Walmart-owned warehouse retailer Sam's Club is shifting back into growth mode with plans to add 30 new US stores and five fulfillment centers in the coming years. Growing demand among inflation-weary consumers has spurred Sam's Club to plan the new locations after a pause of more than five years, with the first location set to open in Florida next year.

A line of Lunar New Year-themed sweaters and shirts from Brooks Brothers pays homage to the Year of the Rabbit by featuring a playful floppy-eared bunny with black-rimmed glasses. The brand has been offering Lunar New Year collections for several years, and this year, for each product sold, the company is also making a $5 donation to Gold House to support Asian American and Pacific Islander causes.

Footwear retailer Cole Haan has created its third collection of running shoes since debuting the first in 2020. The new collection features four styles for men and women, designed for all-day support, and more styles are in the works, said Annie Kawasaki, senior product manager.

A pickup-only grocer called Addie's is now fulfilling orders in Massachusetts and aims to open 2,000 stores in the next decade. Co-founder and Harvard Business School graduate Jim McQuade -- who had the idea for Addie's more than a decade ago -- said Addie's efficient layout and stocking software provide a better customer experience and enable the store to serve hundreds of customers each hour.

It's the busy season at Costco's 860,000-square-foot regional return center in Monroe Township, N.J., where employees process merchandise returned to 60 of the warehouse retailer's stores. The fate of the items depends on their category and condition -- electronics are returned to manufacturers or sent to liquidators, for example, while bikes are donated and hygiene items like toothbrushes get recycled.

E.l.f. Beauty connects with Generation Z shoppers by prioritizing empathy and inclusiveness, said Ekta Chopra, chief digital officer. The brand's success with younger consumers also hinges on relevant cross-industry partnerships and a willingness to enter emerging tech-driven platforms and social channels, added Chopra.

Labor negotiations between dockworkers and West Coast ports are in a stalemate, sources say. Talks began in May for more than 22,000 workers across 29 ports. Many importers have shifted business to East Coast and Gulf Coast ports to avoid disruption. "The uncertainty regarding the contract has everybody on edge," says Jonathan Gold, NRF's vice president for supply chain.

Express CEO Tim Baxter and Pilot Co. CEO Shameek Konar joined moderator David Wilkinson, EVP, president and GM - global retail for NCR Corp., on stage at NRF 2023: Retail's Big Show to discuss the critical factors in creating a great customer experience. Both touched on the significance of embracing brand purpose, adopting technology and creating personalized experiences. "If our associates, our team members, are feeling good about where they work and feeling good about what they do, we automatically get a much better customer experience," Konar said. Read more.

January 2023 ports are forecast at 1.97 million TEU. Source: NRF/Hackett Associates Global Port Tracker.

Andrea Bell, vice president of consumer insights at WGSN, joins the Retail Gets Real podcast to discuss takeaways from her session at NRF 2023: Retail's Big Show. In her featured session, Bell shared research on five of the most important global forces that will shape the macroeconomic and business landscape in 2025. Listen to learn more about Bell's trend forecasting and insights.

Chipotle Mexican Grill is recruiting to fill 15,000 jobs ahead of its upcoming busy season, which typically runs from March through May. The company's 3,000 restaurants have about 100,000 employees, and plans call for the chain to more than double its unit count to 7,000 in the coming years.