Our Pieces of the Week honor the 2026 nominees for the Gem Award for Jewelry Design, Silvia Furmanovich, Cece Fein-Hughes, and Catherine Sarr.
The List of the US’s Top 10 Retailers Remains Unchanged
The largest players on Stores magazine’s annual Top 100 Retailers list have held on to their spots by focusing on value and embracing the new ways consumers are shopping.
Washington, D.C.--Though the order may have changed slightly, the same retailers continue to dominate the nation’s top 10, according to the annual Top 100 Retailers list from Stores magazine and Kantar Retail.
The annual Stores Top 100 Retailers list is based on retailers’ U.S. sales. Companies included either have group headquarters located in the United States or are foreign entities with significant operations in the U.S. market.
The order of the top four retailers on the 2017 list is unchanged from 2016: Walmart is No. 1, followed by Kroger, Costco and The Home Depot.
“At 55 years old, Walmart may be the oldest new kid on the block, but it still has the energy and mindset of a startup as it continues to successfully battle the competition,” said Stores Media Editor Susan Reda.
After that, the top 10 order has changed only slightly since last year.
At No. 5 is CVS Caremark (up from No. 7), followed by No. 6 Walgreens Boots Alliance (down from No. 5), No. 7 Amazon (up from No. 8), No. 8 Target (down from No. 6), No. 9 Lowe’s (up from No. 10) and supermarket chain Albertsons at No. 10 (down from No. 9).
Within the top 10, all but Target showed sales growth, the magazine noted, with Amazon’s increase attributed to investments in apparel, groceries (with Amazon Fresh) and mass market.
So what’s keeping the country’s biggest retailers big? A focus on value and embracing the new ways in which consumers are shopping, namely omnichannel methods that allow for opportunities such as buying online and picking up in store.
“The nation’s largest retailers are posting strong vitals,” Reda said. “They’re embracing creative disruption, reinventing physical stores as places for brand experiences and exploring new ways to connect with the consumer.”
This year’s list also is indicative of other trends that the retail segment is seeing right now, including the leading growth of multi-format retailers and the rising influence of the internet.
Meanwhile, one noticeable change in this year’s list is the success of dollar stores, where revenues have grown “drastically” over the past year, Stores said.
The Dollar General previously was at No. 22 on the list but edged up to the top 20 for the first time after posting a 9 percent increase in revenue.
The complete list of the Top 100 as well as an accompanying in-depth article can be found on Stores.org. Stores magazine
The Latest

The 24-piece watch collection is set to debut in spring 2027.

Pooler, who has more than 25 years’ experience in jewelry, is now chief operating officer of Modani Jewels, Soham Diamonds, and SNJ Creations.

Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.

McCormack looked to the 19th century’s “golden age” of astronomy when designing her new celestial-themed collection.


Nelson will be honored as the inaugural grant winner at the Gem Awards gala on Friday.

The new smart design software allows jewelers to configure, price, and confirm a custom engagement ring in real time for in-store customers.

With refreshed branding, a new website, updated courses, and a pathway for growth, DCA is dedicated to supporting retail staff development.

The 10,000-square-foot diamond manufacturing facility officially opened in late February and employs 50 people.

The MJSA Education Foundation’s scholarships support students pursuing jewelry careers.

The largest white diamond to come to market in the U.K. in more than a decade, the VVS1, I-color stone is expected to top $1 million.

Skelly shares her plans for reimagining the fine jewelry retailer she re-acquired after it faltered last year.

The collection takes inspiration from the emotional space between people, moments, and experiences.

In 2026, the jewelry retailer is celebrating a milestone only a small percentage of family-owned businesses survive to see.

The group of jewelers held a jewelry raffle in support of the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.

The jewelry giant released preliminary results for the fourth quarter and full year on Monday, with final results slated to come next week.

The award-winning actress is the “epitome of modern allure,” the brand said.

The “Bloom” collection draws from the flower power movement of the 1960s and ‘70s with inlay pendants offered in eight colorways.

The unique piece was one of the custom works offered at the foundation's recent silent art auction, which garnered nearly $15,000 in total.

Bulgari named Gyllenhaal as its brand ambassador for his embodiment of artistic depth, intellectual curiosity, and warmth.

Awards were given to four students, one apprentice, and an emerging jeweler.

The top jewelry lot of the late model’s estate sale, hosted by John Moran Auctioneers, was an Oscar Heyman & Brothers for Cartier necklace.

Moses, who started at GIA’s Santa Monica lab in 1976, will leave the Gemological Institute of America in May.

Increased competition, falling lab-grown diamond and moissanite prices, and the rising cost of gold took a toll on the moissanite maker.

The earrings, our Piece of the Week, feature pink tourmalines as planets orbiting around an aquamarine center set in 18-karat rose gold.

“The Price of Freedom” campaign video for International Women’s Day confronts the quiet violence of financial control.

Also, a federal judge has ordered that companies that paid tariffs implemented under the IEEPA are entitled to refunds.






















