Retail News

David’s Bridal to spin off Pearl into stand-alone, publicly traded company

Reported by Retail Dive, Kaarin Moore on Oct 22, 12:29 PM ET

David’s Bridal CEO Kelly Cook is expected to become the chief executive of Pearl, which will own the wedding retailer’s intellectual property and brand. The separation of the retail operations of David’s Bridal from the AI-focused wedding planning and media platform Pearl will accelerate both entities, according to the company. The deal, which values Pearl at $350 million, anticipates $75 million in private investment in public equity funding, which includes a $25 million anchor investment from CION Investment Corporation, David’s Bridal’s largest shareholder. David’s Bridal will be a “material ongoing shareholder in Pearl,” according to the company.

Read the full story at Retail Dive

This is a short excerpt credited to Retail Dive; the full article is on the publisher's site. BlackFridaySales doesn't edit or verify third-party reporting. Prices mentioned in news stories can change — check the verified deals for prices we track.

More Retail News

See all

Retail DiveOct 22, 12:34 PM ET
Beyond Yoga aims to have ‘many’ stores. They’ll probably be yellow.
CEO Nancy Green says the brand color is reflective of a broader focus on joy — and making progress over perfection. Beyond Yoga CEO Nancy Green has an easy answer when asked why the brand didn’t go for a permanent location for its recently opened New York store . “Oh we will,” she said of the pop-up location, which debuted in September and will stay open through January. “It's a great way to explore and to learn and sort of test out the area.
Retail DiveOct 22, 12:14 PM ET
Walmart welcomes external AI agents — with some guardrails
The mass retailer is focused on transparency and customer control with a new AI agent profile feature and updated agent terms. Walmart’s latest agentic AI efforts solidify its approach to further develop relationships with external AI systems, in addition to building out its own AI agent. The company was one of the first major retailers to integrate purchasing with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and joined forces with Google’s Gemini earlier this year. Additionally, Walmart has continued to tout the success of its Sparky AI assistant since launching in 2025.
Retail DiveOct 22, 12:11 PM ET
EBay cuts 1K jobs, downsizing for the second time this year
The layoffs, affecting about 9% of the marketplace giant’s global workforce, will impact all regions where it operates. EBay has downsized its global workforce for the second time this year, a spokesperson confirmed Wednesday. The marketplace is slashing its global staff by 9%, with cuts impacting all regions where it operates. That affects more than 1,000 people and comes after cutting 800 roles in February . EBay has offered only a vague rationale for this latest round of downsizing, saying that it will help further its goals.
Retail DiveOct 22, 11:43 AM ET
Tractor Supply taps former Home Depot exec as chief digital, technology officer
Fahim Siddiqui will oversee digital operations and work to bolster long-term growth by improving the retailer’s customer experience. Siddiqui brings more than 30 years of business and technology experience to his new position as Tractor Supply reworks its digital strategy. Before managing The Home Depot’s enterprise technology, cybersecurity and other digital functions, he held senior roles at companies such as Staples, Vidyo and Intralinks, per the press release. “Technology plays an important role in how we serve our customers and support our Team Members,” Lawton said in a press release.
Retail DiveOct 22, 10:18 AM ET
Why customers are fed up with AI chatbots
Few things will cause a customer to immediately request — or demand — a live agent like a bot that misunderstands them. Few things will cause a customer to immediately request — demand, even — a live agent like a bot that misunderstands them. A CX leader implementing AI for self-service should first understand why that can happen and then take several steps to eliminate that friction. “A bot can understand every word a customer says and still completely miss the point,” Brad Cleveland, CX expert and author, told sister publication CX Dive.
Retail DiveOct 21, 12:40 PM ET
Amazon eyes 300K holiday hires
The e-commerce giant is increasing U.S. holiday staffing by 20% compared to the past three seasons. Amazon's increase in hiring is a standout in a season where retailers are bringing on fewer workers or staying quiet about their plans. The company hires seasonal employees all year long. But, starting on New Year’s Day, a benefit that has typically been given to regular, full-time employees will soon be available to those seasonal workers: healthcare coverage starting on their first day.

More Retail News

Beyond Yoga aims to have ‘many’ stores. They’ll probably be yellow.

Walmart welcomes external AI agents — with some guardrails

EBay cuts 1K jobs, downsizing for the second time this year

Tractor Supply taps former Home Depot exec as chief digital, technology officer

Why customers are fed up with AI chatbots

Amazon eyes 300K holiday hires