Tapestry raised its full-year guidance following a robust second quarter fueled by a 25% surge in Coach's sales and the acquisition of more than 3.7 million new global customers, one-third of them members of Generation Z. CEO Joanne Crevoiserat attributed Tapestry's record-setting second quarter to the success of the company's Amplify strategy, which she said is driving deeper consumer engagement and accelerated growth. Coach CEO Todd Kahn attributed the brand's sustained growth to reduced promotions, higher margins and increased marketing aimed at building future desirability.

Hear how Debenhams Group partnered with UiPath to implement AI at scale across their pricing and promotions strategy.

Tractor Supply is expanding its final-mile delivery initiative to cut transportation costs and boost efficiency. The retailer plans to add more than 150 hub locations this year, bringing the total to about 375 and covering more than half its stores. By integrating its own delivery network with providers like UPS' Roadie, the company expects to achieve annual freight savings of around $10 million. The retailer is prioritizing in-house delivery for large and bulky items such as fence panels and riding lawnmowers, with a long-term goal to handle up to 95% of large-item orders internally by decade's end.

Walmart's "Valoween" initiative exemplifies a broader shift in retail strategy, where traditional holiday boundaries are increasingly blurred to create hybrid shopping moments. By merging Valentine's Day with horror elements, Walmart is capitalizing on both the cultural relevance of horror, especially among younger consumers, and the flexibility of modern merchandising. The approach reflects an industry-wide trend of launching themed assortments earlier and more frequently, turning once-novel mashups like "Summerween" and "Valoween" into repeatable frameworks that drive traffic and sustain consumer engagement across the calendar.

Five Below is set to expand its store presence this year, with over 40 new stores planned for February and March. The rollout began with the opening of a new store in Apple Valley, Calif., and will continue with additional locations scheduled to open on a weekly basis throughout late winter and early spring. The expansion will introduce the retailer to communities in a wide range of regions, from the East Coast to the Midwest and the South, growing Five Below's national footprint.

Versace has appointed Belgian designer Pieter Mulier as its new creative director, effective July 2026, following the departure of Dario Vitale. Mulier, known for his work with Raf Simons and Alaia, is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the iconic Italian brand. This move comes after Prada Group's acquisition of Versace, marking a new era for the fashion house as it seeks to revitalise its legacy under the guidance of Versace Executive Chairman Lorenzo Bertelli.

Abercrombie & Fitch's Abercrombie Style Concierge program, introduced this year, allows select NFL athletes to collaborate with the brand's in-house designers and stylists. The initiative focuses on curating looks for players' tunnel walks and other high-visibility moments, reflecting the growing influence of athlete-driven fashion, says Chief Marketing Officer Carey Collins Krug. During Super Bowl week 2026, Abercrombie & Fitch has a strong on-site presence, including a pop-up shop at the SBX Experience featuring exclusive Super Bowl collections for all ages. The brand also hosts a fashion presentation and provides custom bomber jackets to all Pro Bowl athletes.

The Cumin Club, founded by Ragoth Bala, has expanded from a subscription model to retail, offering authentic Indian cuisine in freeze-dried, shelf-stable meals designed to be rehydrated on the stove. Bala's inspiration came from his struggles to find vegetarian Indian food in the US, leading to a proprietary technology that preserves the flavors and nutritional value of Indian dishes. The Cumin Club is now available at Sprouts Farmers Market and Walmart stores, in a push to make Indian flavors accessible to a broader American audience.

Clarity, a startup led by former Walmart executives and backed by ReturnPro, has developed X-ray and AI technology to detect counterfeit and fraudulent merchandise in retail returns. Clarity leverages machine learning to compare returned goods against authentic samples, flagging anomalies in seconds.

Although retail sales grew strongly in 2025, the gains are not evenly distributed. Higher‑income consumers significantly outperformed lower‑income groups, with the top 20% accounting for more than 60% of discretionary spending. The analysis reveals notable stratification across sectors, with some experiencing growth across all incomes while others see broad declines. While top‑line retail growth is expected to continue into 2026, not all consumer segments will contribute equally. Read more.

79% of consumers plan to purchase food and beverages for Super Bowl LX. Source: NRF's 2026 Super Bowl Spending Survey, conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics.

At NRF 2026, Jason “Retailgeek” Goldberg’s deep dive into how AI is fundamentally disrupting every stage of the customer journey warned retailers that agentic AI is creating entirely new consumer behaviors. Shoppers now discover and purchase products through AI tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini—platforms that are siphoning traffic from traditional retailer websites. With ChatGPT alone generating 52 million daily prompts, it ranks among the top global ecommerce destinations despite lacking checkout capabilities. Discover more.

Breakfast beverage preferences in 2026 remain centered on hot coffee and orange juice, with Technomic data showing 36% of consumers opt for hot coffee and 31% for orange juice during weekday breakfasts. The numbers rise on weekends, reaffirming their status as the go-to morning drinks. Chains such as Denny's, First Watch and Eggs Up Grill are enhancing their offerings with cold brew, specialty juices and limited-time flavor options.