1. 2022 retail store opening rumble: Robust e-commerce platforms helped retailers manage the pandemic. However, both retailers and consumers realized the limitations of doing business entirely online, and once the height of the pandemic passed, shoppers returned to stores in hordes. – Read More on Axios

2. Shell’s board of directors sued over climate strategy in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit: Environmental law firm ClientEarth, in its capacity as a shareholder, filed the lawsuit against Shell, alleging that 11 members of Shell’s board are mismanaging climate risk, breaching company law by failing to implement an energy transition strategy that aligns with the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement. – Read More on CNBC

3. Adidas forecasts high single-digit sales decline in 2023: The sporting goods maker, which ended its business partnership with Kanye West last year, said not selling its existing Yeezy stock could reduce revenue by around 1.2 billion euros in 2023 and operating profit by around 500 million euros to around break-even. – Read More on Reuters

4. Does Shein Use Banned Xinjiang Cotton? US Senators Want to Know: In a letter dated Thursday, Republican Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Democrats Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island sought details about the company’s procurement process and its links to Xinjiang. – Read More on Bloomberg

5. RELATED READ: As Shein Looks to Lobbying, What is Driving Corporate Political Strategy? At the core, companies spend on lobbying and political contributions when they “have vested interests and operations in a state” – or on a federal level – “that are subject to regulation.” – Read More on TFL

6. Italy inflation-adjusted retail sales fell in 2022: Italian retail sales increased in value terms but decreased in volume in 2022 compared to the previous year, with consumers suffering from high inflation, data showed on Wednesday. – Read More on Reuters