This week brought major shifts in the retail industry, including Revolve Group‘s foray into print publishing and a quickened pace for Cato’s store closures.
Annual Print and Digital Magazine Marks Revolve’s Latest Expansion
On Tuesday, Revolve Group launched its first issue of the Revolve Magazine, a publication to be released yearly, both in print and digital formats. Inside, readers will find original content and editorial features created by Revolve’s in-house team, focusing on fashion, beauty, culture, travel, and commerce.
This debut edition includes three cover stars: Kendall Jenner, Teyana Taylor, and Alex Consani. Along with style reporting and exclusive articles, the company hints that music, sports, and travel will receive increased attention in upcoming issues, delving into different cultural matters from the “Revolve point of view.”
Michael Mente, Revolve’s co-founder and co-CEO, shared that the move into print is about deepening customer conversations: “We wanted to create something that lets us slow down and have a longer conversation with our customers. It’s an extension of the Revolve personality … and a physical manifestation of the energy, culture, and point of view Revolve represents.”
Cato to Accelerate Store Closures, Reaching 120 Shutdowns in 2024
The Cato Corporation will close about 120 stores in 2024, having decided to shutter 70 more underperforming locations during the third and fourth quarters according to their official statement. This strategy is part of Cato’s ongoing efforts to restructure and better position itself for future performance as tough economic headwinds persist.
The exit and closure of these stores are projected to cost between $1 million and $1.3 million. CEO John Cato emphasized that low performance due to sustained economic difficulties and cautious consumer spending are behind the decision, explaining, “We do not expect these marginal stores to improve appreciably…as a result, we are closing more stores than expected this year.” While immediate costs are expected, leaders anticipate improved financial outcomes by fiscal 2027 and beyond.
Retail Roundup: Scentbird X Twilight and Patagonia Election Outreach
Among other industry news, Scentbird has partnered with Lionsgate for its second Twilight collection, offering The Twilight Saga: New Moon Eau de Parfum. Ranging in price from $4.95 for a 1.5 mL sample to $90 for a 50 mL bottle, the fragrance blends ginger flower, Tahitian vanilla, caramel, amber, and sandalwood, capturing the spirit of the second film in the Twilight series for fans.
Meanwhile, Patagonia’s recent voter engagement initiative reached 112,000 people over just four days. The outdoor apparel company incentivized participation by offering a $100 credit to those encouraging others to devise a voting plan. According to the Environmental Voter Project, approximately 11.2 million environmentalists missed voting in the 2024 election. While the special offer has concluded, Patagonia’s tool to help voters make a plan will stay online. Patagonia has promoted civic participation since 1978 and has been closing all U.S. sites for federal elections since 2016. The next Election Day is on November 3.
Retail Trends: Consumer Confidence and Electronics Demand Slump
Findings from the latest The Conference Board survey indicate weakening consumer willingness to splurge on large purchases. Jefferies analysts report that only about 9% of respondents intend to buy a TV in the coming six months—nearly three percentage points below where it was in February, marking the sharpest year-over-year contraction since significant U.S. tariffs in April 2025.
With rising gas and other living costs, households are showing hesitancy toward buying electronics like TVs, which make up about one-fifth of Best Buy’s sales. This situation could negatively impact the electronics retailer, even as Best Buy continues as the sole provider of the new RGB LED TV technology.
Retailers Chart New Courses Amid Shifting Consumer Behavior
The latest headlines underscore an industry in flux, with companies like Revolve innovating customer experiences and legacy brands such as Cato reassessing their store portfolios. Against a backdrop of uncertainty, brands are adopting creative approaches—spanning from exclusive collaborations to advocacy and digital toolkits—to retain their connection with shoppers and adapt to evolving market conditions.