Retail sales rose a better-than-expected 0.6% in November as the holiday season kicked into gear
The retail sales figures, which are not adjusted for inflation, showed that in most cases shoppers focused on gifts and pulled away from other areas.
Retailers
Luxury retailer Saks Global files for bankruptcy as it prepares to restructure
Saks Fifth Avenue closed its store at The Fashion Mall at Keystone in April 2024, but it operates The Fifth Avenue Club at Ironworks Hotel Indy at 2721 E. 86th St.
All Value City Furniture stores will close as part of parent company’s liquidation
The furniture company has three locations in central Indiana and three in other parts of the state.
Christmas is over, but retailers will remain busy—with returns
The month after Christmas has been dubbed “Returnuary” for good reason. The National Retail Federation estimates 17% of holiday purchases will be sent back this year.
North of 96th roundup: Construction continuing on Meijer Grocery, Target in Fishers
Multiple retailers, restaurants and other businesses recently opened or announced plans to open in the north suburbs of Indianapolis. Here’s a rundown.
Big retailers didn’t pull ByHeart baby formula fast enough after botulism recall, FDA says
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said four companies continued to sell the infant formula for days or weeks, despite a Nov. 11 recall of all products in the outbreak that has sickened more than 50 babies in 19 states.
Walmart plans Supercenter in Ingalls amid town’s development spree
Town planners expect the store to attract shoppers from surrounding communities, including Fishers, Fortville , Lapel and Pendleton.
Holiday shopping at small businesses driven by online sales, social media focus
Small businesses are being impacted by economic instability, despite national predictions that call for record spending at small businesses this holiday season.
Thanksgiving shopping weekend sees record spending
The nation’s shoppers might feel gloomy about the economy but they certainly were in the mood to shop over the five-day Thanksgiving weekend that wrapped up on Cyber Monday.
Companies push AI-assisted shopping tools for holiday season
Although AI-powered purchases are in early stages, techshopping assistants and agents rolled out by the likes of Walmart, Amazon and Google can do more than the chatbots of holidays past.
Retail, restaurant sales ticked up in September
Several retailers issued positive reports Tuesday, including electronics chair Best Buy, Kohl’s, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and Dick’s Sporting Goods
Struggling Kohl’s names 4th CEO in as many years in attempt to staunch sales slide
Kohl’s has more than 40 stores in Indiana, including 14 in the Indianapolis area.
‘Culture of chaos’: Indiana hemp industry on edge as federal lawmakers ban delta-8 products
Tied up in the bill that ended the 43-day shutdown was language that bans almost all hemp-derived products starting in November 2026.
Walmart raises profit expectations as more Americans hunt deals
While other retailers dial back projections, the nation’s largest retailer—and Indiana’s largest employer—raised its financial outlook Thursday after its strong third quarter, setting itself up for a strong holiday shopping season.
IBJ Podcast: Buc-ee’s, Wally’s and Wawa converge on Indy as convenience stores become cultural forces
A national retailing expert explains what to expect from the three chains, how their business models work and why they see opportunity in central Indiana.
Broad Ripple stakeholders pursue plan to revitalize neighborhood
New nonprofit Friends of Broad Ripple Village hopes to end a stagnant commercial era for the neighborhood.
IBJ’s 2025 Executive Gift Guide
Welcome to the IBJ newsroom’s second annual Executive Gift Guide, a list that we hope will help you find the perfect thing for someone important in your life.
Indiana-based Shoe Carnival to rebrand under Shoe Station banner
The name change must be approved by the company’s shareholders at its annual meeting in June 2026.
Visa, Mastercard reach settlement in 20-year merchant legal feud
Total credit and debit card swipe fees hit a record $187.2 billion last year, according to the trade group the Merchant Payments Coalition.
National Retail Federation: Holiday spending expected to increase as much as 4.2%
The 2025 forecast from the National Retail Federation on Thursday estimates that shoppers will make $1.01 trillion to $1.02 trillion worth of purchases in November and December.