Merchandising & Store OpsFriday, September 4, 2026
Instacart has acquired Arpalus, a computer-vision startup whose smartphone-based system allows in-store workers to record product shelf levels with approximately 95% item-identification accuracy.
Hims & Hers shares have declined approximately 51% over the past year to a market capitalization of roughly $7.2 billion following a Q1 2026 revenue miss and gross margin compression to 65%.
San Francisco-based Owner raised a $240 million Series D led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives in August 2026 at a $2.3 billion valuation to build an AI-native platform for independent restaurants.
Hims & Hers is expected to complete its $1.15 billion acquisition of Eucalyptus in mid-2026, a move that signals a strategic pivot toward international platform expansion.
The AI-enabled e-commerce market is estimated at $9.0 billion in 2025, while the AR/VR retail market is projected to reach $1.6 billion in 2025.
The global augmented reality market in retail is projected to grow from approximately $3.52 billion in 2025 to over $10 billion by 2029, driven primarily by virtual try-on features.
