physical retail

A Wall Street Journal report says retailers' tighter anti-theft measures in physical stores have pushed gift-card scammers online instead. Fraudsters are now targeting shoppers through fake websites, phishing messages and manipulated digital gift-card codes, bypassing in-store security that made traditional theft harder. Retailers and security experts are grappling with how to stop fraud that has shifted to channels harder to police.

A new practical guide examines how digital signage works in retail environments, breaking down what store operators need to know about deploying screens for advertising, wayfinding, and promotions. The piece covers implementation considerations for retailers weighing investment in display technology. The topic continues to draw attention as physical stores look for tools to compete with e-commerce and improve the in-store customer experience.

Teradyne Robotics has announced a partnership with German AI startup Sereact aimed at scaling physical AI solutions for the retail and logistics industries. The collaboration pairs Teradyne's robotics hardware with Sereact's AI-driven manipulation software, with the goal of enabling robots to handle a wider range of tasks in warehouses and stores. Details on financial terms and rollout timelines were not included in the initial announcement.

Emirates has opened the Emirates Travel Store Tokyo in Otemachi, expanding its retail presence in Japan. The store gives travellers in Tokyo a physical location to book flights and access Emirates services. The opening comes as interest in the airline grows among Japanese travellers, and searches for the carrier have risen in Japan.

Princess Polly's flagship store in New York's SoHo is being highlighted as a case study in how climate risk considerations are shaping retail decisions. The story examines how the fashion retailer's physical presence in Manhattan intersects with climate-related planning, resilience and sustainability concerns for brick-and-mortar stores.

Seoul-based AI mapping startup neer has raised a seed funding round. The company builds location technology that links products and places featured by online creators to physical stores, aiming to convert creator recommendations into in-store sales. The funding will likely support development of its mapping tools and partnerships with creators and retailers as it works to prove the model commercially.

The Home Furnishings Association published a piece on how furniture retailers use visual merchandising technology to carry the showroom experience beyond physical stores. It examines how digital tools help retailers tell a product's story online, connect displays with e-commerce, and keep customers engaged after they leave the showroom floor. The item is directed at furniture industry retailers exploring technology adoption.

SKIMS, the shapewear and apparel brand owned by Kim Kardashian, has opened its first store in Boston. The launch marks a retail expansion for the company, which has largely grown through online sales and pop-ups, and gives shoppers in the city a physical location to browse its expanding range of loungewear and basics.

Kroger has announced plans to open 110 new stores as it expands a retail strategy centred on fresh food offerings. The US supermarket chain's growth plan signals renewed investment in physical locations, with a focus on fresh produce and grocery categories at the heart of its expansion.

Bank of America has opened its first financial centers in Wisconsin, marking its initial physical retail presence in the state. The bank also announced plans to enter Alabama and Louisiana in 2027. The moves are part of a broader push to widen its branch network in new markets, giving customers in these states access to in-person banking services for the first time.

Retail Technology Innovation Hub rounded up its most read retail technology articles of the past week, with immersive in-store physical activations and AI-powered customer experiences topping the list. The roundup highlights continued industry interest in blending digital technology with physical retail spaces, as brands invest in experiential formats and artificial intelligence to engage shoppers and drive footfall.

Retail TouchPoints reports that the next generation of interactive stores will not rely on customers physically engaging with screens or displays. The piece signals a shift toward touch-free retail technology, likely involving sensors, gesture control or automation. The claim itself carries no further detail in the available evidence, so the specifics of the technology and its rollout remain unstated.

Adidas says it is focusing on retail fundamentals such as store experience, inventory management and product mix to generate what the company calls meaningful growth. The sportswear giant's retail-first approach is drawing attention as brands reassess physical stores alongside e-commerce. Industry observers see the strategy as a sign Adidas is prioritising sustainable, steady expansion after a period of turbulence.

Online fashion retailer Revolve has opened a store at Aventura Mall in Florida, expanding its physical retail footprint in the United States. The move marks the brand's entry into the Florida market, bringing its curated selection of womenswear, footwear and accessories to shoppers in the Miami area as it continues a broader push into brick-and-mortar locations.

Activewear brand Beyond Yoga says it intends to open 'many' physical retail locations, with yellow expected to be a signature color of the store design. The expansion marks a shift toward brick-and-mortar presence for the brand, which has primarily grown through wholesale partnerships and e-commerce. Retail watchers see it as part of a broader push by athleisure labels to build direct-to-consumer storefronts.

South Korean online fashion sellers are expanding into brick-and-mortar retail, opening stores in the Hannam and Seongsu districts of Seoul to compete on in-person customer experience. Among the moves is a flagship 'W Hannam' store in Hannam-dong built around a W concept. The shift reflects growing competition among e-commerce fashion brands to offer tangible shopping experiences as online sales growth matures.

Retail TouchPoints examines how brands turn in-store activations, such as pop-ups, into measurable business payoff. The piece highlights what separates successful brand activations from forgettable ones, focusing on execution in physical retail spaces. It reflects ongoing retailer interest in experiential marketing as brands seek ways to drive foot traffic and sales beyond e-commerce.

Better Source candy brand Better Sour is pursuing a retail-first strategy for its better-for-you sweets, according to New Hope Network. The approach prioritizes placement in physical stores to build awareness and distribution in the growing functional and low-sugar candy category, rather than leading with e-commerce.