Ulta Beauty’s UK Launch, Target’s Back-to-School, Retail AI, Cannabis Drinks & Walmart’s Tween Fashion

Ulta Beauty enters the UK, Target goes big on back-to-school, AI hits a trust challenge, cannabis beverages gain ground, and Walmart eyes tween fashion. Alex Rezvan and Jill Dvorak (SVP of Content, NRF) decode five major trends reshaping retail in America:

1. Ulta Beauty’s Global Move: Expanding internationally with 83 new stores in the UK.

   ⁠🔗 Ulta’s Announcement⁠

2. Target’s Back-to-School Strategy: Huge discounts, cross-category deals, and personalized offerings.

   ⁠🔗 Target Press Release⁠

3. Retail AI: Trust vs Experience: Consumers love AI recommendations but lack trust in accuracy.

   ⁠🔗 Akeneo’s AI Shopping Insights⁠

4. Cannabis Drinks vs Alcohol: Big Alcohol turns to cannabis-infused beverages to recapture lost market share.

   ⁠🔗 Reuters on Cannabis Drinks⁠

5. Walmart’s Tween Fashion Launch: “Weekend Academy” targets a critical gap in affordable youth fashion.

   ⁠🔗 Walmart Weekend Academy⁠

Join Alex and Jill as they unpack why these shifts are more than trends—they’re signposts of where US retail is heading next.

Alex Rezvan – Founder, The Retail Podcast

• Jill Dvorak – SVP Content, NRF (National Retail Federation)

Ulta Beauty, Target back-to-school, Retail AI, cannabis beverages, Walmart fashion, US retail trends, retail podcast, NRF, consumer insights, Five Things Friday