Department Stores

  • A composite photo of two mall anchors.
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    photo of Dillard's at Illinois Centre Mall by Mike Kalasnik; Macy's photo and composite by Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Deep Dive

    Should Macy’s be more like Dillard’s? Maybe.

    Activist investors are focused on finances, but the struggling department store may benefit more from studying its rival’s retail chops.

    By • Dec. 19, 2024
  • A blond-haired person walks past a store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Bloomingdale’s adds fulfillment option for luxury DTC brands

    Shoppers can check on the availability of products via a DTC company’s website and pick up their order at a nearby Bloomingdale’s store.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 18, 2024
  • With puffy clouds in a blue sky, bushes surround a store with the name "JC Penney" in white letters. The store entrance is a brick arch.
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    "JC Penney" by Mike Mozart is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    J.C. Penney loss narrows in Q3 as sales declines continue

    The department store has more flexibility than others attempting a turnaround, but ongoing top-line weakness clouds its longer-term prospects.

    By • Dec. 18, 2024
  • Taylor Swift book promotion for Target.
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    Courtesy of Target
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    5 retailers that need a great 2024 holiday season

    Some companies are coming off a tough quarter, while others switched leadership or are dealing with changing consumer behavior. But all of these retailers need a W. 

    By • Dec. 17, 2024
  • People walking by stores and crossing the street in a city, with a small red car in a wide crosswalk.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Deep Dive

    Nordstrom and Macy’s abandoned the ‘retail inventory method’ after using it for decades. Here’s why.

    The accounting practice, embraced by department stores in the 1920s, is outdated, skews key metrics and fosters bad decisions, analysts say.

    By • Dec. 16, 2024
  • An exterior sign on a Macy's store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Macy’s speeds up store closures to amp up turnaround

    The retailer also said that for nearly three years an employee hid about $151 million in delivery expenses but that the fraud didn’t affect sales.

    By • Dec. 11, 2024
  • Puffy clouds and green trees frame a suburban department store building.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Under new ownership, Lord & Taylor revives old logo and comeback dreams

    The chief strategy officer at Regal Brands Global, which now runs the venerable department store, talks to Retail Dive about what comes next.

    By • Dec. 10, 2024
  • Shoppers walk through a Macy's department store on Black Friday. A sign reads, "Give Love."
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    Kamil Krzaczynski via Getty Images
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    How retailers prepped their supply chains for 2024’s holiday crunch

    Companies adjusted inventory and marketing strategies to accommodate the shorter Black Friday to Christmas timeframe.

    By Philip Neuffer • Dec. 10, 2024
  • Bloomingdale's flagship in New York City, at night.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Activist firms demand Macy’s consider options for Bloomingdale’s

    The department store is winding up the year as it began, with investors on its case — this time it's Barington Capital Group and Thor Equities.

    By • Dec. 9, 2024
  • Dark clouds over a store entrance. A brick-red exterior wall with a "Kohl's" sign.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Will Kohl’s have to close stores?

    Not long ago, in stark contrast to rival Macy’s, the department store was talking about expanding its fleet. That may be about to change, analysts say.

    By • Nov. 27, 2024
  • A lit-up department store with holiday decorations in front windows and entrance.
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    Courtesy of Nordstrom
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    Nordstrom nervous about the holidays despite healthy Q3

    A slowdown early in Q4 led to a very conservative upgrade in the retailer’s expectations. Meanwhile, there is still no update on the Nordstrom family’s take-private offer.

    By • Nov. 27, 2024
  • A leafy green bush sits in front of a reddish brick store against a bright blue sky, with the name Kohl's in white block letters.
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    "Kohl's" by Mike Mozart is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Amid setbacks in its turnaround, Kohl’s lowers guidance again

    Traffic, sales and profits declined in Q3, and the department store is reversing course in some areas after its tactics backfired.

    By • Nov. 26, 2024
  • Martha Stewart holds a football in a baking dish in a JCPenney ad
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    Courtesy of JCPenney
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    How J.C. Penney’s ‘Really Big Deal Reveals’ campaign is faring so far

    The retailer has been averaging 13% to 15% new customers each week during the campaign appearing in Amazon Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football.”

    By Jessica Deyo • Nov. 26, 2024
  • Gray clouds over a Kohl's store, with an entrance to Sephora.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Kohl’s names new CEO

    The department store has tapped Michaels CEO Ashley Buchanan to lead the retailer beginning early next year, replacing Tom Kingsbury.

    By • Nov. 25, 2024
  • A big red sign on the side of a large department store building.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Macy’s delays full Q3 report over millions in fraudulent expense accounting

    Starting in 2021 an employee hid $132 million to $154 million in delivery expenses, a disclosure overshadowing an otherwise decent quarter.

    By • Nov. 25, 2024
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Target extends store hours for the holidays, Nuuly launches ‘The Thrift Shop’

    The mass merchant will be open from 7 a.m. to midnight from Nov. 30 to Dec. 23, while the subscription company debuted a perk for discounted styles.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Nov. 15, 2024
  • Nordstrom app
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    Retrieved from Nordstrom on November 13, 2024
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    Nordstrom leverages generative AI for holiday app refresh

    Among the new app features are trend reports, which blend the expertise of Nordstrom stylists with artificial intelligence to deliver relevant trends. 

    By Aaron Baar • Nov. 15, 2024
  • A store's mall entrance, with a plant in the foreground.
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    Courtesy of Dillard's
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    Dillard’s keeps the focus on expenses in Q3 as sales edge down

    Compared to some rivals, the department store is less dependent on the holiday quarter when it comes to the year’s operating profits.

    By • Nov. 14, 2024
  • Actress Alison Brie wearing a red suit looking over her left shoulder.
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    Courtesy of Macy's
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    Macy’s taps actress Alison Brie for holiday campaign

    The spots, which depict Brie embodying the human version of the department store’s annual gift guide, will air across TV, digital and social channels.

    By Howard Ruben • Oct. 29, 2024
  • A person wearing a pink sweater that says "Minnie" and a striped skirt with ears on their head.
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    Courtesy of Macy's
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    Macy’s, Disney collaborate for the holidays with new collection and shop-in-shops

    Disney will have shop-in-shops in 200 locations, including the department store’s iconic Herald Square flagship in New York City. 

    By Howard Ruben • Oct. 18, 2024
  • The exterior of H&M's pop-up in New York City's Nolita neighborhood. There are metallic silver mannequins in the window with a red background.
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    Courtesy of H&M
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Foot Locker partners with the Chicago Bulls, H&M pops up in New York

    The footwear retailer’s deal includes a series of community events, in-store activations and more, while the apparel retailer’s pop-up store runs for two months.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Oct. 18, 2024
  • A person wearing a bright pink Naadam cashmere sweater from its "Soft Collection" at Kohl's
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    Courtesy of Naadam
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    Kohl’s adds digitally native cashmere brand Naadam to its assortment

    The brand’s “Soft Collection,” which is its first designed for a mass channel, will land in 100 of the department store’s locations and online on Nov. 8.

    By Howard Ruben • Updated Oct. 17, 2024
  • Martha Stewart poses alongside her JCPenney 2024 Holiday Collection.
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    Courtesy of JCPenney
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    J.C. Penney’s holiday playbook: Deals, in-store experiences and Martha Stewart

    The embattled department store is leaning into its successful “Really Big Deal Reveals” campaign and bringing back a nostalgic giveaway. 

    By Jessica Deyo • Oct. 17, 2024
  • A Christmas tree with red and gold ornaments and decorative lights in the background is pictured.
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    Liliboas via Getty Images
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    Consumers to shop at discount department stores this holiday

    In response to higher costs, shoppers will spend more time looking for deals this season, according to an ICSC survey. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 17, 2024
  • The outside of the Macy's store in Herald Square in NYC during the holidays.
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    Kaarin Vembar/Retail Dive
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    Macy’s to feature local businesses in holiday market at Herald Square

    The department store will bring hot chocolate and other vendors to its iconic flagship as it adds more newness to its own assortment.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 17, 2024