Beth Duckett
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Articles by Beth Duckett
Prada Heir Lorenzo Bertelli Has a Versace Problem
Prada heir Lorenzo Bertelli is overseeing Versace’s turnaround as the group cuts stores and resets pricing. MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images Lorenzo Bertelli, the former rally driver expected to inherit the Prada empire, now faces a less glamorous assignment: making Versace profitable again.
AI becomes larger part of Stitch Fix strategy as Q4 revenue grows
Stitch Fix returned to revenue growth in fiscal 2026, marking a milestone in the online styling retailer’s turnaround effort. Customers spent more, while the company also pointed to growing adoption of its Vision AI tool. For its fiscal 2026 ended Aug. 1, Stitch Fix generated $1.35 billion in net revenue, up 6.4% from $1.27 billion a year earlier. Its net loss narrowed to $12.6 million from $28.8 million in fiscal 2025.
Best Buy opens up gift-buying and discover through ChatGPT ahead of holidays
Best Buy is bringing ChatGPT into its holiday shopping strategy, giving customers another way to find gifts and buy products without leaving the AI platform. In a Sept. 14 blog post, Best Buy noted that shoppers can “find gift ideas and shop Best Buy products through ChatGPT,” including completing purchases directly in the chat interface.
Target deepens AI push, adding photo search and review insights
Target is weaving artificial intelligence (AI) into more everyday shopping tasks, from finding products in a photo to picking up where shoppers left off online. In a Sept. 8 blog post, the retailer highlighted several AI-powered shopping features it has rolled out since 2025.
Winston Weinberg’s Harvey Courts Customers With a Growing Sports Sponsorship Push
Harvey’s U.S. Open sponsorship is part of a broader sports push designed to court executives, corporate lawyers and prospective clients. Julian Finney/Getty Images Harvey, the A.I. startup set out to automate the legal industry, is courting the sports world to reach new customers.
Lululemon and Canada Goose Have an American Gen Z Problem
Lululemon and Canada Goose face falling U.S. sales, tougher rivals and younger shoppers increasingly resistant to status brands. Getty Images Lululemon turned everyday yoga wear into a status symbol. Canada Goose did the same for winter coats. Now, two of Canada’s best-known fashion exports face a test of their staying power, particularly in the U.S. Both companies’ stock prices are down more than 80 percent from their peaks.
Amazon adds ‘update me when’ feature to Alexa for Shopping
Amazon has added two new capabilities to Alexa for Shopping, its artificial intelligence (AI) retail agent. The updates let shoppers track new product releases across the web and verify whether suspicious emails or texts actually came from Amazon. The mass merchant detailed both features in separate blog posts this week, saying they are now available to U.S. shoppers.
Williams-Sonoma revenue from AI assistant grows 620% in Q2
Williams‑Sonoma Inc. reported that its net revenue grew 6.7% year over year in its fiscal Q2, even as the housing market remained stubbornly stagnant. Along the way, the home furnishings retailer expanded its lineup of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered shopping tools, including a new assistant, Otto, on the Pottery Barn website. For the fiscal quarter ended Aug. 2, Williams‑Sonoma’s net revenue reached $1.96 billion, up from $1.84 billion a year earlier.
Tom Hale’s Oura Heads to the U.S. Open With a $16B IPO in Sight
An Oura ring is seen on the finger of CEO Tom Hale. Carlos Rodrigues/Sportsfile for Web Summit via Getty Images When the U.S. Open main draw begins Sunday in Flushing Meadows, players will settle into the usual rhythm of matches, practice courts and media rounds. This year, they’ll also be offered Oura Rings. Under a new five-year agreement with the U.S. Tennis Association, the Finnish smart-ring maker has become the USTA’s first wearable partner.
How Jeff Bezos’ $10B Earth Fund Has Fought Climate Change—So Far
Lauren Sánchez Bezos and Jeff Bezos attend the ICCF U.S. Congressional International Conservation Leadership Awards Dinner at Waldorf Astoria on Oct. 24, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Bezos Earth Fund In 2020, a year before stepping down as Amazon’s CEO, Jeff Bezos pledged $10 billion to tackle some of the world’s biggest climate challenges by 2030 and unveiled the Bezos Earth Fund.
The Story Behind Roger Federer’s Bet on On That Became a $300M Fortune
Roger Federer wearing a pair of On sneakers at Wimbledon 2021 in London. Julian Finney/Getty Images Tennis legend Roger Federer earned nearly $131 million in prize money over his 24-year career. But one of his most lucrative moves came off the court. In 2019, he invested in On, the Swiss running-shoe company he joined as what the brand calls a “co‑entrepreneur.” On has never disclosed the terms, but previous reports said Federer invested roughly $50 million for an estimated 3 percent stake.
Amazon plans drone delivery expansion to 5 more U.S. metro areas
Amazon.com Inc. is expanding its Prime Air drone delivery to five more U.S. metro areas, the online retail giant announced Aug. 19. The fast-delivery service is slated to launch “soon” in the Chicago, Syracuse, Cleveland, Atlanta and Boise markets, with more communities to follow later this year, Amazon said in a blog post. The expansion is part of Amazon’s plan to reach nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026 — a footprint six times larger than today, the company said.
The Tech Billionaires Funding A.I.’s Next Chapter on Campus
Jensen Huang and his wife, Lori Huang, attend the 12th Breakthrough Prize Ceremony at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. on April 18, 2026. Lisa O'CONNOR / AFP via Getty Images Universities are racing to secure the resources needed for serious A.I. research, but competing with deep-pocketed private labs requires more than academic talent. Increasingly, wealthy donors and tech leaders are stepping in to help.
The Tech Billionaires Funding A.I.’s Next Chapter on Campus
Apple App Store 3 hours ago 5 Of The Best Safari Extensions, According To Apple Users bgr.com - By Nichols deCourville • 3h As Apple's default web browser, Safari can be one of the quickest ways for those on Mac, iPad, or iPhone to access the internet.
Amazon Locker expands to more than 500 college campuses in U.S.
Amazon.com Inc. said its delivery locker network now includes more than 750 pickup points across 500+ U.S. college campuses, part of an expansion to bring package pickup closer to where students already spend their day. Amazon Locker is the company’s self-service package pickup offering. By placing its kiosks near college dorms, dining halls and academic buildings, Amazon is effectively creating centralized delivery hubs in areas already packed with young online shoppers.
Every Iconic Car Owned by Elon Musk: From a Vintage Model T to a McLaren F1
Elon Musk’s collection has included a Model T, Jaguar E-Type, Porsche 911, McLaren F1 and the Lotus submarine that inspired Cybertruck. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images As Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk is practically synonymous with electric vehicles, although his personal history began with gas-powered cars. In 1994, at age 23, Musk paid $1,400 for a used BMW 320i, which he repaired himself and drove for two years.
Why Tech’s Richest Founders Keep Their Billion-Dollar Foundations Offline
A statue of Elon Musk near SpaceX’s R&D facility in Boca Chica, Texas. In the area, Musk has donated money to establish a STEM-focused school. Reginald Mathalone/NurPhoto via Getty Images The Musk Foundation, Elon Musk’s private charitable foundation, had its biggest year yet in 2024, giving away roughly $474 million. Online, however, there was little sign of it.
How L’Oréal Is Using A.I. to Extend a Nearly $100B Family Fortune
Francoise Bettencourt Meyers (left) and her husband Jean-Pierre Meyers in 2019. Rindoff Petroff/Viteur/Getty Images More than a century after chemist Eugène Schueller turned a hair-dye formula into the business that became L’Oréal, the beauty giant is still finding new ways to grow, with A.I. as its latest bet. L’Oréal’s Revenue rose 6.3 percent on a like-for-like basis, a key retail metric, to €11.6 billion ($13.2 billion) in the April-June quarter.
Bernard Arnault’s Succession Looms as LVMH Returns to Growth
All five Arnault children hold senior roles across the luxury group, yet their father continues to resist naming an heir. Bastien Ohier / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images LVMH is showing its clearest signs yet of emerging from luxury’s two-year downturn, lifted by stronger U.S. spending and fresh wealth creation, even as the Arnault family faces renewed scrutiny over who will succeed 77-year-old chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault.
Alibaba adds more agentic AI to B2B sourcing
Alibaba.com is handing more of the B2B sourcing process for ecommerce sellers over to agentic artificial intelligence (AI). The marketplace said its latest plugin can find suppliers, compare offers and keep negotiations moving 24/7 without constant manual follow-up. Called the Accio Sourcing Toolkit, the plugin runs inside Accio Work, Alibaba’s platform for carrying out business tasks through specialized AI agents.
Jensen Huang Turns to Japan’s Robots for Nvidia’s Next Growth Engine
Jensen Huang says Japan can combine its manufacturing prowess with Nvidia’s chips and software to lead the emerging physical A.I. economy. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images Nvidia built its empire on chips powering generative A.I., and that engine is still surging. The company posted a record $81.6 billion in quarterly revenue, up 85 percent year over year.
The Hamptons Billionaires Funding More Than Summer Parties
Michael Bloomberg (right) and partner, Diana Taylor, attend the Hampton Classic Horse Show Grand Prix on Aug. 31, 2025 in Bridgehampton, New York. Getty Images The wealth concentrated in the Hamptons doesn’t remain confined to coastal estates and summer galas.
QVC Group gets restructuring approval as it eyes bankruptcy exit
A bankruptcy court has approved QVC Group’s plan to wipe out more than $5 billion in debt, moving the retailer closer to emerging from Chapter 11 with more room to invest in live social shopping. On July 15, Judge Alfredo Perez of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas signed off on the restructuring plan. His ruling came about three months after QVC Group filed for Chapter 11 protection, seeking to shed much of its legacy debt while keeping its operations running.
How A.I.’s Most Powerful Backers Are Preparing for Its Consequences
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan are betting that A.I. can accelerate disease research, transform biology and expand the reach of scientific discovery. Arturo Holmes/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue A.I.’s biggest power players are not waiting for governments to decide how the technology’s risks and rewards should be managed.
Levi Strauss ecommerce sales jump 19% as DTC strategy boosts Q2 growth
Levi Strauss & Co. grew ecommerce revenue and overall sales in its fiscal second quarter, as the retailer continued to invest in its direct-to-consumer (DTC) business. For the quarter ended May 31, Levi Strauss reported net revenue of $1.56 billion, up 8.0% year over year. Online revenue, which is part of Levi Strauss’ DTC channel, grew even faster, rising 19% over the same period.
6 Living Philanthropists Who Help Preserve America’s National Parks
As America nears its 250th birthday, billionaire philanthropy is reshaping how the country preserves its landscapes and monuments. Scott Olson/Getty Images America’s national parks belong to the public, but their creation and maintenance have often required private money. For more than a century, philanthropists with large fortunes have bought land, restored monuments and funded programs across the National Park System. Few families shaped that tradition more than the Rockefellers. John D.
12 Immigrant Founders Driving America’s A.I. Boom
Many of today’s top A.I. companies were built by founders who began their careers far from Silicon Valley. Observer/Getty Images For all the talk of A.I. as a Silicon Valley arms race, many of the companies driving the industry were built by founders whose stories began outside the U.S. Some—like Elon Musk and Ali Ghodsi—now lead companies valued at more than $100 billion.
Stitch Fix Vision tool adds ‘see it on me’ feature
Stitch Fix is expanding its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered style visualization tool, giving clients a new way to see themselves in recommended outfits as they browse. The online personal styling service announced June 24 that clients can now generate images of themselves in suggested looks on demand. The capability is part of Stitch Fix Vision, an AI tool the company rolled out in October that automatically sends personalized outfit imagery to clients each week.
Gap launches AI marketing overhaul with Google Cloud, Zeta and Publicis Sapient
Gap Inc. is turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline its marketing engine, aiming to deliver more relevant content and reduce friction across its ecommerce channels. In a June 22 announcement, the retailer said it’s working with Google Cloud, Zeta Global and Publicis Sapient on an AI-led overhaul of its marketing organization. The initiative will extend across all of Gap’s banners, including Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta.
Behind Summer Davos: WEF Founder Klaus Schwab’s Decades-Long Courtship of China
Kenneth Fok Kai-kong (L2), a Hong Kong deputy to the National People’s Congress and a renowned sponsor of sports events, attends a sub-forum during the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions on June 23, 2026 in Dalian, China. Yu Haiyang/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images Every January, the World Economic Forum turns Davos, Switzerland, into a snow-covered stage for global power.
How Yann LeCun’s Startup Challenges the Logic Behind Today’s A.I. Race
The Turing Award winner says A.I. needs broader foundations than just scaling text models. Yui Mok / POOL / AFP via Getty Images Meta’s former chief A.I. scientist, Yann LeCun, helped lay the groundwork for the modern A.I. boom long before chatbots became an industry obsession. Now, after leaving Meta in late 2025, he is building a multibillion-dollar startup under the premise that the race toward A.I. superintelligence is starting from the wrong place.
How Yann LeCun’s Startup Challenges the Logic Behind Today’s A.I. Race
1 hour ago Apple’s release notes for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 reveal that AirPort Utility will soon be removed from the App Store. Here are the details. AirPort Utility app is going away soon Earlier today, Apple released iOS 27 developer beta 2, alongside its counterparts for the upcoming 27 release …
Mercari launches a new app for its U.S.-based shoppers
Positioning itself for a broader international rollout, Mercari Japan is introducing a dedicated app for U.S. shoppers to buy resale goods from its Japanese marketplace. Tokyo-based Mercari Inc., Japan’s largest consumer-to-consumer (C2C) marketplace, said June 17 that it has launched a standalone Mercari Japan app in the U.S. Rather than shopping through Mercari’s existing U.S. marketplace, U.S. users can now browse Japanese listings and Mercari Shops in a separate app.
LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault Says He Uses A.I. Weekly to Design Products
Bernard Arnault delivers a speech during the opening ceremony at the VivaTech technology startups and innovation fair at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, in Paris on June 17, 2026. JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP via Getty Images LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault built his luxury conglomerate on heritage brands and centuries-old notions of craftsmanship. But the 77-year-old mogul is now embracing A.I., like many of his peers.
Visa, OpenAI work together to support agent-led payments
Visa Inc. is moving deeper into agentic commerce, teaming up with OpenAI to support artificial intelligence (AI) agent-led payments. The payments giant announced the collaboration this week at its Visa Payments Forum in San Francisco. Under the new partnership, Visa said it will integrate its payment capabilities into “OpenAI experiences.” That gives developers and merchants a new framework to verify and process purchases that AI agents make.
Ulta Beauty shares early AI assistant results as ecommerce growth outpaces sales in physical stores
Ulta Beauty Inc. reported double-digit ecommerce sales growth in its fiscal Q1 — far outpacing physical stores with comparable sales — as customers spent more and made more purchases. For its first quarter ended May 2, Ulta said its net sales increased 11.1% year over year, reaching $3.16 billion. Overall comparable sales grew 5.3% year over year. Specifically, ecommerce comparable sales grew in the mid-teens, chief financial officer Christopher DelOrefice said on the earnings call.
Amazon applies AI shopping tech to customer retailer agents with AWS
Amazon is now bringing some of the artificial intelligence (AI) technology powering its new shopping agent to other retailers, starting with Kate Spade New York. The latest offering, called Agentic Shopping Assistant, is now available through Amazon Web Services (AWS). It allows retailers outside of Amazon to build and launch their own customized digital AI assistants.
Dick’s Sporting Goods brings sales growth back to Foot Locker in Q1
Dick’s Sporting Goods said its newly acquired Foot Locker business returned to comparable sales growth and profitability in Q1 — a sign that the retailer’s turnaround efforts are starting to take hold. For its fiscal quarter ended May 2, Dick’s reported a 6.0% increase in comparable sales for its namesake banner. During the same period, Foot Locker’s pro forma comparable sales edged up 0.6%. The U.S. Foot Locker banner performed better, posting a 6.4% comparable sales gain, according to executives.
Meet Luna, an A.I. Agent Managing a Brick-and-Mortar Store, and the Humans Behind Her
Founders Axel Backlund (left) and Lukas Petersson are using retail not for profit but as a stress test for autonomous A.I. managers. Courtesy Andon Labs At first glance, Andon Market could pass for any typical neighborhood shop in San Francisco’s trendy Cow Hollow district. Inside are artisan snacks, handmade candles and a selection of curated books, including Nick Bostrom’s Superintelligence and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. But the most unusual thing about the shop isn’t what it sells.
e.l.f. Beauty sales grow in Q4 as company contemplates price cuts
E.l.f. Beauty Inc. closed fiscal 2026 with another quarter of double-digit sales growth, helped by ecommerce, retail gains and its fast-growing Rhode brand. But the company is also preparing targeted price cuts after tariff-related price increases weighed heavily on demand for its core e.l.f. products. In its latest earnings report, e.l.f. said net sales for the fourth quarter ended March 31 rose 35% year over year, reaching $449.3 million.
Amazon Business rolls out new credit cards with U.S. Bank and Mastercard
Amazon.com Inc. is updating its business credit card program, shifting new applicants to U.S. Bank and Mastercard as it adds more rewards and financing tools for business buyers. The retailer introduced the new Prime Business Card and Amazon Business Card on May 13. The launch moves new applicants away from American Express, which had issued Amazon’s business cards since the companies announced their partnership in 2018. U.S. Bank now issues the cards through Mastercard’s network.
Tapestry builds AI-powered Mira to pull data, make decisions
Tapestry Inc. is giving its employees a faster way to make retail decisions, using an artificial intelligence (AI) platform the company built in-house. The owner of Coach and Kate Spade recently secured a U.S. patent for Mira. The internal-facing AI system is designed to pull together data from across the business and surface insights “in seconds to minutes,” the retailer said.
Medline Q1 results show expanding AI use, tariff concerns
Medline Inc. is expanding its use of artificial intelligence (AI), digital supply chain software and robotics as it supports higher demand from new customer wins. In its first quarter of 2026, the medical supply company reported double‑digit sales growth, driven by new customer implementations and continued strength in its Supply Chain Solutions segment, executives said. Medline also raised its full‑year sales growth outlook, citing steady health care utilization and procedural volumes.
VF Corporation adds inventory visibility technology from Nedap
Apparel and footwear giant VF Corporation is seeking a clearer view of its global inventory as it looks to better sync its digital storefronts with physical availability. The parent company of The North Face, Vans and Timberland said it’s overhauling how it tracks stock across its vast network of stores, distribution centers and supply chain partners.
Dick’s Sporting Goods tries out AI-powered coaches from Adobe
Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. has partnered with Adobe Inc. to bring new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered “digital coaches” to its mobile app. The move is part of a broader push to expand personalization and connection across the retailer’s digital and in-store channels.
David’s Bridal adds two AI platforms as shopping channels
David’s Bridal is now bringing its online storefront directly into popular artificial intelligence (AI) chat platforms to add new shopping channels. Shoppers can now browse and buy wedding gowns, bridesmaids’ dresses and other special-occasion attire via Microsoft Copilot and OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Bluon launches PartsConnect tool for HVAC contractors
Bluon is bringing digital commerce directly into the repair workflow for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R) contractors. The company provides software and equipment data for HVAC technicians. Bluon launched a feature on April 13 called PartsConnect. It said the new tool helps technicians identify compatible replacement parts, see which local distributors have them in stock and buy them directly through Bluon’s app. The idea is to eliminate a familiar pain point.
Avalara adds integration with Clover for tax compliance
Tax compliance software firm Avalara Inc. is further embedding its automated tax tools directly into the commerce systems used by many businesses, adding a new integration with Fiserv’s Clover. Broadly, Avalara develops software that helps businesses calculate, file and manage taxes across digital and physical sales channels.
Gopuff to work with NextNRG on delivering groceries alongside gas
NextNRG Inc., which delivers gasoline directly to parked vehicles, is adding groceries to the mix through a new partnership with rapid-delivery platform Gopuff. The energy technology company operates EzFill, a mobile fueling service that lets drivers schedule refueling through an app rather than stopping at a gas station. Now, NextNRG plans to layer retail into that experience with Gopuff as its collaborator.
Meta adds eBay to its growing affiliate commerce program
EBay Inc. is preparing to join Meta Platforms Inc.’s latest push into creator-led commerce. The move comes as social media platforms race to bridge the gap between discovery and the final transaction. Meta is adding the online marketplace to its affiliate commerce program, allowing Facebook creators to tag eBay listings directly within posts and Reels. When a user taps a tagged product, they are redirected to the retailer’s site or app to purchase. The creator then earns a commission.
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