News Briefs

Nordstrom has opened the seventh location of its service-only store format.

Nordstrom Local has opened its first Northern California location, in San Francisco. Designed as a service hub, the 1,750-sq.-ft. outpost offers online order pickup and returns processing for Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack orders, and complimentary gift wrapping and gift boxes for all Nordstrom purchases.

It also offers alteration services on purchases from Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack and other retailers. Customers can also get advice from fashion stylists, with the complimentary service available by appointment.  

In addition, customers can drop off their gently used clothing and shoes at Nordstrom Local, with all donations going to St. Anthony Foundation, where the items will be distributed to individuals and families in need. They can also bring in empty beauty packaging to be recycled.

"We’re excited to open our first Nordstrom Local in Northern California. We’ve heard from our customers in the area that they want services such as online order pickup, returns and alterations closer to where they live and work,” said Fanya Chandler, president of Nordstrom stores. “We hope our new Nordstrom Local will make accessing these services easier and look forward to serving customers at this location.”

Earlier this year, in July, Nordstrom Local opened its third location in New York City, in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn (see photo).

Gap Inc. is launching a new program for creators as part of an effort to ensure its brands remain at the forefront of cultural conversation.  

The apparel giant is debuting a creator affiliate and social media advocacy platform designed to serve as a centralized hub for creators to engage across its Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta banners. The new platform marks “the next step in Gap's "digital-first strategy and brand reinvigoration journey,” the company said.

The new program will offer creators early access to new releases, product seeding and exclusive promotions, as well as content collaboration opportunities and the ability for creators and their content to be amplified across paid, social, and brand-owned channels.  To stay connected, it will also include newsletters and creator spotlights.

The program will initially accept applications from U.S.-based creators who are at least 18 years old and have at least 1,000 followers on a single platform. The company plans to expand internationally in future phases. Creators and influencers accepted into the program will be able to immediately engage with commission-earning affiliate programs and product gifting campaigns across Gap’s brands.

Gap said the creator affilate program extends the reach of its "Fashiontainment" effort, which blends fashion and entertainment to connect with both creators and consumers.  It noted that its recent social media campaign, "Better in Denim,” was its most successful to date, driving a record 600-plus-million views and eight-plus-billion impressions in one month. Its success 

"Gap Inc.'s affiliate program model emphasizes scaled community advocacy and authentic brand engagement," said Damon Berger, head of digital engagement at Gap Inc. "By balancing creator convenience and empowerment with rich brand storytelling, this new program will position us to build closer relationships with creators, amplify their content across all our channels, and leverage data-driven insights to deliver greater impact at scale." 

[READ MORE: Gap Inc. entering beauty — starting with Old Navy; expanding accessories business]

Chain Store Age is proud to announce that its daily newsletter, “DayBreaker,” has been honored by the publishing industry.

DayBreaker received the “best newsletter” award in the 2025 Eddie & Ozzie Awards, which honor excellence in editorial content and design across all media formats. Presented annually by Folio, the awards are the most prestigious recognition program in the industry.

This year’s awards ceremony was held on Oct. 6, in New York City.

Orvis is downsizing as tariffs take a toll on the 169-year-old brand.

The Vermont-based outdoor apparel and gear company will close 31 full-price stores and five outlet locations by early 2026 and exit the lifestyle apparel business, reported WWD. The closings come as Orvis says it is returning to its roots as a fishing and hunting brand.

“We’re stepping into an exciting new chapter — one focused on our core passions of fly fishing and wingshooting,” said Simon Perkins, Orvis president and third-generation family, in a statement on the company’s website. “This return to our roots is a renewed dedication to innovation, a commitment to our angling and upland communities, and to the wild places we love."

Perkins added that as the company sharpens its focus, it is offering special savings on products marked "Last Release," which he described as items that "won't return once they're gone." In addition to a wide assortment of men's and women's clothing, the items include dog beds and related pet items.

In the WWD report, Perkins noted that, similar to many in retail, Orvis’ business model faced a sizable shift with the introduction of "an unprecedented tariff landscape."

“To ensure a durable brand and model for decades to come, we are focusing on our core strengths and making the difficult but necessary decision to rescale the business by tightening our assortment and reducing our corporate store footprint,” he said.

Last year, Orvis revealed a round of layoffs in conjunction with the discontinuation of its catalog and the move of its headquarters from Sunderland, Vt., to a smaller location in Manchester, Vt.

Smoothie King has entered two new states as it continues to expand.

The fast-casual chain has officially opened its first-ever Utah location in Washington (located outside of St. George) and its first-ever Minnesota location in Woodbury (a Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb).

At the same time, Smoothie King is strengthening its presence at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport with two new locations in Terminal A and Terminal D, joining its existing Terminal A store. Earlier this year, Smoothie King said it expected to open approximately 105 new stores in 2025.

Smoothie King has continued to grow its footprint nationwide this year. The chain added 25 new store commitments across 12 states in the second quarter, with especially strong development in Georgia and Texas, each securing six new deals. 

Just a week prior, the chain announced that private equity firm Main Post Partners had made a minority growth investment in the chain. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Smoothie King said the investment positions the chain for "accelerated growth, innovation and market leadership."

[READ MORE: Study: Smoothie King, In-N-Out among QSR customer experience leaders]

Founded in 1973, Dallas-based Smoothie King operates over 1,200 stores nationwide.

After months of rapid expansion, Batteries Plus has reached a key national milestone.

With the signing on of two new locations in Dover and Millsboro, Del., the specialty battery retailer will soon officially be open in all 50 U.S. states. The milestone comes following a streak of strong growth for Batteries Plus, which signed deals for 20 new locations in the second quarter of 2025, and signed 17 new franchise agreements in the first quarter of the year.

Batteries Plus currently has over 800 stores open or in development.

“Reaching all 50 states is a proud and defining moment for Batteries Plus,” said Joe Malmuth, chief development officer of Batteries Plus. “This achievement is a testament to the incredible demand for our services. It demonstrates that from coast to coast, communities rely on Batteries Plus to power their everyday lives and critical operations.” 

[READ MORE: Batteries Plus to open first stores in Hawaii]

Catering to both business and personal customers, Batteries Plus says its model continues to attract “purpose-driven entrepreneurs who are passionate about delivering real solutions to their communities.”

“Our franchise owners are more than operators; they’re trusted experts who provide solutions their communities can’t go without,” said Victor Daher, VP of global franchise development for Batteries Plus. “That dual focus on commercial and retail services is why our system continues to grow so rapidly, it’s a model that not only thrives today but is built to last.”

Headquartered in Hartland, Wis., Batteries Plus offers batteries, specialty light bulbs and phone repair services for the direct-to-consumer and commercial channels. It also offers key programming, replacement and cutting services.