Baker Retail Rundown

As America Goes Direct With GLP-1s, Walmart, Costco, Amazon Will Be Big Weight-Loss Winners 

As employers drop GLP-1 coverage, patients are shifting to direct-to-consumer programs — and retail giants are racing to fill the void. With programs starting as low as $25/month, Walmart, Costco, CVS, and Amazon are all positioning to own that recurring spend.

To Keep Growing, Incoming Best Buy CEO Says He First Wants to Go Smaller 

Incoming CEO Jason Bonfig is signaling a strategic reset: smaller store formats, more investment in advertising and customer experience. A notable rethink for a big-box electronics retailer still searching for its post-pandemic identity.

Reformation Opens Flat in NYSE Debut; CEO Says Company Is 'Ready to Scale' 

Sustainable women's fashion brand Reformation priced its IPO at $15 and closed essentially flat on day one, raising $210.9M under ticker "REF." A closely watched test of whether sustainability-led, DTC-native fashion can work as a public company.

Starbucks Raises Outlook as CEO Says Chain Is Winning Back Customer Loyalty 

North American comps up 8.1%, full-year EPS guidance raised to $2.55–$2.65. Brian Niccol's turnaround is showing real results — 1,000+ café renovations completed, more planned. "This was the quarter our momentum became truly measurable."

How Fashion Schools Are Recruiting a Skeptical Generation 

Fashion schools are reinventing the runway to keep up with a fast-changing industry, blending AI, social media, and real-world retail experience into the classroom. As fashion careers become more competitive, they're betting that hands-on skills and industry connections will give graduates an edge.

Cosmoprof NA Signals Beauty’s Next Growth Drivers, From Smarter SPF to Fragrance and K-Beauty

At Cosmoprof North America 2026, beauty leaders highlighted trends. Elizabeth Miller (W06), VP & DMM of cosmetics at Bloomingdale's, noted the growing influence of K-beauty and consumer demand for beauty technology that enhances skincare routines. The event reinforced the industry's focus on innovation, efficacy, and products that deliver measurable results. 

K-Beauty Products Are Becoming Mainstream in the U.S. Why There May Be Even More Growth Ahead 

U.S. K-beauty sales hit $2.8B in early 2026 — up 48% year over year — with Olive Young's first U.S. store in Pasadena drawing 6,000 shoppers on opening weekend. Morgan Stanley projects the category could reach $4B by year-end, as Ulta, Sephora, Walmart, and Costco all race to expand their assortments.

Walmart Beats Costco at Its Own Game

Costco's membership-only model generates billions that account for a large share of its profits. Walmart has adopted a different approach by offering Walmart+ alongside its traditional retail business, allowing non-members to shop while encouraging memberships with perks. This strategy has boosted membership revenue and customer spending, giving Walmart a diversified revenue stream combining Costco's membership model with the flexibility of a conventional retailer.

QVC Group Nears Bankruptcy Exit With Approved Restructuring Plan

QVC/HSN owner got court approval to exit Chapter 11 with debt slashed from $6.6B to $1.3B and a new $600M credit line. The cord-cutting era took down a TV shopping giant — now it's betting on live social commerce to survive.

US Retail Sales Rise Modestly as Consumers Spend Less on Gas 

June retail sales rose just 0.2% overall, but 0.7% outside of gas stations. Consumers are still spending — just selectively, and on necessities.