News Briefs

 Academy Sports + Outdoors is expanding its footprint in Ohio and Oklahoma. 

As part of its ongoing national growth strategy, Academy will open a store in North Canton, Ohio, on March 20, and one in Muskogee, Okla., in April. The new locations are part of 20 to 25 stores that the sporting goods retailer plans to open  in fiscal 2026. In 2025, Academy opened a total of 24 new stores across 16 states including its first locations in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

“Expanding into North Canton and Muskogee is an exciting step forward as Academy continues to grow and reach more customers across the country," said Eric Friederich, senior VP of retail operations at Academy Sports + Outdoors. "We're focused on extending our footprint with intention, growing in the right markets, strengthening our connection with customers, and creating stores that make it easier for families to get out and enjoy the activities they love."

[READ MORE: Academy Sports reveals 2026 expansion plans; Q3 sales up 3%]

As Academy expands its footprint, the company is reinforcing its commitment to making a positive impact in each community it serves. Academy is donating over $10,000 to support more than 40 children through local Parks and Recreation groups tied to the new stores.

Academy stores offer a wide assortment of apparel, footwear, sports and camping equipment, hunting and fishing gear, outdoor cooking products and more from top national brands as well as exclusive, private label brands.

In addition, stores offer free services such as grill and bike assembly, scope mounting, bore sighting, line winding/spooling and propane exchange. Hunting and fishing licenses are also available to purchase in stores.

Academy currently operates more than 300 stores across 21 states. 

The largest U.S. omnichannel hair color retailer is launching a monthlong campaign that will feature a pop-up event at a major shopping mall.

Sally Beauty, which specializes in hair color and care products, is offering “Colorfest,” a monthlong hair and nail color promotion that includes immersive experiences, expert beauty guidance for customers, and curated product offerings. 

As part of the campaign, Sally Beauty will debut an immersive, free-to-attend pop-up event on Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026, at The Grove in Los Angeles from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. PT.  Attendees will have the opportunity to receive a personalized color analysis, with Sally Beauty experts Gregory Patterson, Monae Everett and Juli Russell available for tailored consultations.

Customers will also have the chance to win top-rated products; receive glamour services including glitter spray from Eva NYC, tinsel, or temporary hair color from Strawberry Leopard; create shareable content and eat treats. 

In addition, attendees will receive a curated assortment of products valued by the retailer at $100. In addition to the pop-up, as part of the campaign Sally Beauty will provide exclusive offers, educational resources, and expert guidance in stores and online.

In September 2025, Sally Beauty partnered with DoorDash to present a pop-up shop offering more than 300 products in three different locations across New York City.

[READ MORE: Sally Beauty teams with DoorDash for NYC pop-up event]

"Colorfest marks the beginning of a bigger evolution for Sally Beauty," said Chris Kobus, chief marketing officer at Sally Beauty. "We're focused on creating meaningful moments that make color more approachable, more inspiring, and more connected to how today's consumers want to learn and shop in-store. It's about showing up for our community in a more dynamic way and reminding them that Sally Beauty is their trusted source for professional-quality color and expertise."

A brief inflationary cooling period in January appears to be over.

Prices for everyday household purchases increased 0.26% in February 2026 following a 0.24% decrease in January 2026 and a 0.23% increase in December 2025. The monthly Numerator Consumer Goods Price Index (CGPI) also indicates that  prices for everyday goods are up 2.7% compared to February 2025.

"February’s data is a reminder that the path back to price stability won’t be linear," said Paul Stanley, senior economist, Numerator. "After some welcome relief in January, inflation reaccelerated in February, and the uptick suggests that cost pressures on everyday essentials remain high. Consumers are still navigating a choppy pricing environment, particularly lower-income and younger households who continue to feel a disproportionate impact."

Additional key findings from Numerator’s February CGPI include:

• Low income and Gen Z consumers have experienced higher levels of inflation for everyday household goods than other demographic groups as prices have increased 33.7% and 36% respectively for those cohorts since January 2018 compared to the 31.8% national average.
• Regionally, consumers in the South and West U.S. census regions have experienced higher levels of inflation since 2018, athough the Midwest has seen stronger month-over-month inflation over the past few months.

[READ MORE: Consumer confidence inches up in February but worries over high costs persist]

Similar to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis’ Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, the Numerator CPI tracks prices and changes in consumer purchases over time. The data covers approximately 20% of the consumption basket captured in the overall PCE price index, and closely tracks the PCE Food & Beverage index, offering a reliable signal of retail price changes experienced by U.S. consumers.

DoorDash is launching its reservations offering in a new city and providing diners with additional functionality.

Following rollouts in New York City, Miami and Las Vegas, DoorDash is now making DoorDash Reservations available in Chicago. In addition, the on-demand delivery platform is introducing new booking updates and extending accessibility of the service from its app to its website.

Every time a user books and attends a DoorDash reservation, they earn $10 in DoorDash credits ($12 for DashPass loyalty program members) to use toward their next delivery of any product. DashPass members also get additional perks such as access to exclusive tables at coveted times and discounted Lyft Black premium rideshare service to their reservation.

"Chicago is home to one of the most dynamic dining scenes in the country, and we’re thrilled to expand DoorDash Reservations to the city, launching alongside some of the most sought-after restaurant groups nationwide," said Parisa Sadrzadeh, VP of strategy and operations for DoorDash. "As discovery, delivery, and dine-in become one connected experience, consumers are looking for a single place to find a new hotspot, book a table, or order dinner at home. By bringing everything together in one app, we’re making it easier for people to enjoy the best of their city, however they choose to dine." 

The company has also added the following new features to DoorDash Reservations:

• DoorDash Reservations now surfaces specific dine-out nuances, such as the restaurant’s ambience and signature dishes.
• Customers can tap a “notify” icon on fully booked restaurants to get an automatic notification is a table opens up. Notify requests are available for most restaurants currently offered across DoorDash Reservations.

[READ MORE: DoorDash tests ‘Zesty’ AI curated recommendations app]

See a select list of restaurants participating in DoorDash Reservations here.

Starbucks Coffee Co. is expanding its corporate footprint.

The coffee giant plans to open a corporate operations office in Nashville, Tenn., later this year. The office will support Starbucks’ store growth and rising customer demand, in particular, the Southeast region of the U.S., according to a release, and will work closely with Starbucks’ global headquarters in Seattle.  

"Looking ahead, Starbucks has great ambitions to grow even further across North America,” said Mike Grams, COO, Starbucks. "With these growth plans, we see Nashville, Tennessee, as an ideal location to open an office and establish a more strategic presence in the Southeast region of the U.S. “The city offers a deep, talented and growing workforce, making it a desirable location for us.”

[READ MORE: Starbucks to open 150 to 175 stores in 2026; sees 'big' long-term opportunity]

The Nashville office will house some of the teams that manage Starbucks’ supply chain operations, reported The Wall Street Journal. The company plans to offer relocation opportunities to dozens of Seattle-based employees, and also open additional roles in the Nashville market over time, the report said.

“We’re excited to see Starbucks choose Tennessee as the home for this corporate office and can’t think of a better fit than the heart of Music City,” said Deputy Gov. McWhorter. “Investments like this reinforce Tennessee’s position as a destination for high-quality corporate growth and deliver meaningful, well-paying opportunities for our talented workforce.”

Lululemon founder Chip Wilson’s campaign for changes at the activewear company has taken a new turn.

Wilson, who is also one of the company's largest shareholders, said he has launched a campaign website that details his view on the “quantum of change” needed at the retailer. “Lululemon has lost its way,” the website states. "It’s in need of immediate change."

The website, www.CreativityFirstlulu.com, also spotlights the three “highly qualified” independent director candidates that Wilson nominated in December for election to the board at its 2026 shareholders meeting. In addition to nominating the directors, Wilson also submitted a non-binding proposal that calls for the board to immediately declassify so that all directors are elected annually by shareholder

[READ MORE: Lululemon launches proxy fight to overhaul board]

According to the release announcing the website Wilson believes that Lululemon requires a refreshed skillset in the board room to renew focus on creativity, product excellence and a recommitment to the original "muse"ahead of a new CEO being named, as well as the declassification of its board.

“My intention has always been to act in the best interest of my fellow shareholders of Lululemon," Wilson said in the release. "This campaign is about safeguarding the company's future and a conviction that Lululemon's best years remain ahead, provided the right strategic and governance changes are made quickly."