retail chains

Major retailers are scaling back self-checkout systems, reversing years of expansion. Reports point to a mix of theft concerns, customer frustration, and staff costs as drivers of the shift, with shoppers online widely sharing their own negative experiences with the machines. Chains are now experimenting with staffed lanes and hybrid models instead.

A retail chain that has operated for 43 years is shutting down and has launched a liquidation sale as it winds up business. The closure marks the end of a decades-long run for a well-known name in the sector, and shoppers are being alerted to discounted inventory as stores prepare to close for good.

Lowe's Companies has started a pilot program offering drone delivery with a roughly 20-minute turnaround for customers. The home improvement retailer is testing the service as part of a broader push by retailers to speed up last-mile delivery using drones. The move puts Lowe's alongside other major chains experimenting with aerial delivery to cut delivery times and costs.

Kohl's and Macy's, two of America's best-known department store chains, are both contending with weak sales and store closures, raising questions about whether their dividends remain sustainable. Analyst commentary is weighing which retailer has the stronger balance sheet and cash flow to keep paying shareholders as department store traffic continues to decline across the US retail sector.

A major American women's clothing retailer known for affordable fashion is closing 120 stores. The announcement, reported by regional US outlets, adds to a string of store closures across the apparel sector as chains grapple with shifting shopping habits and rising costs. Shoppers are discussing which locations will be affected and what the closures mean for the brand's future.

Planet Fitness plans to open a location on South Hill, adding a national gym chain to the area's retail landscape. Separately, former state lawmaker Matt Shea has purchased a building on Division Street for use by his ministry. The double commercial real estate news is reported by The Spokesman-Review in its Dirt column, which tracks development in the Spokane region.

Ethereum is showing a rise in failed transactions alongside muted whale inflows, according to CryptoQuant analysis. The pattern suggests current network activity is being driven more by retail traders and DeFi users than by large holders moving funds. Analysts say such a mix can signal speculative, smaller-scale activity dominating the network rather than accumulation by big investors.