News Briefs

While its popularity is still growing, immersive technology has a strong impact on purchases.

A new survey from B2B service provider platform Clutch reveals that six-in-10 (60%) consumers have used augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) technology, and more than half (54%) say they are likely to increase their use of immersive technology over the next two years. Nearly six-in-10 (58%) consumers have made a purchase after using AR features.

Smartphones are the most common way consumers access immersive experiences, according to the survey, with 61% using mobile devices for AR/VR. Consumers also prefer smartphones over standalone VR headsets, largely because they are more accessible and require less setup.

Beyond shopping, gaming remains the most popular use case for both AR (63%) and VR (61%). However, Clutch says AR is also becoming embedded in everyday digital behaviors, including social media content creation (32%), online shopping (30%) and navigation (18%).

Consumers surveyed said the top barriers preventing broader adoption include the high cost of devices (51%), lack of useful content (32%), motion sickness or discomfort (26%), and privacy concerns (26%). While only a third (35%) of consumers use AR/VR regularly, Clutch says immersive experiences are becoming a more “meaningful part of how people shop, explore and interact with brands.”

[READ MORE: True Beauty Lashes offers virtual lash matching and try-on]

“Immersive technology is becoming less of a novelty and more of a practical business tool,” said Hannah Hicklen, Clutch analyst. “When brands use AR to answer real customer questions, like how something will look, fit or function — they create more confidence and reduce friction in the buying process.”

Clutch surveyed 400 consumers for its report.

Mango — the rapidly expanding Spanish clothing, shoes, accessories and home goods brand — has made an auspicious landing in the Midwest.

This week, the company is opening its first location in Minnesota, a 10,000-sq.-ft. space at Mall of America,  Founded in Barcelona in 1984, the global retailer has stated a goal to build its reputation in the States for representing European elegance with contemporary, street-inspired aesthetics.

“At Mall of America, we’re committed to curating a dynamic retail mix that brings both global prestige and fresh perspective to our guests,” said Ashley Hofmann, MOA’s leasing director. 

Mango has opened more than 60 stores in its ongoing U.S. expansion plan, which focuses on prime locations. In December, it opened an 11,000-sq.-ft. store on Chicago’s Miracle Mile.

It soon will be strengthening its presence in California with a location in Costa Mesa’s South Coast Plaza.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Mango as part of our growing roster of internationally celebrated brands,” Hofmann said. “As one of the first locations in the Midwest, Mango’s arrival reinforces Mall of America’s role as a destination for trend-leading, first to market brands.”

Those buying Easter candy this year may feel some sticker shock.

The prices of popular Easter candy have jumped 67% since 2020, according to a new analysis from Investors Observer. That gap means a family spending the same average of $93 on Easter candy today will come away with 40% less candy than six years ago.

In 2020, popular Easter candies ranged from $3.49 and $3.99. This year, that gap increased to between $4.79 and $8.29. Between 2020 and 2026, the average price per ounce across the five Easter candies tracked by InvestorsObserver increased from $0.37 to $0.62.

[READ MORE: Numerator: Most St. Patrick's Day celebrators to spend less than $100 this year]

The Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar stands out as the most extreme case in the research, with a 107.8% price-per-ounce increase over six years. Also, despite no price change, Cadbury Mini Eggs shrank from 10 ounces to 9 ounces in 2022, which InvestorsObserver called a hidden cost increase most shoppers likely never noticed.

According to National Retail Federation data from last year, the average American increased per-person Easter candy spending from $23.30 in 2020 to approximately $26.82 in 2025.

“When shoppers lose a reliable sense of what something should normally cost, everything gets harder,” noted Sam Bourgi, senior analyst at InvestorsObserver. “Instead of grabbing the usual bag without a second thought, you’re suddenly comparing prices, doing per-ounce math in your head, and wondering if you’re being overcharged.” 

For the analysis, InvestorsObserver tracked the prices of Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs, Cadbury Mini Eggs, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Cadbury Creme Eggs from 2020 to today. The full report can be found here.

A popular low-cost shopping platform best-known for fast fashion is helping customers get ready for festival season.

Shein will operate the "Shein Festival House Pop-Up" on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. PDT, Thursday, March 26 through Saturday, March 28, and then 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, 2026. The pop-up will feature apparel geared toward music genres and styles including boho festival, cowgirl, retro streetwear, punk rock, and desert rave; as well as free gifts.

"What stands out this year is just how early and how intentionally shoppers are planning their festival looks," said Lisa Zlotnick, U.S. head of brand PR for Shein. "They know what they want, they know what they want to spend, and they look to social media to determine exactly how to pull it off. Shein is built to deliver on all of it, down to the last accessory."

Shein surveyed approximately 18,600 U.S. consumers age 18 and older who plan to attend music and arts festivals in 2026 about their shopping preferences. Notable results included:

• Nearly 62% of respondents said price is one of their top three factors when shopping for festival looks, followed by comfort (49%) and wearability (39%).
• Respondents are targeting prices of $25 or under for individual apparel, including shorts and tops, and under $10 for accessories such as sunglasses, bandanas and jewelry.
• Comfortable shoes rank as the most important item, with 73% of attendees saying they are a must-pack, followed by sunglasses (67%) and shorts (66%). Tank tops (58%) and lightweight dresses (57%) 

Shein has a long tradition of hosting pop-ups, including in cities such as Las Vegas, New York City (in partnership with Forever 21), Montreal and Vancouver. 

[READ MORE: Shein teams with 'Love is Blind' stars on Las Vegas wedding pop-up]

Federal Realty Investment Trust is expanding its portfolio in its home market.

The company has acquired Congressional North Shopping Center in Rockville, Md., for $72.3 million. Located immediately adjacent to Federal's Congressional Plaza, the grocery-anchored center spans approximately 176,000 square feet of retail on 13 acres, with tenants including Aldi, RH Outlet, Petco and Staples.

The acquisition of Congressional North deepens Federal's presence along Rockville Pike (Route 355), one of the Washington D.C. Metro region's most established commercial corridors. Federal’s other assets in the area include Congressional Plaza, Federal Plaza, Montrose Crossing and Pike & Rose

"This is a highly strategic addition for us," said Don Wood, president and CEO of Federal Realty, who has led the company since 2003. "With this acquisition, we now control the key retail nodes along Rockville Pike from Bethesda through Rockville, giving us greater flexibility to curate tenancy and merchandising across the corridor."

[READ MORE: Federal Realty launches ‘Resi-Over-Retail’ builds across its portfolio]

Headquartered in North Bethesda, Md., Federal Realty's 104 properties include approximately 3,700 tenants in 28.8 million commercial square feet, and approximately 2,700 residential units.

Southeastern Grocers has united its organization and stores under one banner with an official name change as part of a renewed focus on its home state of Florida.

The regional grocer is now officially The Winn-Dixie Company. As part of the transformation, the Jacksonville, Fla.-based company is also introducing an updated, more modern visual identity, including a refined logo and brighter, more contemporary color schemes. It also is rolling out a new tagline that reads “Bring Home More Good.”  

In late 2025, as part of its Florida growth strategy, the company (then Southeastern Grocers) finalized an agreement to acquire Hitchcock’s Markets locations in Alachua, Keystone Heights and Williston, Fla. The stores are being converted to the new Winn-Dixie format and opened in phases.  

Winn-DIxie is also introducing new customer conveniences and partnerships, including third-party online grocery delivery and return kiosks. It also is continuing to expand its private label offerings. 

“This is a defining moment — more than a name change, it proudly declares who we are and where we’re headed,” said chairman and CEO Anthony Hucker. “Becoming The Winn-Dixie Company brings a deeply rooted company name behind our shared purpose of empowering people to feed and enrich their communities. We’re investing with intention —opening new stores, refreshing existing ones and elevating the products our customers know and love — while maintaining our commitment to value and quality."