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☆ Starting today, your local Walmart will look slightly different inside during the mornings
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Haley Tenore | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Starting November 10, Walmart will have "sensory-friendly" hours between 8 and 10 a.m. at its stores. AdvertisementAdvertisementStarting today, your local Walmart will look slightly different inside during the mornings. And after "overwhelmingly positive" reception, sensory-friendly hours will now be a daily occurrence. Starting today, November 10, sensory-friendly hours will occur every day from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Sensory-friendly hours appear to be here to stay, as Walmart says there is "no planned end date." Though people with certain conditions may be the main target of sensory-friendly hours, anyone is welcome to shop.

Persons: —, Grace Mayer Organizations: Walmart, Service Locations: Puerto Rico

When Wolfe Herd took Bumble public in 2021, she became the youngest female CEO to make such a move. Before Bumble, Wolfe Herd cofounded rival dating app Tinder. Wolfe Herd is married to a Texas oil heir, has two kids, and splits time between her homes in Texas. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhitney Wolfe Herd is stepping down as CEO of dating app Bumble after nearly 10 years at the helm. Keep reading to learn more about Bumble cofounder Whitney Wolfe Herd.

Persons: Wolfe Herd, —, Whitney Wolfe, Bumble, Drena Kusari, We're, Wolfe Organizations: Service, Fast Company, Company Locations: Texas

Stover is one of the leaders who helped design two generative AI tools for GE Appliance's SmartHQ app, including the SmartHQ Assistant and a recipe-generating tool called Flavorly AI. When using Flavorly AI, users can select a breakfast, lunch, appetizer, dinner, or dessert option for generating a recipe. Stover sees generative AI continuing to change the appliance industry, by making appliances more personalized for users. He also thinks there's an opportunity for generative AI in appliances to cross over into the wellness space. "I think there are teachable moments with generative AI.

Persons: Shawn Stover, Stover, there's Organizations: SmartHome Solutions, GE, GE Appliances SmartHome, GE Appliances, GE Appliance's, Google, Consumers

AdvertisementAdvertisementWalmart employees say working with anti-theft technology at self-checkouts has led to some tense confrontations with customers. The seven former and current Walmart employees Insider interviewed had direct experience with the company's anti-theft self-checkout technology. Athenia Camacho, a former Walmart employee, detailed the process in a recent TikTok video. Walmart prohibits employees from accusing customers of stealing, even if theft is suspected, the seven people who spoke with Insider said. Another Walmart employee in Missouri said she was told to approach customer confrontations with the mindset: "Don't blame the customer.

Persons: —, they're, we're, Joe Pennington, Athenia Camacho, Camacho, Jeffrey Greenberg, SAMUEL CORUM, Dominick Haar, Patti Leroy, Leroy, Dominick Organizations: Walmart, Service, Employees, Universal, Getty, SCO Locations: Arkansas, Florida, Miami , Florida, Doral, Illinois, Missouri, AFP, Southern Illinois, Kentucky

☆ I compared drive-thrus at McDonald's and Chick-fil-A and preferred the fried-chicken chain's human touches over AI — even though it took double the time
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I visited McDonald's and Chick-fil-A to compare their drive-thru experiences. Both chains are trying to speed up their drive-thrus with order-ahead options on their apps. McDonald's is using AI voice recognition to take orders, while Chick-fil-A is humanizing its customer service with friendly fast-food workers. McDonald's has been adding AI-powered voice bots to its drive-thru lanes, while Chick-fil-A has been opening some drive-thru only locations, as the chains look to improve convenience and speed of service. I recently tested drive-thrus at Chick-fil-A and McDonald's in Overland, Kansas to see how they compared.

Persons: Chick, McDonald's Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, Overland , Kansas

☆ We met dumpster diving 14 years ago and now make up to $3,000 a month selling our trash treasures
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

They now make up to $3,000 per month from dumpster diving, and post their dives on TikTok. AdvertisementAdvertisementWe make between $2,000 and $3,000 a month selling our dumpster dive trash treasures. But it's still rare that we see somebody else dumpster diving at the spots we go to in Buffalo. When some people hear the term "dumpster diving," they sometimes picture a rat-infested dumpster covered in food, or that we're digging through household trash. We view our dumpster diving efforts, particularly selling scrap metal to scrap yards, as "carbon credits" that offset the carbon emissions from our next plane flights.

Persons: David, Erin Sheffield, David Sheffield, we're, It's, We've, Joe's, Erin, we've, — Organizations: Service, University at Buffalo, Walmart, Foods, Aldi, Body Works, Dick's Sporting Goods, Erin Sheffield Garage, eBay, Facebook, Body Locations: Wall, Silicon, Buffalo , New York, France, dumpsters, Norway, Mexico, TikTok, Buffalo

☆ Walmart's corporate employees are getting a generative AI assistant while Amazon and Apple are restricting AI in the workplace
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Grace Mayer | Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The retailer is embracing AI while other companies limit employees' use of AI in the workplace. It's one of many generative AI tools the company has already employed across to its 50,000 corporate employees. Walmart's provision of generative AI tools to its office workers is one of the ways the big box retailer seeks to integrate AI across the company. In-stores, Walmart employees can turn to an "Ask Sam" voice assistant to help them locate items. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile some major US companies are torn on whether to embrace generative AI, others are introducing AI into their businesses with caution.

Persons: Donna Morris, Emerging Technologies Cheryl Ainoa, Sweta Patel, Sam, Doug McMillon, McMillon, Goldman Sachs, Estée Lauder, ChatGPT Organizations: Walmart, Service, Apple, Samsung, New Business, Emerging Technologies, Accenture, Tech, Meta, Netflix, ChatGPT Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ McDonald's dollar menu is a myth. The chain is getting called out for not having a single item that costs $1.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Nancy Luna | Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

There's nothing close to a buck on the value menu, according to menus observed by Insider across the US. While sitting in line for a McDonald's drive-thru, Anne Arroyo, a TikToker who goes by @anna2morrow, zoomed in on the fast food chain's Dollar Menu. AdvertisementAdvertisement"McDonald's has a dollar menu right now without a single item that costs $1," she said in the video said in a video she posted. Several commenters wrote about how McDonald's dollar menu pricing was different across the country. A commenter who said they were from Florida wrote that their McDonald's dollar menu drinks cost $2.79.

Persons: McDonald's, Anne Arroyo, Arroyo, Nancy Luna, Chipotle Organizations: Service, Consumer Locations: Wall, Silicon, Niles , Ohio, McDonald's, Florida, Southern California, Orange , California

☆ Dylan Mulvaney — whose Bud Light promotion led to conservative protests — cracked a beer joke after winning a Streamy Award
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Dylan Mulvaney won the 2023 Streamy Award for Breakout Creator. The trans creator may have been referring to her Bud Light ad campaign that has been overshadowed by conservative protests. Mulvaney took home the award for breakout creator at the Sunday night award ceremony, beating out TikTok it girl Alex Earle and Jake Shane — a.k.a. Conservative critics called for a boycott of the Bud Light brand, and LGBTQ+ advocates called on Bud Light to make clear its support for the LGBTQ+ community. The Bud Light controversy may be dying down: Bud Light sales took a hit in the months following the April post, but are now showing signs of a rebound.

Persons: Dylan Mulvaney, Bud, Mulvaney, Alex Earle, Jake Shane — a.k.a, Drew Afualo, Keith Lee, she'd, there's, I'm, Bud Light, Bud Light's Organizations: Service, Bud Light Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ It's easier than ever to get a tiny home. Home Depot, Amazon, and Costco are selling kits, and some will cost you under $50,000.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

People are drawn to tiny homes for their affordability and the minimalist lifestyle they promote. Some states are even paying people to build tiny homes to alleviate the housing crisis. Here's a roundup of some retailers selling tiny homes, including Amazon, Home Depot, and Costco. Amazon, Home Depot, and Costco are selling kits on their websites that allow do-it-yourselfers to build their own tiny homes, which are usually 600 square feet or less. Here's a look at some of the tiny-home structures you can buy at Amazon, Home Depot, and Costco.

Persons: – Organizations: Amazon, Costco, Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, California , New York, Vermont

☆ Get ready to buy Shein clothes in Forever 21 stores
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Fast-fashion retailers Shein and Forever 21 are partnering up. The partnership allows Forever 21 to sell merchandise on Shein's site, and Shein products could be sold in Forever 21 stores. The partnership will allow Shein to sell Forever 21 products on its website, and Forever 21 to add Shein sections in-stores, where customers could also return Shein items. The partnership could give Forever 21 exposure to a significant number of new consumers across the US and the globe, Saunders wrote. Sparc Group, a joint venture of Authentic Brands Group and Simon Property Group, operates Forever 21.

Persons: Neil Saunders, GlobalData, Shein, Saunders, Simon, Lucky Brand, Eddie Bauer, Brooks Organizations: Service, Street Journal, U.S, Forever, Sparc, Authentic Brands, Simon Property Group, Brookfield Property Partners, Reebok, Brooks Brothers, Sparc Group Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Jeff Bezos' Fiancee Flaunts 'Loud Luxury' Vacation Style
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos' fiancee, has traded in quiet luxury for "loud luxury." Sanchez's vacation style has included vibrant colors, loud patterns, and flashy sequined ensembles. Sanchez and Bezos have been galavanting across Europe this summer aboard the Amazon founder's $500 million megayacht, and Sanchez has packed a variety of 'loud luxury' pieces. Instead of donning neutral color palettes and label-less attire, two crucial components of quiet luxury dressing, Sanchez's summer Yacht style has included an array of colorful and flashy ensembles that broadcast brand names. Another white dress she wore in Spain was entirely encrusted in pearls, writes the Daily Mail.

Persons: Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos, Sanchez, Pucci, Piana, Kendall, Louis Vuitton, logoed Chanel, Daniela Gregis, Mimi Liberté Organizations: Service, Daily Mail, Daily, GQ, Wall Street Locations: Europe, Wall, Silicon, Saint, Portofino, Ibiza, Spain

☆ French restaurants are reportedly requiring more than $5,000 minimum spend per table and refusing reservations for returning diners who didn't spend enough at their last visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Tensions over tipping and dining fees have been cropping up all year. Some French restaurants in St Tropez are asking customers for thousands of dollars for reservations. These restaurants are reportedly asking diners for over $5,000 minimum spend for a table. The mayor of St Tropez, Silvia Siri, has started to address these restaurants' practices. St. Tropez, one of the most expensive places to live in France, is also a popular vacation spot for international travelers and celebrities.

Persons: St Tropez, Silvia Siri, Tropez, Siri, Nice Organizations: Service, Nice Matin, Guardian Locations: St Tropez, Wall, Silicon, St, France, Nice

☆ Chick-fil-A launches first-ever twist on its classic chicken sandwich
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The seasonal chicken sandwich is a twist on the chain's classic chicken sandwich. The Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich will be available on August 28. The fast food chain is adding a seasonal chicken sandwich to its menu that blends sweet, savory, and spicy notes. The Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich, available in restaurants August 28, takes a hand-breaded chicken filet and pairs it with a pimento cheese spread, pickled jalapeños, and a bun drizzled with honey. "We wanted to create a standout sandwich that would deliver a unique spin for our guests, without losing the classic taste of the Original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich," Stuart Tracy, Chick-fil-A Chef and creator behind the Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich, said in a statement.

Persons: Honey Pepper, Stuart Tracy, Chick, crumbles Organizations: Service, QSR Magazine Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ This strange trend on TikTok could help bolster live-stream shopping
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A strange trend has emerged on TikTok: creators are acting as video game characters over live streams. The popularity of these live streams could have implications for TikTok's live stream shopping ambitions. While the trend manifested organically from TikTok creators, it could have implications for live-stream shopping in the US, Bloomberg reported. For retailers, TikTok live streams could be a goldmine. Read more about the TikTok live streaming trend Bloomberg reported on here.

Persons: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube hasn't, TikToker, Read Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, YouTube Locations: Wall, Silicon, TikTok

☆ Alarming video shows flash mob robbery targeting the same Nordstrom that was hit two years ago
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Over the weekend, a Nordstrom in a Los Angeles mall was a repeat target for a "flash mob" robbery. Up to $100,000 of merchandise was stolen, days after a similar robbery in the Los Angeles area. In 2021, the Nordstrom store was also the target of a flash mob robbery. The term "flash mob" has been associated with flash mob dances, but has since taken on new meaning when associated with organized burglaries conducted by large groups. The Los Angeles Police Department said the losses from the Saturday burglary at Nordstrom were estimated to be from $60,000 to $100,000 in merchandise.

Persons: Nordstrom, Yves Saint Laurent Organizations: Service, Nordstrom, KTLA, Glendale Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department Locations: Los Angeles, Wall, Silicon, Southern California, Los, Glendale, California

☆ Former McDonald's chef says the chain created its chicken sandwich to imitate Chick-fil-A's despite his protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A former McDonald's chef said he was part of a team that worked on a new chicken sandwich recipe for McDonald's. In 2021, McDonald's relaunched its chicken sandwiches, which drew comparisons to Chick-fil-A's sandwiches. A new chapter has been added to the fast-food chicken sandwich wars: A former McDonald's chef shared insight on his TikTok about how the fast-food chain reworked its fried chicken sandwich to rival Chick-fil-A's. Mike Haracz, a former McDonald's chef, said he was part of a team that developed a new chicken sandwich recipe for McDonald's a few years ago. Since McDonald's launched its new chicken sandwiches in 2021, consumers and industry experts have commented on the menu items' similarity to Chick-fil-A's sandwiches.

Persons: McDonald's, Chick, Mike Haracz, Haracz, Popeyes, Taco Bell Organizations: Service, KFC Locations: Wall, Silicon, Illinois, Burger

☆ Aritzia's mirrorless dressing rooms cause outrage online, but they seem to be a brilliant sales tactic
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

On social media, though, the biggest issue seems to be the retailer's mirrorless fitting rooms. Aritzia's communal fitting rooms are part of the brand's DNASo why make customers go through this awkwardness? The mirrorless fitting rooms go against a growing trend in retail. Eugene Gologursky/Getty ImagesAritzia's mirrorless fitting rooms go against a growing trend in retail. For Aritzia, mirrorless rooms are part of its DNA.

Persons: Aritzia, Zers, Gen Zers, Becca Bastos, Bastos, commenter, There's, Manini, Madia, Bergdorf Goodman, Eugene Gologursky, we've, Aritzia's Organizations: Service, Columbia Business School, Abercrombie, Fitch Locations: Wall, Silicon, Aritzia

☆ Your neighbors might soon know when you order toilet paper, trash bags, and other items from Amazon
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Some of Amazon's millions of orders are being delivered without extra packaging. This year, the company has delivered around 1.8 billion packages — which can add up to a lot of discarded Amazon packaging. Only items that have gone through these tests will be shipped without extra packaging, the company said. Certain items will always be shipped with additional packing, such as items that may require additional privacy, the company said. Through monitoring customer feedback on deliveries, Amazon said it will also adjust what items customers prefer to be shipped with extra packaging.

Organizations: Wall Street Journal, Service, Amazon Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Coach is the new 'cool girl' brand for Gen Z
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

After years of sluggish sales, Coach is seeing regained interest from Gen Z consumers. Gen Z increased its spending on Coach by 10% so far this year, according to a new report. According to a consumer spending report from Earnest Analytics, consumers under the age of 25 increased their spending on the Coach brand by 10% from January through June of this year. Once self-touted as "accessible luxury," Coach has since updated that message and its offerings to reinvent itself. In doing so, it hoped to tap into Gen Z and Millennial shoppers' values and re-elevate its luxury status.

Persons: Gen, Lil Nas, Earnest, Camila Mendes, Joon Silverstein, Coach's, Silverstein, Z, Todd Kahn, Nas X, Kate Spade, Stuart Weitzman, Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo, Versace Organizations: Service, Vogue Business, Business, Fashion, Capri Holdings, Capri Locations: Wall, Silicon, Riverdale, American, York

☆ I visited Walmart during its 'sensory-friendly' shopping hours and loved the calmer, less chaotic shopping environment
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Walmart is holding sensory-friendly shopping hours on Saturday mornings during back-to-school shopping season. Walmart is holding sensory-friendly shopping hours on Saturday mornings at most stores for the back-to-school shopping season. Walmart said the shopping hours are part of its efforts to create "a quieter shopping environment that's more enjoyable for customers who live with sensory disabilities." A sign at Walmart's entrance advertised the store's sensory-friendly shopping hours. I don't have a sensory disability, but I found shopping during the sensory-friendly hours a calmer experience overall.

Persons: Grace Mayer, ” Grace Mayer, Grace Meyer Organizations: Walmart, Service, Target, Starbucks Locations: Wall, Silicon, Kansas

☆ Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have 3 kids: Maxima, August, and Aurelia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have been married since 2012 and have three children. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan have been married since 2012 after meeting in college. On the day the couple announced Maxima's birth, they also unveiled their philanthropic fund, The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Zuckerberg and Chan have also found a balance between teaching their kids part of Zuckerberg's Jewish religion and Chan's Chinese heritage. At the end of the night, Zuckerberg does a bedtime prayer in Mandarin Chinese with his children, Chan told The Times.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, Zuckerberg, Aurelia, There's, —, fascinates Zuckerberg, Augustus Caesar, Newborn, Marcus Aurelius, Chan Zuckerberg, Chan, Mark Organizations: Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

☆ KFC is getting an unexpected boost from Trevor Noah's love of breakfast chicken
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

KFC's "eat fried chicken for breakfast" campaign with Trevor Noah seems to be boosting sales. The campaign, which was launched in South Africa, has lead to strong sales growth, as noted in Yum Brand's earnings call Wednesday. KFC same store sales rose 13%, adding a huge boost to Yum Brands' overall sales. Yum Brand's, which owns KFC, attributed strong sales in South Africa to a chicken campaign with comedian Trevor Noah during the company's earnings call on Wednesday. The brand recently launched chicken nuggets to expand the brand's off-the-bone offerings.

Persons: Trevor Noah, Noah, Bell Organizations: KFC, Yum Brands, Service Locations: South Africa, Wall, Silicon, China, East

☆ Bed Bath & Beyond stores are gone, but its new website and app are brimming with discounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Overstock has launched a new Bed Bath & Beyond website and app. E-commerce site Overstock — I mean, Bed Bath & Beyond — has just launched new versions of the home goods brand's website and app. And both are brimming with discounts, a staple of the Bed Bath and Beyond shopping experience. And on the Bed Bath & Beyond app, I received a 25% off welcome coupon just for downloading the app. And Bed Bath & Beyond members will receive $50 in reward points, coupons, and a membership for the company's new rewards program.

Persons: Overstock, —, Johnson Organizations: Bed, Service, CNBC, Products Locations: Wall, Silicon, Overstock's

☆ Bud Light owner laid off hundreds of US workers, following months of backlash
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Bud Light owner has faced months of lagging US sales since April. The backlash began after transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney posted a Bud Light promotion. The beer company has faced lagging sales and backlash after Bud Light's promotion with Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender influencer. The decision follows a months-long plunge in Bud Light sales. Bud Light has been embroiled in backlash since April when Mulvaney posted a Bud Light promotion on her Instagram.

Persons: Bud, influencer Dylan Mulvaney, Bud Light, Bud Light's, Dylan Mulvaney, Brendan Whitworth, —, Mulvaney Organizations: Anheuser, Busch, Wall Street Journal, Service, Privacy, Corporate, Bud Light, Modelo Especial Locations: Wall, Silicon, Mexican

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