Wayfair is testing a new, smaller store design. The online home furnishings giant, famous for its endless digital catalog, is trying a different strategy for its physical locations. The company announced plans to open a smaller prototype store in Columbus, Ohio, scheduled for late 2026. Located next to the Polaris Fashion Mall, the new space will span approximately 70,000 square feet.

Major retailers are starting their Black Friday promotions earlier than ever this year, with deals beginning weeks before the traditional Nov. 28 shopping date. Amazon has planned a 12-day promotional event starting Wednesday, Nov. 20, and running through Cyber Monday, Dec. 1. The e-commerce giant promises millions of deals across more than 35 categories, from home goods and beauty to electronics and apparel, with some of its lowest prices of the year.

Kroger, the Cincinnati-based grocery giant, announced it's expanding its partnership with DoorDash, bringing its full product lineup to nearly 2,700 stores across the platform starting Oct. 1. That means customers can now order everything from fresh produce to household essentials - including Kroger's popular private label brands - through the DoorDash app with on-demand delivery.

Burlington Stores is giving its locations a major makeover. The off-price retailer has already transformed about half of its 1,115 stores and plans to complete the redesign across its entire fleet by the end of 2026. The company calls this makeover "Store Experience 2.0." Gone are the cramped aisles and confusing layouts that once defined discount shopping. Instead, Burlington is creating wider walkways, organized sections, and clearer signs to help shoppers find what they need.

Target is opening seven new stores this fall across Arizona, California, Florida, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia, with six of the locations exceeding the company's average store size of 125,000 square feet. The company's second quarter showed net sales fell 0.9% to $25.2 billion, while store sales dropped 3.2%. Despite the decline, Target is moving ahead with expansion plans.

Strawberries are outselling AirPods on Amazon. That's right - the e-commerce giant known for electronics and books is now delivering fresh produce, meat, and dairy alongside your usual Prime orders in over 1,000 cities across America. The company announced what it calls "one of the most significant grocery expansions" in its history, rolling out same-day delivery of perishable groceries to communities nationwide. By the end of 2026, Amazon plans to bring the service to more than 2,300 areas, fundamentally changing how millions of Americans shop for food.

Barnes & Noble is proving that physical bookstores aren't going anywhere. The retailer just opened three new locations across Texas and South Carolina, marking another step in its comeback story. Barnes & Noble opened 57 stores in 2024 alone - more than it had opened in the entire decade from 2009 to 2019. The company isn't slowing down either, with plans to open more than 60 new stores in 2025 and a goal of reaching over 1,000 stores nationwide in the coming years.

As families get ready for another school year, big stores are using strong pricing plans to attract shoppers watching their budgets. With back-to-school spending expected to rise 3.3% to $33.3 billion this year, according to Coresight Research, stores are finding new ways to offer deals that deliver real savings.

Target Corp. is opening eight new stores this summer, including the retailer's 320th location in California. The openings are part of Target's bold plan to add 20 new locations this year and build more than 300 stores over the next decade. The summer growth shows Target's move to larger store formats. Three of the new locations are bigger than the chain's typical 125,000-square-foot size, with some stores reaching nearly 150,000 square feet. This expansion allows Target to provide additional services and broader product selections.

The convenience store giant 7-Eleven launched a new Craveables Value Menu this week, joining the heated battle for budget-conscious shoppers alongside a thrilling partnership with Universal Pictures for "Jurassic World Rebirth." The Irving, Texas-based retailer's value lineup takes direct aim at fast-food chains. Customers can grab three taquitos or roller grill items for $3, including the new Spicy Hot Link Sausage—"a slow-smoked, paprika-packed sausage that delivers a flavorful kick with just the right amount of spice." Five-piece bone-in wings cost $5 in Buffalo, Spicy Breaded, Roasted or Spicy Sweet Chili flavors, while classic glazed donuts ring up at just $1.