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☆ I always dreamed of working at Disney World. But after 3 months in the parks, I was ready to quit.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Jordyn Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

I quit after working at Disney World for three months through the Disney College Program. AdvertisementIt was always my dream to work at Disney World, and in 2019, it came true when I was hired through the Disney College Program. Most of the College Program employees were reallocated to other parts of the Disney property, even though Epcot's next festival was starting soon. Even though I only had about a month left in my College Program, I quit after a couple of days of training at Magic Kingdom. It's taken me some time to neutralize my feelings toward DisneyMy feelings toward Disney World have shifted a lot since I started working there.

Persons: —, Jordyn Bradley, Epcot's, It's, I've, I'm Organizations: Disney, Disney College Program, Service, Epcot, Wine, College Program, Magic Kingdom, Program Locations: Florida, Michigan

☆ My dad died when I was 14. I'm jealous of all the people who got to spend more time with him.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jordyn Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

My dad adopted me when I was 4, but to me he was always my father. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. My dad adopted me on April 27, 2004, when I was 4. But one of the things they don't teach in the Dead Dad Club™ is that as kids of deceased parents, we have to deal with the fact that we might not have been around for the majority of these memories. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: —, He's, ™ Organizations: Service, Dad, Business

☆ Walmart Is Shutting Health Centers After Plan to Expand
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Jordyn Holman | More About Jordyn Holman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, said Tuesday that it was shutting down its health care centers, a network that only last year it said it planned to expand. The retailer said in a blog post that its 51 health centers would close. The plans won’t affect the more than 4,600 pharmacies and more than 3,000 vision centers within Walmart stores. Walmart started the health-care clinic initiative in 2019 in Dallas, Ga., with centers providing primary care, labs, X-rays and electrocardiograms, counseling, and dental, optical and hearing services. In 2021, Walmart started offering a virtual option when it acquired MeMD, a telehealth provider.

Organizations: Walmart Locations: Dallas ,

☆ How Supplement Stores Are Trying to Tap Into the Ozempic Boom
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Jordyn Holman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

As diabetes and weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy took off in the last few years, many people turned away from established diet and nutrition products. Now, two retailers that specialize in nutritional supplements — GNC and the Vitamin Shoppe — are trying new approaches to win over people who are taking those drugs or who are interested in them. GNC is dedicating a wall of supplements in its more than 2,300 stores to products that it believes will appeal to people on Ozempic, which contains the compound semaglutide, and other drugs that are known as GLP-1 medicines. The chain is also training workers to help customers assess which substances could help them manage common side effects of those prescription drugs. Michael Costello, chief executive of GNC, said his company saw a “big opening” in helping individuals taking such drugs for weight loss.

Persons: Wegovy, Michael Costello

☆ ‘Pay Later’ Lenders Have an Issue With Credit Bureaus
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Jordyn Holman | Ben Casselman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Shoppers in recent years have embraced “buy now, pay later” loans as an easy, interest-free way to purchase everything from sweaters to concert tickets. The loans typically are not reported on consumers’ credit reports, however, or reflected in their credit scores. So in February, when Apple announced it would start reporting loans made through its Apple Pay Later program to Experian, one of the three major U.S. credit bureaus, it looked like a watershed moment for the fast-growing “buy now, pay later” category. But none of the other major pay-later providers have followed Apple’s lead. And while credit bureaus and lenders say they are interested in finding a way to work together, the gulf between the two sides remains wide — so much so that some pay-later firms are exploring creating an alternative credit bureau to handle their loans.

Organizations: Apple

The Federal Trade Commission on Monday sued to block Tapestry’s $8.5 billion acquisition of Capri, a blockbuster fashion tie-up that would bring together Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors and Versace. The lawsuit is a rare move by the agency to block a fashion deal, given that the industry does not suffer from a lack of competition. In her time as the chair of the F.T.C., Lina Khan has prioritized taking on the power of big business in suits across industries. The agency has moved to block the supermarket merger between Kroger and Albertsons; Meta’s acquisition of the virtual reality start-up Within; and Microsoft’s bid for the gaming giant Activision. failed to block Microsoft’s deal and Meta’s acquisition, both of which closed last year.

Persons: Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Versace, Lina Khan, ” Henry Liu, ” Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Kroger, Albertsons, Activision, “, Competition Locations: Capri, ’

☆ I love Amazon Prime a bit too much — but my one shopping rule has helped me save money
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Jordyn Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementI've spent a lot of money and time on Amazon Prime. And I know it's not just me — Amazon is the second biggest retailer in the world, and three out of four Americans use Amazon Prime. I like that this strategy lets me shop and get some instant gratification while also setting limits that help me cut down on unnecessary purchases I'll regret later. But, again, with my new rule, if nothing in my cart will ship within one day, it all gets taken out. This cuts many of my unnecessary purchases because most things I consider buying have standard Prime two-day shipping.

Persons: —, I've, I'm, Spencer Platt, it's Organizations: Service, Amazon

☆ Becca Speak: A surfing injury left her speechless. Now, this pro surfer is raising awareness of head injury.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“I didn’t really know what was happening. Romero has her own experience with head injuries, after sustaining a TBI snowboarding while she was in high school. It was a pretty serious brain injury,” she told CNN Sport. Romero and co-director Anna Wilder Burns wanted to use Speak’s story to raise awareness of the impact of brain injuries. Throughout her treatment, Speak realized she had been living with the effects of her untreated head injuries for most of her adult life.

Persons: Becca Speak, ’ …, ”, she’s, Jordyn Romero, Romero, “, –, Anna Wilder Burns, Burns, ’ ” Burns, I’ve, ” “ Organizations: CNN, Billabong, CNN Sport, US Centers for Disease Control, CDC, Nature

☆ Will A.I. Boost Productivity? Companies Sure Hope So.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Jordyn Holman | Jeanna Smialek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Rapid productivity improvement is the dream for both companies and economic policymakers. If output per hour holds steady, firms must either sacrifice profits or raise prices to pay for wage increases or investment projects. Economies experiencing productivity booms can experience rapid wage gains and quick growth without as much risk of rapid inflation. — especially generative A.I., which is still in its infancy — has spread enough to show up in productivity data already. “may” have the potential to increase productivity growth, “but probably not in the short run.” John C. Williams, president of the New York Fed, has made similar remarks, specifically citing the work of the Northwestern University economist Robert Gordon.

Persons: Jerome H, Powell, ” John C, Williams, Robert Gordon Organizations: Ben, Abercrombie, Fitch’s, Federal Reserve, New York Fed, Northwestern University

☆ Now Featured at Beauty Stores: Teens Driven by Social Media
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Jordyn Holman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Impelled in large part by TikTok to seek beauty products meant for adults, younger customers — teenagers and even preadolescents — are proving to be a mixed blessing for retailers like Sephora and Ulta. Retail analysts say that as the beauty stores attract a new generation of shoppers, they will need to make sure that the experience remains fulfilling for their older, core customers — including some who may not enjoy stores full of tweens and teens. “So much of luxury and prestige is the experience,” said Simeon Siegel, a retail analyst at BMO Capital Markets. “Making an adult feel special is very different than making a college student feel special, which is dramatically different than making a tween feel special. The survey found that teenage respondents spent 23 percent more on cosmetics, skin care and fragrance in 2023 than the year before.

Persons: TikTok, ”, Simeon Siegel, Piper Sandler Organizations: Retail, BMO Capital Markets, Ulta Locations: United States

☆ Walmart Wants to Teach Store Managers Compassion
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Jordyn Holman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

On a stormy afternoon in Bentonville, Ark., a Walmart regional manager recounted a story about a moment when his humanity came up short. He was 24-year-old store manager anxiously trying to get his workers to set up Halloween merchandise displays. Instead, the workers were gathered around the televisions in the electronics department. He didn’t fully understand what was happening until a worker tearfully laid into him, explaining that she had relatives in New York City. “I didn’t take a minute to survey the room to understand the ramifications of my words and my actions,” the former store manager, David Seymore, now a regional vice president at Walmart, told his listeners.

Persons: ”, David Seymore, “ Organizations: Walmart Locations: Bentonville, Ark, New York City

☆ I've been to Disney World over 60 times. There's always something new and exciting, but I return to these 6 favorites every trip.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Jordyn Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I've been to Disney World over 60 times, and I even worked at the theme parks. Every time I'm back, I get to the parks early and ride my favorite Disney attractions. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAs someone who grew up going to Disney World — and even went on to work there for a bit — I've experienced quite a lot of what the parks and resorts have to offer. Here's what I do on every Disney World trip, without fail.

Persons: I've, — Organizations: Disney, Service

☆ Activist Investor’s Group Raises Bid for Macy’s
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Lauren Hirsch | Jordyn Holman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The activist investor group that is seeking to buy Macy’s increased the pressure on the department store chain on Sunday, raising its offer and disclosing additional details about its financing plans. Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital Management said in a news release that they were now offering $24 per share, valuing the retailer at $6.6 billion. The new offer is up from the $21 a share they last put forward and a 33.3 percent premium to Macy’s closing share price of at $18.01 on Friday. Arkhouse and Brigade named additional investors they had brought on as equity partners, Fortress Investment Group and One Investment Management. The investor has since nominated nine people to Macy’s board.

Persons: Arkhouse Organizations: Arkhouse Management, Brigade Capital Management, Brigade, Fortress Investment Group, One Investment Management Locations: Macy’s

☆ Macy’s Will Close 150 Stores but Expand Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Jordyn Holman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Macy’s said on Tuesday that it would vastly reshape its strategy and retail footprint, closing about 150 Macy’s stores over the next three years while expanding its upscale Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury chains. The moves put the stamp of the company’s new chief executive, Tony Spring, on an effort to keep the largest department store operator in the United States profitable and stave off a pending takeover bid. It is the second major downsizing of the Macy’s chain since 2020 and will leave the company with 350 stores, slightly more than half the number it had before the pandemic. The overhaul is intended to “accelerate our path to market share gains, sustainable, profitable growth and value creation for our shareholders,” Mr. Spring, who took over this month, said in a statement.

Persons: Macy’s, Tony Spring, ” Mr Locations: United States

☆ Levi’s Wants You to Rethink Your Denim Shopping
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Jordyn Holman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In the Levi’s store on Market Street in San Francisco, the denim maker’s newly extended collection is on full display. Black denim overalls are paired with a light-blue long-sleeve denim blouse, complemented by a denim cap. The assortment of tops, which Levi’s has been producing at a faster rate than it has in the past, was equal to the store’s inventory of jeans. Ms. Gass, 55, wants to make Levi’s not only a brand you think of when you want jeans, but also a place you go to first when shopping for shirts, jumpsuits and puffer jackets. Her goal is to get customers back more often — since people usually buy tops more frequently than bottoms — and to bring them to Levi’s stores, its website and its mobile app.

Persons: jean, ” Michelle Gass, Levi Strauss, Levi’s, Gass’s, Gass Organizations: Levi Strauss & Company Locations: San Francisco

☆ Walmart Reports Rising Holiday Sales as Shoppers Seek Value
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Jordyn Holman | More About Jordyn Holman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The NumbersWalmart said its comparable store sales were up 4 percent in the three months that ended in late January compared with the year before. In addition to its same-store sales, Walmart said its U.S. e-commerce business increased 17 percent. At the same time, many retailers, including Walmart, focused on value last year as the economy cooled and shoppers became more selective. The Road AheadAnalysts expect retail sales to continue to moderate this year after a surge in consumer spending during the early stages of the pandemic. U.S. retail sales fell 0.8 percent in January from a month earlier, according to data released from the Commerce Department last week.

Persons: John David Rainey Organizations: Walmart, Target, Kroger, National Retail Federation, Analysts, Commerce Department Locations: U.S

☆ Gypsy Rose Blanchard was a victim of Munchausen by proxy. Experts explain why moms are often behind the abuse.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Munchausen syndrome by proxy, also known as fabricated or induced illness (FII), is a form of child abuse that grabbed headlines late last year following the release of Gypsy Rose Blanchard from prison. Blanchard served eight years after being convicted for her role in the murder of her mother, Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard. "I just wanted out of my situation, and I thought that was the only way out," Gypsy Rose Blanchard said in an interview on Good Morning America following her release. Gypsy Rose Blanchard attends "The Prison Confessions Of Gypsy Rose Blanchard" Red Carpet Event on January 05, 2024 in New York City. Dee Dee Blanchard and Gypsy Rose Blanchard.

Persons: —, Rose Blanchard, Blanchard, Dee Dee, Jamie McCarthy Hope, Hope, Beatrice Yorker, Marc Feldman, Andrea Dunlop, Dunlop, Rod Blanchard, Dee Dee's, Dee Dee Blanchard, Gypsy Rose Blanchard, Feldman, Emma Milne Organizations: National Health Service, Service, America, Business, National Library of Medicine, California State University, Los Angeles's College of Health, BuzzFeed, University of Durham Locations: New York City

☆ Inside New York Fashion Week where subtle luxury still reigns supreme
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Amanda Krause | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Quiet luxury was everywhere at Badgley Mischka's runway show during New York Fashion Week. A model walks the Badgley Mischka runway during New York Fashion Week. Advertisement"I'm always quiet luxury," she said while pointing to her Cartier glasses, which were a gift from her daughter Jordyn. Elizabeth Woods attends the Badgley Mischka runway show during New York Fashion Week. "I'm from Connecticut, where quiet luxury is the thing, so I just see so much that I'm over it."

Persons: —, Badgley Mischka, Kelly Rutherford, Jonathan Cheban, Adrienne Bailon, Houghton, Rian, Mark Badgley, James Mischka —, it's, Amanda Krause, Daisy Marquez, Elizabeth Woods, Jordyn Woods, doesn't, Cartier, Jordyn, Hailey Bieber's, Thomaï, You've, Gen, Sofia Richie, Jeremy Moeller, Molly Farrell, Savage, Eva Marcille, Marcille Organizations: New York, Service, Starrett, Lehigh, York, NYU's Stern School of Business, Housewives, Atlanta Locations: New, New York City, Rhode, I'm, Connecticut

☆ Dual Mission for Macy’s New Chief: Revive Stores and Fend Off Takeover
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Jordyn Holman | Lauren Hirsch | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As he prepares to take the reins as Macy’s chief executive on Sunday, Tony Spring has a tall order: He must contend with the existential crisis that mall-based department stores are facing to try to stay relevant in an increasingly e-commerce world. In December, an investor group submitted a bid that would take Macy’s private at a value of $5.8 billion. Mr. Spring, 58, has spent his career at Macy’s high-end store group, Bloomingdale’s. He started as an executive trainee in 1987 and rose through the ranks to become chief executive in 2014. He turned the chain into a “scrappy incubator” for ideas that were eventually brought over to Macy’s stores.

Persons: Tony Spring Organizations: Arkhouse Management, Brigade Capital Management

☆ Walmart Offers Store Managers Company Stock to Make Them Feel Like ‘Owners’
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jordyn Holman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, is raising salaries and benefits for store managers as it looks for ways to retain them. Walmart said on Monday that managers of its U.S. stores would be eligible for grants of up to $20,000 in company stock every year. The announcement came a few weeks after Walmart said it would increase the average salary for store managers to $128,000, up from $117,000. The big-box retailer also said bonuses for store managers could reach up to 200 percent of base salary, with a store’s profitability becoming a bigger factor in the calculation. Store managers are crucial in driving sales and profitability within their stores and keeping morale high in a dynamic business.

Organizations: Walmart

Hobby shops, though, remain the core of the card world, and shopkeepers are adjusting to Fanatics in different ways. Lately, he said, Panini, not Fanatics, has issued more cards that have been a hit with his customers. “Panini could have rolled over when Fanatics came in, but they care about the stores, the public,” he said. In the interim, Fanatics has issued cards with Mr. Wembanyama in street clothes, while Panini has issued unsigned Wembanyama cards. Mr. Calvanico added that Fanatics hadn’t provided enough information about its upcoming releases, which makes it hard for him to gauge customer demand.

Persons: Mike Calvanico, Panini, ”, “, haven’t, Victor Wembanyama, Calvanico, hadn’t, We’re Organizations: Panini, Topps, San Antonio Spurs Locations: Lyndhurst , N.J

☆ 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

☆ Where Textile Mills Thrived, Remnants Battle for Survival
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Jordyn Holman | Audra Melton | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

In his 40-year career, William Lucas has seen nearly every step in the erosion of the American garment industry. As general manager of Eagle Sportswear, a company in Middlesex, N.C., that cuts, sews and assembles apparel, he hopes to keep what’s left of that industry intact. Mr. Lucas, 59, has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars training his workers to use more efficient techniques that come with financial bonuses to get employees to work faster. But he fears that his investments may be undermined by a U.S. trade rule.

Persons: William Lucas, what’s, Lucas Organizations: Eagle Locations: Middlesex, N.C, U.S

☆ Macy’s Plans to Cut 2,350 Jobs and Close 5 Stores
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Jordyn Holman | More About Jordyn Holman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Macy’s, the country’s largest department store operator, told employees Thursday that it was laying off 13 percent of its corporate work force. The move comes as the company prepares to unveil a new strategy that its incoming chief executive will oversee. The cuts amount to roughly 2,350 jobs, or about 3.5 percent of the company’s overall work force, which includes employees at the subsidiaries Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury. The company also said it would close five of its more than 560 Macy’s stores. Tony Spring will take over as Macy’s chief executive next month from Jeff Gennette, a company veteran who is retiring after holding the post since 2017.

Persons: Tony Spring, Jeff Gennette, Adrian Mitchell Organizations: The New York Times, Wall Street, Mr

With fighting still raging in Ukraine, and a front line that has barely shifted in more than a year, the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, headed on Tuesday to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, amid a swirl of diplomatic discussions about possible peace talks. In his speech, he promoted a Ukrainian peace plan and called for stiffer sanctions on Russia. But in a contrast with his comments to the forum last year, Mr. Zelensky made no direct appeals for weaponry for new offensives on the battlefield. “We need you in Ukraine to build, to reconstruct, to restore our lives,” he told the audience of investors. “Each of you can be even more successful with Ukraine.”

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, ” Organizations: Economic Locations: Ukraine, Davos, Switzerland, Ukrainian, Russia

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