Inflation, a looming recession, lower consumer spending—many fashion retailers are seeing the impact of these factors on their bottom line.

But Oak + Fort, a fashion and lifestyle brand from Vancouver, Canada, which started as an online-only brand in 2010, has grand expansion plans, starting with the re-opening of its store on New York City’s bustling Spring Street.

While the brand originally did open a location in New York back in 2016, it eventually shut down, although the retailer continued to have both online and physical presences—more than 27 stores with 20 locations in Canada and seven in the US.

“We were so particular with this site and how we envision building it out as well…As it’s a flagship, we wanted to offer something a little bit different [such as] building out the stainless steel materials, the bench that we provide for where customers can hang out or really relax and just take in and soak up the experience that we’re providing,” Oak + Fort’s SVP of operations, Melorin Pouladian, told Retail Brew. “We hope that every store will have a little bit of the community feel and the cool factor.”

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.

Macy’s is setting its sights on more small-format stores, while Toys R Us is betting big on fresh flagships, the companies announced this week.

Macy’s said it plans to expand its small-format store footprint with as many as 30 more locations, adding to the 15 small-format Macy’s and Bloomie’s stores the retailer has already opened. The expansion will begin next year and continue through fall 2025, Macy’s said, in off-mall locations in high-traffic areas, and in some cases replacing less productive stores.

The move is “one way we intend to harness the full power of the Macy’s brand to deliver sustainable, profitable sales growth for Macy’s, Inc. beginning in 2024,” Macy’s COO and CFO Adrian Mitchell said in a statement. Macy’s small-format locations are one-fifth the size of its department stores, with a curated mix of private label and branded products.

Keep reading here.—EC

Birkenstock, the shoe Barbie fans will remember as the ultimate symbol of the “real world,” is taking some real steps in the very real world of trading.

The German footwear brand is seeking a valuation of as much as $9.2 billion for its IPO, it announced on Monday.

The company is aiming to sell about 32 million shares priced from $44–$49 each, and raise roughly $1.58 billion, per a filing with the SEC.

The retailer filed to go public in September and reported it earned 187 million euros in the past year.

Keep reading here.—JS