Retail news and archive

Skechers’ AI shop assistant is friendly, chatty—and watching what you wear

The physical store is not dead, but it is being reprogrammed. Skechers, the U.S. footwear company known less for fashion cachet than for functional comfort, is attempting a digital leap forward with the launch of Luna—an AI-powered retail assistant installed at its new flagship in Singapore’s Punggol Coast Mall. Described as a “personal stylist,...

Retail

Beales to close final store after 144 Years, citing Labour budget pressures

Beales, one of Britain’s oldest department store chains, is set to close the last store in its 144-year history, marking the end of an era for the once-prominent high street retailer. The company has launched a dramatic final clearance—dubbed internally the "Rachel Reeves closing down sale"—with discounts of up to 80 percent, blaming the Labour...

Retail

Shoppers from abroad are no longer flocking to American stores

For global consumers, the United States has long been more than just a travel destination—it is a retail and fashion mecca. From the flagship boutiques of New York’s Fifth Avenue to the sprawling designer outlets of California and Florida, the U.S. has offered international visitors a potent mix of local and luxury brands, competitive pricing,...

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China turns inward as U.S. tariffs upend export-driven retail models

As escalating U.S. tariffs reshape the global trade landscape, Beijing is pivoting towards domestic consumption to shore up its export-reliant industries. The move, which carries significant implications for the international fashion supply chain, signals a critical rebalancing of China’s manufacturing-led growth model. In a joint statement...

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Retail

US Retail Sales Dip 0.22% in February Despite Year-Over-Year Growth

Retail spending across the US may have declined on a monthly basis last month as concerns over tariffs increase, but continued to grow year over year as the economy holds steady, according to the latest CNBC/National Retail Federation (NRF) Retail Monitor. Total retail sales (minus automobiles and gasoline,) dropped 0.22 percent (seasonally...

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Business

How to use AI safely - tips and tricks

How can AI support customer loyalty? And can it minimise theft in stores? What are good prompts? How safe is AI and what are its limitations? These and other questions were discussed at a dedicated day of talks around artificial intelligence (AI) hosted by the German digital centre for SMEs with a focus retail on 11th February 2025....

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Tariff Tensions: The impact on U.S. retail and consumer sectors

The latest wave of tariffs introduced by the U.S. administration threatens to disrupt the retail and consumer landscape, posing fresh challenges for businesses already contending with economic volatility. Unlike the trade tensions of 2018, which largely spared broad consumer segments, this new tariff regime casts a wider net. “Broad-based...

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Retail|Study

5 Tips for Retailers to achieve winning strategies in 2025

With the new year truly underway, retailers around the world are putting their game faces on for a volley of fresh challenges. From ever-changing consumer behaviors to emerging technologies, market fluctuations, and shifting regulations to convoluted trade dynamics, retailers will have to square off with a new retail game in 2025. Thriving...

Retail|In Pictures

Madewell marks opening of new flagship store in SoHo, NYC

Madewell has officially opened the doors of the newest flagship store in SoHo, New York City. Exterior of Madewell's new flagship store in SoHo, NYC Credits: Madewell Situated at 565 Broadway, the new flagship store from the denim and apparel brand spans 6,512 square feet and marks Madewell’s return to the neighborhood. Madewell originally...

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M&S pledges to support 2,000 young people into work

British retailer Marks & Spencer is celebrating 20 years of Marks & Start, its employability programme in partnership with The Kings Trust, to commit to training and supporting a further 2,000 young people over the next three years. The commitment is part of M&S’ multi-year strategy with The King’s Trust, as new research from the retailer...

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Fashion|Exclusive

Hong Kong's fashion awakening: Building bridges between East and West

The newly erected Henderson building in Hong Kong has rapidly established itself as a landmark of architectural and commercial significance, epitomising the city's ambitious urban transformation. Its genesis on a former car park—now the world's most expensive plot, acquired for a staggering 3 billion dollars — symbolizes Hong Kong's relentless...

Retail

New London retail concept aims to back e-commerce brands in physical realm

A new experiential concept is taking hold of London’s high street for the coming season with the intention of bringing e-commerce brands to the physical retail landscape. Launched by e-commerce fulfilment specialists, J&J Global Fulfilment, ‘Pop!’ will offer a selection of fast-growing online fashion and beauty brands the chance to sell directly...