Digital Commerce 360

Having physical stores helps to unlock the essence of omnichannel retail, but not every multichannel offering is worth the investment, as a co-founder at Cotopaxi has shared with Digital Commerce 360. Apparel and outdoor gear retailer Cotopaxi began as a digitally native brand about 12 years ago. Since then, it has expanded to physical retail and currently operates more than 20 locations.

Motorcar Parts of America announced its acquisition of the intellectual and digital property associated with the Centric Parts brake brands from First Brands Group. The deal followed First Brands Group’s September 2025 filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In the new announcement, Motorcar Parts of America said a court-supervised sales process managed the transaction. It cited Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

QXO’s $17 billion offer to acquire TopBuild went before both companies’ shareholders, earning necessary approvals before the deal is scheduled to close on or around July 1. The distributors announced the results following their respective special meetings, which were held on June 29. Provided that the acquisition’s terms are met, the deal is expected to proceed.

Consumer electronics retailer Newegg has launched a conversational artificial intelligence (AI) shopping experience on its ecommerce site, it announced June 26. Calling it “AI mode,” Newegg said customers can describe what they’re looking for in plain language. From there, they can refine searches through conversation. Consumers can ask the AI assistant to swap parts, adjust a shopping budget or prioritize product specifications, according to Newegg.

TD Synnex Corp. once again reported record revenue well above its outlook in its fiscal Q2 2026 results due to investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and increasing complexity in the industry. “We delivered a record quarter with broad-based strength across Distribution and Hyve, building on the momentum we have carried out of recent quarters,” CEO Patrick Zammit said in a written statement. The IT distribution company recorded $19.6 billion in revenue in the quarter ended May 31.

Orange Apron Media, the retail media network for The Home Depot, was using different systems for its on-site and off-site advertising businesses until it decided to unify them in October 2024 — and it’s now reaping the benefits through partnerships with Reddit, Pinterest’s Media Network Connect, Yahoo and The Trade Desk.

Walmart announced an acquisition that could deepen its data and ad options, bringing Vibe.co and its platform under the retailer’s control. The retail giant announced it will acquire Vibe.co, a self-serve connected TV platform. Vibe.co offers technology to evaluate streaming ad campaigns. At Walmart, those offerings will carry over to small and mid-sized consumer brands. Walmart is No. 2 in the Top 2000.

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.

Leading online retailers from Amazon and Walmart to Gap and Levi Strauss continue to implement new artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to drive outcomes across their operations — and as they do, new survey data shows that shoppers are getting more comfortable with the AI tools being used. However, that increasing level of comfort accompanies key concerns, which may represent important opportunities for merchants.

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.