Donate today and get a Marketplace mug -- perfect for all your liquid assets! Donate now

Latest round of layoffs at Gap Inc. reveal gaps in corporate strategy, analysts say

Apr 28, 2023
The company just announced it would cut 1,800 corporate jobs, in addition to 500 it eliminated last fall.
Gap’s interim CEO said in a statement that recent corporate layoffs are part of a strategy to simplify its operations.
Allison Dinner/Getty Images

What might happen to all that retail space Bed Bath & Beyond may soon abandon?

Apr 24, 2023
There may be more demand for the suburban real estate than there was for sheets and towels.
Bed Bath & Beyond is slated to begin shuttering nearly 360 storefronts across the country, and some landlords may use the opportunity to raise storefront rents.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Here’s why you can’t find 5-pound sugar bags anymore

Apr 24, 2023
The classic pantry staple can tell us a lot about competition in the grocery space and U.S. sugar policy.
Shed a tear for the 5-pound bag of sugar and make room for its lighter sibling.
Janet Nguyen/Marketplace

Why are Ikea and Costco expanding as other retailers close stores and lay off staff?

Apr 21, 2023
Opening new stores may be a way for some retailers to position themselves for both a downturn and a recovery.
Someone who once shopped at Crate & Barrel may now feel more comfortable on an Ikea budget, which could partially explain the retailer's expansion plan.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Layoffs signal retailers are adjusting to more sharp turns

Apr 17, 2023
Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy are cutting staff as consumers pull back on discretionary spending.
Retail sales had a weak showing in March, and stores like Best Buy and Walmart are laying off workers.
Ken Betancur/Getty Images

This small-business owner hopes she can stop keeping inventory in her garage

Apr 13, 2023
Ahead of March retail sales numbers, a Seattle candlemaker shares how her economy is doing.
People create their own candles at Noir Lux Candle Bar in Seattle.
Courtesy Colina Bruce

Water ruined his vinyl, but store owner gets by with a little help from his friends

Apr 12, 2023
Phillip Rollins, owner of OffBeat, says people saw him on the news and supported his shop by helping to clean up and dry things off.
"We had a fire next door and then we had a lot of flood damage due to that fire," said Phillip Rollins. "So we lost a lot of our used records."
Courtesy Phillip Rollins

For public good, not for profit.

No matter the economy, beauty sells

Mar 15, 2023
Consumers can’t get enough of makeup, skincare and hair products even as inflation persists and a potential recession looms.
Stubborn inflation and the threat of a recession may lead some shoppers to cut back on nonessential items, but that doesn’t apply to their favorite mascara or face mask.
Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Sephora

New location means smarter budgeting for Michigan retailer

Mar 10, 2023
Annie Lang-Hartman, owner of Wild Lettie, just signed the lease on a new location, hoping to expand her product offerings.
As Wild Lettie expands to three stores, there is a lot of work to do to set up shop.
Courtesy Annie Lang Hartman

Retailers say customers are focusing on essentials

Mar 6, 2023
Between inflation and a possibly looming recession, some big box stores are on edge.
Retailers are shifting focus to match inflation-weary customers' preferences for savings over slurging.
George Frey/Getty Images