Conversational Commerce

Business

End of an Era: Eddie Bauer Files for Bankruptcy, Shuttering 200 North American Stores

The iconic outdoor retailer Eddie Bauer is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a move that will close its entire fleet of roughly 200 physical stores across the U.S. and Canada. While its e-commerce and wholesale operations will live on, the decision marks a dramatic retreat from the mall landscape it helped define for decades.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Orva Taps Retail Veteran Jason Short to Lead Footwear Expansion Push

E-commerce accelerator Orva appoints former Famous Footwear executive Jason Short as SVP to spearhead growth of its athletic and performance footwear portfolio, leveraging his three decades of industry relationships.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Ziff Davis Bets on AI and Consolidation to Revive Growth, But Questions Remain

Ziff Davis has consolidated its key shopping assets into the AI-powered RetailMeNot Group, aiming to drive advertising and commerce revenue. This strategic pivot underscores the company's broader push to leverage artificial intelligence across its digital portfolio, though investors remain divided on its long-term prospects amid structural challenges.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

1-800-FLOWERS Posts Mixed Q4: Revenue Slips but Profitability Soars on Cost-Cutting Drive

The floral and gift e-commerce giant 1-800-FLOWERS reported a 9.5% year-over-year revenue decline to $702.2 million for its fiscal fourth quarter, aligning with Wall Street's subdued expectations. However, disciplined cost management fueled a significant earnings beat, with non-GAAP EPS of $1.20 surging 39.5% above estimates.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

End of an Era: 71-Year-Old Firearms and Outdoor Distributor Big Rock Sports Files for Chapter 7 Liquidation

The collapse of Big Rock Sports, a major behind-the-scenes distributor for hunting and fishing retailers, marks another casualty in the sporting goods sector's struggle against e-commerce dominance and shifting consumer habits.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

BofA Trims JD.com Price Target Amid Slower Growth Forecasts, Joins DBS in Cautious Stance

Bank of America has modestly lowered its price target on JD.com, following a similar move by DBS, as analysts revise down revenue and profit estimates for the Chinese e-commerce giant, citing weaker consumer electronics demand and scaled-back subsidy programs.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Visa Doubles Down on Digital Frontiers: Stablecoin Settlements and Crypto Access Take Center Stage

Visa is aggressively expanding its footprint beyond traditional card payments, launching new initiatives in stablecoin settlements, renter-focused commerce, and streamlined crypto-to-fiat conversions. These partnerships aim to embed Visa's network into the burgeoning worlds of blockchain-based finance and essential housing expenditures.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Beyond the Hype: Five Stocks Poised to Define the 2026 Investment Landscape

As 2026 unfolds, the AI investment thesis is maturing beyond initial skepticism, creating opportunities in both leading tech giants and overlooked sectors. We analyze five companies, from semiconductor powerhouses to regional e-commerce leaders, positioned for a pivotal year.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

7 Leaves Cafe Brews Up a Tech Upgrade: Partners with Square to Streamline Operations Across All 44 U.S. Stores

The popular Vietnamese-American beverage chain is implementing Square's commerce platform to unify in-store and drive-thru experiences, enhance loyalty programs, and scale its growing national footprint.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Nvidia Aided China's DeepSeek In Advancing Powerful AI Models Later Linked To Military Use, House Committee Chair Alleges: Report

A U.S. lawmaker has alleged that Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA) provided technical assistance to Chinese AI startup DeepSeek. Nvidia Technical Support Allegedly Boosted DeepSeek's Efficiency Nvidia helped DeepSeek improve the efficiency of its artificial intelligence models, according to a letter sent to the U.S. Commerce Department by Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), chair of the House Select Committee on China. The letter, seen by Reuters on Wednesday, says documents obtained by the committee show th

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Meesho's Aggressive Growth Push Fuels Widening Losses in First Post-IPO Earnings

Indian e-commerce challenger Meesho reported a significant widening of its quarterly net loss to ₹4.91 billion, as a 44% surge in expenses outpaced strong revenue growth, marking a costly start to its life as a public company.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Alibaba Spins Off $2 Billion Robovan Venture, Doubling Down on Automated Last-Mile Delivery

Alibaba's logistics arm Cainiao and autonomous driving firm Zelos Technology have merged to form a standalone robovan business, valued at approximately $2 billion. The move signals a strategic push into automated delivery solutions within China's competitive e-commerce landscape, as the tech giant seeks new growth engines beyond its core operations.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Regulatory Headwinds Cloud Outlook for PDD Holdings Amid Broader China Internet Crackdown

While Morgan Stanley maintains an Overweight rating on PDD Holdings, the firm has removed the e-commerce giant from its Top Picks list, citing heightened regulatory scrutiny and a slower-than-expected consumer recovery in China.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

The End of an Era? UK Retailers Rethink the Future of Free Returns

The long-standing pillar of UK e-commerce—free and unlimited returns—is facing a fundamental overhaul as soaring costs and changing consumer habits force retailers to adopt more targeted and sustainable policies.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Mastercard Caps Off 'Very Strong' 2025, Eyes Growth in Services and New Tech for 2026

Mastercard reported robust Q4 and full-year 2025 results, driven by double-digit revenue growth and surging value-added services. Executives expressed confidence for 2026, highlighting strategic wins, investments in digital assets like stablecoins, and a focus on 'agentic commerce,' even as they plan a restructuring affecting 4% of staff.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Sea Limited Doubles Down on Growth: Can Shopee's Margin Sacrifice Pay Off?

Sea Limited's latest earnings reveal a strategic pivot back to aggressive investment in its e-commerce arm, Shopee, driving robust revenue growth but squeezing near-term margins. This move reignites the debate on whether the Southeast Asian tech giant can sustainably balance expansion with profitability.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Cameco's Westinghouse Venture Secures Key U.S. Agreement, Anchoring $80 Billion Nuclear Reactor Pipeline

A landmark agreement between the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Cameco-Westinghouse joint venture aims to catalyze over $80 billion in new nuclear reactor construction by 2030, bolstering Western energy security and reducing reliance on Russian nuclear fuel.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Amazon to Shutter Palm-Srint Payment System in Retail by 2026, Citing Low Adoption

Amazon will discontinue its Amazon One palm-scanning payment and entry technology at retail locations in 2026, marking a retreat from one of its most ambitious physical commerce experiments.

Feb 2, 2026

From Alley to Empire: Three Decades On, New York's Tech Scene Has Outgrown Its Moniker

A recent anniversary event for 'Silicon Alley' highlighted how New York's technology sector has evolved from a concentrated downtown community into a vast, decentralized force spanning finance, AI, and e-commerce.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Reddit's Balancing Act: AI Data Ambitions, Brand Control, and a Shifting Ad Landscape

As YouTube emerges as a key AI training data source, Reddit navigates a complex web of challenges: protecting its community brands, defending ad revenue against TikTok and AI search, and proving the value of its data licensing strategy to investors.

Feb 2, 2026