#retail

People on here have posted that stores will be converted to indirect by this summer but no mention of this with upcoming layoff rumors.

We are going hours without customers here in the northeast. It’s becoming more often. Is anyone else experiencing this at their stores?

Multiple members of Belk’s top brass are quietly and quickly planning an exit strategy from the company. Some choosing to stay in the retail industry, while others choosing the leave the industry altogether. Retirement is a viable option for some. Know that business model of belk is antiquated and unsustainable.

Upon examining our retail outlets, I am compelled to express my reservations regarding the investment made in these products. The design appears to be a marketing strategy, potentially conceived by a marketing professional masquerading as a retailer. It is highly probable that these items are underperforming on a substantial scale. This raises the question of why we engage in such investments while simultaneously laying off genuine talent. There is no way these stores will ever compete with Apple. Now that Apple has rumored the imminent release of its AI glasses, it is only a matter of time before this becomes another failure.

I saw posts saying Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s picked a small set of test stores to open on Easter Sunday this year. A few mall sites actually showed it too, like Macy’s at Tysons Corner Center and both Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s at Westfield Century City being open that day. I get why they’d test this in high-traffic areas, but it still feels like a line moving in the wrong direction.

Belk has a history of following bigger retailers’ playbooks, so I’m worried this kind of “holiday creep” could spread. I really hope this stays limited and doesn’t become the new normal.

End of 2nd quarter I’m hearing.

Target began laying off corporate employees. The retailer cut 1,000 positions and eliminated 800 open roles. Affected staff received notices via email and virtual meetings. Employees were instructed to work remotely this week. This restructuring follows declining sales and profits.

https://ingstadmedia.com/target-layoffs-begin/

There are no paper towels to dry your hands with inside the employee bathrooms and in the break room. No hand soap to wash your hands. The employee bathrooms are filthy...the floor is black. It's disgusting to eat your lunch inside the store and even go to the bathroom....I rather go to Dillards next door where it's sparkling clean and they have automatic paper towels dispensers. oh and nice smelling hand soap too....One person to clean the whole entire store??? Please scrub down the floors and toilets....and aren't you embarrassed of how dirt fill your store is???? No wonder we have rats. Managers I encourage you to come eat and use our bathrooms?????? We literally have to bring our own soap and paper towels. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!

This was always going to be the result once John Pickett began operating a cable SMB division with a retail wireless mindset. A high-churn, transaction-driven model like that used by T-Mobile is fundamentally misaligned with the long-term value and service expectations of SMB customers. He should have stayed at T-mobile. ALL IN!!! Oh wait…. ALL OUT!

How do we keep carrying ugly inventory? Stuff that nobody wants and is straight dollar store quality. Who is sourcing all these cr-p items? Search Nike shoes and it’s 80% ugly tjmaxx stuff. Can we fire the team who keeps buying ugly sh-t nobody wants? How are we relevant if we keep selling stuff nobody wants???

Welcome to Truist, how many money market accounts can I sell to you today?

We Visited a New Target Store - Old Problems Persist

• By Teresa Rivas | Updated March 26, 2026*

A newly opened Target store in New Jersey offered a preview of the retailer’s ongoing challenges, highlighting familiar customer frustrations despite a fresh location.
Source: https://www.barrons.com/articles/target-circle-deal-sale-store-stock-04b5128f
During the store’s soft launch, shoppers were invited in nearly a week before the official grand opening. The event drew a larger-than-expected crowd through word of mouth, suggesting that Target still generates strong interest, even if its dominance in suburban areas has weakened over time.

At first glance, the store delivered a positive experience. It was well stocked, employees were friendly, and it included upgraded features such as an in-store optical center. However, a noticeable issue quickly emerged: a line forming at the returns desk.

The problem stemmed from a pricing error tied to Target’s Circle Deal Days promotion, which coincided with seasonal sales from Amazon and Walmart. Some promotions were valid for only a single day, but signage for a children’s clothing discount scheduled for Thursday was mistakenly displayed on Wednesday. Many customers overlooked the small-print date and expected the discount to apply immediately.

As a result, several shoppers approached customer service seeking price adjustments after the discounts failed to appear at checkout. Once informed of the error, many opted to return their purchases. Some reacted with humor, while others were clearly frustrated.

Target emphasized that improving the in-store experience remains a central priority. The company stated it is investing in staff, store operations, and technology to enhance customer satisfaction, and noted that the New Jersey location is one of approximately 30 new stores planned for this year.

Despite these efforts, broader performance tells a more complicated story. Target shares have risen about 18% so far this year, but they still lag behind competitors and the broader market over a longer period. The stock remains significantly below its peak following the pandemic-era surge in 2021.

In addition to financial pressures, Target continues to face criticism from across the political spectrum, as well as ongoing complaints about store conditions. Shoppers have cited issues such as disorganized aisles, inconsistent inventory, and frequently locked merchandise.

Even in a brand-new store, these familiar problems remain evident. While the brand retains some customer loyalty, the overall shopping experience can still fall short of expectations.

In short, the new location reflects a broader reality: despite efforts to improve, Target is still working to overcome longstanding operational challenges.

Noticing Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s opening some stores on Easter this year… 👀

Makes you wonder—is this just a one-off based on location and demand, or are we slowly testing the waters for bigger holiday openings again?

Easter has always been a bit flexible in retail, unlike Thanksgiving and Christmas, which carry a lot more weight when it comes to staying closed. So this could simply be a strategic move—opening select stores where it makes sense without going all in.

Still… it does raise the question:
Are we looking at smart, targeted business decisions—or the beginning of a shift back toward opening on traditionally “off” holidays?

Time will tell. But it’s definitely something to keep an eye on.

I wonder what the future is for Retail to Business? Everything is very secretive. Nothing is being shared with the store locations. There are so many postings, would anyone consider this job after the November cuts?

Not sure what groups are impacted. But do know that a coworker on the Retail team under Lau send an email to HR requesting a package when the next round hits and he was told Tuesday 3/24 will be the day.

Rumblings about product being impacted but it’s only rumor.

Had a member today comment on how hard it is to shop our clothing area because there is so much merchandise . She said at Costco it is so much easier to shop clothing there because it isn’t over crowded like Sam’s . I could do nothing but agree with her . We have so much of the same type clothing it is crazy . Don’t our clothing buyers realize they over buy so much .. it looks so junky

Can anyone share the NN75 store list for 2026? Want to see which stores are being targeted for improvements this year. Hopefully more will be worked on the the southern stores.

If an entire online retail sector is bleeding money and racking up consistent losses, why are we still pouring resources into it? Why can’t we let those employees go or redeploy that talent pool into areas where we actually make money?
Our prices are noticeably higher than the competition’s, and we’re a pharmacy company at heart. So why does anyone seriously believe we can go head-to-head with retail giants and win customers?

does anyone think a 3rd round of closings will happen?

I have been long gone from staples since “sick a more” bought it out. I am quite surprised that staples is still around. I wonder for how long. It does not look like a viable business model any longer.

Illinois WARN reports indicate over 6,000 layoffs. The layoffs are scheduled for early 2026. The WARN Act mandates employer notification. Multiple sectors face job cuts, including health care and retail. TreeHouse Private Brands will lay off 168 workers in South Beloit.

https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/more-than-6000-illinois-workers-face-layoffs-in-early-2026-new-warn-filings-show/

Why do we basically give everything to a liquidator instead of marking down items for members to buy? First the buyers over buy just about everything and then all the stuff goes to a liquidator..

Jenny Breeden and Bill Foudy are out. What are they doing with owned brands?

Kohl’s stock is flat after better-than-expected quarterly earnings.

Comparable sales decrease 2.8% in the fourth quarter, wider than analysts’ expectations for a drop of 1.5%.

The retailer projects comparable net sales to be down 2% to flat for the current fiscal year, marking a fifth straight decline.

Anyone suspect any closures? Know a lot of stores' leases are expiring next january. Other than that any closures people know about? Other employees with inside information? Great Northern closing?

CHS Northwest announced plans to sell five Washington stores. This action will result in permanent layoffs for 57 employees. The layoffs are scheduled to take effect on May 5, 2026. The affected stores are in Ferndale, Lynden, and Nooksack. Employees have received written notices regarding the store sales.

https://whatnow.com/news/local-news/farmer-owned-cooperative-to-sell-five-washington-stores-57-jobs-affected/

Costco CEO: “As we’ve done in the past, when legal challenges have recovered charges passed on in some form to our members, our commitment will be to find the best way to return this value to our members.”

What are the chances our CEO will do something similar? I know, zero.

We make good money, have great foot traffic, but just a few of us are keeping things running. The others don't give a damn and all they do is pretend to be busy until they can leave. I'm tired of making money for people like that. Close us down. I'll be okay. Let them try and find another place where they'll be able to work like that.

There've been some rumors, but I'm hoping it's just talk.

It’s disheartening to witness the transformation of this company over the years. Perhaps it reflects the current management generation. I don’t mean to criticize, but I recall a time when Store Managers actively engaged with the team on the floor, and department managers were hands-on with markdowns and sales alongside the associates. We even wrote clearance prices in red pen and diligently marked them on sheets to document our work. Inventory was a collective effort, where we counted items ourselves and recorded everything on paper.

While I appreciate the advancements in technology that streamline inventory and markdown processes, the management style has shifted significantly. It’s unfortunate to see long-time Store Managers and their Assistants, some with over 25 or 30 years of service, leaving the company. Now, it often takes ten people to handle the workload that one person used to manage effectively.

Today, the focus seems more on avoiding night shifts rather than ensuring the safety of staff during closing hours, especially when there’s a key holder who isn’t proactive, along with just two other employees. There’s little concern for the store’s appearance, and management often remains in the office until the regional visits. After many years of dedication to a company I once loved, I’m relieved to be retiring.

Mass exodus happening across the retail space. Employees giving the middle finger to Sr Directors and directors for treating them like sh-t, threatening their jobs, overworking front line, creating their own policies. Allowing fraud and major compliance violations to occur in the name of hitting targets and leading in performance. Look very close at the areas that specifically won presidents cabinet and winners circle. Tod Rye is an absolute clown and should be fired immediately. 🤡 🐱

https://filecache.investorroom.com/mr5ir_saksglobal/1237/Saks_Fifth_Avenue_and_Neiman_Marcus_Store_Portfolio-Remaining_Open.pdf

https://filecache.investorroom.com/mr5ir_saksglobal/1236/Saks_Fifth_Avenue_and_Neiman_Marcus_Store_Portfolio-Closing_Locations.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjfw4zK3Oq8

https://filecache.investorroom.com/mr5ir_saksglobal/1237/Saks_Fifth_Avenue_and_Neiman_Marcus_Store_Portfolio-Remaining_Open.pdf

https://filecache.investorroom.com/mr5ir_saksglobal/1236/Saks_Fifth_Avenue_and_Neiman_Marcus_Store_Portfolio-Closing_Locations.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjfw4zK3Oq8

Just wondering if anyone else has heard that Bloomingdale’s and Macys or certain Macys stores will be open on Easter Sunday this year….

Saks & Company will close its Schuylkill County distribution center. This closure will result in 435 employee layoffs. Employees were notified on March 3, 2026, of the permanent shutdown. Layoffs are scheduled between May 2 and May 31, 2026. The company's parent, Saks Global, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Pottsville, Pennsylvania

https://www.skooknews.com/2026/03/saks-company-to-close-schuylkill-county.html

7-Eleven To Open 600 New Stores by 2027 (And They’re Getting a Serious Upgrade)

https://financebuzz.com/7-eleven-new-stores

Is there any credible information regarding closures of retail locations or conversions? When is this supposed to begin and how big of an impact?

Also, for stores that stay open, has anyone heard about changes in leadership structure?