SAN MATEO, Calif.—Inside the cavernous San Mateo County Event Center, which has been the home of Fashion Market Northern California since 2008, there was a certain hum in the air.

A constant buzz of conversation came from buyers who hunched over order sheets, pen in hand, as salespeople more»

The basic model for the physical store has not changed in decades, but the traditional setup of merchandise, cash register and sales staff might be taking a big step forward with new technology.

Call it an arms race for consumers’ attention, said Chitra S. Dabas, assistant professor of apparel more»

It’s a given that a Facebook or Twitter page can raise the profile of a business, but retailers are still trying to figure out exactly what’s to be learned from all those followers. Brands are looking to social-media analytics to go beyond re-tweets and “likes” to drill down and more»

It’s hard to find available retail space in San Francisco’s Union Square, one of the West Coast’s most exclusive shopping spots, but a huge chunk of it is now up for grabs. That’s good news for prospective retailers, but bad news for Macy’s Inc., whose San Francisco more»