Alicia, Andrew, and Nick are back in action as we get excited for the end of the holiday season like Santa Claus at the mall after a line of hungry kids.

And the retail world is examining the year's winners and losers and what 2025 may have in store.

On this week's news:

Store Closures in 2024:

Over 7,100 U.S. store closures announced—a 69% increase from last year.

Bankruptcies nearly doubled, with 45 retailers filing compared to 25 in 2023.

Debate: Are closures a sign of trouble or smart footprint management?

Family Dollar tops the list—Nick calls it a "self-inflicted retail injury."

Kroger & Albertsons Breakup:

The $24.6B merger is officially dead after court decisions block it.

Albertsons sues Kroger, accusing them of not trying hard enough to secure approvals.

FTC, Kroger, and Albertsons—it's a grocery store soap opera begging for a Netflix series!

Lord & Taylor's Reboot:

The once-beloved department store is now a discount luxury e-commerce brand.

Products to be placed in other retailers like Saks and Nordstrom—no physical stores of its own.

Macy's Gets Real (Estate):

Activist investor urges Macy’s to be more like Dillard’s—maximize real estate value!

Dillard’s stock is up 788% over the last four years by focusing on smart decisions and consistent execution.

Timestamps:

[00:00:08] Intro & holiday vibes

[00:07:15] Store closures & bankruptcies in 2024

[00:20:40] Kroger & Albertsons merger drama

[00:35:50] Lord & Taylor’s new direction

[00:48:30] Macy’s vs. Dillard’s debate

[01:05:00] Wrap-up & the magic of doing basics well