All articles tagged with #retail
Costco Wholesale reported June net sales of $29.24 billion, up 10.6% from a year earlier, with the first 44 weeks totaling $250.43 billion, up 10.1%. The results reflect continued shopper traffic fueled by its membership-based model as consumers seek value, and while the growth underscores a stable business, investors will be watching margins to ensure profitability keeps pace with sales expansion.
Microsoft confirms that Halo: Campaign Evolved bought at retail will include a full physical disc in the box for both Xbox and PS5, highlighting tangible media for collectors even as Sony moves toward a digital‑only era in 2028.
Jacksonville-area stores will have varied Independence Day hours: Publix and Winn-Dixie operate on regular hours; Aldi opens but closes at 4 p.m.; Trader Joe’s closes around 5 p.m.; The Fresh Market is open 8 a.m.–9 p.m.; Whole Foods Jacksonville 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Big-box retailers: Target 8 a.m.–10 p.m.; Walmart 6 a.m.–11 p.m.; Costco closed all day. CVS stores 8 a.m.–10 p.m., with in-store pharmacies 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; Walgreens hours vary by location. Starbucks and Dunkin’ are open with location-dependent hours—check ahead.
Kroger will acquire Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion, adding 197 supermarkets and 11 standalone pharmacies across five states (Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana). The deal consists of about $1.25 billion in cash and approximately $400 million in debt Kroger will assume, with closing expected in 2027 and possible limited store divestitures to satisfy regulators.
Ulta Beauty’s six‑year in‑store partnership with Target ends this summer, making way for Target Beauty Studio—a curated, prestige‑focused beauty area launching in more than 600 stores and online this fall with 80+ brands (60 new to Target) and exclusive launches, plus Target Circle rewards, as Target pivots to become a premier beauty destination; the Ulta partnership is set to conclude in 2026.
Reports from GameStop staff and outlets suggest GTA 6 pre-orders for physical copies are abnormally low because the box only includes a digital download code and no disc, with some stores hitting only single-digit pre-orders against targets of hundreds. This disc-free approach could hurt brick-and-mortar retailers and the used-games market, even as digital pre-orders surge and rumors persist about a later disc release.
Kotaku reports that Target is quietly inflating prices on Pokémon TCG products, following GameStop’s earlier spikes. June 26 price increases were observed on popular booster bundles (Ascended Heroes Booster Bundle MSRP $26.94, now $31.99), with no warning to customers, suggesting retailers are cashing in on demand and shortages. Kotaku has reached out to Target for comment.
Saks has officially emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy with a lighter debt load and a renamed brand as part of a broader restructuring and branding refresh.
Kohl’s stock has fallen about 70% over five years as it drifted from its value-focused core. Under CEO Michael Bender (2025–present), the retailer is returning to strengths like proprietary brands, coupons/Kohl’s Cash, and an improved in-store experience, while expanding Sephora shop-in-shops to attract younger shoppers. Early earnings show improving comparable sales but continued revenue pressure, and analysts remain cautiously optimistic about a multi-year turnaround.
Saks Global exits Chapter 11 as Exemplar Luxury Group (ELG) with a smaller footprint and about a 75% reduction in debt after restructuring with Pentwater Capital Management and Bracebridge Capital, shifting to a focus on luxury retail and signaling changes following the 2024 merger with Neiman Marcus that had strained vendor relations.
Saks Global, the parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue, has adopted the new name Exemplar Luxury Group after exiting bankruptcy, signaling a refreshed corporate identity for its luxury retail operations and a continued focus on growth in the upscale market.
T-Mobile plans to shrink its physical store footprint by shuttering many third-party retailer locations (TPRs) on July 1 as part of its shift to a digital-first strategy under the T-Life initiative. Corporate-owned stores are largely spared, and some TPRs are being absorbed by others (e.g., Arch Telecom) to consolidate locations. The move aims to push customers toward T-Mobile’s COR stores and the T-Life app, which now has millions of users, while driving more traffic online and at remaining stores.
Target’s executive chairman Brian Cornell drew his lowest-ever shareholder support at the annual meeting, 87.2% (down from 95%), well below the S&P 500 director-approval average, signaling mounting investor pressure as the retailer pursues a leadership transition with Michael Fiddelke as CEO. Although Fiddelke won 99% support and first-quarter same-store sales rose 5.6%, concerns persist over inventory management, store investments, and reputational hits tied to social issues, contributing to a stock still about 50% below its 2021 high. Some large pension funds and activist groups voted against Cornell, and the proxy reiterates a separation of chair and CEO roles during the transition.
Apple is permanently closing three U.S. stores today—Towson Town Center (Maryland), North County in Escondido (California), and Trumbull (Connecticut)—citing the departure of retailers and declining mall conditions; affected employees may transfer to nearby Apple stores, and the Towson closure has drawn criticism from the union and lawmakers given its history of unionization.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co.'s Hollister brand will be sold at Target as part of a multi-season wholesale partnership, marking Hollister’s first foray into home/dorm merchandise alongside apparel. Starting June 28, Target will carry nearly 60 items—dorm bedding, home goods, fleece and sleepwear—priced roughly $25–$65 and available at most Target stores and select Hollister locations. The deal expands A&F’s wholesale strategy after last year’s partnerships with Dick’s Sporting Goods and various department stores. CFO Robert Ball noted Hollister’s latest quarter showed flat net sales and a 2% comp decline, with gains in the Americas and Asia offsetting softness in the Middle East and Europe.