retail

At some point, the biggest American companies are going to tell their employees it’s time to leave home and return to work.

The coronavirus pandemic is shining a light on U.S. department stores’ dependence on selling fashion and their lateness to adapt in today’s retail environment. Not only are a number filing for bankruptcy, but some, including the oldest in the nation, are liquidating entirely. One by one, the categories that have defined department stores for decades have been seized by other types of...

The coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on many retailers, pushing dozens into bankruptcy, and it will now prompt the clothing subscription company Rent the Runway to shut all of its stores for good.  Rent the Runway told CNBC it is making the decision in order to focus its investments on digital and adding more drop boxes for customers.  Its New...

The operator of Ann Taylor and Lane Bryant filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Thursday, the latest retailer to do so during the pandemic.

New York & Co. parent company RTW Retailwinds announced Monday it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and plans to permanently close most, if not all, of its stores.  The company said it has kicked off liquidation sales already, with about 92% of its bricks-and-mortar locations back open during the coronavirus pandemic. It said it is evaluating potentially selling its...

The online retailer Shein has apologized for selling a swastika necklace on its website. Adam Shear, associate professor of religious studies at the University of Pittsburgh, explains the history and changing meaning of the swastika and how ignorance of history and religion may have contributed to what the company called a “gigantic mistake.”

Brooks Brothers, the 200-year-old company that dressed nearly every U.S. president, is filing for bankruptcy protection

Microsoft on Friday announced it will permanently close its Microsoft Store retail locations. It will instead focus on its online store at Microsoft.com, where customers can go for support, sales, training and more. Microsoft said its retail team members will help on the website instead of in store. A Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC that all Microsoft employees will have the opportunity to stay...

Kids clothing retailer The Children’s Place announced plans to close 300 stores by the end of 2021 as the company looks to reduce its brick-and-mortar footprint to focus on e-commerce.

For weeks Samantha Clarke calmly listened to the insults and threats directed daily at her and her employees by people who learned they couldn’t enter the Modesto, California, store without wearing a mask and following other coronavirus-related rules. But never, says the 17-year veteran of retail sales, did she expect she’d be sucker-punched and knocked to the floor, blood...

During Walmart’s earnings call this week, CEO Doug McMillon said the big-box retailer has seen different phases of shopping during the coronavirus pandemic. First, he said, customers stockpiled food and household essentials. Later, they sought out items that helped them work, learn and entertain themselves during long days at home.  In the final weeks of April, another trend emerged: Customers were...

U.S. retail sales plummeted 8.7% in March, a record drop as the viral outbreak closed down thousands of stores and shoppers stayed home

Consumer spending tumbled a record 16.4% in April as the backbone of the U.S. economy retrenched amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to a government report Friday.

It was another onslaught of bad news from America’s department store chains this week. And that likely will not be letting up anytime soon.  Luxury chain Neiman Marcus filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, while Lord & Taylor is reportedly looking to liquidate its stores as soon as they are able to reopen again. Nordstrom said it is permanently closing 16...

Struggling fashion brand J

Some North Texas malls are preparing to reopen on Friday after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott lifted restrictions on shopping centers. In the state of Texas, malls can re-open May 1 so long as they limit occupancy to 25%.

Many North Texas shopping malls re-opened their doors May 1. NBC 5 went to Grapevine Mills mall to see if shoppers were out and how mall operators were working to keep everyone safe.

Some North Texas malls are preparing to reopen on Friday after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott lifted restrictions on shopping centers. In the state of Texas, malls can re-open May 1 so long as they limit occupancy to 25%.

Clothing apparel company J. Crew is preparing for a bankruptcy filing that could come as soon as this weekend, people familiar with the matter tell CNBC. Privately held J. Crew is working to secure $400 million in financing to fund operations in bankruptcy, said the people, who requested anonymity because the information is confidential. They cautioned that timing could still…