Retail Brew // Morning Brew // Update

March 27, 2026

It’s Friday, and London sales are falling down, falling down, falling down. The UK’s Office for National Statistics reported that the country’s retail sales declined 0.4% in February due to higher oil prices caused by the ongoing war in Iran after unusually strong growth in January.

In today’s edition:

—Jeena Sharma, Alex Vuocolo, Andrew Adam Newman

STORES

Stay for the collab

Frances Valentine

Are hotels the new department stores? Well, maybe not just yet, but they’re definitely filling a gap that luxury retail left behind.

As traditional department stores struggle with foot traffic and bankruptcies, hotels—already built around experience—are emerging as a more natural home for discovery-driven retail.

Just ask Elyce Arons, CEO and co-founder of luxury fashion label Frances Valentine, which has launched a capsule collection in collaboration with The Colony Hotel, a historic establishment in Miami.

In its first-ever collaboration with a hotel, the brand has introduced a range of caftans, tote bags, accessories, and T-shirts featuring embroidery and motifs reminiscent of both brands.

For Arons, a longtime customer of the hotel, the partnership happened “organically” over the past year.

“The Colony is a great place for us; Palm Beach is a great place for us,” Arons told Retail Brew. “Because we started with caftans, and we use a lot of bright colors and big, beautiful prints, [people] associate us with resort and with vacation.”

Arons believes the collaboration is a fun way to connect both with the brand’s existing customers and also guests at the hotel.

Keep reading here.—JS

Presented By Talon.One

New age(ntic) commerce

As AI agents can increasingly decide what customers see and buy, brands that rely on discounts might lose more and more battles in this competitive landscape. It may be high time to finally compete on value, not price.

When both customers and machines are making the call, Talon.One helps retailers structure loyalty and incentives so they stand out for value and quality.

In their newly released report, Agentic commerce: How to make loyalty and promos agent-ready, Talon.One explains how to prepare your loyalty and promotions strategy for this next era of commerce—so wherever AI agents evaluate value and make purchasing decisions, you’ll be prepared to shine.

Learn more here.

RETAIL

New general

NurPhoto / Getty Images

Dollar General, the ubiquitous discount chain with more than 20,000 locations across the US, is getting a new head honcho at the start of 2027. The company announced on Tuesday that CEO Todd Vasos will serve out the rest of the year and then step aside for outside hire and grocery industry veteran JJ Fleeman Jr.

Vasos was a longtime Dollar General employee with a background in drug stores, while Fleeman has spent the last 36 years at global grocery chain Ahold Delhaize, which owns US supermarket chains Food Lion, Giant, Hannaford, and Stop & Shop.

Keep reading here.—AV

MARKETING

Alpha bets

Lithiumcloud/Getty Images

More than half (52%) of 7- to 14-year-olds report having added items to shared online shopping carts, and a quarter have independently ordered from food apps, according to a new report on Generation Alpha from PwC.

The report christens Gen Alpha “the youngest chief influence officers” and describes them as having been “born with the buy button at their fingertips.” The online survey polled 1,004 kids aged 7–14 in January and February.

While Gen Z, the next oldest generational cohort, are often dubbed digital natives, the report notes that Gen Alpha spent “their earliest years,” during the Covid pandemic, “going to school on screens,” and may be even more immersed in technology.

Keep reading here.—AAN

Together With Paramount Advertising

Outlast the scroll. Survivor is going 25 years strong because great storytelling never goes out of style. Season 50 serves fresh gameplay to a deeply loyal fan base. Paramount Advertising helps brands join the alliance, pair cultural moments with advanced data and smarter ad solutions, and turn viewer attention into lasting results. Learn more.

SWAPPING SKUS

Today’s top retail reads.

Blast of the past: Mall staple Zumiez will close 25 stores this year. (TheStreet)

Extra fries: After several locations ran out of food during a BOGO deal, Five Guys CEO Jerry Murrell is distributing $1.5 million in employee bonuses. (USA Today)

New look: Versace veteran Christopher Kane has been tapped as Mulberry’s creative director as it plans its return to the runway. (The Cut)

Friday news quiz

The feeling of getting a 5/5 on the Brew’s weekly news quiz has been compared to getting a company-wide shout-out from your boss. It’s that satisfying.

Ace the quiz

SHARE THE BREW

Share the Brew, watch your referral count climb, and unlock brag-worthy swag.

Your friends get smarter. You get rewarded. Win-win.

Your referral count: 0

Click to Share

Or copy & paste your referral link to others:
retailbrew.com/r/?kid=6b35f7e7

ADVERTISE // CAREERS // SHOP // FAQ

Update your email preferences or unsubscribe .
View our privacy policy .

Copyright © 2026 Morning Brew Inc. All rights reserved.
22 W 19th St, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10011

☕ Checked in