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☆ Meta Platforms gets billions from China without headaches many U.S. companies face there
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

As many American companies struggle to navigate the world's second-largest economy, Meta Platforms has found itself raking in billions of dollars from China without the direct challenges of doing business there. The influx in spending from Chinese ecommerce advertisers has been a "significant positive" for Meta, said Rohit Kulkarni, analyst at Roth MKM covering internet companies. Many American companies doing business in China have battled similar challenges as the post-Covid recovery there has progressed slower than expected. Meta has said it has a "diverse advertiser base" of Chinese companies. The concern is that as more Chinese advertisers target American consumers through Meta's platforms, that could drive up the price of ads for everyone.

Persons: Temu, Rohit Kulkarni, Roth, Meta's, Piper Sandler, Tom Champion, Estee Lauder, Meta, Susan Li, Shein, Kate Scott, Dawkins, —, Roth's Kulkarni, Piper Sandler's, they're, Josh Silverman, we're, Piper, doesn't, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Facebook Mark Zuckerberg, Kenzo Tribouillard Organizations: Club, Super, U.S, Meta, Apple, Facebook, Tencent, Holdings, Nasdaq, CNBC, Wall Street, Google, European Commission, AFP, Getty Locations: China, Ireland, Shanghai, Singapore, U.S, Meta, Brussels

☆ When my 6-year-old asked to get her ears pierced, I took her to a professional piercer. It was much safer than the way I did it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Saba Khonsari | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThis year, we took our 6-year-old to get her ears pierced. If our kids wanted them, we would take them to get their ears pierced. I got my ears pierced with a piercing gun at a mallI myself was not allowed to pierce my ears until I was 12. AdvertisementWhen my kids decided they wanted to get their ears pierced, I opted to take them to a professional piercing studio. AdvertisementNow, it's a place I go on a Monday night to get my daughter's ears pierced.

Persons: —, Merle Norman, Professional Piercers, it's, Johns Hopkins, Rachel Dawkins, piercers Organizations: Service, Business, Professional

☆ A Willy Wonka Event Ended in Disaster. From Its Ashes Rose a Budding Star.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Derrick Bryson Taylor | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

She introduced herself with the kind of bubbly energy and giddiness that only a teenager can radiate. That event, in Glasgow in late February, failed to create the dazzling experience it promised. The fallout — in true internet fashion — was swift and brutal. Organizers quickly shut down the event and promised full refunds to disgruntled families. In the aftermath, the internet latched on to one of the event’s more inexplicable characters, known only as “The Unknown,” played by Felicia.

Persons: Felicia Dawkins, Willy Wonka, ”, Felicia . Organizations: Organizers Locations: Scotland, Glasgow

☆ Atheists are still reluctant to ‘come out’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Harmeet Kaur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Just like people of faith, not all atheists believe the same things. Because atheists are defined by what they don’t believe, it’s difficult to generalize what they do believe. What do atheists believe? Nearly a third of atheists believe humans have souls or spirits in addition to their physical body. It's hard to talk about atheists as a large group because they're defined by what they don't believe in.

Persons: CNN —, Ron DeSantis, it’s, “, Ricky Gervais, ‘, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Nick Fish, ” Fish, don’t, ”, Jason Lancaster, Diana Nyad, Oprah, Will Gervais, Maxine B, Najle, Gervais, ” It’s, —, I’m, Jocelyn Williamson, doesn’t, ” Williamson, “ There’s, Williamson, They’re, Fish Organizations: CNN, Florida Gov, Gallup, Merriam, American Atheists, Pew Research, Getty, Pew, Central, Central Florida Freethought, Central Florida Freethought Community, ” Atheists, Interfaith Council of Central, Christian, Habitat, Humanity Locations: Florida, Central Florida, Interfaith Council of Central Florida

☆ I shopped like Gen Z and saved $456 on dupes I found at Five Below
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Gabbi Shaw | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The discount store Five Below is known for its "dupes" or duplicates of high-end products. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Its cheap products align with the dupe culture that's popular among Gen Z. Dupes — short for the word "duplicates" — look like high-end products but have much lower price tags. As Business Insider's Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins put it, Gen Z "prefers knockoffs more than other generations" and is obsessed with getting things at a bargain. I'm technically a Zillennial — falling between millennials and Gen Z — so I took inspiration from younger shoppers on a recent visit to Five Below.

Persons: —, Z, Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins, I'm Organizations: Service, — Locations: Pennsylvania, millennials

☆ I'm a Canadian who's lived in NYC and Toronto. Quality of life is better in Canada, but I still prefer the US.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Anna Haines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

After eight years of living between New York City and Toronto, I find the quality of living is better in Canada. And yet, as a Canadian, I still prefer living in the US — particularly New York City — over my home country. I think Americans are friendlier than CanadiansThe stereotype is that Canadians are nice, and I think that does hold true. In my experience traveling across the US and meeting Americans abroad, Americans are often chattier than Canadians. Americans love pop culture, and so do II think pop culture is way more exciting in the US than in Canada.

Persons: doesn't, Ryan Gosling, Matthew Perry, Karwai Tang, There's, I've, it's, Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins, — Organizations: Apple TV, Netflix, Farm, Foods, Costco, Aldi, Target, Nordstrom Locations: New York City, Toronto, Canada, Peacock, bodega

☆ JCPenney has become TikTokers' unlikely beauty obsession
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

JCPenney has replaced its Sephora shops with JCPenney Beauty sections. JCPenney's revamped beauty department has become a destination for finding beauty brands TikTokers can't get at other beauty stores. Last summer, the retailer launched KimChi Chic Beauty in more than 600 stores, beauty trade publication Happi reported. JCPenney replaced Sephora shops with JCPenney Beauty. Beauty retailer Ulta hit $2.5 billion in net sales last quarter, an increase of more than 6%.

Persons: —, JC, Kailey, JCPenney, JCPenney's, Adam Ryan, Alexis Androulakis, @thelipsticklesbians, y’all, @JCPenney, ike, orth, Penney Organizations: JCPenney, Service, JC Penney, Sephora, Black, Black Enterprise, Alpha Locations: JCPenney, Staten Island

☆ Shein and Temu use a loophole to ship millions of packages to the US tax-free. Here's why the tax rule faces increased scrutiny.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The other bill, from Sen. Bill Cassidy and Sen. Tammy Baldwin, would ban de minimis shipments from China. The provision is more likely to change — a prospect that both Shein and Temu have said they support. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/InsiderShipping consultancy ShipMatrix estimates that Shein and Temu each ship more than a million packages to the US daily. It added that almost 50% of all de minimis shipments to the US come from China. Related stories"Changes to the exemption could create a paradigm shift for retailers like Temu and Shein," Bank of America analysts wrote in the note.

Persons: minimis, Earl Blumenauer, Russia —, Bill Cassidy, Sen, Tammy Baldwin, Cassidy, Baldwin, Jay Sole, It's, Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins, Shein's, Temu, Shein, Donald Tang, SHEIN, de minimis, they've, Steve Story, Sole, Satish Jindel, ShipMatrix, Jindel Organizations: Business, Customs, Rep, Bank of America, US Chamber of Commerce, Express, UBS, Pinduoduo Holdings, Goods, Shipping, Chinese Communist Party, China . Shipping, Wired, Shein, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Apex Logistics International, Walmart Locations: Xinjiang, China, Russia, Sen, Singapore, Boston, minimis, United States, mstone@insider.com

☆ I went to 3 Gap stores in New York City and saw firsthand why the 'tired' company needs a revamp
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Once known as a staple American mall brand, Gap lost its relevance among consumers who traded shopping centers for e-commerce. "Gap brand, as you know, has tremendous heritage as a pop culture brand," Dickson told investors. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderGap's design team is playing it too safe for today's competitive market. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderOn that note, Gap could be doing a lot more to market to younger generations. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderBriggs suggests brands like Gap go where their younger customers spend much of their time: TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.

Persons: —, Richard Dickson, Dickson, Ellyn Briggs, Barbie, Neil Saunders, Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins, Briggs, Gen Zers, Gen, Gen Z, Piper Sandler's Organizations: Service, Mattel, Morning, New York City, Grand Central, Free, Nike, Alpha, Teens, Times, YouTube Locations: New York City, New York, Grand

☆ Costco and Sam's Club shoppers are rushing to buy a $150 dupe of an Anthropologie mirror that costs $1,200
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewSome shoppers are rushing to their local Costco and Sam's Club to snag a dupe of a pricey floor-length Anthropologie mirror. The Costco mirror is making its rounds through the regions and it was worth the wait!!!" While some commenters talked about getting their hands on the Costco dupe, others said they preferred a dupe from Sam's Club. The Sam's Club version is 72 inches tall and 36 inches wide with a gold frame. Sam's Club.

Persons: —, @costconew, @costcohotfinds, Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins, Gen Z, Stanley Quencher, Quenchers Organizations: Service, Costco, Sam's, Business, Sam's Club, Stanley Consumers

☆ Elon Musk is about to find out if ultimatums really work
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In today's big story, we're looking at the ultimatum Elon Musk gave Tesla's board amid a critical time for the company. The big storyElon's ultimatumREUTERS/Steve NesiusUltimatums rarely work in relationships, but what about between CEOs and the massive companies they run? Elon Musk is about to find out. Musk, who has roughly a 13% stake in the EV maker, said if his request isn't met, he'll "prefer to build products outside of Tesla." Meanwhile, Ross Gerber, a longtime Tesla bull, said it's "absurd" to think Musk doesn't already have control over Tesla and described his request as "blackmailing the Tesla shareholders."

Persons: —, Antony Blinken, Elon Musk, Steve Nesius Ultimatums, Elon, isn't, didn't, Wedbush's Dan Ives, Musk's, Ross Gerber, Tesla, Dow Jones, George Glover, That's, cowering, Caspar Benson, Jamie Dimon, dory, Trump, Ray Dalio, Biden, Evan Spiegel's, Hokyoung Kim, They've, Kristen Stewart, Christopher Nolan, Maite Alberdi, Celine Song, Eugene Lee Yang, Dave Bautista, Kevin Costner, Estelle, AA Milne, Jay Chou, Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins Organizations: Service, Boeing, Business, Tesla, EV, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Getty, Intellia Therapeutics, Shoals Technologies, JPMorgan, Biden, Bridgewater Associates, Trump, Alliance, Helicopter, BI, Sundance, Northern Trust Locations: Switzerland, Tesla, Northern

☆ Here's why women's sweaters are more expensive than men's sweaters
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Women's sweaters can be more expensive than men's sweaters. Brands often add synthetic fibers to women's sweaters to make them less expensive. For example, while browsing Nordstrom's site she noticed a women's sweater and a men's sweater from the same brand priced at $170. Business Insider spoke to experts to understand why women's sweaters can be more expensive than men's sweaters. For example, men's wool sweaters had an average tariff rate of 13.6%, while women's wool sweaters had an average tariff rate of 14.9%.

Persons: —, Emily Bello, Bello, doesn't, Sheng Lu, Lu, Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins, it's, Fran Kozen, Kozen, Crew Organizations: Brands, Service, Chicago, Business, University of Delaware, US Department of Commerce, US International Trade Commission, Abercrombie, Companies, Cornell University Locations: Mexico, Canada

☆ I'm a millennial who visited Abercrombie to see firsthand why my generation is falling back in love with the brand and helping boost sales
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | Mary Hanbury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Wooden blinds covered the windows, and the store was so dimly lit that you could barely see what was inside. Under the leadership of Fran Horowitz, who's been the brand's CEO since 2017, Abercrombie has undergone drastic changes. AdvertisementIn January, Abercrombie increased its fourth-quarter sales and its 2023 outlook. I've visited Abercrombie and Fitch stores to see why millennials have fallen back in love with the clothing brand.

Persons: —, Fitch, Abercrombie, millennials, Fran Horowitz, who's, Neil Saunders, Horowitz, I've, Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins Organizations: Service, Abercrombie, Business, GlobalData, Revenues, Nvidia, Fitch Locations: cologne

☆ Substack takes a halfsies approach to banning Nazis
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. In December 2023, The Atlantic reported that it had seen a handful of Nazi-affiliated or white supremacist blogs on the platform, some of them with paying subscribers. Last week, Newton wrote in the newsletter that he was meeting with Substack to discuss the issue and was considering taking his popular newsletter to another service if Substack wouldn't budge. AdvertisementNewton and Schiffer flexing their power worked: Substack is removing five out of the 14-plus newsletters with Nazi or white supremacist content. But Substack will continue to remove any material that includes "credible threats of physical harm," it said.

Persons: —, Hamish McKenzie, Casey Newton, Zoë Schiffer, Newton, Substack, Schiffer, it's, Hitler, Bari Weiss, Richard Dawkins Organizations: Service, Nazi, Business

☆ I visited American Eagle's NYC concept store, which showcases lesser-known brands like Aerie, Offline, and AE77 jeans. Now I get why the company is drawing in teens and moms alike.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-06 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I visited The Gateway, AEO's concept store that houses six of its brands. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementIf there's one major clothing store that successfully caters to both daughters and their mothers, it's American Eagle. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: AEO, — Organizations: Eagle Outfitters, Service, Business

☆ 6 retail brands ready for a comeback in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-29 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Business Insider asked analysts what brands have the most potential for turnaround in 2024. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. "To reach new younger audiences, they've all struck a really good balance of nostalgia and novelty," Morning Consult analyst Ellyn Briggs told Business Insider. Business Insider asked analysts what brands have the most potential for turnaround and how each company can win over customers. AdvertisementHere are six brands ready for reinvention in 2024.

Persons: —, Abercrombie, Ellyn Briggs, Dana Telsey, Neil Saunders Organizations: Business, Body, Service, Abercrombie, Telsey Advisory, GlobalData, BI Locations: Bath

☆ I shopped at Banana Republic and J. Crew to see which was having more success transforming its brand and winning over shoppers. The winner was clear.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Banana Republic and J. Crew are brands from a bygone era when safari cargo dresses and jewel-adorned oxfords were smart, chic office wear. Gap Inc. , which owns Banana Republic, has struggled to revive its appeal over the years. Banana Republic's third-quarter sales of $460 million were down 11% year-over-year, and its same-store sales were down 8%. For Banana Republic, that means improving clothing quality and elevating its aesthetic to become a quiet luxury brand .

Persons: —, Richard Dickson, Jenna Lyons, Libby Wadle, I'm Organizations: Service, Inc, Banana Republic, New York Times, Times

☆ The life and career of Jenna Lyons, Real Housewife and former J. Crew executive
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | Haley Tenore | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Jenna Lyons began her career at J.Crew in 1990 and climbed the ranks to become creative director. Lyons is the first openly gay woman to star on Real Housewives of New York. The fashion designer and executive played a major role in reviving the preppy apparel brand J.Crew in the 2010s. She's moved on to other endeavors, including a fake lash business and joining the cast of Real Housewives of New York City. Here's everything we know about Lyons' life and career as a fashion designer and former creative director of J.

Persons: Jenna Lyons, Lyons, —, She's, J Organizations: J.Crew, Real Housewives, New, Service, J Locations: New York, New York City

☆ I shopped at Banana Republic and J. Crew to see how their transformation is going. One was much more fun to shop.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Persons: —, Richard Dickson, Jenna Lyons, Libby Wadle, I'm Organizations: Service, Inc, Banana Republic, New York Times, Times

☆ This snail serum helped Amazon reach record early holiday sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A serum made with snail mucus was one of the best-selling products on Amazon. Snail mucin has gained popularity on TikTok as a skincare product. And a serum made with snail mucus helped the retail giant make record sales this month. AdvertisementCOSRX sells a bottle of snail mucin on Amazon. Today, the snail skincare business is worth an estimated $4 billion, Business Insider previously reported.

Persons: — Organizations: Amazon, Service, Black, Korean, Business Locations: Korean

☆ TJ Maxx and other discount retailers could be the big winners in an otherwise bleak holiday shopping season
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Many retailers are bracing for a bleak holiday shopping season. AdvertisementShoppers are finally feeling the weight of inflation and many retailers are bracing for a bleak holiday season . The trade association said this year's outlook has returned to pre-pandemic levels, with an average annual holiday increase of 3.6% from 2010 to 2019. AdvertisementAnalysts say the positive same-store sales from quarter to quarter suggest that the off-price retailers are gaining market share. TJX stores, which include TJ Maxx and Marshalls, have become increasingly valuable for brands to supply to.

Persons: —, Rebecca Duval, Nordstrom, Ross, Bernstein, Aneesha Sherman, TJ, Simeon Siegel Organizations: Service, National Retail Federation, Fashion, Department, Nordstrom, TJX Companies, Burlington, Analysts, Yahoo Finance, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, BMO Capital Markets Locations: Ross, Burlington

☆ We ranked the best holiday store windows on Fifth Avenue. See the winners.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Fifth Avenue is known for its elaborate store windows during the holiday season. We ranked the best windows based on how creative, festive, and elaborate they were. Retailers began investing in holiday window displays in the late 19th century to attract shoppers during the year's busiest shopping season . Macy's is credited as the first department store to decorate its windows — at its previous 14th Street outpost between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Business Insider took a stroll along Fifth Avenue to see the holiday windows and ranked each store based on how creative, festive, and elaborate they were.

Persons: —, Macy's, Frank Baum, Oz, Taylor, Lucie Levine, Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol Organizations: Service, York, New York Times, Retailers, Sixth, New Yorkers Locations: Fifth, New York, Chicago

☆ Sephora is embracing the most annoying anti-theft policy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Stores will display testers on its shelves, but customers must ask an employee for a bottle to purchase. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Sephora began implementing this strategy in the summer to reduce retail theft , according to a statement to CNN. But locking up merchandise can alienate customers, Business Insider previously reported . When Target closed nine locations this fall, the company blamed retail theft.

Persons: —, Sephora Organizations: Service, CNN, Business, CVS, -, Walmart, Target Locations: Manhattan's

☆ Gap's new CEO thinks he can make Banana Republic a 'quiet luxury' destination
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

He wants to turn Banana Republic into a quiet luxury brand. AdvertisementGap's new CEO wants to transform its Banana Republic brand into the next destination for quiet luxury. Dickson's plan to reverse this downward trend includes turning Banana Republic into a quiet luxury brand by elevating its aesthetic and product offerings. "We think Banana Republic has an opportunity to thrive in the quiet luxury space," Dickson said. Quiet luxury clothing and accessories are devoid of logos or prominent branding and typically come in neutral or muted colors.

Persons: Richard Dickson, —, Dickson, Loro Piana Organizations: Service, Republic, Mattel, Navy, Inc, Banana Republic Locations: Banana, Banana Republic

☆ It's time for retailers to stop blaming theft for so many of their problems
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Shrink includes customer theft, but it also accounts lost or destroyed inventory and employee theft, to name a couple of other examples. But companies such as Target and Walgreens have cumulatively reported billions of dollars in losses from theft by citing shrink numbers. Often, company executives use "shrink" and "theft" interchangeably, while providing no breakdown of how much of their shrink is attributable to theft. Retailers could be pointing to theft to prompt government action or distract from operational issuesIf so many elements contribute to shrink, then why are some retailers pointing to theft only? Do you work at a major retail store such as Walmart and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, Matthew Schroeder, Melodie van der, William Blair, Gillian Flaccus, der Baan, van der Baan, Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins, Blair Organizations: Service, Target, Walgreens, Aid, Home Depot, Max Retail, National Retail Federation, Walmart, AP Locations: Harlem , New York, Manhattan , New York

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