Sharon Edelson

plusOne is riding a wave of consumer interest in intimate wellness.Courtesy of plusOne Maria Warrington is the perfect evangelist for sexual wellness.

Maesa Magic, a beauty brand incubator, is seeking three founders for its 2027 program, offering $35,000 in no-strings-attached funding and tailored guidance. Applications are now open for this initiative, which began in 2023 and has since provided $315,000 to nine founders, helping grow brands like Kristin Ess Hair. CEO Piyush Jain emphasizes a hands-on, customized approach, prioritizing founders with authentic personal experiences and strong mindsets, passion, and resilience. The program specifically supports beauty and wellness entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities, including women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, differently abled, seniors, and those from low-income backgrounds, whose brands generate under $1 million annually.

The apparel rental market is notoriously difficult, with Rent the Runway struggling and major brands exiting. Yet, Hauteline, a rental-retail hybrid, has found success by tackling high operational costs. Cofounders Kristie Chow, a former software engineer, and Michelle Li, a banker, leveraged their non-fashion backgrounds and shared interest to build a unique model. They started by curating clothes from various sources, targeting a "downtown girl" aesthetic. Opening a physical store proved pivotal, transforming their concept into a successful rental-retail hybrid. Hauteline now serves young women who prioritize style over newness, catering to both high-end buyers and those seeking affordable rentals.

Consumer frustration with AI is growing. This disillusionment, exacerbated by economic uncertainty, is making consumers more pragmatic and risk-averse.

Claire's is overhauling its core piercing business to appeal to modern Gen Alpha girls, particularly 10-year-olds. The revamp includes upgraded associate training, enhanced clinical safety protocols with FDA-registered devices, and a new lavender-themed in-store experience. Jillian Cueff, Chief Merchandising Officer, highlights Claire's unique position in the mall piercing market despite growing competition, aiming to create a "playground for girlhood." The company, which has pierced 131 million ears, is introducing new styles like lab-grown diamonds and offering free piercing with kit purchases starting at $29.99. New store elements feature interactive earring bars, comfort items, and selfie mirrors, alongside curated toys and viral products. Despite past bankruptcies, Claire's is now focused on driving revenue, profit, and delivering a "surprise and delight" customer experience by elevating style, quality, and value across its 900 stores.

Yoto, the audio platform that lets kids explore stories, music and learning, is expanding its footprint at Target Corp. and moving from the electronics aisle into Target's Play section nationwide.

Continuing to build on its mantra of “Yes, JCPenney,” the long-suffering mid-priced retailer continues to hone its marketing message and assortment

Seel, an AI-driven operations platform for commerce, today launched a new resale capability within its order center that allows shoppers to recover value from their gently used clothes when they’re no longer eligible for a return or refund from the retailer once that window has closed.

Walmart Inc. announced its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2027 and retail analysts were not impressed, despite some impressive metrics.

A customer shops at a Target store in Austin, Texas. The ongoing U.S.-Canada tariff war is taking a toll on consumers, who are concerned about the