More Money, More Opportunities
Several well-known retailers are planning store closures in 2025, including Walgreens (500 locations), BuyBuy Baby (abandoning brick-and-mortar for a digital brand), Advanced Auto Parts (727 locations), Macy’s (150 stores by 2026), Family Dollar (970 stores total), CVS (300 stores), Big Lots (around 500-700 locations), and Joann (all locations
The National Retail Federation predicts a record $902 per person will be spent on holiday decorations, gifts, and food in 2024, a $25 increase from last year. Retailers are adapting to earlier shopping trends by offering deals and sales ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with 57% of shoppers planning to shop online. Major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Kohl’s, Target, and Walmart have already launched their holiday promotions, with extended return windows
Due to rising return costs fueled by a surge in online shopping during the pandemic, Amazon is implementing a $1 fee for returns dropped off at UPS locations, but only if a free return option like Whole Foods, Kohl’s, or Amazon Fresh is closer. This change reflects a broader retail trend of retailers adjusting return policies to manage the substantial financial impact of merchandise returns, which totaled $816 billion in 2022.
