Condo owners across South Florida are taking buyouts into their own hands as mounting repair bills, insurance hikes, and looming reserve deadlines push older buildings toward financial crisis. Following Florida’s strict post-Surfside recertification laws, many associations face skyrocketing HOA fees — in some cases from $800 to $2,000 per month — leaving owners eager to sell to developers. Despite a short extension under House Bill 913, costs remain overwhelming, and buyouts can take years as developers grow more selective and cautious. Industry experts say unity among owners is key to moving deals forward as the condo buyout trend reshapes Miami’s skyline.

Retail and hospitality employers are better prepared than most industries to handle unionization efforts, according to Littler’s 2025 Labor Survey. While 36% of non-unionized employers overall say they are “not prepared at all,” that number falls to just 19% in retail and hospitality. Employers in these sectors are more likely to train frontline managers (76% vs. 52% overall), but few have strike contingency plans or detailed bargaining strategies. The report also highlights Gen Z’s growing influence, with younger workers driving demand for more input in business decisions, as well as unions’ increasing use of digital campaigns, social media, and public demonstrations to organize.

The SEC has accused Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV) co-founders Tai Lopez and Alexander Mehr, along with COO Maya Burkenroad, of running a $112 million Ponzi scheme. Regulators allege the executives misled investors about the profitability of their retail portfolio — which included RadioShack, Pier 1 Imports, Dress Barn, and Stein Mart — while misappropriating funds for personal use. Despite public claims of strong performance, internal records revealed steep losses across REV’s brands. The lawsuit, filed in Florida, seeks civil penalties and a jury trial.

U.S. consumer confidence slipped in September to its lowest point since April, reflecting growing worries about jobs, inflation, and the broader economy. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index dropped to 94.2, with job availability and current financial conditions seeing sharp declines. Inflation remained the top concern for households, while recession fears ticked higher. Despite weaker intentions to buy cars and travel, home-buying plans climbed to a four-month high, and electronics like smartphones saw increased demand.

Forever 21 may have closed all of its U.S. stores after bankruptcy, but a comeback is already in motion. Authentic Brands Group, which owns the fast-fashion label’s IP, has secured new e-commerce and wholesale deals and is now in advanced talks with a retail partner to bring physical locations back to the U.S. While details remain under wraps, the move signals ABG’s strategy to balance Forever 21’s digital presence with a renewed brick-and-mortar footprint—aiming to keep the brand relevant in both shopping malls and online marketplaces.

Claire’s, the iconic teen accessories retailer, is getting a new lease on life—literally. Following its $140M+ acquisition by private equity firm Ames Watson, RCS Real Estate Advisors has been tapped to reshape the brand’s store footprint, securing more than 800 finalized leases with the potential to expand to 950 locations across major U.S. and Canadian markets. Once weighed down by bankruptcy and growing competition from online players like Shein and Temu, Claire’s is now positioning itself for a fresh chapter—preserving jobs, revitalizing stores, and modernizing its brand for the next generation of shoppers.

Lululemon, once the undisputed leader in premium athleisure, is facing a wake-up call: consumers are calling its assortment predictable, competitors like Alo and Vuori are gaining traction, and even Costco’s dupes are stealing attention. While the activewear category overall is growing, Lululemon’s slower trend adoption, reliance on core products, and muted casual offerings have left the brand vulnerable. Now, with sales softening in North America and analysts warning of cracks in its core, the retailer is doubling down on innovation—promising to increase new styles, lean into AI-driven product design, and recapture the excitement that made it a powerhouse. Whether this strategy is enough to keep its $100 leggings a must-have remains to be seen.

Forever 21 is entering a new phase after its U.S. operator filed for bankruptcy and shuttered all stores earlier this year. Authentic Brands Group has secured three fresh partnerships to keep the brand alive digitally and in wholesale: Unique Brands will oversee U.S. e-commerce and men’s wholesale, Mark Edwards Apparel will manage women’s wholesale, and Kidz Concepts will handle kidswear. While its U.S. brick-and-mortar era has ended, Forever 21 continues to reach consumers through online channels, wholesale, and select international pop-ups. Still, the brand faces tough competition from low-cost rivals like Shein and Temu, as well as shifting consumer habits — making this digital-first revival a challenging but strategic next chapter.