On October 16, 2026, it was reported, Nordstrom is returning to San Francisco's Union Square in fall 2027 after a three-year absence, per a Thursday press release. The retailer's new Nordstrom Rack store is set to open just over a block from where both its flagship store and a previous Rack location closed in 2023. In addition to selling off-price inventory, the new 51,500-square-foot store will offer pickup and return services for Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack online orders. The company's only other area location is its merchandise-free Local Fillmore hub, which opened in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood in 2025. The retailer said in its release that Nordstrom Rack is the largest source of new customers to Nordstrom, and that it now has 21 Nordstrom stores, 70 Nordstrom Rack stores and six Nordstrom Local locations across California. While the opening of one store shouldn't necessarily be seen as a sea change, Nordstrom appears to have left at least a little bit of its heart in San Francisco after the company closed up shop on Market Street after 35 years in the city. In its release, the Seattle-based retailer touted its "deep roots" in the Bay area and said it planned to continue its investments and the expansion of its physical footprint there. Lurie added that he was "thrilled that Nordstrom is choosing to invest in San Francisco again" and that he was looking forward to "building on our city's momentum." Nordstrom Rack's new San Francisco store is located at 2 Stockton Street in the former Forever 21 space, in a building owned and managed by Invesco Real Estate. On October 15, 2026, it was reported, Nordstrom expanded its partnership with FAO Schwarz for the holiday season by featuring a selection of toys from the company at every Nordstrom location, according to a Monday press release. Nordstrom also debuted a new in-store mode for its mobile app, allowing customers to use an interactive map helping them to find what they're looking for. The company's app also features a new AI-backed "Request a Look" feature enabling shoppers to receive personalized recommendations and the choice to receive one-on-one styling support from a stylist. Beginning this month, the department store is offering same-day beauty delivery in over 15 markets including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami and more. The retailer will also host special in-store events such as holiday breakfasts, photos with Santa and beauty-specific activations. That's on top of Nordrom's new gift edit feature in its app that highlights expert commentary on the retailer's holiday catalog and features improved filtering options. The holiday catalog returns this season highlighting over a thousand gifts. The additional work with Nordstrom adds to the iconic toy company's expansion efforts. FAO Schwarz opened an e-commerce storefront on Amazon last month and the flagship store in New York City's Rockefeller Center will include an Amazon pop-up shop offering some of the items featured on Amazon's 2026 top toy list.
On October 16, 2026, it was reported, Ethan Allen Interiors has filed an investor presentation with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The presentation, which can be viewed at www.VoteEthanAllen.com, highlights what the company calls its deliberate repositioning and focused plan to deliver long-term profitable, sustainable growth. The presentation details Ethan Allen's progress against key priorities, including improvements in key selling indicators, the financial strength of the business and why the company's five highly qualified nominees bring the right experience and institutional knowledge to oversee the CEO succession and continued execution of Ethan Allen's strategy. It also examines the assumptions underpinning DGB's financial projections. Ethan Allen noted that DGB's projections translate selected financial and industry data into significant revenue and profitability improvements without demonstrating how those outcomes would be achieved within Ethan Allen's vertically integrated operating model. In particular, the company said, DGB does not substantiate the customer-acquisition, store-productivity, pricing, inventory, working capital and implementation assumptions required to deliver the growth it projects across trade, e-commerce and new design centers. The presentation said that changes to pricing, product, inventory, digital channels and the retail footprint must be evaluated together with their effects on manufacturing, designer productivity, logistics, capital requirements and profitability.
On October 13, 2026, it was reported, an affiliate of South Bay International has acquired full ownership of Englander Sleep Products, consolidating U.S. production of the Englander mattress brand under Corsicana Mattress Co. and ending the brand's decades-long domestic regional licensing model. Financial details of the transitional were not disclosed. Englander Sleep Products will retain ownership of the brand, with Corsicana manufacturing Englander mattresses sold in the United States under license. The change replaces a network of independent regional manufacturers that offered their own Englander product lines, pricing and programs. Under Corsicana, the brand will have a national assortment supported by coordinated merchandising, manufacturing, logistics and marketing. Alongside the ownership change, Corsicana is introducing a new Englander collection, with shipments to retailers beginning in the fourth quarter of this year. The assortment includes new performance covers, comfort and support layers, cooling technology featuring Lumi Bands, latex support layers and sleep accessories. Production will run through Corsicana's U.S. factories in Texas, North Carolina, Connecticut and California. The company said a single delivery network, national marketing programs, displays and digital support will serve retail partners. Corsicana will provide its own product warranty for the Englander mattresses it manufactures. Englander Sleep Products will continue licensing the brand in markets across Asia, Latin America and Europe.
On August 14, 2026, it was reported, Dillard's Q2 retail sales rose less than 1% year on year to $1.5 billion, with comps up 1%, the company said Thursday. Women's accessories and lingerie sales rose significantly; home rose moderately; and shoes, beauty and men's rose slightly. Sales of children's, juniors and women's apparel fell moderately. The bottom line got a boost from $37.2 million in tariff refunds, which furnished 260 of the 280 basis-point gross margin increase. Gross margin reached 40.9%, and net income, including proceeds from real estate sales, rose 34% to $97.7 million. Dillard's may not have made many more sales compared to a year ago, but it avoided discounts, kept its customers close and, according to GlobalData research, took market share from rival department stores. "Our 1% sales increase points to a somewhat resilient consumer," CEO William Dillard said in a statement. The 1% comp increase beat expectations from UBS analysts, who had expected flat comps. The UBS Evidence Lab's pricing analysis found Dillard's discounting flat year on year. Protecting price did leave some clothes on racks, though, as customers have grown more choosy in an environment defined by rising gas and grocery costs. Inventory at quarter end was up 5% year over year. Some sales of children's apparel probably did go to value retailers, however, Saunders said in emailed comments. Still, margins benefited, as gross margin expanded even without accounting for tariff refunds. The inventory pile-up reflects the tightrope retailers are walking at a time when consumers and retailers both face rising costs.
