News Briefs

A Neiman Marcus store in the company's home state of Texas is going dark.

Saks Global, parent company of the luxury department store retailer, is closing the Neiman Marcus store at The Shops at Willow Bend, in Plano, Texas. Saks has sold the store's property to the developer of the mall, Dallas-based Centennial, reported CBS News. (Neiman Marcus was acquired by Saks Global at the end of 2024 in a deal valued at $2.4 billion.)

"The sale was a mutual decision that allows the developer to bring its vision for the area to life, building on the retail foundation with the introduction of new residential, dining and entertainment uses," a Saks Global spokesperson said in a statement. 

Neiman Marcus's flagship in Downtown Dallas is slated to go dark after the upcoming holiday season. Currently, the retailer operates 36 stores.  

[READ MORE: Neiman Marcus downtown Dallas flagship to remain open — through holiday season]

Although there have been rumors or more Neiman Marcus closings, a Saks Global spokesperson told WWD in a statement that “store closures are not a meaningful part of our strategy."

"Through the regular course of business, we continually evaluate our store footprint and, as in this case, may determine it necessary to reformat or close a store," the spokesperson stated. "There are currently no plans to reduce our store portfolio on a broader scale.”

Sephora is providing content creators with the chance to engage in affiliate sales on its site.

The beauty giant, a subsidiary of global retail conglomerate LVMH, is rolling out My Sephora Storefront, an affiliate platform that allows U.S. influencers to build shoppable digital storefronts and share curated product recommendations with their followers. 

Seamlessly integrated into the Sephora e-commerce site and app, My Sephora Storefront lets content creators include shareable, shoppable links optimized for all major social platforms on their storefronts. They also obtain access to Sephora’s Beauty Insider loyalty program, as well as year-round commission opportunities and full integration with Sephora’s data analytics and performance insights.

"Sephora prioritizes building relationships with creators and expert voices because of their ability to have meaningful conversations with consumers," said Brent Mitchell, VP of social media and influencer marketing at Sephora. "My Sephora Storefront is a pivotal next step to building an inclusive ecosystem that empowers creators to authentically connect with their audiences and also enables deeper creator relationships with our brand partners and clients that make it all possible."

Other creator programs Sephora has launched include the Sephora x TikTok Incubator Program, which connects TikTok creators to select beauty brands with the goal of helping them learn social content strategies through a series of educational training modules.

At the beginning of 2025, Sephora co-produced a three-part music documentary called “Faces of Music” that offered a behind-the-scenes look at the inspiration and creation behind iconic beauty looks from pop music performers Chappell Roan, Victoria Monét and Becky G. 

[READ MORE: Sephora collaborates on streaming promotional docuseries]

Sephora built My Sephora Storefront in partnership with Motom, a technology company specializing in creator commerce affiliate platforms.

Uber has added a major footwear retailer to its delivery platform.

DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) has joined Uber Eats, bringing its nearly 500 footwear stores in the United States to the platform. Starting today, shoppers can explore DSW's assortment of shoes, accessories, and seasonal items directly through the app and have them delivered on-demand.

To order DSW products through the Uber Eats app, guests simply open the app, navigate to the "Retail" category, and search for DSW to browse a curated selection of shoes and accessories. After adding items to the cart, users choose their delivery window, and place the order. They can then track the order in real time. Uber One members can enjoy $0 Delivery Fees on eligible orders and other exclusive savings.

Uber says the addition of DSW underscores its commitment to “broadening its retail and lifestyle offerings.” In recent weeks, the company has added several major retailers including Sephora, Best Buy and Dollar Tree to the Uber Eats platform.

"Style emergencies are real – and with DSW on Uber Eats, we're making it easier than ever to look and feel your best, fast," said Hashim Amin, Head of Retail for North America at Uber. "Whether you forgot your shoes for a weekend getaway or just spotted the perfect pair for a night out, DSW and Uber Eats have you covered.”

[READ MORE: Dollar General in delivery partnership with Uber Eats]

Founded in 1991, DSW operates approximately 525 stores in the U.S. and Canada.

Optimism surrounding artificial intelligence usage in the human resources field has become widespread.

That’s according to a new survey of HR leaders and benefits decision-makers from Transcarent, which found that 98% of professionals are familiar with AI, and more than 90% are confident that the technology will have a positive impact on operations.

Transcarent says that HR leaders spend an outsized share of their time answering repetitive benefits questions, coordinating vendors, and managing compliance. According to the survey, 91% report frequent employee questions about benefits, 89% cite challenges coordinating multiple vendors, and 85% spend significant time on documentation and compliance.

More than three-quarters (77%) of HR leaders are currently using productivity tools like ChatGPT. Almost half (46%) of organizations using AI in benefits administration report real improvements, including higher wellness engagement and reduced employee leave.

“As a chief people officer, I not only want to bring great benefits to our employees and their families, but I also want them to use them. With AI, we can help more people use their benefits to their fullest and be healthier,” said Jennifer Trzepacz, chief people officer at Transcarent. “The survey shows that HR leaders know an effective implementation of AI for health and wellness requires partners that bring practical strategies to navigate risk, prioritize privacy and security, and maintain the trust of their employees.”

[READ MORE: Survey: Almost half of AI search tool users prefer them to Google]

Transcarent conducted the online survey in partnership with SurveyMonkey. Responses were collected from 1,340 U.S.-based HR and benefits decision-makers spanning industries such as technology, professional services, manufacturing, energy, retail and hospitality.

[READ MORE: Carhartt adds new channel to resale offering]

Founded in 1889, Carhartt is a family-owned and operated company, headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., employing more than 3,000 associates worldwide.

Select Sam’s Club stores in Nashville recently provided customers an omnichannel tie-in with the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series open-wheel auto racing tournament.

Three Nashville Sam’s Club stores recently offered a two-day interactive experience called “Race to the Club” that included virtual racing simulators, a photo opportunity with an actual Indy car, brand demos and samples, and live music from country band Lanco. 

One store featured Andretti Global IndyCar racing team driver Kyle Kirkwood appearing to meet customers and sign autographs. In addition, at the Nashville Superspeedway Fan Zone, Sam’s Club hosted two days of interactive brand activations and Kirkwood debuted the sponsored No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda on race day.

Sam’s Club offered Race to the Club as part of its Sam’s Club Member Access Platform (MAP) retail media network. In April 2025, the retailer said it would start using first-party data to offer personalized experiences through an offering called MAP’s Omni Experiences.

[READ MORE: Sam’s Club creates personalized experiences via retail media network]

MAP’s Omni Experiences combines digital performance tactics like search and display with immersive experiences in and around media activations via channel, including online and in-store. These experiences can promote large-scale seasonal events, such as back-to-school, as well as smaller brand-led localized events. Race to the Club marked the debut of the offering.

"At MAP, our goal is simple: make shopping fun, meaningful and measurable," said Harvey Ma, VP and GM of Sam’s Club MAP. "Race to the Club captured that spirit perfectly. We created experiences our members will remember, delivered results our partners can see, and gave Nashville a taste of what’s to come as we continue to build the first Retail Experience Network."