ISSUE W10 · MARCH 2026
A single ranked list of the week's top articles with sharp insights for retail, luxury, and AI intelligence.
In 2026, online retailers face increased risks from diverse payment options including bank transfers, e-wallets, BNPL, and cryptocurrency, which criminals exploit for fraud and money laundering.
Read full article →—Dior opened the Bamboo Pavilion in Tokyo's Daikanyama district, a 19,375-square-foot store blending French heritage with Japanese craftsmanship and luxury experience.
—Kohl's introduced the Deal Bar across nearly all its 1,100 stores, featuring front-entrance displays with gifts and essentials priced under $10.
—Oracle and OpenAI have abandoned plans to expand their AI data centre in Abilene, Texas, due to financing issues and OpenAI's changing needs. The proposed expansion included an additional 600 megawatts near the Stargate site, which will now be fulfilled at other campuses. The Stargate initiative, announced in January 2025, is a $500 billion project involving SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle to develop up to 10 gigawatts of data centre capacity.
—SynopsisIn September, the companies had announced plans for an additional potential expansion of 600 megawatts near the flagship Stargate site in Abilene, Texas
—On Holding CEO Martin Hoffmann anticipates a potential sales boost following the Supreme Court's decision to strike down emergency US tariff levies. On forecasted at least 23 percent annual sales growth on a constant-currency basis for 2024, moderating from 30 percent in 2025, with a gross margin expected to rise to at least 63 percent. The US is On's largest market, where a temporary 10 percent tariff was imposed last week, planned to increase to 15 percent, which is lower than the previous 20 percent duty on imports from Vietnam and Indonesia.
—Read the full article for details.
—Best Buy's U.S. online marketplace generated approximately $300 million in gross merchandise value during fiscal Q4 2026, featuring over 1,100 third-party sellers.
—More than 90% of marketplace sellers with active storefronts reported weekly sales, and over 80% of product returns were handled through physical stores.
