Are Your Stores Prepared?
Preparing Retail Operations for Severe Winter Storms

By the D&D Daily staff

A major winter storm sweeping across large portions of the country this weekend is a reminder that severe weather events remain a persistent operational risk for retailers. Snow, ice, power outages and travel disruptions can quickly escalate routine challenges into safety, staffing and asset protection concerns. Retailers that plan ahead are better positioned to protect employees, customers and inventory while minimizing disruption.

One of the most immediate priorities during severe winter weather is employee and customer safety. Slippery parking lots, icy sidewalks and poorly cleared entrances significantly increase the risk of slip-and-fall incidents. Retailers should ensure snow removal and de-icing plans are in place before conditions deteriorate, with clear accountability for ongoing maintenance throughout operating hours. Inside the store, floor mats, wet floor signage and prompt cleanup of tracked-in snow can further reduce hazards.

Staffing and scheduling flexibility is another critical consideration. Travel conditions may prevent employees from reaching the store safely, leading to understaffed shifts during high-demand periods. Retailers should proactively communicate expectations, adjust operating hours if necessary and identify backup staffing plans to avoid forcing employees into unsafe commutes. Clear internal messaging helps reduce confusion and last-minute decision-making.

Severe winter storms can also increase theft and security risks, particularly during periods of reduced staffing, early closures or power interruptions. Retailers should review alarm systems, backup power capabilities and camera functionality ahead of time. Ensuring loss prevention teams and store leaders know how to respond to outages or emergency closures can prevent gaps that opportunistic offenders may exploit.

From an inventory perspective, winter storms often trigger panic buying and supply chain disruptions, especially for essential goods. Monitoring sales patterns in real time and adjusting replenishment strategies can help retailers manage surges without empty shelves or unsafe crowding. Limiting access to certain areas or implementing temporary crowd-control measures may be necessary in extreme conditions.

Finally, communication is key. Retailers should use multiple channels — in-store signage, mobile apps, websites and social media — to provide timely updates on store hours, safety measures and service changes. Transparent communication builds trust while helping customers make informed decisions during challenging weather conditions.

As extreme weather events become more frequent, winter storm preparedness is no longer optional. Proactive planning helps retailers protect people, preserve assets and maintain operational continuity when conditions turn severe.

   RELATED: Massive winter storm expected to bury much of US in snow and ice

 
Store Openings to Accelerate This Year
Store openings slowed in 2025

Last year’s openings are projected to be nearly flat, but growth could accelerate in 2026, per a new report from Telsey Advisory Group.

Store openings slowed last year, according to a Thursday report from Telsey Advisory Group. Net retail openings in fiscal year 2025, excluding restaurants, are expected to have grown 0.7%, a slower rate than both 2023 and 2024.

Openings for 2026 are projected to accelerate, increasing 1.4% year over year, led by beauty, off-price and discount retailers, per the report.

Tariffs and broader macroeconomic uncertainty have caused some retailers to be more cautious, with many revising their capital expenditure guidance to be lower in fiscal year 2025 and reducing or postponing store remodels.

Retail openings and closure expectations for 2026 vary across category, according to Telsey Advisory Group’s new report.

Net closings for 2026 are expected in both the luxury and department store sectors. Meanwhile, store count at home retailers is projected to grow 1.4% year over year, though the biggest increases will come in off-price, beauty and apparel.

Retail bankruptcies are also opening up prime real estate for the competition, according to Telsey Advisory Group. retaildive.com
 

Department Stores Here to Stay
What’s up with department stores?

The retail model is in retreat. But that doesn’t mean it — or its billions in sales — will disappear any time soon.

After a slew of department stores shuttered last year, including the liquidation of Canadian icon Hudson Bay, more are set to close in 2026 — and probably every year for years to come.

In mid-January Saks Global, which includes luxury players Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, filed for bankruptcy, and observers expect several Saks and Neiman locations to shutter. Macy’s identified the most recent 14 stores set to close under a downsizing strategy that will ultimately mean the end of 150 locations. Even Dillard’s closed a store this month.

Mall anchor vacancies — by and large department stores — are likely to tick up over the near term as a result, according to Green Street’s most recent annual review of more than 1,000 publicly and privately held malls. In the last 15 years, the “demise of the department store business model” contributed to at least 175 mall closures and struggles at other malls, per Green Street’s report.

“But department stores closures have been muted since 2020 as most locations remain profitable on a four-wall basis despite flat to declining sales in recent years,” Green Street Managing Director Vince Tibone, who leads U.S. industrial and mall research, said by email. The firm doesn’t expect that to change, absent a recession. retaildive.com


'Surveillance Pricing' Ban
WA considers bill to protect shoppers from price surveillance, sudden hikes
The cost of groceries has dramatically increased in recent years thanks to inflation and supply chain issues. But what if that’s not the whole picture? What if there are hidden forces at work, quietly driving up the cost of your grocery bill?

If you’ve never heard of surveillance pricing or surge pricing, you are not alone. But both practices have crept into retail operations, leading lawmakers in Washington state to take action this legislative session. House Bill 2481, sponsored by Rep. Mary Fosse, D-Everett, and a host of other House Democrats, aims to rein them in.

“As residents are really struggling with affordability and to buy food, technology is changing at a rapid pace,” said Fosse at a hearing in the House Technology, Economic Development, and Veterans Committee on Wednesday. “Large retailers are starting to employ these AI systems that can change prices instantly, individually and secretly — faster than we can keep up with.”

The bill would prevent “economic prejudice” by prohibiting surveillance pricing in grocery stores, banning surge pricing on essential goods and pausing the rollout of electronic shelf labels until they can be further investigated. Fosse said the proposal is meant to safeguard consumers. Violations of the pricing practices would also be enforceable under the Consumer Protection Act. seattletimes.com


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