Gap vs Nordstrom

Old Navy CEO to Exit After Weak Q2 Sales

Gap Inc. announced a leadership transition at its largest brand, Old Navy: CEO Haio Barbeito will move to an advisory role on Nov. 2 and Michael Francis will take over leadership. The change follows Old Navy’s disappointing Q2 results, with net sales down 4% year-over-year to $2.1 billion and comps down 4%, attributed in part to an unexpected traffic slowdown and merchandising issues. Meanwhile, Gap’s namesake brand and Banana Republic posted stronger Q2 performance, and Gap Inc. overall reported net sales down 2% to $3.7 billion. Gap CEO Richard Dickson characterized Old Navy’s miss as modest and planned; industry analysts, including GlobalData’s Neil Saunders, said the brand needs a broader correction beyond a merchandise range fix.

• Haio Barbeito will move to an advisory role at Old Navy on Nov. 2 after four years as CEO.
• Michael Francis will replace Barbeito; he joined Gap Inc. in March and held roles including chief customer officer at Old Navy.
• Old Navy Q2 net sales fell 4% year-over-year to $2.1 billion, with comparable sales down 4% and an unanticipated slowdown in traffic.

Gap’s Culture-Driven Ads Lift Gap Brand Amid Parent Sales Dip

Gap Inc.’s second-quarter results show mixed performance across its brands: overall net sales fell 2% to $3.7 billion, while the Gap brand grew, driven in part by culture-driven campaigns such as its work with Hailey Bieber. Gap brand net sales rose 9% ($844 million) with comparable sales up 10% year-over-year, while Old Navy sales declined (headline notes a 4% fall) and Athleta net sales fell 12% to $264 million. Operating expenses were $1.3 billion, representing 34.3% of net sales. The article highlights that culturally resonant creative and influencer partnerships have helped Gap the brand even as the parent company's overall results softened.

• Gap Inc. reported $3.7 billion in net sales during the second quarter, a 2% year-over-year decline.
• Operating expenses were $1.3 billion, or 34.3% of net sales.
• Net sales at the Gap brand were $844 million, up 9% year-over-year; comparable sales at Gap increased 10% year-over-year.

Ads of the Week: From Gap to Marc Jacobs

Adweek published a weekly roundup highlighting 12 notable advertising campaigns on 2026-08-14. The article (by Matt Barker) spotlights campaigns from brands including Gap, Foot Locker, Heinz, Marc Jacobs, CeraVe, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, Google Pixel, Hinge and Kalshi, and notes celebrities and creators featured across spots (Method Man, Rowan Blanchard, Jemima Kirke, Tyler Cameron, Malcolm Todd, Inde Navarrette, Jayden Daniels, Stephen Curry). The piece summarizes creative approaches and unusual activations (e.g., Heinz’s sauce-squeeze control option, Hinge’s audiobook, Kalshi’s sandwich stunt) and serves as an editorial collection of recent creative work rather than reporting on platform policy or AdTech infrastructure.

• Adweek published an 'Ads of the Week' roundup on 2026-08-14 listing 12 recent campaigns.
• Featured advertisers and brands include Gap, Foot Locker, Heinz, Marc Jacobs, CeraVe, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, Google (Pixel), Hinge and Kalshi.
• Celebrities and creators featured in the highlighted ads include Method Man, Rowan Blanchard, Jemima Kirke, Tyler Cameron, Malcolm Todd, Inde Navarrette, Jayden Daniels and Stephen Curry.

Rent the Runway Appoints Paige Thomas as CEO

Rent the Runway has promoted Chief Commercial Officer Paige Thomas to CEO, effective Monday. Thomas, a Nordstrom alum, succeeds interim CEO Teri Bariquit, who becomes non-executive board chair. The announcement came as the company released Q2 results showing sales growth and narrowed losses. Total revenue rose nearly 21% year-over-year to $97.7 million, while active subscribers declined to 140,826. Gross margin expanded to 36.1%, and net loss shrank to $12.9 million. Thomas aims to accelerate the company's transformation rather than change direction.

• Paige Thomas promoted to CEO of Rent the Runway, effective Monday.
• Teri Bariquit, former interim CEO, appointed non-executive board chair.
• Q2 total revenue rose nearly 21% year-over-year to $97.7 million.

Nordstrom Rack to Open New Location in Cypress, Texas

Nordstrom Rack to Open New Location in Cypress, Texas (September 1, 2026) and Nordstrom Rack to Open New Location in Glen Allen, Virginia (August 27, 2026) added to press releases.

Nordstrom Rack to Open New Location in Cypress, Texas

Nordstrom Rack to Open New Location in Cypress, Texas (September 1, 2026) and Nordstrom Rack to Open New Location in Glen Allen, Virginia (August 27, 2026) were added to the Featured Releases section.