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☆ Sarah J. Maas is the bestselling author of 2024 so far — and other romance and fantasy authors are right behind her
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Samantha Grindell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewFour months into 2024, Sarah J. Maas is having quite the year. Circana, which tracks book sales, also reported that it's currently the bestselling novel of 2024. Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty ImagesForbes reported on Wednesday that Maas has sold 3.1 million copies of her books in 2024, making her the bestselling author of the year so far. Likewise, Forbes reported that Circana data shows nine of the 10 bestselling books sold in March fell into either the romance or fantasy genres. Publisher's Weekly reported sales of Maas' books increased 86% in the 2022 fiscal year — the same period TikTok experienced massive growth.

Persons: —, Sarah J, Maas, it's, Weiss Eubanks, Getty Images Forbes, Circana, Rebecca Yarros, Yarros, Carissa Broadbent, Jennifer L, Forbes, Bloomsbury TikTok Organizations: Service, Business, The New York Times, Publisher's, Bloomsbury, Getty Images, Wings, New York Times Locations: Tor

☆ Beyoncé is sending Levi’s and Western boot sales soaring
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

All of which has apparently sent fans flocking to Levi’s for denim jeans, denim jackets and Western clothing since the album was released on March 29. Levi’s has made its own moves to capitalize on Beyoncé namechecking the brand and the extra attention it’s receiving. Angus Mordant/Bloomberg/Getty Images“Act II: Cowboy Carter” has also led to a rise in Western boot sales. Sales spiked another 45% the following week when “Texas Hold ‘Em” reached the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, Circana said. Beyoncé has also lifted Western boot sales at Calares, a women’s shoe and accessories chain, said Dana Telsey, a retail analyst at Telsey Advisory Group.

Persons: Bey, Cowboy Carter, Post Malone, Levi’s, ”, Michelle Gass, Beyoncé, Angus Mordant, Cowboy Carter ”, Circana, Taylor Swift, Beth Goldstein, Dana Telsey, Etsy, Th, CNN’s Lisa France Organizations: New, New York CNN, Bloomberg, Getty, Circana, Telsey Advisory, Billboard, Deutsche Bank Locations: New York, Pass_by, Instagram, Stockholm

☆ Beyoncé bounce: Western boot sales jump more than 20% week over week since 'Cowboy Carter' launch
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Beyonce leaves the Luar fashion show at 154 Scott in Brooklyn during New York Fashion Week on February 13, 2024 in New York City. The country fashion staple's sales surged more than 20% in the week after the music superstar released her "Cowboy Carter" album, according to consumer behavior firm Circana. "Cowboy Carter," which came out late last month, marked the "Halo" singer's foray into the country genre. Louis Vuitton unveiled an American Western line during Paris Fashion Week earlier this year, featuring models in everything from cowboy hats to bolo ties. Beyoncé's chart-topping album can provide a same-store sales boost and help lasso in women shoppers at Boot Barn , said Williams analyst Sam Poser.

Persons: Beyonce, Carter, Cowboy Carter, Circana, Louis Vuitton, Taylor Swift's, Williams, Sam Poser Organizations: Scott, New York, Paris Locations: Brooklyn, New, New York City, Beyoncé, American, California

☆ Modelo maker Constellation's upbeat forecast should send the stock to new highs
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Constellation Brands reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings Thursday, driven by strength in its beer business that more than offset continued weakness in wines and spirits. Management's upbeat forecast for fiscal year 2025 should send the stock to new all-time highs. Constellation Brands Why we own it : We like Constellation Brands for its beer franchise, which includes popular Mexican brands Modelo, Corona and Pacifico. More importantly, the sales gains in the beer business are almost entirely driven by volume gains, not higher prices. Management cited Circana channel data as evidence that its beer business outperformed the total U.S. beer category and remained the top dollar sales share gainer.

Persons: Jim Cramer's, Bill Newlands, Beer, Crawford, Meiomi, Robert Mondavi, Jim Cramer, Jim, Justin Sullivan Organizations: Constellation Brands, Modelo, Anheuser, Busch Inbev, Molson Coors, Constellation, Modelo Especial, Corona, Pacifico, Management, High, Woodbridge, Lumina, Enterprise, CNBC Locations: Corona, Pacifico, STZ, Pacific, San Rafael , California

☆ Gatorade enters new categories — even unflavored water — as competition to hydrate consumers ramps up
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

As Gatorade approaches its 60th birthday, the brand is staying spry, branching out into new categories from unflavored water to energy drink mixes. It accounted for 63.5% of the U.S. sports drink market in 2023, according to Euromonitor International data. Gatorade President Mike Del Pozzo told CNBC that the competition is good for the category overall – and shows his brand's own strength. "There's plenty of loud voices right now, trying to make a name for themselves," said Del Pozzo. And Propel's annual sales are projected to cross $1 billion for the first time this year, Del Pozzo said.

Persons: spry, There's, Jim Watson, Coke, Watson, Ramon Laguarta, influencer Logan, Mike Del Pozzo, Del Pozzo, we're, Rabobank's Watson Organizations: Gatorade, Euromonitor, Cola, Pepsi, Rabobank, Unilever, Nestle Health Science, PepsiCo, Energy, Citi Research, CNBC

☆ As cocoa prices soar this Easter, chocolatiers consider alternatives
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( John Towfighi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Cocoa prices are surging so high, the Easter Bunny might want to hoard its chocolate. Poor climate and crop diseases in West Africa – home to 70% of global cocoa production – have tightened supply and caused prices to skyrocket. As prices rise, some chocolatiers are exploring cost-cutting alternatives, like diversifying their products to depend less on cocoa. Yet mining often destroys farms and the possibility of a livelihood in cocoa production, Issaka said. “Given the persistently high cocoa prices, it may be necessary for us to make responsible adjustments to pricing in the future,” the spokesperson wrote in an email.

Persons: Hershey’s, Shaquille O’Neal, Michele Buck, Billy Roberts, Roberts, ” Roberts, Issaka, Will Kletter, Kletter, “, Peng Xu, Christopher Taylor, Li, Taylor, ”, “ We’re, “ It’s, ” Taylor Organizations: CNN, Cadbury, NCA, “ Brands, Industries, International Cocoa Organization, Rabobank, US, ”, Euromonitor Locations: West Africa, North Region, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Silicon, Washington ,, Manhattan

☆ Why the $183 billion video game industry can't quit microtransactions
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Christian Nunley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The video game industry cannot quit microtransactions. In fact, two of the largest video game companies in the United States — Electronic Arts and Take-Two Interactive — now make the overwhelming majority of their money from live-service games, subscriptions and in-game purchases, according to their recent earnings reports. Game publishers must provide updates throughout certain game life cycles to retain player attention, which is where the term "live service" comes from. Gamer backlash from the early attempts at in-game purchases caused the video game industry to shift its approach to these subscriptions and bundling purchasable content. Watch the video above to learn more about microtransactions, the backlash involved, and where the industry goes from here.

Persons: Mat Piscatella Organizations: Electronic, Gamers, Electronic Arts, Epic, Apple Locations: United States, Europe

Shop at Amazon Shop at DreoTyphur Sous Vide Station If you’ve been wanting to venture into the benefits of cooking with Sous Vide, Typhur’s Sous Vide Station incorporates all functions of sous vide cooking into one unit, with a built-in tank, scheduling functions, and step-by-step cooking instructions on a large LCD display. Shop at Amazon Shop at TramontinaAdvertisementSustainability and alternative materialsEco-friendly materials are at the forefront of home and kitchen design. Shop at Amazon Shop at UmbraFull Circle Grate Expectations Stainless Steel Coarse Grater with Food Catcher Full Circle should be on your radar for eco-friendly cleaning tools and hydration solutions. From earth tones and pastels to vibrant collections, you can coordinate your kitchen in monochrome hues, prints, and textures. Shop at Amazon Shop at Walmart Shop at TargetLuma Nugget Countertop Ice Maker We've been searching for a more affordable nugget ice maker, and this small appliance from Luma might be the one.

Persons: It's, Dreo ChefMaker Combi Fryer, you’ve, Zyliss, Joe Derochowski, Dyson, Brabantia Organizations: Business, Shop, kraft, Cork, Walmart, Everest

☆ The cocoa market is so hot that the commodity has crushed bitcoin's 150% gain in the last year
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Cocoa prices are hovering near historic highs around $8,000 per metric ton. The chocolate commodity has outperformed bitcoin in the last year, gaining more than 200%. A bad harvest and lack of investment have sent cocoa prices higher over recent months. Related storiesRoughly three-fourths of the world's cocoa, per Bloomberg, comes from four countries in West Africa: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria. Last month, chocolate giants Hershey and Cadbury both warned of potential price hikes for consumers in light of the cocoa supply shortage.

Persons: —, that's Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, Processors, Reuters, International Cocoa Organization, Hershey, Cadbury Locations: West Africa, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria

☆ Intel survived bid to halt millions in sales to China's Huawei, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"No American company, especially those receiving taxpayer funding, should be fueling its innovation," he said, referencing Intel's expected grant from the Commerce Department to expand its U.S. chip production. Republican Senator Marco Rubio called on the Biden administration to revoke Intel's license to sell to Huawei "immediately" following the Reuters report. Intel, Huawei, the Commerce Department and the White House declined to comment. Intel's share of sales of Huawei laptops containing its chips soared during the period from 52.9% to 90.7%, according to the presentation. Meanwhile, Huawei continues to rely heavily on Intel chips for its laptops, its website shows.

Persons: Patrick Gelsinger, Marco Rubio, Biden, Joe Biden, Trump, Donald Trump Organizations: Intel Corp, Intel Innovation, Intel, Huawei, Commerce Department, Republican, Reuters, AMD, Devices, White, Embassy, NPD, GfK, IRI, NIQ, U.S Locations: Intel Innovation Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan, U.S, China, Washington, United States, Beijing

☆ The ‘Sephora kid’ trend shows tweens are psyched about skincare. But their overzealous approach is raising concerns
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Tweens gravitate to Sephora and Ulta for the same reason that adult shoppers do. Carlo Allegri/ReutersThe retinol products sold in beauty products stores, she said, are for mature skin of older consumers. The beauty products chain also operates several hundred smaller format Sephora stores inside of Kohl’s department stores. Jennifer O’Brien celebrated her twin daughters’ 12th birthday at an event held at a Sephora store in Long Island, New York. Jennifer O’Brien's treated her twin daughters to a skincare event for their birthday this year at a Sephora store.

Persons: New York CNN — Tweens, skincare, ”, Lauren Penzi, gravitate, “, Stacey Tull, Tull, “ Retinol, it’s, Carlo Allegri, Penzi, she’s, Ulta, tweens, She’s, ” Penzi, Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Jennifer O’Brien, Jennifer O’Brien Ulta, O’Brien, Stanley, JC Penney, Jennifer O’Brien's, Jennifer O’Brien “, Gen Alpha, Sheryl Jorgensen Masowdi’s tween, Sheryl Jorgensen Masowdi, Masowdi Organizations: New, New York CNN, Gen Alpha, CNN, influencers, ”, Gen Locations: New York, Sephora, New York City, Missouri, Manhattan, United States, Long Island , New York

She decided to try a book she had heard about often, bell hooks’ “All About Love: New Visions." Tiffany Stewart, a writer and producer in Los Angeles, first read “All About Love” two years ago with her reading group and reread it recently. “For bell, the love she talks about is a love for justice. 'All About Love' is a love letter to justice." She responded to hooks' insistence that love was more a verb than a noun, an act of will as opposed to an abstract ideal.

Persons: Emma Goodwin, “, ”, Goodwin, Brianna Pippen, Tiffany Stewart, “ We've, William Morrow, Morrow, Rachel Kahan, George Floyd, Kahan, Gloria Jean Watkins, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Intersectionality, Shadee Malaklou, Stewart, ” Stewart, ” Doris Cooper, Cooper, Simon, Simon & Schuster, Lily Edelman, Edelman, Gold, love's, ” Edelman Organizations: —, William Morrow and Company, New York Times, Berea College, Simon & Locations: Philadelphia, Washington, D.C, Los Angeles, Berea , Kentucky, Greenwich, Monterey , California

☆ Lego revenue ticks higher in 2023, despite trade-downs and China pullback
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Lego company grew sales 2% last year, even as the global toy industry saw sales slip 7%, according to data from Circana. The pandemic-era gains that fueled exponential toy industry sales growth waned in 2023 as consumers cut discretionary spending amid rising inflationary costs and increased credit card debt. Meanwhile Denmark-based Lego posted resilient sales, with revenue reaching 65.9 billion Danish krone, or about $9.65 billion, it said Tuesday. The company saw sales jump 27% in 2021 and 17% in 2022. The toymaker's top-performing brands last year included Lego Icons, Lego Technic, Lego City, Lego Harry Potter and Lego Star Wars.

Persons: Niels Christiansen, Harry Potter, Christiansen, Lego, We're Organizations: CNBC, Lego, Lego Star, Epic Games Locations: Denmark, Lego City, China

☆ With the Oscar-nominated ‘Barbie,’ Mattel has arrived in Hollywood. What’s next for the toy company?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Elizabeth Wagmeister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Driven largely by benefits associated with the “Barbie” movie, Mattel finished last year strong with 24% fourth-quarter growth. Before the “Barbie” movie was released, the Barbie brand already had a 99% rate of global brand awareness, selling more than 100 dolls every single minute, according to Mattel. What’s next for Mattel Films? Mattel Films, which is headed by Oscar-nominated producer Robbie Brenner, faces a lot of pressure to live up to “Barbie” with its second go-around. When asked about the possibility of an R-rated film at Mattel, Kreiz says, “I wouldn’t rule out different scenarios.

Persons: CNN — Barbie, “ Barbie ”, Fisher Price, Barbie, J.J . Abrams, Vin Diesel, ”, Lena Dunham, Lily Collins, “ Barney, Daniel Kaluuya, Bob, Jennifer Lopez, Anthony Ramos, “, Matt Mason, Tom Hanks, KELLY CLARKSON, Jennifer Lopez Weiss Eubanks, Mattel, Ynon Kreiz, Kreiz, ” Kreiz, Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie’s “ Barbie ”, Chris Pizzello, Lisa McKnight, ” Barbie, “ Barbie, Robbie, Amy Schumer, Anne Hathaway, ” McKnight, Barney ’, Oscar, Robbie Brenner, Gerwig, Mark Ronson, Barney, BARNEY, “ It’s, ‘ Barbie, ’ ” Organizations: CNN, Academy, Hollywood, American, Warner Bros . Pictures, Marvel, Mattel, UNO, KELLY CLARKSON SHOW, Fox Kids Europe, Endemol, Hasbro, Universal, Sony, Mattel Films, Entertainment, Everett, haven’t Locations: Hollywood, J.J, ”, Arizona, Los Angeles, Cold

☆ Gen Z and Millennials reinvent book clubs: Even Dua Lipa has one
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —From Dua Lipa to “silent” book clubs, Millennials and Gen Z are joining book clubs as a way to socialize. Many of these book clubs are not the stodgy ones of old, however, featuring wine and crackers in a host’s living room. Themed book club events, such as queer book clubs, saw an 82% increase in attendance in 2023, according to Eventbrite, while attendance at silent book clubs increased 23%. Phelan M. Ebenhack via APEventbrite is also seeing growth in romance book clubs, dating event book clubs and evening book club running groups, such as Read & Run Chicago. Gen Z favorite Dua Lipa has a book club.

Persons: BookTok, ”, Teri Coan, Phelan M, Ebenhack, “, Ashley Petty, “ It’s, Khaled Hosseini, Sarah J, Maas, Leigh Bardugo, Colleen Hoover, Noble, Samir Hussein, ” Coan, Gen, ” Barnes Organizations: New, New York CNN, Millennials, AP Eventbrite, Chicago, Afghan, Barnes, American Booksellers Association, Amazon Locations: New York, Dua Lipa, United States, Decatur , Illinois, Lipa, American

☆ Beyond Meat launches new, healthier version of burger in bid to bring back customers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The latest iteration of the Beyond Burger, made with avocado oil and 20% less sodiumBeyond Meat is launching a new version of its plant-based burger in grocery stores this spring, betting that an even healthier version of its burgers will lure back consumers. The plant-based meat category, once buzzy, has lost consumers' interest. Retail sales of meat alternatives had fallen 33.6% compared with a year ago as of Jan. 28, according to Circana data. "For the last several years, there have been a combination of campaigns and other efforts to try to poison the well, regarding the health benefits of plant-based meat," Brown said. Critics have attacked plant-based meat from Beyond and its rivals as processed and full of chemicals.

Persons: Ethan Brown, Brown, we've, Critics, — Kate Rogers Organizations: CNBC, Stanford University School of Medicine

☆ Squishmallow and Build-a-Bear head into legal battle over ‘knock-offs’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Build-a-Bear fired back with its own legal complaint, claiming “Skoosherz” is its own version of a popular toy style. The lawsuit claims Build-A-Bear has been trying to “trick” customers with such obvious knock-offs, stealing potential customers and sales from Squishmallows. Build-A-Bear claims it has sold pre-made stuffed animals on its site and on Amazon. It claims Skoosherz designs match its original stuffed animals, such as the Strawberry Cow and Spring Green Frog. “If each aspect of the claimed trade dress were in fact protected trade dress, it would be virtually impossible for competitors to create alternative designs,” the lawsuit claimed.

Persons: Bear, “, Jazwares, Kelly Toys, Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway, Skoosherz, Kawaii, “ Squishmallows, Moez Organizations: New, New York CNN, Warren, Central, ‘, CNN Locations: New York, Squishmallow, U.S, Central District, California, Missouri, St, Louis

Kelly Toys and its Berkshire Hathaway -controlled parent company Jazwares have sued Build-A-Bear, saying its new “Skoosherz” toys copy the look and feel of their mega-popular Squishmallows products. Jazwares is seeking unspecified damages and for Build-A-Bear to stop selling Skoosherz products. It wants a declaratory judgement saying that the Squishmallow maker’s claimed trade dress rights are invalid and unenforceable. “If each aspect of the claimed trade dress were in fact protected trade dress, it would be virtually impossible for competitors to create alternative designs," Build-A-Bear added. It was the first time the plush products were offered to shareholders since Berkshire bought Alleghany in 2022 for $11.6 billion.

Persons: Kelly Toys, copycats, Moez, Kelly, Jazwares, Skoosherz, maker’s, Squishmallows, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, ” Skoosherz, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett, Charlie Munger, Josh Funk Organizations: Berkshire Hathaway, Alleghany Corp, Berkshire, Associated Locations: Squishmallows, St, Louis, U.S, California, Missouri, Omaha , Nebraska, Berkshire’s, Alleghany

☆ Consumers are stressed. It could be showing in how we bought toys in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Consumers bought fewer toys in all of 2023, including during the key Christmas toy-buying period, showing that households continue to pare back on discretionary products. But toy sales in all of 2023 dropped 8%, both in dollar terms (how much consumers paid for toys) and in unit sales (meaning how many toys consumers bought). This shows that shoppers bought fewer toys but also traded down in prices to cheaper toys. “While 2023 was a challenging year for the U.S. toy industry, the four-year compound annual growth rate remains positive,” she said. Among the toys that consumers did buy in 2023, Pokémon, Barbie and Squishmallows were the top three best-selling brands last year, according to Circana.

Persons: pare, Circana, ”, Juli Lennett, Lennett, I’ve, “, ” Lennett, ” Jon Copestake, EY, ” Copestake, ” Robby Pettinato, Joy, ” Pettinato, Toy Joy, “ Anecdotally, “ That’s, it’s, Pettinato, Barbie, Squishmallows, Price, Melissa, Doug, – CNN’s Alicia Wallace, Katie Lobosco Organizations: New, New York CNN — Consumers, Commerce Department, Hasbro, Wild, Inc, CNN, ”, Star, Marvel, Disney Locations: New York, United States, U.S, Austin

☆ Brewers like Samuel Adams and AB InBev are shifting ad dollars to non-alcoholic beer as Americans cut back on drinking
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

It's shifting dollars away from its flagship brand, Boston Lager, to the non-alcoholic category, she added. Alcohol drinkers are opting for non-alcoholic beers on more occasions, such as at lunchtime or as a "chaser" between alcoholic drinks on a night out, experts said. Better margins, newer opportunitiesWhile non-alcoholic beers still only represent a small proportion of the total amount of beer sold, brewers can sell non-alcoholic beers at a higher margin, because they are often priced at a premium and avoid excise duty. The deal, announced earlier this year and which makes AB InBev a Worldwide Olympic Partner through to Los Angeles in 2028, marks the first time a beer brand has sponsored the Games. "This is an opportunity to strengthen beer as a category and as the category of moderation," said AB InBev CMO Marcel Marcondes.

Persons: —, Samuel Adams, Samuel Adams's, Samuel Adams Samuel Adams, Lauren Price, Price, It's, Sofia Colucci, Max Verstappen, Corona, Marcel Marcondes, Alan Miles Organizations: Service, Business, Boston, Molson Coors CMO, North America, Molson Coors, Miller, Team Ferrari, Red Bull, Heineken, Corona Cero, Anheuser, Busch, InBev, Games Locations: Boston, It's, American, Los Angeles

☆ Lego is leaning into the $6.7 billion 'kidult' economy, through collabs with F1 and Pharrell, and by providing ideas for date night
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. "We are noticing a shift, but we are also driving it," Lego Chief Product and Marketing Officer Julia Goldin told Business Insider of the "kidult" trend. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Lego will be putting further efforts around its botanical range around key occasions in 2024, Goldin said. In October, Pharrell Williams biopic, "Piece by Piece," will be released to movie theaters, which will be told using Lego animation.

Persons: —, Julia Goldin, Goldin, Lego, McLaren, Ayrton Senna, Pharrell Williams, Lego Goldin Organizations: Service, Business, Lego, Petronas, BMW, Mercedes

☆ Birkenstock spooks with cautious outlook even as its sandals stay on trend
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Birkenstock sandals might be as pricey as ever, and the folksy footwear are as popular with shoppers as ever, too. Despite strong sales, the company gave a cautious outlook for 2024, saying it expects “modest headwind to impact margins.”Birkenstock shares dipped nearly 8.5% on the news Thursday. “They have really strong profitability that was really eating them during their IPO and post IPO. “Overall the brand remains healthy with strong sales growth in the fourth quarter and encouraging first-quarter trends so far. “The comfort of these sandals coincided with the casual comfort dressing trend that was already in play pre-pandemic and accelerated through it.

Persons: “, Abigail Gilmartin, Gilmartin, ”, TikTok, Beth Goldstein, Birkenstocks, Birkenstock, ” Goldstein Organizations: New, New York CNN, Bloomberg Intelligence, CNN, “ Locations: New York

☆ A top E.l.f. Beauty marketer reveals how the beauty brand uses platforms like TikTok and Roblox to develop products and drive sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Lauren Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Beauty is known for making viral, lower-priced makeup products and promoting them on platforms like TikTok and Roblox. Besides Roblox, E.l.f. According to Circana's 2023 Makeup Consumer report, Twitch is a small but growing platform for driving makeup sales. Larissa Jensen, VP and global beauty industry advisor at research firm Circana, said that TikTok is a major driver in driving makeup sales. Fifty-two percent of makeup wearers said TikTok influenced their makeup purchases compared to 45% of makeup wearers who said that Instagram influenced their makeup purchases.

Persons: Laurie Lam, Lam, Twitch, TikTok, TikTokers, Larissa Jensen, Instagram, Jennifer Coolidge, Mike White, Coolidge Organizations: longtime L'Oreal, Business, Bowl, TV Locations: E.l.f

☆ With Black Friday deals and flashy displays, retailers try to convince reluctant shoppers to spend
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

And a steady drip of Black Friday deals, started early in November at many retailers, has also delayed the rush, as some shoppers bet that the best deals are still coming. Holiday shoppers spent 7% less in dollars and 6% less in units from mid-October to mid-November compared with the year-ago period, Circana found. Mario Tama | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesBlack Friday state of mindAmong the biggest themes this holiday season: shoppers are hungry for deals and willing to wait for them. "We're going to have a sustained drumbeat of great offers for the entire holiday season, starting this week," he said on a call with CNBC. Some retailers, such as Best Buy, are trying to rush shoppers to hit the "buy" button by dangling short-term sales.

Persons: Melissa Repko, Mario, Luigi, Nintendo's, Lowe's, Marshal Cohen, Circana, " Cohen, You've, you've, Barbie, Mario Tama, John David Rainey, Rainey, Steve Madden, Edward Rosenfeld, Marvin Ellison, Ellison, Corie Barry, Macy's Organizations: CNBC, National Retail Federation, Walmart, Nordstrom, Target, Dick's Sporting, Amazon's, NPD, Consumers, Getty, nab, Footwear, Shoppers, Disney Locations: New York City, Manhattan, Dallas, Los Angeles, Burbank , California

☆ The tug-of-war is on between deal-hungry shoppers and retailers wary of giving them throw-away prices on Black Friday
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

So are the start-of-the-season deals enticing enough for shoppers or are they holding out in a cat-and-mouse game with retailers? Michael Brown, retail industry leader and partner with management consulting firm Kearney, said the much earlier-than-usual jumpstart to holiday sales this year could be to blame. Shoppers will be holding out for better deals,” he said. Kena Betancur/Getty ImagesTotal holiday sales this year are expected to come in softer compared to last year. He said there were plenty of 25% off Black Friday deals mall-wide and some deeper 40% off promotions for early-bird shoppers.

Persons: New York CNN —, Michael Brown, Kearney, ”, Brown, Emily Elconin, Marshal Cohen, ” Cohen, Barbie, Willing, they’ve, Kena Betancur, Brian Schroeder, Kendra Scott, “, Aeropostale, Aritzia, Shannon Stapleton, Marc Rosen, Rosen, ” Rosen, Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: New, New York CNN, “, Shoppers, Black, National Retail Federation, Adobe Analytics, Disney Little, Marvel, Macy's, Brookfield Properties, Brookfield Asset Management, Nike, Apple, Simon Property Group, JCPenney Locations: New York, Oaks, Michigan, New York , New York, La Cantera, San Antonio , Texas, Brookfield, Roosevelt, Garden City , New York, Penney

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