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Nike expects more pain as external headwinds complicate its turnaround plan: The company forecast a mid-teens drop in quarterly sales as inventory struggles and tariffs take their toll.

Wayfair to open a 150,000-square-foot store in Atlanta: The retailer鈥檚 physical stores act as three-dimensional billboards, driving sales by keeping the brand front-of-mind.

The news: Darden Restaurants鈥� sales were softer than expected for the quarter ended February 23鈥攁 result the company attributed to poor weather, though it may also reflect growing consumer caution amid uncertainty. Darden鈥檚 acquisition of Tex-Mex restaurant chain Chuy鈥檚 drove a 6.2% YoY increase in net sales to $3.16 billion, but that was less than the $3.21 billion forecast by LSEG鈥檚 analyst poll.

Some Kohl鈥檚 stores no longer accept Amazon returns: The move, which the retailer says is a temporary test, suggests the partnership may have fallen short of expectations.

9% of Amazon shoppers plan to participate in retailer boycott: The spending blackout is unlikely to stick as Amazon鈥檚 convenience makes it indispensable to shoppers.

Just 11% of the retailer鈥檚 US sales in 2024 came from ecommerce, the company said in its bankruptcy filing. Forever 21 has also failed to keep pace with shifting consumer tastes and connect with would-be shoppers on social media, causing it to lose relevance even as other mall brands like Abercrombie & Fitch find new life.

North American retail net sales dropped 7% to $3.0 billion, below the expected $3.08 billion, driven by lower volume and unfavorable price realization and mix. The company鈥檚 divestiture of its Canada yogurt business also shaved 1% off net sales. Adjusted per-share profit fell 15% in constant currency to $1.00, though it still beat analyst estimates of 96 cents.

As a result, sales are under serious pressure: C-store sales volumes fell 4.3% YoY in the 12 months ended February 23, per Circana data reported in The Journal. Growth avenues: Both 7-Eleven and Couche-Tard are leaning into prepared food and beverage options to get customers through the door, which is helping to somewhat offset severe sales declines in other categories.

Grocery sales shifting online is a lasting legacy of the pandemic: We expect 13.7% of grocery sales to occur online this year, more than double the 6.2% share in prepandemic 2019.

Hudson鈥檚 Bay looks to liquidate its stores: While the pandemic dealt a severe blow to its sales, the escalating US-Canada trade war may have delivered the final hit.

US restaurant sales rose just 1.5% YoY in February: That鈥檚 one of the troubling signs in February鈥檚 weaker-than-expected retail sales numbers.

The news: PepsiCo is acquiring prebiotic soda company Poppi for $1.95 billion, as it looks to 鈥渂etter for you鈥� products to inject some fizz into stagnating sales. The market opportunity: The acquisition reflects a broader shift in consumption patterns.

Shoppers worldwide are flocking to online marketplaces and social commerce for convenience, variety, and competitive pricing. While price remains key, brand trust is becoming a major factor in certain markets. As these platforms drive discovery and sales, brands must adapt to stay competitive. Here are three ways digital shopping habits are evolving among consumers worldwide.

Toys and hobby sales have normalized after a pandemic-era spike, though some brands are still flying high. Here鈥檚 what to expect from the industry this year.

Ulta lost beauty market share for the first time in 2024: The retailer is relying on a new marketplace, enhanced omnichannel experiences, and international expansion to recover sales.

This is the first installment of our 鈥淩etail and Ecommerce Sales Benchmarks鈥� series, which helps retailers calibrate their sales mix against the market.

Target isn鈥檛 sitting still amid challenges: It鈥檚 bringing back Target Circle Week to boost sales and memberships now while planning 300 store openings over the next decade.

Dollar General鈥檚 Q4 same-store growth was entirely attributable to shoppers buying more consumables, which currently account for 82% of the retailer鈥檚 sales mix. Sales in the home, seasonal, and apparel categories declined in the same period. That shift has allowed the retailer to grow its grocery share, but at the expense of its profit margin, which fell eight basis points YoY to 29.4%.

David鈥檚 Bridal is the latest retailer to rely on a third-party marketplace to shore up sales: Like Walmart and Best Buy, it adopts an 鈥渁sset-light鈥� model to expand inventory鈥攁nd ad sales鈥攚hile minimizing expenses.

Kohl鈥檚 expects comparable sales to decline up to 6% this year: Strong macroeconomic headwinds make it difficult for the struggling department store to chart a new path forward.

Dick鈥檚 Sporting Goods had its best holiday quarter on record: While Q4 comparable sales soared past expectations, the retailer is tempering its outlook due to geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty.