The Backroom with Retail Dive

E-commerce keeps growing because it’s easier to shop online. To survive, brick and mortar needs a good reason, too.

Under a new CEO, the iconic department store is fielding a $6.6 billion takeover offer, closing another 150 stores and fighting to stay relevant.

Businesses face new ethical questions and must act with more transparency in what corporate integrity expert Alison Taylor calls an increasingly turbulent world.

When the National Retail Federation retracted a theft claim following our coverage of its special report on crime, the news went viral. Here's what it took to get the story.

2023 was rough for many companies. Ahead, the sector could see more bankruptcies and C-suite shakeups as brands continue to grapple with profitability.

The retail and branding expert discusses the state of the consumer, the habits companies should leave behind in 2023 and what lies ahead in the new year.

The earnings metric is widely used despite critics. But how does its usage vary across brands, and how much leeway do companies have with it?

With the first sales events of the season already come and gone, the team looks at the clues of how it will go this year.

A journalist’s new book "Glossy" makes waves as it pulls back the curtain on Glossier founder Emily Weiss and the beauty brand that changed the industry.

The team talks about the latest second-quarter results from brands as the holidays quickly approach.

One of the most prolific journalists covering the retail industry leverages his deep sourcing and lively writing style for an in-depth book about Amazon versus Walmart.

The team talks about the realities of the backlash, including who is fomenting it and how other retailers’ Pride campaigns stack up.

Discretionary goods are a low priority amid an uncertain economy and a desire to spend on experiences, but retailers are holding their own. What about the rest of 2023?

The retailer bought, and sold off, several digital natives including Bonobos and Eloquii. The team discusses what this signals about the company's game plan.

The team talks about the treasure trove of information on the department store’s financial health, found thanks to a tip from one of its new owners.

The team chats about how Hermès' legal win impacts retail at large, and why Mason Rothschild plans to appeal.

The team introduces new co-host Dani James and talks about emerging changes in the DTC space and the ongoing importance of brick and mortar.

What retailers should know about the realities of the metaverse and more futuristic observations from the retail prophet.

The team sits down to discuss what recent events suggest about this year's unpredictable shopping season.

What can we learn about the industry as a whole by looking at its weakest players?

Retailers are taking on a new challenge likely to define the 2022 season: inflation.

Backroom co-host Ben Unglesbee discusses his recent trip to one of the few remaining Sears stores in the country.

Retailers know they have an important role in addressing climate change. But navigating sustainability is riddled with challenges.

Led by former J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson, the “commerce-at-home” company has suffered from constrained supply and high costs. Note: This conversation was recorded prior to Enjoy Technology's June 30 bankruptcy filing.

Rising food and gas prices are causing consumers to pull back on discretionary spending. That hurt retailers in the first quarter.