Walmart announced it will acquire Zeekit, a startup that makes virtual fitting room technology, for an undisclosed amount as part of an effort to gain market share among online clothes shoppers. Online shoppers will be able to use the technology to upload their photos or choose models with different body types to see how fashions from national brands and private-label lines would look on them.

American Eagle Outfitters has created AE x The Jeans Redesign, a limited-edition line of jeans made with sustainable materials including 100% organic cotton and without harmful chemicals, and designed to hold up through at least 30 washes. The jeans are available in two styles for men and two for women, each priced at $59.95 per pair.

Kroger has introduced a partner program designed to help the grocer discover new US companies to act as fresh food suppliers and help grow its local offerings. The Go Fresh & Local Supplier Accelerator, sponsored by Gourmet Foods International, will be held in August in Cincinnati and is dedicated "to fostering innovation and investing in local, regional and small businesses that make the best of food accessible to all," said Kroger's Dan De La Rosa.

Saks.com has secured two new credit facilities totaling $465 million that will shore up resources in the company's push to lead in luxury e-commerce. Earlier this year, parent Hudson's Bay Co. split Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks.com into two separate companies.

Upscale footwear brand Cole Haan has been expanding into new industry segments, with new casual styles designed for tennis and golf. "We hypothesized rather successfully that we could make a product that is stylish enough to wear in those 23 hours of the day and yet performs in that one hour a day exactly as you need it," Brand President David Maddocks said.

Four American designers that left New York Fashion Week in 2017 to show their lines on the Paris catwalks have returned to the Big Apple, three with a commitment to participate in New York Fashion Week for three seasons or more. The return is related to the IMG Fashion Alliance, an effort that includes funding and support for 11 designers' shows and events.

The pandemic has accelerated the growing demand for healthier food, and it also has illuminated technology as a key avenue for grocers to reach shoppers focused on finding fresh and healthier offerings. Tech-savvy grocers can leverage both of these key trends by offering education and marketing directly to consumers on their digital devices and through in-store screens and kiosks.

NRF's virtual Retail Advocates Town Hall convened nearly 100 small businesses, leading policymakers and members of the House of Representatives Committee on Small Business to discuss issues specifically related to small retailers and their resiliency over the last year. Co-hosts Margaret Barrow and Danny Reynolds of NRF's Small Business Retail Council led the program in discussions and were joined by Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.; House Committee on Small Business Chairwoman Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y.; Ranking Member Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., and more. Learn more.

NRF forecasts that 2021 retail sales -- excluding autos, gas and restaurants -- will grow between 6.5% and 8.2% over 2020 to between $4.33 trillion and $4.4 trillion. Source: NRF.

Walmart, Nordstrom and The Home Depot are among the retailers taking advantage of the growth of livestreaming as an e-commerce channel. The Home Depot had already been exploring livestreaming before the pandemic with about five in-store events per month, and the company has grown its efforts to include about 40 events each month. Read more.

McDonald's will raise pay for hourly employees at company-owned restaurants by an average of 10% and hourly pay is on track to hit an average of $15 by 2024, the company said. The raises come as McDonald's is recruiting to fill 10,000 job openings at the restaurants it operates.