The Week In News, But Shorter
January 26 – February 1, 2026

A Weekly PropTech Newsletter bringing you industry updates from across the real estate spectrum

Digital data ownership has been a topic of contention among the retail community since the advent of online shopping. As retailers have expanded their channels via the likes of marketplaces like Amazon or social media apps like TikTok, and as search engines play an ever stronger role in the customer journey, data has become more dispersed and sometimes harder to track. Adding AI to the mix is not going to make things any simpler, as an article in RetailDive points out this week. With this complex digital ecosystem, mall owners become important stewards of the hybrid digital/physical journey. Ensuring that you can provide your tenants with the valuable physical data they need means you become an even stronger IRL partner as the complexities of a new online shopping journey come into focus. Are you set up to support your tenants in that way? If not, let’s chat!

This week Amazon announced some big changes to their brick-and-mortar offerings and technologies, and a previous footwear darling announced updates to their physical presence too. Leadership changes mean that some retailers are putting an even stronger tech foot forward, and winter weather is having an impact on retail sales in some regions. We’ll be back in your inbox next week, and until then find us on LinkedIn.

Digital Meets Physical

Retail’s risky AI commerce bet [RetailDive] As retailers race to meet consumers on external AI platforms, they risk losing data and direct interaction with shoppers. Experts say disruption has only just begun.

eBay bans AI bots from making automated purchases [Chain Store Age] “Unauthorized agentic tools and bots are not permitted to access or take actions on our platform,” the spokesperson said in the email. “These rules help keep interactions predictable and safe, so we can protect buyers and sellers, apply appropriate safeguard and usage limits, and maintain a reliable experience. We continue to explore the best use cases for agentic commerce both on and off our platform, to best serve our customers.”

Instagram tops social shopping choices for US adults [eMarketer] 37.2% of US adults say they’re most likely to shop via Instagram, making it the top social commerce platform, ahead of TikTok (30.5%), according to a September 2025 survey from Power Digital Marketing.

A once-unthinkable C-suite appointment solidifies Walmart’s new identity as a tech company [Fortune] Feb. 1 will mark the retirement of Doug McMillon after a remarkable tenure and Day 1 for his replacement, John Furner. But the company is also enacting other changes to its C-suite that make one thing quite clear: Walmart, a 64-year-old retailer, now sees itself as a tech company.

Amazon is ending its palm ID system for retail, Amazon One, as it closes physical stores [GeekWire] Amazon is discontinuing its Amazon One palm recognition ID system for stores later this year. The company will discontinue Amazon One services at retail businesses on June 3, 2026.

Signet Jewelers’ Tech And Digital Chief Sets Course For Transformation [Forbes] As Signet Jewelers modernizes the way it operates across brands like Kay, Zales and Jared, the world’s largest diamond jewelry retailer is betting that tighter integration between IT and digital can increase speed and create a competitive advantage.

PropTalk

Simon Property Group flags $100M Saks Global investment in rent dispute [RetailDive] Simon Property Group is asking the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas to recognize its termination of the leases for over more than $7 million in unpaid rent, based on letters sent to Saks Global earlier this month.

Amazon to shutter all Amazon Fresh and Go stores [GroceryDive] The company will focus its brick-and-mortar strategy on Whole Foods Market, with plans to open more than 100 new stores under the banner over the next few years.

Monster Storm Disrupts Business at Tens of Thousands of Stores [WWD] Tens of thousands of stores and restaurants closed earlier than usual last weekend due to Winter Storm Fern, though some were already reopening on Monday. The impact on the retail industry won’t be catastrophic since last weekend was not a major selling period. Still, there will be significant losses on non-essentials like luxury goods, sportswear, home products, beauty, and from a lack of dining out.

Retail’s busiest streets are booming with new investment, flagships [ModernRetail] Investors and major retailers alike have shown significant confidence in North America’s high streets over the past year. Sales transaction volume in high-traffic urban retail corridors in the U.S. and Canada increased 82% from 2024 to 2025.

Allbirds to close all US stores, save 2 outlets [RetailDive] Allbirds will close all of its full-price stores in the U.S. by the end of February. As of its latest quarter, Allbirds had 21 stores in the United States and two brand-run international locations.

Brick-And-Mortar Makes A Comeback In A Changing Retail Landscape [Forbes] Despite headlines of major store closures and bankruptcies like Saks, the retail sector shows surprising resilience. Overall sales are up 4.2%, exceeding inflation, and new store openings (1,201) significantly outnumber closures (733). Consumers, including Gen Z, are returning to physical stores, and e-commerce disruption is easing, signaling renewed confidence in brick-and-mortar retail.