Shopping

Holiday Return Policies: What Shoppers Need to Know Holiday shopping comes with plenty of deadlines, but one detail consumers should not overlook this year is the fine print on store return policies. As retailers prepare for the 2026 holiday shopping season, shoppers should pay close attention to return windows, refund requirements, restocking fees and special

How Companies Use AI to Make You Spend More Money Artificial intelligence is changing how companies set prices, market products and influence consumer spending. From grocery stores and online retailers to airlines, hotels and ride-sharing services, businesses are increasingly using sophisticated algorithms to analyze consumer behavior, predict demand and determine how much customers may be

SKIMS Responds to $148 Advent Calendar Backlash With Refunds Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS is facing widespread criticism after its $148 holiday advent calendar sparked outrage among customers who questioned whether the products inside were worth the hefty price tag. Following viral unboxing videos and complaints across social media, the company has responded by offering customers a

Starbucks Bearista Cup Returns Starbucks is giving customers another chance to get their hands on one of its most popular holiday collectibles. The coffee giant has officially announced the return of its viral Bearista Glass Cold Cup, along with an entirely new collection of mystery Bearista cups arriving at U.S. coffeehouses this November. The announcement,

Is H-E-B Really Better? H-E-B has built a reputation that goes far beyond groceries. From fresh tortillas and store-brand snacks to prepared meals, competitive prices and a strong connection to Texas communities, the supermarket chain has become a household name for millions of shoppers. But is everything actually better at H-E-B, or has the grocery

Walmart’s Digital Price Tags: Because Apparently, Grocery Shopping Needed More Surveillance Remember when you could walk into a grocery store, look at a price tag, and know what something cost? Those were simpler times. You picked up a gallon of milk, checked the price, decided whether it was worth the money, and moved on with

Why Retailers Are Cutting Products Retailers are cutting back on the number of products they sell as companies look for ways to improve profitability, manage inventory and stabilize their businesses. From Dollar General to Under Armour, businesses across different retail sectors are reassessing their merchandise selections and deciding which products deserve space on store shelves

Holiday Decorations Arrive Earlier Each Year Christmas is once again making an early appearance in stores across the country, with retailers putting holiday decorations, merchandise and seasonal promotions on shelves well before Thanksgiving. The trend, often called “Christmas creep,” refers to the increasingly early start of the holiday shopping season. While Christmas displays once typically

Target Faces Backlash Target is facing backlash after a children’s clown costume sold by the retailer drew criticism from consumers who said its design resembled racist caricatures of Black people. The controversy quickly spread online, with critics questioning how the costume made it through the company’s product review process and ultimately appeared on store shelves.

Retail Sales Drop U.S. retail sales fell sharply in July, posting their biggest monthly decline in more than a year as Americans pulled back on purchases at auto dealers, online retailers and gas stations. U.S. retail sales unexpectedly declined in July, marking the largest monthly drop in more than a year and raising fresh questions

Halloween Is Arriving Earlier Than Ever As Retailers Turn Summer Into “Spooky Season” “For many shoppers, Halloween is no longer a one-day event. It has become a retail season that starts months before October 31.” Halloween is creeping further into the summer, and retailers are wasting little time getting consumers into the spooky spirit. Across

Mind the Gap: My Horrible Experience With Nike Mind and a Shoe That Couldn’t Get the Basics Right I wanted to love the Nike Mind. Actually, after everything Nike put consumers through just to get a pair, I expected to love it. The Nike Mind 001 and Mind 002 arrived surrounded by the kind of

Outlet Stores and Bargains Outlet malls have long been a favorite destination for shoppers hoping to score designer brands at deeply discounted prices. For years, the appeal was simple: retailers used outlet stores to sell excess inventory, discontinued products, or last season’s merchandise at a fraction of the original cost. Today, that shopping experience has

Florida Tax Holiday 2026 Florida families can begin back-to-school shopping today without paying state sales tax on many essential items, as the state’s annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday officially gets underway. The tax break, which runs from July 20 through Aug. 20, is designed to help parents, students, and teachers save money as they prepare

Saks Bankruptcy Exit Strategy Saks Global has officially emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy after completing a court approved financial restructuring that significantly reduces its debt and provides new capital for future growth. As part of the restructuring, the company has adopted a new corporate name, Exemplar Luxury Group (ELG), while continuing to operate its well

Swatch Audemars Piguet Chaos The launch of the Royal Pop collection from Swatch and Audemars Piguet triggered intense crowds and widespread chaos across major cities this weekend, as shoppers rushed to secure the limited-edition release. The collaboration merges Swatch’s playful, accessible design approach with the visual identity of Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak lineage, creating a

Amazon Now 30-Minute Delivery Amazon is rolling out a new ultra-fast delivery service called “Amazon Now” in the United States, aiming to deliver everyday essentials to customers in as little as 30 minutes. The move represents a significant escalation in the company’s push into instant retail, tightening competition with grocery delivery apps and on-demand logistics

Retail Chains Renovation 2026 The death of brick-and-mortar retail has been predicted for more than a decade. Yet in 2026, some of America’s largest chains are moving in the opposite direction, pouring billions into physical stores in a high-stakes attempt to win back frustrated shoppers and compete with the relentless convenience of e-commerce. Retail giants

Handbags to Jewelry A structural shift is reshaping the global luxury economy, and it is being driven by the people with the most money to spend. Affluent consumers are increasingly moving away from high-end handbags and toward fine jewelry, signaling a deeper recalibration in how wealth, value, and risk are being understood in volatile markets.

Crying Horse Toy Viral A small factory mistake has turned into a massive online moment in China, all centered around a plush horse that looks unexpectedly sad. The toy was originally designed as a cheerful Lunar New Year product, meant to celebrate good fortune and optimism. Instead, a subtle manufacturing error gave the horse a