News Briefs

J.McLaughlin has opened its first-ever Cabana Life retail experience.

The sportswear brand opened Cabana Life: Southampton in the tiny vacation town of Southampton on New York’s Long Island. Located next to the J.McLaughlin store  the space was designed in collaboration with renowned Venetian-born designer Alvise Orsini and showcases a curated edit of vintage J.McLaughlin designs, limited-edition summer styles and artisanal pieces by Orsini Glassworks.

Cabana Life features classic blue and white stripes, whitewashed wood, rattan textures and wicker details — reminiscent of a 1950s Venetian lido. The shop, which will host weekly community events, is intended to convey a broader evolution for J.McLaughlin, blending heritage with modern expression and inviting customers to engage with the brand in fresh, immersive ways, the company said.

“With our debut Cabana Life concept in Southampton, we're inviting customers to step directly into the narrative of a perfect seaside holiday,” said Greg Unis, interim CEO of J.McLaughlin. “It's more than just a store. It's a dynamic blend of boutique and clubhouse, a place where people can gather, linger, and truly experience the essence of our brand. This is the first expression of an evolved direction for J.McLaughlin, where storytelling, community, and discovery come together in an even more engaging way."

The merchandise mix combines archival J.McLaughlin pieces, including vintage wicker handbags, silk handkerchiefs and heritage scarves, alongside new arrivals that reflect the brand's modern take on coastal style. The assortment is displayed alongside Orsini's exclusive handblown Murano glasswork, created especially for the collaboration. The limited-edition glass pieces, featuring striped tumblers in jewel tones, coral and emerald-rimmed pitchers and sophisticated cocktail glasses, are available exclusively in the U.S. at J.McLaughlin Cabana Life: Southampton.

Founded in 1977 by brothers Kevin and Jay McLaughlin, J.McLaughlin has than 180 stores nationwide.

A leading open-air shopping center owner and developer has added to its leadership team.

Charlotte, N.C.-based Big V Property Group announced that Josh Binkley has been named VP of construction, and will oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of capital projects across the company’s national retail portfolio.

Binkley has over two decades of commercial real estate development and construction experience. Most recently, he served as director of construction at U.S Realty Partners, Inc., and previously held roles at Brixmor Property Group, Sunston Two Tree, Douglas Emmett, Kornwasser Shopping Centers, and Simon Property Group.

“We welcome Josh at a particularly apt moment in our company’s 83-year history,” said Kenton McKeehan, president and chief investment officer at Big V. “As we continue to expand our holdings and our redevelopment opportunities, Josh’s experience will be invaluable.”

Binkley will lead a team of project managers and tenant coordinators, ensuring construction initiatives align with Big V’s strategic goals for "asset enhancement, leasing support, and long-term value creation."

[READ MORE: Big V names new investment chief, executive VP of leasing]

“Big V is not just reinventing individual shopping centers; it also is reinventing how retail real estate tenants interact with each other and interact with their guests,” Binkley said. “I’m excited to join such a dynamic company and bring all of my experience to its incredible team.”

Big V operates more than 50 outdoor shopping centers in 14 states totaling 9.5 million sq. ft.

Costco Wholesale Corp. got a boost in June as consumers shopped for summer deals and its international division racked up a big increase.

The membership warehouse club retailer reported that its sales rose 8% to $26.44 billion for the retail month of June (the five weeks ended July 6), up from $24.48 billion last year. Costco’s better-performing product categories included candy, food and cooler items, along with meat and produce.

Total company comparable sales rose 5.8%, compared with a 4.3% increase in May. The strongest segment was international (outside of Canada), where comps rose 11.5%. Comp sales increased 4.7% in the U.S., and 6.7% in Canada.

Total company comparable sales excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange rose 6.2%, increasing 5.5% in the U.S., 7.9% in Canada, and 8.2% internationally. 

Costco currently operates 907 warehouses, including 624 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 109 in Canada, 41 in Mexico, 37 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 20 in Korea, 15 in Australia, 14 in Taiwan, seven in China, five in Spain, two in France, two in Sweden, and one each in Iceland and New Zealand. Costco also operates e-commerce sites in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Australia.

A new survey reveals that tariff pressures are continuing to impact American consumers’ outlook.

More than half of Americans (54%) believe tariffs on imported goods will hurt the economy, and nearly half (48%) expect them to increase prices over the next year, according to new data from market research firm Savanta. More than three-quarters (77%) expect tariffs to impact their household finances, while 41% say they are already having an impact.

A majority of Americans (56%) say they have a moderate or strong understanding of how U.S. tariffs work. Two-thirds (66%) of those surveyed said they have noticed price increases on groceries, and 42% say the same for clothing. Seventy-one percent have changed or are considering changing their purchase decisions, while 61% say they have switched to less-expensive brands in recent months.

Consumers’ view on tariffs is influenced by political identification, as 73% of Democrats and 55% of independents believe tariffs will hurt the economy, while only a third (33%) of Republicans say the same. Overall, 35% of consumers view tariffs as a hidden tax on consumers.

"We're seeing real-time behavioral shifts, from brand loyalty to budgeting," said Jennifer Kim, research analyst at Savanta. "Even for those who don't follow trade headlines, they're feeling the economic stress."

[READ MORE: Confusion, anxiety move to center stage in economy, says NRF chief economist]

Savanta’s survey featured 1,000 U.S. adults and was conducted June 13-14, 2025.

[READ MORE: Dollar General summer promotions include Prime Day-like event]

Dollar General also recently reduced prices on approximately 200 products and continues to carry approximately 2,000 items at or below the $1 price point.

Guess Jeans has touched down in Asia in a big way.

The Los Angeles-based denim brand has opened a four-story flagship in Tokyo, the world’s largest city, marking its first location in Asia. Located in the Jingūmae neighborhood, the building was designed by Hiroshi Fujiwara of Fragment Design and is positioned steps away from the Omotesando Hills shopping complex. 

The brand says the flagship design concept is a “harmony between Japanese and Californian craftsmanship and architecture.”

"The launch of Guess Jeans in Tokyo marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of our brand,” said Nicolai Marciano, chief new business development officer at Guess Jeans. “Japan has always been a hub of cultural influence and creative energy that aligns with our vision for the future. We're excited to build something meaningful here that reflects both the spirit of Tokyo and the future of Guess Jeans." 

To support the opening of the flagship Store, Guess has brought “The Next 40 Years of Denim” exhibition to Tokyo. The first iteration of the exhibition debuted in January 2024 at Pitti Uomo in Florence. The two-story location at Yodobashi J6 Building will house the Guess Jeans exhibition, which provides an “immersive journey” through the brand's legacy.

[READ MORE: Guess taps Italian finance veteran as CFO]

Guess Inc. and its partners and distributors operate in approximately 100 countries worldwide. Guess Jeans operates flagship stores in Tokyo, Amsterdam, Berlin and Los Angeles.

(Image courtesy of Guess Inc.)