News Briefs

Two noted luxury brands have signed leases at Scottsdale Quarter, their first locations in the state of Arizona.

L’Agence, the Los Angeles-based brand known for blending Southern California style with a Parisian sensibility, has presences in New York, Beverly Hills, Newport Beach, Houston and Chicago, as well as in Paris and Seoul. 

The brand’s 2,408-sq.-ft. Scottsdale Quarter shop, which will be located in the project’s Quad, marks the brand's first stand-alone store in Arizona.

Also making a landing in Scottsdale Quarter is Hill House Home, a digitally-native brand known for its signature Nap Dress. Its 2,250-sq.-ft. boutique located on 73rd St. will be its first location in the Southwest.

Owned by FalconEye Ventures and managed by Vestar, Scottsdale Quarter holds more than 100 retail and restaurant brands and 600 luxury apartments.

The 755,000-sq.-ft. property is currently undergoing a phased redevelopment that will continue to add more shopping and dining tenants.

Pacsun brought its new denim collection and "Denim Starts Here" campaign to life with an in-store activation at its flagship in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood.

The event was designed to transform the flagship into an interactive back-to-school experience, giving customers a hands-on way to engage with the campaign built around self-expression and individuality.  

It featured an array of hands-on moments for visitors, including a dedicated denim station where they could customize their own jeans with embroidery and stitching, turning each pair into a one-of-a-kind expression of personal style. An on-site coffee cart served complimentary specialty beverages.

The event also included a beauty station and branded photo opportunity courtesy of Ulta Beauty, marking the in-store debut of Pacsun’s new collaboration with the beauty giant. Shoppers could also try their luck at a claw machine for the chance to win beauty products.

"Denim has always been at the heart of who we are, and back-to-school is one of the biggest moments of the year for our community to make it their own," said Richard Cox, chief merchandising officer at Pacsun. "We wanted this day to be a true celebration of co-creation, bringing together partners we love to meet young people where they're already gathering. Activations like this give us the opportunity to bring that philosophy to life, creating authentic moments that deepen our connection with customers while celebrating their individuality."

The denim collection is now live in select Pacsun stores and online, giving shoppers everywhere the chance to find their own back-to-school style.

American Eagle Outfitters is expanding its distribution center footprint.

The apparel retailer will establish a new distribution center in Salisbury, N.C. (Rowan County) investing $41 million and creating more than 200 full-time jobs. The news was announced in a press release from RowanEDC. 

American Eagle will occupy a 472,890-sq.-ft. facility at Innovation Logistics Center in Salisbury. The center is expected to begin operations in early 2027.

The facility will provide the retailer with a new distribution hub for the Southeastern United States.

"North Carolina offers the workforce, infrastructure and strategic location needed to continue powering our brands and connecting us to customers," Jay Schottenstein, executive chairman and CEO of American Eagle Outfitters, said in a release from North Carolina's Department of Commerce. "We're proud to have a presence in Rowan County and are excited about what this facility means for the long-term growth of our supply chain and distribution network."

A performance-based grant of $150,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will be awarded to AE Regional Distribution Co. to help the company locate in North Carolina. The OneNC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. 

Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. AEO must create 70 jobs to receive One NC grant payments. All OneNC grants require matching participation from local governments, and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.

Kroger is launching a new artificial intelligence-powered tool to help customers shop.

The grocery giant’s new AI Shopping Assistant is now available across the Kroger family of companies’ websites and apps. Customers can use the new Kroger AI Shopping Assistant to plan meals for the week, find new recipes and build a cart around budget and dietary needs.

Within the tool, users can also snap a photo of a written list or recipe card, or paste a URL, and the digital assistant will find the products and create a cart in seconds. The tool can also help users plan for any occasion with tailored product suggestions and shopping lists based on events.

"We continue to invest in digital tools that make shopping simpler, more intuitive and more convenient for our customers," said Yael Cosset, executive VP and chief digital officer at Kroger. "The AI Shopping Assistant is another example of how we're using technology and AI to help families plan, discover and shop more easily."

[READ MORE: Kroger Co. in $1.65 billion deal to acquire Giant Eagle]

Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, The Kroger Co. operates approximately 2,800 stores under a variety of banners across the U.S., including Kroger, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Dillons, Smith's, King Soopers, Fry's, QFC, City Market, Owen's, Jay C, Pay Less, Baker's, Gerbes, Harris Teeter, Pick 'n Save, Metro Market and Mariano's.

Shipt continues to expand beyond grocery.

The same-day delivery company is partnering with DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, giving members access to same-day delivery of footwear and accessories during one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year. Through the partnership, nearly 75 million households nationwide will be able to access same-day delivery from DSW stores through the Shipt app and Shipt.com.

The launch comes as new research commissioned by Shipt and conducted by Morning Consult found that 71% of parents say that no matter how early they start preparing, they still end up making a last-minute back-to-school purchase

The partnership with DSW builds on Shipt's continued expansion across retail categories as its grow its marketplace through partnerships with retailers, including Michaels, Office Depot, OfficeMax, CVS, Lowe's and DSW. 

"Back-to-school is filled with meaningful moments, but it rarely goes according to plan," said Katie Stratton, chief growth and strategy officer at Shipt. "Whether it's realizing your child needs a new pair of sneakers before school starts or, for me personally, a last-minute scramble to accessorize a themed day, these moments matter. Through our partnership with DSW, we're making it easier for families to adapt with the personalized care, communication and flexibility that Shipt and our shoppers with Shipt are known for." 

DSW operates approximately 523 stores in the U.S. and Canada.

A discount retail giant is on the hunt for new suppliers.

Dollar General has announced its annual Call for Small Businesses, which invites U.S.-based small businesses that have not sold products to the company within the last 18 months to learn more about supplier opportunities. The retailer says its 2026 program  builds on a multi-year initiative to increase engagement with a variety of small businesses.

The program provides certified vendors with the opportunity to learn and develop through the company’s SBD Academy, resources to support product discovery, access to services that provide funding, counseling and training, and more.

Interested and eligible small businesses may apply online here now through Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, and selected businesses will attend virtual meetings with Dollar General’s Small Business Development (SBD) team this fall. 

[READ MORE: Dollar General offers 2025 back-to-school prices, teacher perks]

“At Dollar General, our mission of Serving Others is grounded in providing meaningful products to our customers, and we are committed to engaging with a wide variety of vendors and suppliers across the country to help us fulfill that promise,” said Bryan Wheeler, Dollar General’s executive VP and chief merchandising officer. “We look forward to connecting with small businesses, learning about their offerings and exploring opportunities to collectively deliver the products our customers want and need.”

As of May 1, 2026, Dollar General Corporation operated 21,055 Dollar General, DG Market, DGX and Popshelf stores across the United States and Mi Súper Dollar General stores in Mexico.