Can see-now-buy-now save department stores?

There is a seemingly never-ending stream of bad news for America’s department stores, facing declining foot traffic, declining shopping mall environments, and competition from Amazon to Zara.

But there is, perhaps, one trend working in their favor: the ongoing shift in fashion to new see-now-buy-now business models. Department stores are doing their part to make sure their available merchandise matches what customers are buying: Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Macy’s are all speeding up the production processes for their private labels, to get items on the sales floor faster.

More in Marketing

How marketers rank this year’s generative AI image, video tools

Digiday’s 2025 agency generative AI report card explores the winners and losers of the generative AI landscape.

In memoriam: Brands we lost in 2025

Digiday Media staff rounded up some of the most notable brand names we lost in 2025, like Joann and Rite Aid.

Pandora is betting on AI agents to scale service and emotional selling during the peak holiday season

Pandora is using AI agents to scale customer service and replicate emotional in-store selling online, just as peak season puts pressure on margins and teams.