. From: HomePage News
March 26 – Survey Foretells Future of Brands Marketing to AI Agents Shoppers Are Starting to Trust
Further, the survey of consumers in the United States indicated almost 90% of consumers are willing to hand over at least some of their personal data for more relevant recommendations. From: HomePage News
March 26 – Walmart, Vizio Accelerate Retail Media Content-to-Commerce Engagement
According to Walmart, 65% of Walmart customers surveyed report that CTV ads helped them discover new products, demonstrating the power of placing premium content in front of high-intent shoppers. From: HomePage News
March 25 – Median Age of Owner-Occupied Homes Hits 42 Years, Revealing Regional Divide
The median age varies significantly by state, with New York having the oldest owner-occupied homes with a median age of 64 years. From: Hardware Retailing
March 24 – Dollar General Turns to Ahold Delhaize Veteran Fleeman as Next CEO
The board of directors at Dollar General Corp. has appointed Jerry “J.J.” Fleeman Jr., to succeed Todd Vasos as company CEO, effective January 1, 2027. From: HomePage News
March 24 – Easter Spending Projected to Hit Record $24.9 Billion
Food spending is expected to reach $7.5 billion, followed by gifts ($3.9 billion), clothing ($3.7 billion), candy ($3.5 billion) and flowers ($2.2 billion). From: Hardware Retailing
March 23 – Going to the Club: How Groceries are Boosting Club Retailers ‘sales
Club retailers’ combo of discounted prices and grocery assortments is packing a powerful one-two sales punch in their battle against traditional grocers. From: Grocery Dive
March 23 – Still Work Left as Home Specialty Retailers Make Unified Commerce Progress
The study reviewed 330 capabilities spanning four key experience areas: shopping, checkout, fulfillment and service. From: HomePage News
March 23 – Rural King Keeps Rolling Up Firsts with Latest Store Openings
The expansion continues for Rural King with a debut in Rome, GA, the latest in a string of store openings that include the company’s first locations in Maryland, South Carolina and Mississippi.
From: HomePage News
March 23 – Wealthy Consumers are Heading to Dollar Stores
Inflation pushed dollar stores to expand their price points. Higher-income shoppers, pressured by the same headwind, came along for the ride. From: Retail Dive
March 23 – Williams Sonoma Updates Test Kitchen to Enhance Consumer Outreach
Williams Sonoma has redesigned its culinary hub and test kitchen to enhance the facility’s capabilities across a range of consumer outreach initiatives. From: HomePage News
March 20 – Stores.com Touts Lifetime Satisfaction Guarantee by Newly Acquired Hammacher Schlemmer
Hammacher Schlemmer’s new ownership said it plans to recapture the sense discovery that made it legendary. From: HomePage News
March 19 – Build-A-Bear Launches at Walmart
A partnership with Walmart is a “major new distribution milestone” for the nearly 30-year-old Build-A-Bear brand, according to the company. From: Retail Dive
March 19 – Home Depot Launches Soring Promotion, Builds on World Cup Partnership with David Beckham
The immersive Beckham-inspired initiative demonstrates how fans can prepare to host their own outdoor watch parties. From: HomePage News
March 19 – Numerator: Consumer Confidence Bounces Back Slightly in February
49% of consumers said their household’s financial situation is currently good or very good, up one point from January, Numerator maintained. From: HomePage News
March 19 – Home Depot Announces 12 New U.S. Store Openings in 2026
We’re excited about all of the progress we’ve made in our stores, and our efforts are paying off,” said Ann-Marie Campbell, Senior Executive VP of The Home Depot. From: Hardware Retailing
March 19 – Michaels Cuts Prices on 3K More Items as Consumers Waver
The arts and crafts retailer has also lowered the cost of in-store parties, after cutting prices on more than 5,000 items last year. From: Retail Dive
March 19 – Family Dollar Says Stand-Alone Transformation is Promoting Improvement
Family Dollar’s financial performance, operational improvements and disciplined implementation has advanced the business, the company noted, From: HomePage News
March 19 – Five Below Delivers Strongest Holiday Performance Since Going Public
The retailer’s operating income increased nearly 26% to $310.9 million and net income grew 27% to $238.2 million for the quarter. From: Retail Dive
March 18 – Record Credit Card Swipe Fees Fuel Calls for Credit Card Competition Act Reform
The fees are too high for small merchants to absorb and drive-up consumer prices by more than $1,200 a year for the average family, based on the new data. From: Hardware Retailing
March 18 – Williams-Sonoma Sets Focus on Product Newness After Mixed Q4
The company announced that Vicki McWilliams has been promoted to president of stores and customer care. From: HomePage News
March 18 – Bob’s Discount Furniture Posts 17% Revenue Gain in 2025, Plots Store Opening
Operating income grew 8.1% from last year to $56.5 million, while net income increased more than 6% to $41 million. From: Retail Dive
March 18 – Dollar Tree Finishes 20th Straight Year of Same-Store Sales Growth
The fourth quarter came in solidly for Dollar Tree, with revenue, comparable sales and earnings ahead year over year. From: HomePage News
March 18 – Macy’s Q4 Tops Streets as Turnaround Gains Momentum
To date, some 125 Macy’s stores have been “reimagined” and another 75 locations are on track to be upgraded this year. From: Chain Store Age
March 17 – Target Circle Deal Days Event Spotlights National Brands March 25–27
The event will include Deal of the Day offers on national brands from Apple to Hanes to Hydro Flask and 40% off select home, kitchen and dining, including Keurig, Cuisinart and Ninja. From: HomePage News
March 17 – Family Dollar to Pilot New Store Format; Gives 2026 Outlook
The new small-sized store is designed to complement the company’s existing store base while enhancing its ability to serve customers in high-density neighborhoods, according to the company. From: Chain Store Age
March 17 – Ulta Investments Pressured Q4 Earnings While Comp Sales Advanced
“From a channel perspective both store and digital channels contributed to comp growth, with e-commerce sales delivering mid-teen growth and comp stores increasing sales in the low single-digit range.” CFO Chris Del Orfus said From: HomePage News
March 17 – Citi Trends Momentum Continues, Ramping Up Store Expansion
The retailer said it plans to open approximately 25 new stores, remodel 50 locations and close four stores this year. Looking further out, it is targeting 40 openings in 2027. From: Chain Store Age
March 17 – Circana Tracked Resilient Consumer Retail Spending in February
“There is a growing divide between industries where consumers feel value aligns with pricing and those where elevated costs are dampening demand” said Marshal Cohen, chief retail industry advisor for Circana. From: HomePage News
March 17 – Lands’ End Names First Chief Marketer in Nearly a Decade
The appointment represents a renewed commitment from Lands’ End to brand building and supporting long-term growth, according to press details. From: Retail Dive
March 17 – NRF: Retail Sales Maintained Momentum in February Against Macroeconomic Forces
As retail has adjusted to continually changing macroeconomic environment, total sales advanced 6.04% year over year for the first two months of 2026, and core sales grew 5.76%. From: HomePage News
March 13 –Dollar General Posts Q4 Beat, Targets Non-Consumables Growth
After recent efforts on the digital sales front, key initiatives the company is driving in 2026 include enhancements to physical stores and product assortment. From: HomePage News
March 13 – Ulta to launch on TikTok Shop with curated assortment
The company’s TikTok Shop launch next week will include a curated assortment of brands that are only available at Ulta. From: Retail Dive
March 13 –Port Tracker: Import Levels Remain Low, Iran Conflict Impact Unclear
“The need for clear and predictable trade policy remains, and long-term planning continues to be difficult for merchants and other businesses”, said Jonathan Gold, NRF VP for supply chain and customs policy. From: HomePage News
March 13 –Williams-Sonoma Extends Aerin Collection with Garden-Inspired Tabletop, Décor
The new tabletop, decor and entertaining products blend botanical motifs, joyful color palettes and refined details, the company stated. From: HomePage News
March 12 – Ross Opens 17 Stores, Pushing Forward with Brick-and-Mortar Expansion
Ross Stores has been steadily adding to its brick-and-mortar footprint over the past several years. From Retail Dive
March 12 –Kohl’s Falls Short on Q4 Revenue Despite Earnings Beat
Kohl’s beat a Wall Street estimate on fourth-quarter earnings despite lower comparable sales and a missed overall revenue forecast. From: HomePage News
March 11 –Target Cuts Costs Up to 20% on 3,000 Items for the Spring Season
The reductions add to thousands of price cuts Target made in 2025 and stack with its existing weekly deals. From: Progressive Grocer
March 10 –Gleener Expands Fabric-Care Assortment with Tools for Home, Travel
At The Inspired Home Show, Gleener is highlighting tools designed to simplify everyday fabric and apparel care across home and travel settings. From: HomePage News
March 10 –Confectionery Sales Rose to $55B in 2025
In 2025, 99.8% of households bought confectionery products at least once. From: Progressive Grocer
March 9 – Ross Stores’ Sweeping 2026 Expansion Includes First dd’s in Utah
Ross Stores is opening 17 new stores across the United States during February and March. From: HomePage News
March 9 – First Williams-Sonoma GreenRow Physical Store Opens in NYC
The initiative expands the initial store closing effort announced last month and enables Saks to sharpen focus on its distinctive capabilities and competitive advantages, the company noted. From: HomePage News
March 8 – Saks Closing More Stores to Optimize Portfolio
“This strategic optimization is part of our ongoing transformation and rooted in our long-term view of our business,” said Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Saks Global CEO. From: HomePage News
March 6 – BJ’s Tops Estimates in Q4 Despite Tariff Pressure on Home, Seasonal
The home and seasonal businesses drew more impact from tariffs than other product categories and BJ’s cut its inventories in affected segments. From: HomePage News
March 6 – Inspired Magazine | AI in Retail: Staff Management, Customer Experiences, Explosive Marketing
AI is reshaping the way retailers operate – making businesses more efficient while also elevating the customer experience. From: HomePage News
March 6 – Costco Beats Estimates in Q2 as CEO Addresses Tariffs, Potential Refunds
Costco president and CEO Ron Vachris addressed tariff issues and stated that “We will be transparent in how we plan to do this if and when we receive any refunds”. From: HomePage News
March 5 – Burlington Reemphasizing Home & Housewares Business After Solid Q4
In a conference call, CEO Michael O’Sullivan said the company had “enormous success” growing the home operation prior to 2025, particularly housewares, home decor, bedding, gifting and seasonal. From: HomePage News
March 5 – U.S. Trade Court Orders Refunds on IEEPA Tariffs
A U.S. Court of International Trade judge ruled the U.S. government must refund all tariffs collected under an emergency power authority ruled to be unlawful by the U.S. Supreme Court. From: HomePage News
March 5 – Kroger Touts 2026 Expansion into New Markets After Q4 Earnings Gain
In a conference call, Ron Sargent, Kroger chairman, noted the company would emphasize new store growth in the year ahead. From: HomePage News
March 4 – Ross Rides Home Department Gains Against Tariffs to Strong Q4
Ross CEO Jim Conroy said in a conference call that the home category enjoyed solid growth and continued sequential improvement in the fourth quarter despite the tariff pressures that affected the category last year. From: HomePage News
March 3 – Wayfair To Open Second Namesake Superstore March 31 in Atlanta
The 150,000-square-foot store will feature all things home, the company stated, including home décor, outdoor living, housewares, appliances and home improvement products for every style and budget. From: HomePage News
March 3 – Nordstrom Rack Adds More Store Openings — here is the 2026 lineup
The lineup of 2026 store openings for Nordstrom Rack includes 23 stores nationwide — with more to come. From: Chain Store Age
