Retailing is evolving rapidly, and we round up recent retailing news here.

Barnes & Noble is planning to add 30 stores in 2023, according to The Wall Street Journal.  The move comes on a base of around 600, the company told the Journal, down from a peak of 726 doors in 2008.  Some of the new locations will be smaller stores in communities where Barnes & Noble stores were previously closed.

Walmart Commerce Technologies will provide white label local pick-up and delivery service for retailers using Salesforce Commerce Cloud commerce solutions, the companies announced.  Using the software allows sales to be made for Buy Online Pickup in Store or delivery, which will be done by Walmart’s GoLocal delivery service in unmarked vehicles.

U.S. retail sales in the November 1 through December 31, 2022 holiday season were up 5.3% over 2021, according to an estimate by the National Retail Federation based on U.S. Census Bureau data, less than the 6 to 8% range the organization had predicted.  The gain came on top of a 15% increase in sales in the 2021 season, and in spite of inflation and other consumer concerns.