News Briefs
- 12/2/2025
Home Depot expands Instacart delivery partnership to Canada
The Home Depot Canada is offering same-day delivery in as fast as an hour from over 175 stores across the country.
The Canadian subsidiary of Home Depot is now the first nationwide home improvement retailer available on Instacart in Canada. The collaborative service also includes Instacart's Big & Bulky solution that enables retailers to offer same-day and scheduled delivery for large items up to 60 pounds.
"Our customers continue to be our top priority, and our stores are the foundation of who we are and how we meet their needs,” said Doug Graham, VP of e-commerce and marketing at Home Depot Canada. “Expanding our digital and delivery capabilities is essential to providing Canadians a seamless and convenient shopping experience.”
To start shopping from The Home Depot Canada on Instacart, customers can visit instacart.ca/store/the-home-depot-canada or download the Instacart app on their mobile device. Home Depot began offering Instacart-fulfilled deliveries in the U.S. in May 2024.
[READ MORE: The Home Depot partners to expand same-day delivery options]
“At Instacart, we’re focused on delivering convenience and accessibility, whether it’s helping customers get their homes ready for the holiday season with décor or gathering materials for a last-minute home project over the weekend,” said Blake Wallace, VP of retail partnerships at Instacart. “We’re proud to help create a seamless shopping experience for Home Depot customers across Canada and bring more variety to the Instacart app with the addition of The Home Depot Canada.”
Through Dec. 8, 2025, Instacart customers receive $20 off their Home Depot Canada purchase of $80 or more.
- 12/2/2025
Costco sues Trump administration — wants refund of tariffs
Costco Wholesale Corp. wants a full refund of the new tariffs that it has paid so far this year.
The retail giant has sued the Trump administration for a refund of the tariffs it has paid on imported goods, should the Supreme Court rule them illegal, reported various media outlets, including the New York Times. The case, filed in the Court of International Trade, comes as the Supreme Court is reviewing the legality of Trump's tariff agenda. Other companies have filed similar suits against the administration, including eyeglass giant EssilorLuxottica, Revlon, Kawasaki Motors, Bumble Bee Foods and Yokohama Tire.
The lawsuit filed by Costco maintains that Congress, not the president, has the authority to set tariffs and that Trump, in setting the new tariffs, exceeded the authority granted to him by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The company said in a filing that it is seeking a “full refund” of all duties under the act paid as a result of President Donald Trump's executive order that imposed what he called "reciprocal" tariffs.
“Because IEEPA does not clearly authorize the President to set tariffs... the Challenged Tariff Orders cannot stand and the defendants are not authorized to implement and collect them,” the lawsuit reads.
Costco noted that government will begin finalizing (or "liquidating") its import entries on or after Dec. 15, according to Fox News, and that once an entry is liquidated, the duty amount becomes locked. At that time, importers may lose the ability to challenge or recover those charges.
Costco said that one of its entries has already been finalized and more are approaching the cutoff, prompting the company to file its lawsuit immediately, the report said.
- 12/2/2025
BJ's to open three new clubs in December — here's where
BJ’s Wholesale Club is expanding its footprint of stores to close out 2025.
The retailer will open three clubs in December: one in Springfield, Mass. (Dec. 12), one in Sumter, S.C. (Dec. 12), and one in Casselberry, Fla. (Dec. 17). All three locations will feature on-site BJ’s Gas stations, and offer the club’s selection of fresh foods, produce, full-service deli items, fresh bakery goods, household essentials, home décor, pet supplies, toys, consumer electronics and more.
The Springfield club marks the 26th club in Massachusetts and the first new location in the company’s home state in thirteen years. The club in Sumter marks the third club in South Carolina, while the Casselberry location is the 42nd club in Florida.
At each new location, BJ’s members can choose from several time-saving options, including curbside pickup, in-club pickup, and same-day delivery. Members shopping in-club can use ExpressPay through the BJ’s mobile app to scan products as they shop and skip the checkout line.
[READ MORE: BJ’s profits slide, revenues climb in Q3; two new stores to open]
“BJ’s continues to grow in communities where unbeatable value resonates,” said Bill Werner, executive VP of strategy and development at BJ’s Wholesale Club. “We’ll bring savings of up to 25% off grocery store prices every day, and we look forward to taking care of the families who depend on us.”
Headquartered in Marlborough, Mass., BJ’s operates nearly 260 clubs and 195 BJ's Gas locations in 21 states.
- 12/2/2025
Report: Pacsun to open stores in Middle East
Pacsun has entered into a deal to open its first stores outside of the U.S.
The California-based teen apparel and accessories retailer is partnering with shopping center developer and lifestyle conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim to open Pacsun stores across the region, starting early next year with a location at the Mall of Emirates in Dubai. The news was first reported by WWD.
Majid Al Futtaim operates across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It will open up to 20 Pacsun stores in key Middle East markets supported by regional e-commerce platforms and experiential activations, the report said.
Pacsun operates approximately 350 stores across the U.S. The retailer has transformed itself from a surf and skate retailer to a champion of Gen Z and Gen Alpha youth culture.
“Expanding into the UAE, one of the world’s most dynamic and youthful regions, marks a pivotal step in PacSun’s global journey, guided by a deep commitment to connecting with Gen Z and Gen Alpha, by listening to how they express themselves, connect, and influence culture,” PacSun CEO Brieane Olson said in the WWD report. “Partnering with Majid Al Futtaim allows us to bring that vision to life in a place that shares our values of creativity and mission to co-create our brand with our community."
- 12/1/2025
CBRE tapped for leasing at Alston Yards project in North Carolina
CBRE has added a mixed-use project to its leasing portfolio.
The firm has been selected by developer Heritage Capital Partners to lease the multiple retail phases of Alston Yards, a $500 million, 41-acre mixed-use development located in Cary, N.C., a western suburb of Raleigh.
The retail portion of the project, spanning approximately 65,000 sq. ft., will be integrated into a master-planned, mixed-use environment that includes up to 900 residential units, 200,000 sq. ft. of office space, a boutique hotel, and over seven acres of open space, including a town park and a large community gathering area.
“Alston Yards represents a rare opportunity to help shape one of the most dynamic corridors in the Southeast,” said Roger Edwards, managing partner at Heritage Capital Partners. “We’re excited to partner with CBRE to bring a curated mix of retail offerings to a project that will serve as a new anchor for West Cary.”
Located at the southern tip of Research Triangle Park, Alston Yards will feature ample walking trails that connect to Wake County’s greenway system and an adjacent neighborhood park. The property is located near Parkside Town Commons, a 500,000-sq.-ft. retail center, and Apple’s proposed 900,000-sq.-ft. East Coast engineering hub.
CBRE’s Jon Stanley and Charlie Coyne will market the retail space.
“The scale, demographics, and vision behind Alston Yards make it one of the most compelling retail leasing opportunities in the Carolinas,” said Coyne, executive VP at CBRE.
[READ MORE: CBRE sells three SoCal centers]
CBRE Group Inc. is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, with operations in more than 100 countries.
- 12/1/2025
Digital shoppers rely on product content, generative AI
Consumers value high-quality product content and are increasingly using next-gen artificial intelligence to help make online purchases.
More than eight-in-10 (85%) consumers agree that high-quality product content is more important to their online purchase decisions than brand recognition. The fifth annual Omnichannel Shopping Benchmarks study from product experience management solutions provider Syndigo also reveals that 86% of 1,800 surveyed U.S. and Canadian consumers said high-quality product content, such as detailed descriptions, multiple images/videos, and customer reviews, helps them decide between higher- and lower-priced digital purchase options.
In addition, two-thirds (65%) of respondents said rich media, like videos and 360-degree images, has persuaded them to buy something they didn't initially intend to. This figure was up about 35% from 48% in the 2024 edition of the study.
Close to eight-in-10 (77%) respondents said customer ratings, reviews, and user-submitted content persuaded them to buy something they didn’t think they needed. "Too few customer reviews" was the top reason respondents cited for leaving a product page without making a purchase.
The study also found that 45% of respondents are using AI tools, such as generative AI, to help research and find products online in 2025. This figure is up about 45% from 31% who used AI for this purpose in the 2024 edition of the study.
[READ MORE: Gen Z, millennials trust AI tools for gift brainstorming, finding lowest prices]
"This underlines what we fundamentally know: shoppers want to make informed decisions about their spending, and product content is the key to building the trust that informs those decisions," said Leah Allen, chief marketing officer at Syndigo. "Beyond just price or name recognition, brands and retailers can connect with their shoppers simply by providing them with complete, accurate, and enriched product content at every step as they browse the digital shelf."
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