Earlier this week, we told you all about Shein and Forever 21’s partnership under which Shein may open shop-in-shops at Forever 21 outlets.

And while that means US customers will soon be able to physically try on outfits from the trendy Chinese e-commerce retailer before buying them, it will also help Shein expand its reach within the country.

But is it a smart strategy, and will it benefit both retailers? Well, according to Claire Tassin, retail and e-commerce analyst at Morning Consult, the short answer is yes.

“Forever 21 stands to gain from Shein’s manufacturing speed that lets them respond to consumer trends incredibly quickly and draw in Shein’s still-loyal customers, reinvigorating the brand,” she told Retail Brew in an email, while also citing Morning Consult data that showed that most Americans prefer to shop for clothing in stores.

• About 52% of those surveyed said they preferred shopping in stores because it was a more enjoyable experience.
• Meanwhile, 49% of those who shopped in-stores did it because it was more convenient.

“The store channel is crucial if Shein wants to continue growing an audience beyond Gen Z shoppers as the brand’s popularity among this cohort is waning,” Tassin said.

Keep reading here.—JS

Tesla advertises its cars as having a smooth ride, but following the prices for its vehicles has been anything but. Tesla has dropped prices multiple times in 2023, and then in April, it raised the prices of its two most expensive models.

Now, automotive industry economists and experts are left wondering: Is there a method behind Tesla’s up-and-down pricing changes?

Check out this investigation from CFO Brew to find out how the nontraditional car manufacturer’s sales and market share are expected to evolve.

From the end of a family’s decades-long Revlon reign to a grocery CEO appointment 38 years in the making, August saw a slew of intriguing C-suite moves. These were the biggest ones to know:

• Revlon president and CEO Debra Perelman left her role with the cosmetics giant, with executive chair Elizabeth A. Smith succeeding her in the interim. Perelman’s father Ronald Perelman had majority ownership of Revlon from the mid-’80s until a deal with creditors earlier this year wiped out his ownership shares as part of the company’s financial restructuring.
• Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing’s international CEO and head of North America, Daisuke Tsukagoshi, will shift to become its COO.
• Walmart promoted Sam’s Club CEO Kathryn McLay to lead Walmart’s international division, taking over for Judith McKenna, who will be retiring after 27 years with the retailer.
• Carlos Abrams-Rivera, Kraft Heinz’s president of North American operations, will take over the CEO role, with the added role of president, on January 1. Outgoing CEO Miguel Patricio will move to non-executive chair of the board.

Keep reading here.—EC

Certain things in life are guaranteed: death, taxes…and retail store closures. But it’s part of the circle of life when it comes to physical retail: One store failure is an opportunity for another to thrive.

In fact, it’s projected that 50,000 brick and mortar stores could close between 2030 and 2027, but many others will jump at the chance to lure customers into those spaces. In 2021, the United States gained 11,000 more stores than it lost, but last year, closures outpaced openings by 1,500 as of Q3.

Here’s a quick snapshot of brick and mortar ribbon-cuttings and farewells in August.

Nordstrom

The department store chain closed its San Francisco flagship earlier this week, the next domino to fall in the city’s Union Square shopping district. Nordstrom made the announcement in May and cited declining foot traffic in the area.

• Other retailers that have shut down their operations in the area include Old Navy, Saks Off 5th, and Amazon Go.

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

The high-end DC-based furniture store announced it would shut down amid a tough economic climate, particularly among furniture retailers. The company will close all 24 of its locations, which will affect roughly 800 employees.

• Gold, who retired in 2019, told the Washington Post that when he left, “parts of [the company] were in good shape, and parts were not.”

Keep reading here.—KM

Today’s top retail reads.

Store bot: A generative AI-powered assistant is coming to Walmart to help 50,000 of its employees. (Retail Dive)

Ice cold: New York-based Big Gay Ice Cream that kicked off with an inclusive message went on to open seven outlets across the US. Now, it is down to one shop, as internal conflict builds. (the New York Times)

The little things: Sustainability is all the rage, and many beauty conglomerates are onboard, but creators are now dealing with a unique challenge: developing effective ingredients. (the Business of Fashion)

The write stuff: Writing for impact is one of the best skills you can have—no matter what industry you’re in. Let our Business Writing course teach you how it’s done. Register now.

Three of the stories below are real...and one is most definitely not. Can you spot the fake?

1. A high-end pizza restaurant in Rome is adding about $100 in additional “tax” to some customers’ bills if they complain about the food “too much.”
2. Martha Stewart says that shaking your iced coffee is OK in “lively social” settings, but people should stick to more “discreet shaking” in intimate ones.
3. The French government is paying farmers $216 million to destroy 80 million gallons of “surplus” wine.
4. Subway is launching a restaurant in a giant Subway-themed blimp that will make stops in several cities in the US and allow a few customers to dine in the air.

Keep reading for the answer.