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1) What does the company do? Dillard's sells branded clothing, accessories, beauty products, home goods, and other items through its department stores and online platform (dillards.com). 2) How does its product work? It offers direct sales of merchandise in-store and online, with a user-friendly online shopping experience and special promotions (like swimwear sales and gifts with purchases). It also provides registries for weddings and babies to help customers plan purchases for life events. 3) How is it different from competitors? It emphasizes a wide range of high-quality branded merchandise, a combination of physical stores and a strong online presence, and customer-focused promotions and registries to attract and retain shoppers. 4) What is its goal? To be a trusted one-stop shop that combines brand variety, quality, and value to meet customers’ needs across fashion, beauty, and home goods.
Industries
Consumer Goods
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Little Rock, Arkansas
Founded
1938
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Total Funding
$880M
Above
Industry Average
Funded Over
1 Rounds
Flexible Work Hours
Influential Women spotlights Katie McNeil: leading merchandising strategy at PGA TOUR Superstore. ATLANTA, GA, UNITED STATES, October 2, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / - Experienced Retail Executive Combines Customer Insight, Collaboration, and Continuous Learning to Shape the Future of Sports Retail Atlanta, Georgia - Katie McNeil is an accomplished retail executive and merchandising leader with more than two decades of experience driving growth, innovation, and customer-focused strategies across the retail industry. As Vice President of Merchandising at PGA TOUR Superstore, she leads a team focused on shaping the future of the customer experience in sports retail, drawing on extensive expertise across merchandising, buying, sourcing, assortment planning, trend forecasting, vendor partnerships, and strategic business development. Katie's career began while she was in college, when she worked in retail and discovered a passion for understanding consumer behavior, product development, and the journey from concept to customer. A marketing major at LSU, she initially was not certain what direction she wanted to take professionally. She enjoyed traveling and worked at a hotel, and because she loved shopping, she also worked at a store. Ultimately, retail became the industry where she found her professional calling. After earning her B.S. in Marketing, Katie joined the Dillard's Executive Development Program, establishing a strong foundation in merchandising and buying. During her time with Dillard's, she continued developing her skills while also pursuing her M.B.A. from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock through night school. The experience reinforced the importance of education and continuous learning, values that had been instilled in her by her parents. Following five years with Dillard's, Katie joined Ross Dress for Less as a buyer and grew alongside the company during a period of significant expansion. As Ross doubled in size, she progressed through increasingly senior leadership positions, eventually serving as Vice President of Merchandising. Her tenure provided opportunities to develop expertise throughout the merchandising lifecycle and to understand how different elements of the business work together to meet consumer needs. Throughout her career, Katie has maintained a strong focus on the importance of content in buying. From the beginning of her time in retail merchandising, she was taught that the customer needs the right product at the right time. That principle has remained central to her approach for more than 20 years, informing the way she thinks about assortments, consumer expectations, and merchandising strategy. Today, Katie applies that experience to her role at PGA TOUR Superstore. She combines data-driven decision-making with market intelligence, vendor collaboration, and long-range planning to identify emerging trends and deliver products that align with customer needs. She is passionate about retail and particularly enjoys seeing a vision come to life in stores. For Katie, the process of moving from an idea to an experience that customers can see and engage with remains one of the most rewarding aspects of her work. Her leadership style is grounded in open-mindedness and a willingness to engage in conversation. Katie credits that mindset with playing an important role in her own career path. Her move into sports retail, for example, came after she agreed to have a conversation about an opportunity despite not being a golfer and having previously worked primarily in apparel. One conversation led to another, ultimately opening the door to her current role at PGA TOUR Superstore. Katie carries that same philosophy into her leadership. She encourages the people and teams she leads to remain open-minded because opportunities can emerge in unexpected ways. She also emphasizes the importance of staying visible and maintaining connections with people beyond one's immediate circle. In an industry where professionals can sometimes become isolated within their own careers, she believes continued connection can create opportunities for learning, collaboration, and growth. As she looks toward the next phase of her career, Katie is particularly interested in staying connected with other women in the retail industry. Her involvement with the Women in Retail Leadership Circle reflects that commitment to maintaining relationships and continuing to learn from others within the field. Katie's commitment to learning has also extended into emerging technology. Most recently, she earned an AI for Business Certification from Harvard Business School, reflecting her desire to remain relevant as technology and the retail industry continue to change. Her ongoing education complements the practical experience she has developed throughout her career and supports her interest in understanding how new tools can contribute to the future of business and retail. Outside of work, Katie enjoys many of the same activities that have long reflected her personality. She loves shopping, which she considers an occupational hazard, and unwinds by watching reality television and reading mystery novels. She also enjoys swimming and spending time around the water, having always felt a natural connection to it. Katie is a proud aunt who enjoys spoiling her nieces and nephews, including a niece who loves her work and sees Katie as the coolest aunt. With a career built on curiosity, adaptability, education, and a deep understanding of the customer, Katie continues to approach retail leadership with an open mind. At PGA TOUR Superstore, she brings together decades of merchandising experience and a willingness to keep learning, helping her team navigate changing consumer expectations while pursuing new possibilities across the sports retail landscape. Influential Women Influential Women provides a platform where women from all backgrounds can connect, share their perspectives, and create content that empowers themselves and others. Through storytelling, thought leadership, and creative expression, Influential Women amplifies voices that inspire change. Editorial Team Influential Women email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
J.C. Penney's sales drop as rivals outperform. J.C. Penney recorded an 8% drop in second-quarter sales, totaling $1.3 billion, a performance that highlights its difficulties in a period when competitors such as Dillard's and Macy's posted slight increases. This downturn represents the retailer's weakest results in a market where Kohl's alone managed to limit its sales decline to under 1%. Over the first half of 2026, Penney's net sales have fallen by 6.5%, further separating it from rivals in the sector. Penney's struggles were particularly pronounced compared to peers, as Dillard's and Macy's eked out modest top-line gains while Kohl's sales decline remained minimal. Clothing sales drove the decline, weighed down by lower unit inventory, in-stock gaps, and softer demand in seasonal categories. However, certain categories outperformed expectations. Activewear saw a 12% increase, fueled by collaborations with Nike and Adidas, while furniture sales surged 41%. Jewelry and salon services also rose, with jewelry up 9% and salon offerings climbing 7%. Beauty products, particularly skin care and new launches from brands like Milani and K-beauty lines, contributed to a broader improvement in that segment, marking a recovery from the loss of its Sephora partnership four years prior. The retailer's gross margin of 39.2% was impacted by higher product costs, pricing adjustments, category mix shifts, and increased promotions. Catalyst Brands, the company's parent organization, continues to provide financial and operational support, helping stabilize Penney's position. Net income shrank by more than 50% in the quarter, showing the financial pressure despite Catalyst's backing.
Dillard's omnichannel investments and strategic efforts aid growth. Key takeaways. * Dillard's is investing in new stores and remodeling existing locations to strengthen its portfolio. * Dillard's integrated store and digital model supports online orders through stores and fulfillment centers. * Customers can buy online, pick up in stores or order products fulfilled from other Dillard's locations. Dillard's, Inc. (DDS - Free Report) continues to pursue initiatives focused on strengthening its store base, enhancing its omnichannel capabilities, improving merchandise productivity and maintaining financial discipline. The company's strategy centers on offering a differentiated assortment across apparel, accessories, shoes, cosmetics and home merchandise while connecting its physical stores with its online platform. Dillard's is strengthening its store portfolio through selective investments in new locations and remodeling existing stores. The company is also enhancing customer engagement through its integrated store and digital model. Online orders can be fulfilled through both fulfillment centers and retail stores, while customers can buy online and pick up merchandise in stores. In-store customers can also order products that are fulfilled from a fulfillment center or another Dillard's location. This interconnected model enables the company to leverage its store network to support online sales while providing customers with greater fulfillment and shopping flexibility. Merchandise differentiation remains another important component of Dillard's strategy. The company offers a broad assortment across cosmetics, ladies' apparel, ladies' accessories and lingerie, juniors' and children's apparel, men's apparel and accessories, shoes, and home and furniture. During the first six months of fiscal 2026, ladies' accessories and lingerie sales increased 7.2%, while home and furniture sales rose 6%. Men's apparel and accessories and shoes increased 2% and 3.2%, respectively. Storewide sales penetration of exclusive-brand merchandise was 22.3% during the period. Dillard's is also benefiting from resilient customer demand and improved merchandise margins. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, total retail sales and comparable-store sales increased 1% year over year. Sales increased significantly in ladies' accessories and lingerie and moderately in home and furniture. Shoes, men's apparel and accessories and cosmetics also recorded slight increases. For the six months of fiscal 2026, retail sales and comparable-store sales increased 2%. Hence, Dillard's store investments, omnichannel capabilities, merchandise differentiation, financial discipline and focus on higher-performing categories provide several avenues to support sales and profitability. DDS price performance, valuation and estimates. Dillard's shares have gained 6.3% year to date compared with the industry 's 13.5% growth. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, DDS trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 18.58X compared with the industry's average of 12.93X. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DDS' fiscal 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates year-over-year growth of 7%, while that of fiscal 2027 shows a decline of 6.1%. The company's EPS estimate for fiscal 2026 has been stable, while that of fiscal 2027 has increased in the past 30 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Dillard's currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Retail stocks to consider. FIGS, Inc. (FIGS - Free Report) is an apparel company focused on the healthcare industry. Its offerings include lab coats, jackets, footwear, bags, socks and other accessories used by healthcare professionals. The company carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FIGS' current financial-year earnings and sales suggests growth of 89.5% and 18.2%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. FIGS delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 201.8%. Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT - Free Report) is the largest lifestyle retailer in the United States, specializing in western and work-related footwear, apparel and accessories. The company also carries a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Boot Barn's current fiscal-year earnings and sales suggests growth of 22.6% and 15.7%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. BOOT delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 11.4%. Fossil Group, Inc. (FOSL - Free Report) is involved in designing, marketing and distributing consumer fashion accessories. It also carries a Zacks Rank of 2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Fossil Group's current fiscal-year earnings suggests growth of 96.7% from the year-ago actuals. FOSL delivered an earnings surprise of 55.2% in the last reported quarter. Zacks' Research chief names "stock most likely to Double" Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners, but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like D-Wave Quantum, which shot up +680.1%. Zacks' 7 best strong buy stocks (new Research report). Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
Dillard's introduces Kristen Nichols x Antonio Melani fall 2026 collaboration. LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Aug. 31, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Dillard's, Inc. ("Dillard's") (NYSE: DDS) is pleased to introduce Kristen Nichols x Antonio Melani - an exclusive limited-edition style collaboration available today across all Dillard's locations nationwide and on dillards.com beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET today. The Kristen Nichols X Antonio Melani Collection is now available exclusively at Dillard's. Kristen Nichols is a fashion editor and creative consultant whose perspective has helped shape the conversation around fashion. Designed in partnership with Antonio Melani, Kristen Nichols' fall 2026 collection for Dillard's brings her editor's eye to classic wardrobe staples. Shaped by her personal time spent in New York and Paris, the capsule infuses classic American style with effortless French sophistication. Kristin Nichols shares, "This collection is designed for the woman who dresses entirely for herself. She dresses intentionally and believes in timelessness not defined by trends, but personal style formed over time. This capsule is a celebration of that woman and the classic wardrobe pieces she collects and returns to." "Our Antonio Melani customer craves elegant, sophisticated, and timeless choices, and Kristen's collection delivers just that," said Alexandra Dillard Lucie, Vice President of Merchandising at Dillard's. "From beautifully tailored silhouettes to chic, versatile layers, this line offers multiple must-have pieces that will instantly become closet favorites for fall and beyond." Drawing inspiration from 1990s Manhattan minimalism and timeless European elegance, the collection balances sharp tailoring with clean, considered proportions. Every silhouette - from sleek outerwear to straight-leg denim to kitten heels - is intentionally designed to feel both polished and easy to wear. Soft neutrals, topstitching details, and leather are infused throughout. Built on intention, these are enduring pieces designed to transcend seasons. Kristen Nichols X Antonio Melani is a limited-edition wardrobe featuring dresses, tailored separates, statement jackets/outerwear, footwear (including signature kitten heels), and a luxury leather belt. Official Social Channels: * Kristen Nichols Instagram: @kristenmarienichols * Antonio Melani Instagram: @antoniomelaniofficial * Dillard's Instagram: @dillards About Kristen Nichols Kristen Nichols is a fashion editor and creative consultant whose perspective has helped shape the conversation around fashion. Through her editorial work, she has developed a distinct point of view informed by the runway, emerging design talent, and an appreciation for a timeless wardrobe that feels both effortless and elevated. Recognized for her refined personal style as much as her editorial eye, Kristen has cultivated a wardrobe that is both directional and enduring - defined by precise tailoring and polished essentials. Her approach to dressing has made her a trusted source of inspiration within the industry and has been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Over the course of her career, Kristen has worked closely with many of fashion's leading houses while championing the next generation of designers through her editorial work. Whether interpreting the runway, consulting on creative projects, or designing, her approach is guided by the belief that the most compelling wardrobes are built with intention and evolve over time. Based in New York, she brings an editor's eye to personal style. About Antonio Melani Antonio Melani, Dillard's largest ladies' apparel brand, was launched in 2001 in footwear and later extended to apparel and handbags. The mission of Antonio Melani is to curate a high-end collection that evokes sophistication through tailoring, yet stays current through styling and attitude. Antonio Melani caters to the modern woman's career and social schedule, with an emphasis on luxury fabrications. Antonio Melani is available at Dillard's locations nationwide and online at dillards.com.
US retail sales fell 0.6% in July, the largest decrease in over a year, according to the Census Bureau. The decline contrasted sharply with economists' expectations of a small increase. Motor vehicle and parts dealers saw sales drop 1.8%, whilst non-store retailers declined 2.2%. The unexpected slump suggests persistent inflation may be causing consumers to tighten their budgets. Several retail stocks declined following the data. Department store Dillard's fell 6.6%, vehicle retailer Camping World dropped 2.7%, and boat retailer OneWater declined 3%. Dillard's shares have experienced 16 moves greater than 5% over the past year. The company recently reported second-quarter earnings of $6.25 per share, beating estimates but including a $1.82 per share one-time tariff refund boost.
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Industries
Consumer Goods
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Little Rock, Arkansas
Founded
1938
Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today