Global insights on omnichannel retail and commerce from the Doing Business in Bentonville Staff Report Team—expert analysis and trends shaping Bentonville’s role in the future of business.
A wave of major factory projects — from semiconductor fabs to automotive and pharmaceutical plants — is advancing in 2026, underscoring renewed industrial investment in U.S. manufacturing.
Shippers are focusing on high‑priority SKUs and tailored planning rather than broad stockpiling as the 2026 Lunar New Year approaches, with varied factory shutdowns and logistics conditions across Asia driving precision strategies.
Shoppers are moderating e‑commerce spending as budget pressures and omnichannel preferences grow, prompting retailers to rethink digital strategies.
Target has appointed former Nike and HanesBrands executives to its board of directors as part of a governance refresh ahead of a major CEO transition in 2026.
Placer.ai identifies Salt Lake City, Reno, Indianapolis, Raleigh and Tampa as the top U.S. metros for retail and dining growth in 2026, based on population increases and strong consumer traffic trends.
The U.S. economy grew at a 4.4% annualized rate in Q3 2025, the fastest expansion in two years, driven by strong consumer spending, exports and business investment.
Procter & Gamble beat EPS estimates but missed revenue expectations in Q2 2026, prompting a downward revision to its full‑year fiscal outlook amid ongoing cost and demand pressures.
OpenAI is planning to launch its first physical AI device in late 2026, potentially a screenless, pocketable product that extends its AI expertise into consumer hardware.
Markets turned jittery as renewed tariff threats and geopolitical uncertainty drove up volatility and pushed investors toward safe‑haven assets.
Nike is revamping its regional leadership team, with Carl Grebert retiring and Angela Dong departing, as part of CEO Elliott Hill’s broader turnaround strategy to boost global performance.
Meijer teams up with WellSync to offer affordable $29.99 telehealth visits for common health needs via its website and pharmacy app.
Michaels is aggressively targeting the market share left by Party City and Joann bankruptcies, expanding party and fabric offerings across its store network under CEO David Boone’s strategy.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says tariff‑driven costs are starting to show up in product prices as inventory buffers run out, signaling potential price hikes for online shoppers.
Explore the latest funding trends in US retail startups for 2025-2026 and understand why targeting these newly funded companies offers unique growth opportunities for partners and vendors.
Tote.ai raises $22.6 million to replace outdated POS systems in convenience retail with a unified AI-native platform, enhancing real-time operations, payments, and customer engagement.
GameStop will close 470 U.S. stores by the end of January, impacting major states including New York, California, and Texas.