Consumer spend on generative AI apps hit nearly $1.1B in 2024: report
Similarly, finance apps, led by the popularity of digital wallets and mobile banking, saw 8% YoY download growth to 7.5 billion and a 21% increase in time spent.
This February, a streamlined New York Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2025 schedule awaits
Other debuts on the schedule include Leblanc Studios, the Dominican label founded in 2014 by Angelo Beato and Yamil Arbaje, and Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen, which has, until now, held intimate, buzzy off-schedule presentations.
2025 in fashion-tech: More human, more automated
âIn 2025, weâll see a decisive shift from pilot projects to full-scale generative AI deployments, with a focus on practical applications that drive real business outcomes.â He adds that consumers will expect more âhuman-likeâ shopping experiences and that 2025 will see a flood of chatbots, voice assistants and other AI-informed recommendations personalised to individual shoppers.
Academy Sports and Outdoors reduces China reliance by 20%
Sportswear retailer Academy Sports and Outdoors has cut down on the percentage of goods it sources from China, saying that lessening the companyâs reliance on a single country âbest positionsâ the business for the years ahead, CFO Carl Ford said during a Dec. 10 earnings call.
What the Kantamanto Market fire means for sustainable fashion
A devastating fire broke out at Ghanaâs Kantamanto Market in the early hours of 2 January, leaving thousands of clothing recycling and upcycling businesses displaced â and thrusting fashionâs lack of alternative waste handling options back into the spotlight.
Fashion Workers Act signed into law in New York
The act will ultimately boost labor protections in an industry âthat was previously not subject to them with dire consequences and an environment that can be ripe for exploitation,â said Carla Varriale-Barker, shareholder of law firm Segal McCambridge.
Why Refy is launching skincare
In 2022, the brand introduced a bodycare line, and in January 2024, Refy expanded into fashion with a limited-edition drop of T-shirts, hoodies, accessories and lifestyle items.
These 5 retailers closed stores in 2024
However, due in part to the fact that stores are increasingly serving as fulfillment centers for same or next-day pickup or delivery, the industry is far from morphing into a post-store era, UBS said.
Big Lotsâ new deal could keep up to 400 stores open
Following a failed deal to sell itself to Nexus Capital Management, Big Lots announced store closures and initiated going-out-of-business sales in a move the company said would help protect the value of its assets.
Destination XL gets offer to go private
âIt's frustrating to be talking about the macro environment once again in Q3, but our customers are still holding very tight to their wallets,â CEO Harvey Kanter said during an earnings call in late November, according to a transcript.
The Saks-Neiman merger is on
Here, sheâll lead Saks Globalâs go-to-market strategy by aligning key commercial functions to enhance the customer experience and drive revenue, according to the company.
The Container Store files for bankruptcy, but itâs business as usual
In a statement Sunday, Container Store President and CEO Satish Malhotra said the new strategy is sound, and thanked the companyâs employees, customers, vendors and partners, who he said âclearly see the strong potential in our business.â
Gap launches elevated subbrand designed by Zac Posen
So far this year, it has collaborated with movie franchises and studios such as âWicked,â âStar Warsâ and Disney, as well as with apparel brands including Cult Gaia, DĂŽen and Palace.
Pelotonâs new app is focused on strength training
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Foot Lockerâs loyalty revamp shows early signs of success
âWe saw some of our highest conversion increases in stores year to date, speaking to how our initiatives around product, in-store experience and [associate] education and training are working on an enterprise level,â Dillon said during the call.
The business of Addison Rae
Raeâs ability to bridge this messy-chic Tumblr with more ânormcoreâ style elements (thanks, in part, to her Louisiana roots and early TikTok dance fame) enables her to click with a wide audience, experts agree.
How identity and urgency propelled email and text revenue across Black Friday and Cyber Monday
This Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM), we saw one thing loud and clear: triggered email and text messaging isnât just a tacticâitâs the engine driving e-commerce success.