On October 29, 2026, it was reported, while it isn't moving far from its Westbury-area store on Long Island, Top 100 retailer Fortunoff Backyard Store is moving into a more visible, higher traffic spot. The outdoor retail specialist announced it will open a 26,000-square-foot showroom in a former Sam Ash location at 385 Old Country Road in Carle Place, N.Y. The new store will replace its current showroom at 1500 Old Country Road in Westbury. The current store will remain open as Fortunoff prepares the new space. "The area we're moving to is fully leased out on either side of us. It's a busy strip directly across the street from two high velocity shopping centers," said CEO Curt Littlejohn "The visibility couldn't be better. We're going to have something like 50,000 cars per day passing our store." Relocations are a key piece of the strategy for the retail group, which also includes Chair King Backyard Store. Littlejohn said of the most recent the company has opened, three were relocations to go along with four new openings in Virginia. "Our growth strategy flexes and contracts, and we leave no stone unturned when it comes to looking for opportunities for expansion," he said. And as 2026 nears its end, Littlejohn said he sees plenty of reasons for optimism ahead. "After 2025, 2026 has been a welcome relief. Our business feels back. It feels strong and solid and we're building that into our projections for next year, too," he said. "There's obvious uncertainty around this being an election year tied to what's going to happen. I'm looking forward to getting that behind us and getting back to people enjoying their backyards."
On October 28, 2026, it was reported, top 100 retailer Exclusive Furniture will celebrate the grand reopening of its Almeda location on Nov. 7, the return of the store after it was damaged during Hurricane Beryl in 2024. The Houston-based retailer opened its first location there in 1998. The 30,000-square-foot store is located at 12200 Gulf Freeway. The showroom will feature living room and bedroom collections, dining furniture, reclining furniture, home accents and coordinated room displays. Customers will be able to explore styles and price points that reflect the selection available throughout Exclusive Furniture's Houston-area stores. The reopened Almeda location will feature a dedicated mattress department, bringing Exclusive Furniture's "Where Better Sleep Begins" message to the community. Exclusive Furniture carries brands including Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, Beautyrest, Serta, Sealy and Bedgear, offering options across a range of comfort preferences and budgets in mattresses, adjustable bases and sleep accessories, with personalized guidance from our trained sleep specialists. Alongside its merchandise selection, Exclusive Furniture will offer financing and payment options designed to serve customers across a range of budgets and credit backgrounds, subject to applicable approval requirements and terms. The Almeda reopening reflects Exclusive Furniture's confidence in the Houston market and its long-term commitment to the communities it serves. Even as households navigate financial pressures and retailers face a challenging business environment, the company remains focused on value, service and opportunities for continued expansion.
On October 27, 2026, it was reported, Kohl's turnaround has been dragging on for years now, with little to show for it. Last year, Q4 net sales fell 4%, with comps down nearly 3%, contributing to declines of 4% in net sales and over 3% in comps for the full year compared to 2024. The company continues to generate good cash flow and doesn't have much debt, which means it can afford to continue its turnaround into next year, according to David Silverman, senior director at Fitch Ratings. As of last month, the department store has a new chief merchant, former Walmart fashion executive Ryan Waymire, who's also had stints at Wayfair, FabFitFun, Amazon and Target. But it suffered a setback this year as its Sephora shop-in-shops, long touted as a driver of traffic and sales, suffered sales declines for two straight quarters. But ongoing sales erosion threatens to weaken its ability to compete, McMahon said. Its holiday comparable sales, traffic, markdowns and gross margins will be under a microscope, he said. We're covering the news relevant to you. Help us get it right by telling us more about you. "Kohl's needs to give middle- and lower-income shoppers a compelling reason to choose its stores over off-price chains, mass merchants and online rivals," he said. "Another weak holiday would raise questions about how much longer Kohl's can pursue a turnaround without further restructuring."
On October 27, 2026, it was reported, Cymax Group Technologies, the e-commerce technology company that has been in business for two decades, is winding down operations, according to local reports. The Vancouver Tech Journal reported that the company, which was founded in 2004 and provides e-commerce technology and logistics services to furniture manufacturers and retailers through platforms including Channel Gate and Freight Club, is closing based on LinkedIn posts by employees. As of Tuesday morning, the Cymax Group, Channel Gate and Freight Club websites are all active with nothing indicating an interruption in business. A search of LinkedIn posts containing "Cymax Group" shows several "open to work" style announcements from former employees, with the first one dated Oct. 13. Markus Frind, CEO of Frind Properties, was appointed Cymax Group's CEO in 2024 and is its majority owner, after first investing in the company in 2015.
