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Sales at U.S. retailers unexpectedly fell in March, raising concern consumer spending is losing momentum. The 0.3 percent drop in purchases followed little change the prior month, Commerce Department figures showed Wednesday in Washington, D.C. The median forecast of 81 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 0.1 percent gain. The decrease was led by…

Target has undergone a deep transformation in the two years since the most traumatic period in its history. And a lot more change is on the way, prompting the discount retailer to invite Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz this week to come rally the Target troops. Around this time in 2014, Target parted ways with former…

It's not a great time for e-commerce startups. As funding has dried up for private tech companies, those in the online shopping space haven't fared particularly well. Some have been able to raise money to stay afloat, albeit at lower or flat valuations. Others have sold at steep discounts to recoup investor money or shutdown…

Gap Inc. has picked the leader of its global supply network to assume the helm of its low-price chain Old Navy. Sonia Syngal is a 12-year company veteran who most recently served as executive vice president of Gap's global supply chain and product operations. She's filling the spot that became open when Stefan Larsson left last…

Alexis Maybank, one of the founders of Gilt Groupe (recently acquired by the owner of Saks Fifth Avenue), has a new startup in the world of fashion and shopping — Project September. Maybank says her aim is to “make the visual world shoppable.” In other words, if you see a photo with an item of clothing…

The past year has been a struggle for Zappos. Following a complex transition to a radically non-hierarchical management system called holacracy, and then the introduction of a second philosophy called “teal,” the Amazon-owned online shoe giant lost nearly one-third of its employees, including many of the longest tenured. It also fell off Fortune’s list of…

J.C. Penney Co. is launching its first fashion brand for plus-size women, Boutique+, and it’s partnered with “Project Runway” winner Ashley Nell Tipton for two capsule collections tied to the brand. Boutique+ is slated to arrive in 500 stores as well as online on May 1. The brand is designed with the millennial shopper in mind,…

Just in time for Earth Day, H&M wants your old clothes. From April 18 to April 24, the Swedish fast-fashion brand will give shoppers a 30 percent discount in exchange for outgrown, hole-ridden or no longer trendy garments. H&M says it has recycled 25,000 tons of unwanted clothing since it began the in-store recycling program…

Last week, Victoria’s Secret announced an adjustment to its marketing approach, in which its iconic catalog will be “de-emphasized,” and 200 people were laid off as the company reorganizes to focus on lingerie, cosmetics, and the Pink brand. You could look at it as a minor course correction. Catalog, in the traditional sense of the…

Top marketing executives at both Macy's and Kohl's announced their resignations Tuesday. After more than three decades at Macy's, Chief Marketing Officer Martine Reardon is leaving the company, the retailer said. Ms. Reardon was promoted to the CMO post four years ago. Her last day with the 870-store chain will be May 13.