Retail Leaders Call for 'Immediate Deescalation' in Minnesota
Target’s incoming CEO co-signs letter calling for ‘deescalation of tensions’ in Minnesota

Michael Fiddelke joined about 60 other CEOs, including Best Buy’s Corie Barry, in signing a letter about “recent challenges” in the state.

Target’s incoming chief executive officer Michael Fiddelke joined more than 60 CEOs in co-signing an open letter calling for “an immediate deescalation of tensions” in Minnesota.

The letter, released on Sunday by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, also included Best Buy CEO Corie Barry on the list of signatories. Both Target and Best Buy are headquartered in Minnesota. Neither company immediately responded to requests for comment from Retail Dive.

“With yesterday’s tragic news, we are calling for an immediate deescalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions,” the co-signed letter said. “In this difficult moment for our community, we call for peace and focused cooperation among local, state and federal leaders to achieve a swift and durable solution that enables families, businesses, our employees, and communities across Minnesota to resume our work to build a bright and prosperous future.”

Tensions have risen in Minneapolis and St. Paul with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by federal officials earlier this month. The letter comes after the fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday by federal agents, which state officials shared details about during a press conference. While the letter did not directly mention either shooting, it spoke of the “widespread disruption and tragic loss of life” across the state.

“The recent challenges facing our state have created widespread disruption and tragic loss of life,” the letter added. “For the past several weeks, representatives of Minnesota’s business community have been working every day behind the scenes with federal, state and local officials to advance real solutions.” retaildive.com


In Case You Missed It

Unrest Could Be Coming to Your City - Are You Prepared?
In an unpredictable environment, being ready is not just a precaution, but a necessity.

Preparing for Potential Unrest: What Urban Retailers Should Know

By the D&D Daily staff

As political and social tensions rise following recent ICE raids in major U.S. cities, retailers—especially those operating in urban centers—are reassessing their preparedness strategies for potential unrest. With public demonstrations and spontaneous protests becoming more common, retail businesses are increasingly focused on minimizing risk and protecting employees, customers and assets.

Recent enforcement actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in cities like Los Angeles have sparked backlash, including protests that, while often peaceful, carry the potential to escalate. For retailers, this presents a challenging environment where operational disruptions, property damage or safety concerns can emerge quickly and unpredictably.

Retailers can take several proactive steps to mitigate risk during periods of heightened tension. First and foremost is communication. Store managers should stay informed through local news and law enforcement updates to anticipate potential protest activity in their area. Establishing a clear internal communication protocol ensures that staff can respond swiftly to changing conditions and know when to shelter in place, close early or modify operations.

Physical security is another key area of focus. Retailers in areas more prone to demonstrations may benefit from reviewing security camera coverage, ensuring alarms and locks are functioning properly and confirming that emergency exits are accessible. Some businesses are also coordinating with local law enforcement or private security firms to enhance on-site protection during high-alert periods.

Employee training is critical. Staff should be briefed on how to handle crowd activity near or around the store, how to de-escalate tense situations when possible and when to prioritize evacuation over confrontation. Retailers may also want to revisit insurance coverage to ensure policies are current and adequately cover civil unrest scenarios.

   Click here to read more
 

How Much Are Security Execs Making?
The Salary of a Chief Security Officer

The 24th annual Security and Compliance Compensation report gives industry professionals insight into what their peers are earning.

Top Global Security Executive (Chief Security Officer): When comparing reported data from the 2020 survey to the 2025 survey, the CSO positions' base pay weighted average in the aggregate increased by 6.9% over the reporting period to $364,826 annually. Base salary plus bonus decreased by 2.9% to $473,309 annually.

Director, Computer, Network and Information Security: Comparing data from the 2020 survey to the 2025 survey, the Director, Computer, Network & Information Security base pay weighted average in the aggregate increased by approximately 12.4% to $245,944 annually. Base salary plus bonus increased by 10.2% to $287,833.

Manager Corporate Investigations: Comparing data from the 2020 survey to the 2025 survey, the Manager Corporate Investigations' base pay weighted average in the aggregate increased by approximately 21.7% to $179,211 annually. Base salary plus bonus increased by 24.0% to $205,835.

Senior Regional Manager Domestic Security: The Senior Regional Manager Domestic Security base pay weighted average in the aggregate increased by approximately 18.7% to $209,238 annually. Base salary plus bonus increased by 9.2% to $245,049, while those positions eligible for LTI had targets that increased significantly by 58.3% to $59,409.

Manager, Protective Forces Armed: The Manager, Protective Forces Armed base pay weighted average in the aggregate increased 10.9% to $141,163 from 2020 to 2025. Base salary plus bonus increased by 10.3% to $154,183, while most of those surveyed reported the positions were ineligible for LTI. securitymagazine.com


Hundreds of Closures Coming
Francesca’s to permanently close

The fashion retailer is liquidating stores after alternative funding from an investor fell through and two major suppliers lost their own capital from lenders.

Fashion retailer Francesca’s plans to permanently cease operations following a “periodic progression” of store closures and layoffs that began last week, per a Federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act document filed in Texas.

The closure of the retailer’s corporate home base in Houston, Texas, will impact 202 employees on a rolling basis, according to the notice dated Jan. 14 and signed by Chief Stores and Culture Officer Christine Kaighn.

Francesca’s operates over 450 stores across 45 states, according to its website. Two locations that Retail Dive visited within the past week — one in Maryland and one in Maine — had storewide sale signs posted. retaildive.com
 

More Tariffs Looming?
Carney pushes back on Trump's 100% tariff threat over China trade deals with Canada amid tensions

President threatens 100% tariffs after Carney's visit to Beijing results in electric vehicle agreement

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday that Canada has no plans to pursue a free trade deal with China, pushing back against President Trump’s threat to slap 100% tariffs on Canadian goods.

Carney said Canada’s recent agreement with China only rolled back tariffs in a few sectors that had been hit in recent years and did not amount to a free trade deal. He noted that under the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement, Canada has committed not to pursue free trade agreements with nonmarket economies without prior notification.

Trump issued his tariff threat in a social media post, warning that if Carney "thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop Off Port’ for China to send goods and products into the United States, he is sorely mistaken." foxnews.com


Will Retail Sales Slow in 2026?
Bain & Co.: U.S. retail sales to grow 3.5% in 2026

Retail sales growth will slow in the U.S., U.K. France and Germany in 2026.

That’s according to Bain & Company’s 2026 Global Retail Sales Outlook, which projects U.S. retail sales will grow 3.5% year over year in 2026, to $5.3 trillion, slightly down from estimated 4.0% growth in 2025. Volume growth will be modest, with inflation projected to hover between 2.6% and 3.0%.

The key factors affecting growth are mounting consumer strain and waning consumer confidence amid economic uncertainty, rising unemployment, and slowing labor supply growth, the report said. chainstoreage.com


National Safety Council Honors CEOs
“These leaders recognize that safety is more than a policy – it’s a commitment to the whole person,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC CEO.

Costco Faces Proposed Class-Action Lawsuit Over Rotisserie Chickens

Are California businesses overregulated?


Last week's #1 article --

LP Careers Underrated?
Why Loss Prevention Is One of Retail’s Most Underrated Career Paths

By the D&D Daily staff

When people think about career opportunities in retail, loss prevention is often misunderstood as reactive or narrowly focused on theft. In reality, modern retail loss prevention has evolved into one of the most dynamic, cross-functional and future-ready career paths in the industry.

Today’s LP professionals sit at the intersection of operations, data, technology and human behavior. They are asked not only to reduce shrink, but to identify patterns, anticipate risk and influence business decisions across entire organizations. That makes loss prevention less about enforcement — and more about intelligence.

LP teams now work with real-time data, predictive analytics, AI-driven monitoring platforms and enterprise reporting tools that rival those used in finance and cybersecurity. Professionals entering the field gain experience interpreting trends, assessing vulnerabilities and translating complex risk signals into actionable insights for leadership. Those skills are highly transferable and increasingly valuable as retailers navigate organized retail crime, supply chain disruption and regulatory scrutiny.

Another often overlooked advantage of an LP career is exposure. Loss prevention leaders regularly collaborate with store operations, HR, legal, IT, finance and executive leadership. Few roles in retail offer such a holistic view of how large organizations actually function. For early-career professionals, that visibility accelerates learning and opens pathways into broader leadership roles — both inside and outside LP.

There’s also a mission-driven aspect that resonates with many professionals entering the field today. Effective loss prevention protects frontline employees, improves store safety and helps preserve jobs by safeguarding company resources. It’s a role that balances accountability with empathy, requiring strong communication skills and ethical judgment alongside technical expertise.

As retail continues to modernize, the demand is growing for LP professionals who can think strategically, adapt quickly and operate comfortably in data-rich environments. That evolution is reshaping loss prevention into a long-term career destination rather than a stepping stone.

For those looking to build a career that blends technology, problem-solving and real-world impact, loss prevention may be one of retail’s most compelling — and underestimated — options.