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It’s been another week with far more retail news than there is time in the day. Below, we break down some things you may have missed during the week, and what we’re still thinking about.
From the National Retail Federation’s January retail sales numbers to 40 years of American Girl, here’s our closeout for the week.
What you may have missed
Target’s floral supply chain for Valentine’s Day
Target is prepping flowers for Valentine’s Day, or what it’s floral team calls “Black Friday,” according to details the company shared with Retail Dive. In an effort to reduce transit time and handoffs, the mass retailer is expanding what it calls a “direct-from-grower” approach from 250 stores in 2025 to over 600 locations this Valentine’s Day.
For Valentine’s Day at Target, 200 flower varieties are cut and transported over the course of five days.
Permission granted by Target
Additionally, Target positions quality management inspectors at supplier locations and at select Target distribution centers to evaluate flowers on-site before shipment. About 200 flower varieties are cut and transported over the course of five days.
The holiday comes less than a year after Target launched its private label fresh flower and plant brand, named Good Little Garden, in April of 2025.
American Girl turns 40
American Girl is celebrating its 40th anniversary, according to a Mattel press release. As part of its celebration, the brand is releasing its first novel for adults, “Samantha: The Next Chapter” which features historical character Samantha Parkington as an adult. The book, written by Fiona Davis, will be released in October.
American Girl has a host of things planned for its 40th anniversary, including a new line of dolls.
Courtesy of Mattel
The company is also launching a new line of dolls. The American Girl Modern Era Collection reimagines some of its most popular characters, including Samantha, Addy, Kirsten, Josefina, Molly and Felicity, through a contemporary lens.
“For our 40th anniversary, we’re celebrating the timeless stories and immersive experiences that have had a lasting impact on the American Girl legacy and its multigenerational fans,” Jamie Cygielman, global head of dolls for Mattel, said in a statement. “As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue evolving for the next generation while staying true to telling stories that act as both windows and mirrors, empowering girls to see themselves as the heroines of their own story.”
Tree Hut maker targets younger demographic with brand launch
The company behind popular body care brand Tree Hut is going after an even younger demographic with the launch of its latest brand, Splash.
The company said it is targeting children between the ages of 4 and 10 years old and aims to fill “the gap between baby products and mature body care, offering an easy, age-appropriate option for kids and their families,” per a Tuesday announcement.
At launch, Splash will carry a two-in-one shampoo and body wash, bubble bath and body lotion.
Courtesy of Splash
At launch, Splash will carry a two-in-one shampoo and body wash, bubble bath and body lotion.
“Splash was built around a simple idea: turn bath time into a routine to look forward to,” Lindsey Scales, director of marketing, said in a statement. “Kids want to have fun, they don’t want to get clean, and at this age, they are starting to assert their independence and preferences. We created a line of body care solutions designed for those in-between years from toddler to teen that feel like ‘big kid’ products, but also with skin-safe ingredients parents can feel good about.”
The brand is available in Walmart’s stores and the mass merchant’s website and will expand to Amazon in June.
Retail therapy
Dr Pepper teams up with Tic Tac
Soda fans rejoice! Mint brand Tic Tac launched a new Dr Pepper soda-flavored mint that is available at select retailers, per a Thursday release. The mints will roll out nationwide over the upcoming months.
“Tic Tac Dr Pepper Mints bring together two powerhouse brands in an unexpected way,” Endri Shtylla, marketing director at Tic Tac’s parent company Ferrero, said in a statement.
What we’re still thinking about
5.5%
That’s January’s year-on-year growth in core retail sales — excluding restaurants, autos and fuel — according to the National Retail Federation. The industry group leverages credit and debit card data provided by Affinity Solutions. But consumer sentiment also plummeted in January to the lowest point in over a decade, according to the Conference Board. The contrasting elements point to what Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, calls a “Costco economy” favoring discounters.
Retail sales from the U.S. Commerce Department have not been released for January. Those statistics have been delayed for months due to last year’s government shutdown. The government released its December report only this week, showing growth above 4% across the segments covered by Retail Dive. According to the NRF, December core retail sales didn’t quite reach 4%.
What we’re watching
Lululemon’s latest drop
Weeks after Lululemon faced customer criticism for the see-through quality of its “Get Low” leggings, the retailer is debuting a new performance training fabric. And it could use a win.
The “Unrestricted Power” line is aimed at “heavy lifts and demanding gym sessions” and comes after thousands of hours of research and development, the retailer said in a press release. It features both men’s and women’s styles, including a high-rise tight for women, a 7-inch short for men and long sleeve shirts for both. A new fabric, PowerLu, is behind the Unrestricted Power line. It is designed to provide stretch and stability without riding up or slipping down, “even in the deepest squat position.”
That last part may be important, as Lululemon faced customer complaints around squatting effectively in its Get Low line. A Bloomberg report this week called out yet another legging facing see-through complaints from the retailer.
The Unrestricted Power products underwent “rigorous wear-testing” with Lululemon ambassadors, according to the retailer’s release. That includes athletes Kayla Jeter and Lewis Hamilton, who provided feedback on the assortment. It launched Tuesday, and as of Friday there were no complaints about see-through leggings on that product page; one customer described them as “squat-proof, crunch-proof and jump-proof.”
“Through deep collaboration with our Ambassadors, we identified the specific demands they face during their most intense training sessions,” Antonia Iamartino, senior director of franchise innovations at Lululemon’s research and product innovation arm, said in a statement. “Unrestricted Power delivers unparalleled support paired with the luxurious feel and freedom of movement our products are known for.”