News Briefs

Most consumers plan to take advantage of Labor Day weekend sales – but not for big ticket items.

New survey data from coupon platform RetailMeNot reveals that while nearly three-quarters (73%) of consumers plan to show up to Labor Day sales, a large chunk of them (42%) are prioritizing groceries and essentials. Clothing and footwear (26%), seasonal clearance summer items (26%) and health and wellness products (21%) are also among the categories consumers plan to shop.

The categories consumers are least likely to prioritize are the same ones retailers are discounting the hardest, according to the report. Only 15% of consumers have grills on their Labor Day sale purchase list, a category that retailers traditionally mark down. Patio furniture and outdoor items were at 13%, with some of the steepest markdowns of the year. Mattresses came in at 11%, and Labor Day weekend is historically one of the strongest windows to buy one, RetailMeNot noted.

[READ MORE: Numerator: Inflation cools, consumers still worried]

The average planned spend among those who intend to shop was $341. More than a quarter (27%) of consumers surveyed said they do not plan to shop Labor Day weekend sales at all. 

“Labor Day is still a real sale event. The deals on grills, patio furniture, outdoor gear, mattresses, and home furnishings are among the strongest of the year,” said Stephanie Carls, retail insights expert at RetailMeNot. “Most consumers are not planning to shop those categories, which means the value is there for anyone willing to look past their grocery list.”

RetailMeNot surveyed 1,134 U.S. consumers in May 2026 for its Labor Day weekend sale report.

Artificial intelligence continues to drive higher amounts of online retail visits, but e-commerce sites are frequently not optimized for it.

In July 2026, AI traffic to U.S. retail sites was up 62% year-over-year, sustaining the momentum Adobe has observed in recent months. From October 2024 through July 2026, Adobe analysis indicates it is up a significant 1,219%.Traffic from AI sources also continues to convert better (60% higher) than non-AI traffic, marking the 11th consecutive month where AI conversion has pulled ahead according to Adobe.

[READ MORE: Adobe: AI online retail traffic surges in May]

Adobe data from July 2026 also shows that when visitors arrive at a U.S. retail site from an AI source, the engagement rate is 14% higher than non-AI traffic. Specifically, these shoppers spend 59% more time on the site and are 33% less likely to bounce. AI- referred visitors also add items to their shopping cart at a 28% higher rate. 

However, in April 2026, Adobe data showed that the average score for homepages came in at 75%. This means roughly one-quarter of the content on homepages has not been optimized for large language models that support AI shopping agents. In July, Adobe expanded its analysis to a broader set of U.S. retail sites and found that homepage visibility dropped to an average of 61%, meaning nearly 40% of homepage content is not fully readable by shopping agents.

Readability varies by retail vertical as follows:

• Apparel: 76%.

• Electronics: 70%.

• Cosmetics: 68%.

• Sporting goods: 67%.

• Furniture & home: 64%.

• General merchandise: 63%.

• Grocery: 59%.

Adobe insights are based on direct transactions online, covering more 1 trillion visits to U.S. retail sites. A companion survey of more than 5,000 U.S. respondents conducted in July 2026 also provides additional context on how consumers are leveraging AI.

Weigel’s is leveraging artificial intelligence and the cloud to bring together key in-store workflows on a new POS platform.

The retailer is deploying the Tote AI-native POS solution to all 90 of its stores throughout Tennessee. The platform combines point of sale, back office, foodservice and store operations in a single cloud-based architecture designed to continuously improve as technology advances. 

As a result, Weigel’s hopes to improve customer service, better support associates, simplify operations, and be able to adopt new store technologies as they emerge.

"We're a big believer in the power of technology to make our stores better and our associates more productive," said Doug Yawberry, president and CEO of Weigel's. "Tote AI gives us a platform that can grow and evolve as quickly as our business does. We're excited to build with a partner who shares our commitment to delivering the best possible experience for our customers and our store teams."

Other convenience retailers that have deployed Tote AI solutions include Huck's Market and Loop Neighborhood Markets, which has implemented the Tote Genie store associate AI agent.

[READ MORE: Midwest convenience chain Huck’s Market modernizes POS]

"Weigel's is a great example of where the industry is headed," said Shyam Rao, Founder and CEO of Tote. "They've built a beloved brand through decades of investing in their customers, their communities and their people. We're thrilled to partner with a team that's just as excited as we are about what's possible when innovation and hospitality come together."

Established in 1931, Weigel's is a family-owned and operated East Tennessee business operating 90 convenience stores, a commissary, a dairy, and a bakery. 

Shein is bringing back its Campus Tour and engaging college influencers.

The Chinese-founded and Singapore-based global on-demand fashion app will host its second annual Campus Tour, a seven-stop back-to-school experience designed to connect with college students during their first week of classes.

The Shein 2026 Campus Tour is designed with social sharing in mind and includes branded photo moments, interactive games and exclusive giveaways. Kicking off Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, the tour will visit the following universities:

• Aug.19 – UNC Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.)
• Aug. 20 – North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, N.C.)
• Aug. 26 – University of Central Florida (Orlando)
• Aug. 28 – Kennesaw State University (Cobb County, Ga.)
• Sep. 1 – Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta)
• Sep. 11 – Rutgers University–New Brunswick (New Brunswick, N.J.)

Students can obtain exclusive Shein campus merchandise by completing activities throughout the activation, including downloading the Shein app, following Shein Campus on Instagram or TikTok, and applying to become a Shein Campus Ambassador.

[READ MORE: Shein to host festival-themed pop-up in Los Angeles]

The Shein Campus Ambassador Program includes college students across the U.S. who engage in content creation, community and fashion. The program offers ambassadors access to exclusive perks, including shopping stipends and invitations to Shein events while serving as representatives of the brand on their campuses and earning commissions. There are currently more than 17,000 actively enrolled ambassadors.  

Omnichannel activewear brand Fabletics is expanding its apparel offerings for college students.

The brand has grown its College Shop to include more than 200 U.S. colleges and universities, significantly expanding its presence in the collegiate apparel category. Customers will be able to shop t-shirts, hoodies, polos and more from schools spanning every size, region and level of collegiate athletics, giving them more opportunities to show their school pride.

Fabletics is also piloting the College Shop in 14 retail stores near major university campuses, including Arizona State University, Michigan State and UCLA. The pilot will launch with a handful of core styles and test in-person demand to help inform a broader retail rollout, the brand said.

“The initial response to our College Shop was stronger than we anticipated, and that’s exactly why we’re doubling down,” said Meera Bhatia, president of Fabletics. “Reaching more than 200 colleges and universities is an exciting milestone and an opportunity to introduce Fabletics to new customers while giving existing shoppers another way to experience the brand. As we continue building the assortment, we’re combining the quality and value our customers love with custom graphics and elevated styles to give fans something special and distinctly Fabletics.”

The college apparel expansion comes after Fabletics recently announced plans to triple its international footprint in 2026 and open approximately 20 new stores over the next 12 months. The expansion will bring Fabletics into several new markets throughout this year and next, including India, the UAE, Colombia, Peru and across Central America.

[READ MORE: Amazon in big expansion of locker network across colleges]

Founded in 2013, Fabletics’ products are available online in the U.S., Canada and Europe. The brand operates more than 135 retail stores globally.

A leading delivery service is adding three new retailers to the platform with back-to-school season around the corner.

Barnes & Noble, Carter's and Kohl's are now available on DoorDash. The company says the new additions will save consumers time by bringing school clothes, supplies, books and everyday kids' essentials directly to their door.

"Back-to-school is one of those seasons where there's just no time to plan every trip,” said Mike Goldblatt, VP of enterprise partnerships at DoorDash. “As a dad, I know how this goes. It's the sports uniform you realize is missing the night before practice, or the notebook nobody remembers until they're already out the door. Bringing Barnes & Noble, Carter's and Kohl's onto DoorDash means parents can get what they need in minutes instead of making another stop. For our retail partners, it means getting in front of consumers exactly when they need them most."

Details of the new additions to DoorDash are as follows:

• Barnes & Noble The partnership marks DoorDash's first large-scale books offering. Shoppers can find required reading lists, reference books, study guides, workbooks and more, along with an expansive selection of toys, games, stationery, gifts, movies and music. 
• Carter's Carter’s is DoorDash's largest assortment for kids' apparel and essentials.
• Kohl's The partnership marks DoorDash's first department store selection spanning apparel to home goods. Consumers now have access to products across Kohl’s more than 1,100 stores nationwide. 

[READ MORE: DoorDash's in-house drone program receives FAA approval]

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in San Francisco, DoorDash provides on-demand delivery services in 25 countries across the globe.