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☆ The rise and fall of the Gap: The iconic but beleaguered brand is counting on a new CEO poached from Mattel
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Bethany Biron | Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Gap was once one of America's most beloved apparel retailers, known for its laid-back basics and classic denim. The company announced Mattel executive Richard Dickson will become Gap's new CEO. Here's the story of the company's rise to mall brand darling and eventual fall from grace. For decades, Gap was one of the most beloved retailers in the US and an emblematic part of American fashion and style. Here's a look at Gap's humble beginnings of selling Levis and records, through its meteoric rise across America to its eventual fall.

Persons: Richard Dickson, Dickson Organizations: Mattel, Service, Navy, Old Navy, Banana Republic Locations: Wall, Silicon, Levis, America

☆ How to create with AI, including art, music, and writing, according to people who've written songs, stories, and letters
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Jack Sommers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

These five people used the tools to make content including a song and a commercial. A song for EurovisionInsider's Chloe Pantazi was underwhelmed by this year's Eurovision song contest. But ChatGPT gave him the space to experiment with the writing in a way he didn't feel comfortable with before. Insider produced a step-by-step guide of how to use it and Craiyon, another free tool that uses AI to generate images. Read more: I used Lensa, the chart-topping app, to make myself a masterpiece digital work of art — here's how it works

Persons: —, ChatGPT, Chloe Pantazi, Sweden's, Pantazi, Spriha Srivastava, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Matt Huculak, Huculak, Read, Elon Musk, . DALL, OpenAI, Lensa, Bethany Biron, Elizabeth Holmes, Biron Organizations: Service, Eurovision, University of Victoria, University of Cambridge Locations: British Columbia, Canada, Cambridge

☆ Cash App founder Bob Lee was having an affair with the sister of his alleged killer, friends say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Cash App founder Bob Lee was having an affair with his accused killer's sister, Khazar Momeni, sources told WSJ. Khazar's brother, Nima Momeni, is in jail on murder charges in the fatal stabbing of Lee last month. Sources said Lee and Khazar were both part of "The Lifestyle," an underground San Francisco party scene. Cash App founder Bob Lee, who was stabbed to death last month, was having an affair with the sister of his alleged killer, Nima Momeni, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal. According to witnesses at the scene, Lee told Nima that his sister had not taken any drugs and "nothing inappropriate had happened."

☆ Financial fraudsters are targeting postal workers to steal their mailbox keys, so USPS is trying something new
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

USPS and the Postal Inspection Service announced it is cracking down on robberies and mail theft. Incident rates of attacks against mail workers and theft from blue collection boxes are on the rise. But less talked about is another issue: Thieves targeting postal workers themselves. Robbers specializing in financial fraud schemes are increasingly stealing mail straight from the hands of mail workers, or stealing their keys to mailboxes. So the United States Postal Service is implementing new policies and security efforts to curb the worsening problem.

Bed Bath & Beyond, founded in 1971, has long been a go-to destination for home goods. Take a look at the rise and fall of the retailer loved by many shoppers. In September 2022, Bed Bath & Beyond announced it would be closing 150 stores and slashing 20% of its corporate positions in an effort to cut costs. Bed Bath & Beyond was once a leading home goods retailer, appealing to shoppers across the nation with its strategy of abundance. We took a closer look at Bed Bath & Beyond's rise from a small linen store in New Jersey to a major national retail chain filing for bankruptcy.

☆ 'Quiet rooms' are being built by companies to help employees relax and decompress on the clock
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Offices are increasingly adding designated "quiet rooms" for employees to recharge, WSJ reported. Companies like Adobe now have a craft room and private music rooms for staffers. The spaces are the next evolution of the nap and meditation rooms made popular by tech companies like Google. Now, workplaces are installing "quiet rooms" designed to help staffers cope with over-stimulation from open offices in today's post-pandemic workplaces. In an effort to better prioritize the mental health of employees, a growing number of companies are creating places for employees to relax and recharge, the Wall Street Journal reported.

☆ The postmaster general is the second-highest-paid federal employee — and other weird facts about the USPS leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Over the next two centuries, the role gained significant power within the federal government. In 1828, President Andrew Jackson made it part of the Cabinet, placing the role in line for succession. Andrew Jackson portrait on twenty dollar bill. Elizabeth Fernandez/Getty ImagesJackson also started the practice of replacing postal workers, which at the time comprised a vast amount of government jobs, with party loyalists. This continued until President Richard Nixon halted such efforts in 1969.

☆ After internal 'panic', Google is rushing to unveil a new AI-powered search engine to compete with Microsoft Bing, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Google is planning a new AI-powered search engine to compete with ChatGPT and Bing, the NYT reported. The company has been in a state of widespread "panic," per an internal email reviewed by the Times. Google is scrambling to release a new search engine as the artificial intelligence arms race continues to heat up, according to a report Sunday from the New York Times. According to documents obtained by the Times, Google is updating its existing search engine as part of a project called Magi. Threats to Google's long-held search engine dominance deepened when Microsoft teamed up with OpenAI to relaunch Bing in February.

☆ Rupert Murdoch's divorce settlement with Jerry Hall banned her from sharing story ideas with 'Succession' writers, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch abruptly divorced his fourth wife, Jerry Hall, last summer. As part of the settlement, he banned Hall from giving story ideas to the "Succession" writing team, according to Vanity Fair. The HBO show was largely inspired by the Murdoch family and turmoil around electing a successor. The report comes amid ongoing turmoil within the Murdoch family in selecting a successor to News Corporation, the multi-billion dollar media company created and led by Murdoch, now 91. The Murdoch family largely served as inspiration for the HBO hit show "Succession."

☆ Big Law firm draws ire for leaked list of 'non-negotiable expectations' for associates — including being online 24/7 'no exceptions, no excuses'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A leaked list of "non-negotiable expectations" at law firm Paul Hastings is sparking debate online. While some say the demands are "horrible" others say they represent realistic expectations within the industry. The firm told Insider "the material was prepared by an associate," but noted "the views expressed do not reflect the views of the firm or its partners." Lee Edwards, general partner at Root Ventures, an investment firm focused on tech, wrote in a tweet on Friday that he found the expectations "horrible." "Good and helpful description of working in any top-tier profession services firm at any point in the last 30 (50?)

☆ The rise and fall of Macy's, the beloved American retailer which just announced a new CEO to lead its revival efforts
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

As one of the oldest and largest department stores in the nation, Macy's is an icon of American retail. Despite its dominance, Macy's has struggled in recent years to overcome slumping sales and continues to shutter stores. Here's the story of Macy's rise to iconic American retailer and a look at its recent stumbles. Since its humble beginnings as a small dry goods store in New York City, Macy's has pioneered several components of the modern department store, including onsite tailoring, dining, and elaborate window dressings. While the fate of the retailer remains unknown, we took a look at Macy's meteoric rise and recent struggles.

☆ Meet UBS CEO Ralph Hamers, a leader behind Credit Suisse negotiations who opts for open-necked shirts and wants to build 'Netflix of wealth'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

UBS CEO Ralph Hamers is a key figure in negotiations to buy Credit Suisse and prevent its collapse. The 56-year-old exec has worked in Swiss banking for more than three decades and is a proponent of digital innovation. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest stories in hedge funds, PE, fintech, and banking — delivered daily to your inbox. ING ultimately was slapped with a nearly $900 million fine for not adequately preventing financial crime, according to BBC News. At the time, he said the bank took "full responsibility" and its failure to follow policy was "unacceptable," BBC News reported.

☆ Matte car colors in muted earth tones are suddenly taking over — but the trendy paints come at a cost
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Earthy, muted shades are becoming increasingly popular among car buyers, according to the LA Times. The muted cars are suddenly popping up everywhere, lining freeways and parking lots in unassuming shades of gray, black, brown, tan, and green. "The term 'stealth' comes to mind when we see a car in matte gray or matte black. Derek Joyce, a spokesman for Hyundai Motor North America, told the Los Angeles Times that the muted shades of its Hyundai Santa Cruz model are outselling more traditional hues. The styles are also picking up steam on TikTok, where users are sharing videos of their matte cars, or of transforming old models using the new trendy paints.

☆ Control of Silicon Valley Bank up for auction as federal officials weigh protecting uninsured deposits after collapse
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

An auction of Silicon Valley Bank is underway as feds rush to save the collapsed financial institution. Officials told the Washington Post the government is considering protecting all uninsured depositors. Meanwhile, three government officials told the Washington Post they are considering the unprecedented move of fully protecting uninsured deposits in the bank following the bank's Friday collapse. The move would serve as a potential alternative if an auction fails to go through, the Post reported. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told CBS News on Sunday she'd been working with regulators all weekend after hearing from depositors to "design appropriate policies to address the situation," without giving further details.

☆ BarkBox under fire, accused of stealing and posting TikToker's video without her consent: 'I'm furious'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

TikToker Cecelia Fales claims BarkBox stole her video and shared it on Instagram without her consent. "I told the company they could not post the video without paying me for their work," she said in a TikTok. "They removed my watermark, they removed my voiceover, and they put their own music behind the video to make it seem more original and like their video," she said in the video posted earlier this month. In a followup video, Fales shared screenshots of conversations between herself and the BarkBox team regarding the video. Yall know better," wrote another on a BarkBox Instagram post.

☆ Vinyl sales surpassed CDs for the first time in 35 years as records make 'remarkable resurgence'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Vinyl sales beat out CDs for the first time since 1987, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. While streaming still reigns supreme, physical music sales are making a "remarkable resurgence," RIAA said. Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and Olivia Rodrigo topped vinyl sales this year, per Luminate. Not since 1987 has vinyl led physical music sales, after the rise of the compact disc revolutionized the way Americans consumed music. Still, vinyl sales are on the rise even as supply issues and bottlenecks plague the industry and companies struggle to meet demand.

☆ This Girl Scout cookie costs $100 a box. Here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Girl Scout Raspberry Rally cookies are so in-demand that resellers are listing boxes on eBay at a significant upcharge. A Girl Scouts spokesperson did not provide information about a possible restock. Girl Scout Raspberry Rally cookies on eBay. And while it remains unclear if local troops will receive more boxes of Raspberry Rallys, the Girl Scouts spokesperson encouraged fans to keep buying. "Participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program gives girls the opportunity to not only learn the valuable life skills of goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics, but to gain confidence and make new lifelong friends."

☆ Chick-fil-A restaurant bans unaccompanied minors, citing 'unacceptable behavior' from young patrons
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Chick-fil-A is banning unchaperoned patrons under 16, citing a series of recent disruptive behavior. "We cannot allow this to continue," the restaurant wrote in a Facebook post. "As you can imagine, this is not a pleasant experience," the post states. "To those unaccompanied children and teens that have visited us and acted appropriately, we thank you," the post states. The 200-plus comments on the post are mixed between supporters cheering the restaurant for its new policy and others decrying the decision.

☆ Girl Scouts injured after man crashes Tesla into cookie stand outside a California Walmart, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A man was arrested Saturday for crashing his Tesla into a Girl Scout cookie stand outside Walmart. Authorities said he was driving under the influence, according to local outlets. Officials said the incident happened at around 3:50 p.m. Saturday, and they arrived to find a 2015 Tesla slammed into the cookie stand in front of the store, according to Fox 40. "I saw the yellow tape and I was just shocked to hear that some Girl Scouts were injured. This is a pretty low key parking lot," Granite Bay resident Ken Klinger told KCRA 3 outside of the Walmart store Saturday evening.

☆ Pizza brands like Domino's and Papa John's are struggling as Americans shy away from delivery — and attempts to lure customers back are falling short
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Domino's began offering coupons, or what they referred to as "tips," for customers who picked up their own pizzas using curbside delivery. The promotion, which debuted in February 2022, came after the company announced its first same-store sale decline in a decade. Domino's is offering carside delivery. Mary Meisenzahl/InsiderSource: Insider, Insider

☆ Amazon faces lawsuit for selling products containing donkey meat
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A new lawsuit claims Amazon is breaking California law by selling products containing donkey meat. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyThe Center for Contemporary Equine Studies is suing Amazon for selling products containing donkey meat, despite efforts from advocacy groups to halt the practice. The lawsuit claims the e-commerce giant is illegally selling products that contain "ejiao" — a gelatin made from the skin of donkeys and used in various products like health supplements — in violation of California animal welfare law. The lawsuit comes after efforts led by advocacy groups to push Amazon to drop the products through campaigns and petitions, to no avail. While competitors like Walmart and eBay have pledged to remove products containing ejiao and prohibit future sales, according to Wired, Amazon has yet to nix the products, even as pressure mounts.

☆ NYC's gaming fight heats up as Saks Fifth Avenue proposes casino at flagship, and developer pitches ferris wheel
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Saks Fifth Avenue has placed a bid to build a casino on the upper floors of its flagship store. Saks Fifth Avenue is throwing its hat in the ring for a coveted license to open one of New York City's first casinos. "The Saks Fifth Avenue flagship store is a staple of one of the most iconic streets in Manhattan," the source told Insider. "It is of particular importance to us that we continue to invest in the vibrancy and spirit of Fifth Avenue itself." A rendering of the Saks Fifth Avenue casino lobby.

☆ After wasting thousands of taxpayer dollars, one Massachusetts school finally turns off its lights — left on for over a year
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Massachusetts school finally can turn off its lights, which have been on since August 2021 due to a technical glitch. "We are very much aware this is costing taxpayers a significant amount of money," a school official told NBC. Reflex Lighting, the company contracted to fix the lights, arrived at the school this week to reprogram the faulty system and begin turning off the lights, NBC Boston reported. Part of the issue was that ownership of the software company changed several times after the initial installation, according to NBC. "And yes, there will be a remote override switch so this won't happen again," Paul Mustone, president of Reflex Lighting, told NBC.

☆ Meet Anne Wojcicki: the sister of departing YouTube CEO, Susan Wojcicki, and a self-made multimillionaire who founded the genetic testing giant 23andMe
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Avery Hartmans | Bethany Biron | Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Anne Wojcicki is the sister of Susan Wojcicki, who announced she was stepping down as YouTube's CEO on Thursday. Anne Wojcicki co-founded the genetic testing company 23andMe after a career on Wall Street. While the focus right now is on Susan Wojcicki — who announced that she was stepping back from her role as YouTube's longtime CEO on Thursday — her younger sister Anne, is a tech industry veteran in her own right. Anne Wojcicki co-founded the genetic testing company 23andMe in 2006, and took the company public in June 2021 through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company. Here's a look back at Anne Wojcicki got her start and built a genetic-testing empire.

☆ A 17-year-old Seattle high schooler is tracking more than 150 private jets' emissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Seattle teenager Akash Shendure runs Climate Jets, a website that tracks emissions of private jets. Using Sweeney's Ground Control Registration Database — which was developed to famously track Elon Musk's private jet — Shendure identifies and compiles carbon emissions from the private jets of more than 150 wealthy Americans and their families. Shendure is the latest to publicly keep tabs on the expenditure of private jets, following on the heels of Sweeney, now 20, who recently launched his own public-jet tracking database. Sweeney began tracking Musk's private jet in 2020 and created the Twitter account @ElonJet to share his findings, gaining thousands of followers and even job offers. "I don't mean any harm and that's never the intended purpose of the accounts," Sweeney told Insider in December 2022.

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