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☆ 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

☆ With booze, furniture and candles, Dungeons & Dragons makes itself at home
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

In this article ETSYHAS Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTInside the storefront of Cantrip Candles in Hollywood, CA. An avid Dungeons & Dragons fan, Visscher was hosting a game when a beer got knocked over during a rowdy tavern interaction. Inspired by fantasy games and settings like those seen in Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder and other popular tabletop role-playing games, Cantrip Candles has created its own lore to pair with its scents. Cantrip Candles also partners with other small businesses to sell wick trimmers, matches, notebooks, plush and apparel. Hasbro , which owns the Dungeons & Dragons brand through its subsidiary Wizards of the Coast, has boasted that the game has more than 50 million active players.

Persons: Sarah Whitten, CNBC It's, Christoff Visscher, Visscher, Sellers, Ed Maranville, Harry Potter, Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson, Kidults, Matthew Lillard, Lillard, Justin Ware, Beadle, Wyrmwood's Maranville, Maranville Organizations: CNBC, Pathfinder, Marvel, Star, Hasbro, &, Wizards, NPD, Grimm's, Wyrmwood Locations: Hollywood , CA, Hollywood, Rhode, Indiana, Kentucky

☆ Taco Bell is finally selling breakfast tacos
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Taco Bell is synonymous with tacos, just perhaps not in the mornings. For the first time, Taco Bell is adding breakfast tacos to its menu beginning October 12 for a limited time. Taco Bell even enlisted comedian Pete Davidson to apologize for some of its past breakfast food flops, like the much-maligned Waffle Taco. Breakfast sales have jumped 9% since the ads aired, with Taco Bell praising the campaign and Davidson for the turnaround. Taco Bell also announced that in celebration of National Taco Day that it’s bringing back its Taco Lover’s Pass subscription program for two days only.

Persons: Taco, That’s, Taco Bell, Pete Davidson, Davidson Organizations: New, New York CNN, Taco Bell, Taco, NPD Group, National Taco, Yum Brands Locations: New York

☆ Custom art, air purifiers and TikTok: College spending boom could booster retailers' sales this fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Eros Hoagland | Getty ImagesOver the past few years, Alicia Browne has noticed a change in what college students haul out of cars on move-in days at the University of Alabama. A growing pie — and market share up for grabsAs college spending is poised to grow, retailers have another reason to vie for students' dollars. Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesIt is difficult to estimate how much college market share Bed Bath had in total. Shipt, the Target-owned delivery service, and Walmart have both tried to attract more college students to their membership programs by offering a special discounted price. She said the company's growth has been fueled by college students who want uniquely decorated rooms that reflect their personalities.

Persons: Eros Hoagland, Alicia Browne, Keurig coffeemakers, decorators, Browne, Prosper, Browne chalks, " Browne, Marshal Cohen, Jakub Porzycki, Harmon, Cristina Fernandez, Sonoma, TikTok, Dormify, Amanda Zuckerman, Zuckerman, Kate Reppeto, Callie Weathers Kate Reppeto, Repetto, she's, Anna Emblom Organizations: University of North, Hill, University of Alabama, College, National Retail Federation, IRI, NPD, Target, Walmart, Consulting, Deloitte, Nurphoto, Goods, Ikea, Telsey Advisory, Williams, Hamptons, Madison, University of Mississippi, Eagle Locations: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill , North Carolina, Kohl's, Bath, Bed, Williston , Vermont, New York City, Madison Ave, Oxford, Miss, Southlake, Dallas, Fort Worth in Texas, Birmingham, Ala

Eva Marie Uzcategui | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesIt's not your imagination: Companies are getting stingier with customer rewards. Raising the barSome of the biggest shifts in customer perks have come in the airline industry. At many retailers, customers must now pay a return fee if they want to ship back unwanted clothing, shoes or other items. "To drive that online demand, free shipping and free returns were put in place, but now we all know it costs significant money," he said. Both companies aim to make sure membership isn't shared with people who aren't paying, particularly as the companies chase new avenues of growth.

Persons: Eva Marie Uzcategui, Dunkin, Cowen, David Garfield, Yuping Liu, Stephanie Keith, Marshal Cohen, Circana, Nordstrom, Christopher Dilts, Kohl's, Macy's, they're, Amit Sharma, Heidi Isern, Levi Strauss, Ann Taylor, Crocs, Brooks, reining Organizations: Brickell City Centre, Bloomberg, Getty, Retailers, Ross, uptick, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Old Dominion, Strome School of Business, LaGuardia, American Express, American, IRI, NPD, Urban Outfitters, Abercrombie, Fitch, Nordstrom, Amazon, Foods, Netflix, Costco Locations: Brickell, Miami , Florida, Queens, New York, Delta, Schaumburg , Illinois

☆ Barbie is all the buzz this summer — and retailers hope it will make cautious consumers spend
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Bloomingdale's is just one of the retailers and brands trying to tap into Barbie buzz. With a splash of hot pink, retailers hope to chase away the summer doldrums and inflation blues. About half of Aldo's Barbie collection sold out in the first week. So far, the Barbie merchandise is "selling incredibly well" and appealing to customers across generations, said Frank Berman, the department store's chief marketing officer. Gap has sold out of some of its popular Barbie items, including rectangular pink sunglasses.

Persons: Bloomingdale's, Barbie, Aldo, Brand, Daianara Grullon Amalfitano, Aldo's, Aldo Macy's, Frank Berman, Berman, it's, Ken, Circana, Margot Robbie's, Oliver Chen, Cowen, Chen, Susan Fournier, Barbie isn't, Fournier Organizations: Warner Bros, Mattel, Companies, NPD Group, IRI, Unit, Walmart, Target, Amazon Prime, Consumers, Adobe Analytics, Aqua Locations: Manhattan, Lexington Ave, U.S, Boston, New York City

☆ Warren Buffett's wife Astrid is overheard complaining about a $4 cup of coffee at 'summer camp for billionaires' in Sun Valley, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Astrid Buffett was heard at "summer camp for billionaires" complaining about $4 coffee, the New York Post reports. US coffee shops charge an average of nearly $5 per cup of coffee, according to a previous Insider report. Astrid's husband, Warren Buffett, is known to be frugal. At the so-called "summer camp for billionaires," 77-year-old Astrid Buffett was heard complaining about having to pay $4 for a cup of coffee, the Post said. Warren Buffett and his second wife, Astrid, have been married since 2006.

Persons: Astrid Buffett, Warren Buffett, Buffett's, Berkshire Hathaway, Bill Gates, Buffett, Astrid, Astrid Menks, Warren Organizations: New York Post, Allen, Berkshire, Oracle, Post, NPD Group, US Bureau of Labor Statistics Locations: Sun Valley , Idaho, griping, Omaha, Sun Valley, Sun

☆ Domino's can find you wherever you are with new Google pin drop tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Domino's is using Google Maps tech to launch Pinpoint Delivery. Domino's has seen a slowdown in its delivery business due to inflationary pressures on customers. The pizza chain, which bills itself as a tech chain that happens to sell pizza, is leveraging Google Maps technology to deliver pizzas to locations without addresses, such as parks, beaches, and baseball fields. Domino's is leveraging Google Maps tech for Pinpoint Delivery. There's no extra cost for Pinpoint Delivery, which comes as inflationary pressures have hurt Domino's delivery business.

Persons: Domino's, —, Christopher Thomas, Moore, Carl Orsbourn, Sandeep Reddy, Reddy Organizations: Google, Service, Oppenheimer, Commerce, NPD

☆ Instant Pot was once the hot new kitchen gadget. Now it's filed for bankruptcy.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Morning Brew | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Instant Pot was a kitchen gadget darling, but it's now gone cold. Now, the parent company of Instant Pot is declaring bankruptcy to get its finances in order. Its parent company, Instant Brands, which also owns Pyrex and CorningWare, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Monday to get its battered finances in order. The group ramped up hiring and pushed Instant Brands to come out with new gadgets, like air fryers and an air purifier (which flopped). Instant Brands, whose labels also include Corelle, Snapware, CorningWare, Visions and Chicago Cutlery, said it has received a commitment for new financing from its existing lenders.

Persons: it's, —, Ben Gadbois Organizations: Service, Instant Brands, Cornell Capital, Corelle Brands, Brands, NPD Group, US, Court, Southern, Southern District of, Associated Press Locations: Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Chicago

☆ Why one popular shoe brand is lowering prices despite inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —As inflation continues to strain family budgets, forcing people to prioritize purchasing daily necessities over discretionary buys, one maker of popular footwear is lowering prices on its products to provide some relief to weary consumers. “Families are obviously feeling the pressure from inflation,” Beth Goldstein, footwear and accessories analyst at Circana, said in the report. “Without the government assistance that many households with children had previously received, they are now prioritizing their kids’ footwear replacement needs over their own.”Keen said it is lowering prices on its footwear provide some relief to inflation-weary consumers. Courtesy KeenThe company said it’s started reducing prices across its portfolio of products, which range from $36 for kids’ shoes to about $250 for adult shoes. Keen is lowering prices by about 5% across its products.

Persons: Circana, Beth Goldstein, ” Keen, it’s, ” John Evons, Keen, “, ”, Evons, ” Evons, Goldstein, Keen’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, NPD, CNN Locations: New York, Oregon, Portland, Dominican Republic, Thailand

☆ Zuckerberg unveils Meta Quest 3 VR headset days before Apple reveals its own
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg teased his company's latest virtual reality headset, the Quest 3, on Thursday. Apple is expected to debut its competing VR headset next week as part of the company's June WWDC event. The iPhone-maker's consumer headset, which could also incorporate augmented reality technologies, will reportedly work with hundreds of thousands of iPad apps and cost at least $3,000. Meta continues to be spending heavily in the metaverse, the yet-to-be-developed digital universe that requires virtual reality and augmented reality technologies to access. Last October, Meta debuted its Quest Pro VR headset intended for businesses as opposed to consumers.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, it'll, Meta Organizations: Qualcomm, Apple, Labs, Meta, Quest Pro, Research, NPD Group, CNBC, Nvidia Locations: U.S

☆ Why Home Depot's weak outlook could be a warning sign for Target earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Robyn Beck | AFP | Getty ImagesHome Depot and Target may sell very different kinds of merchandise. But the home improvement retailer's slashed forecast could be seen as a warning sign for the cheap chic retailer. On the other hand, Target, Walmart and other retailers that report in the coming weeks draw from a more representative pool of Americans. Discretionary spending fell year over year in the U.S., according to data from Circana, a market researcher formerly known as The NPD Group and IRI. Plus, Home Depot has some sector-specific advantages — even as mortgage rates rise — that could insulate it from some of the effects of lower discretionary spending.

☆ Meta's Reality Labs records $3.99 billion quarterly loss as Zuckerberg pumps more cash into metaverse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg keeps racking up losses from his metaverse investments while downsizing his social media company through cost cuts. In its first-quarter earnings report on Wednesday, Meta said its Reality Labs unit, which is tasked with building the virtual reality and augmented reality technologies for the futuristic metaverse, recorded a $3.99 billion operating loss. The numbers show a slowdown from last quarter, when Reality Labs lost $4.28 billion on $727 million of revenue. For all of last year, Reality Labs recorded an operating loss of $13.72 billion on $2.16 billion in sales, underscoring how VR and AR technologies have yet to reach the mainstream. In March, Meta cut the price of its Quest 2 VR headset as well as the high-end Quest Pro.

☆ Walmart rolls out fresh look for its website and app
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Walmart has redesigned its website and app to try to encourage shoppers to browse and buy more. Starting this week, all customers who browse the company's website and app will see bigger and glossier photos, videos and social media-inspired content that Walmart hopes will nudge more purchases. It anticipates same-store sales for Walmart U.S. will increase between 2% and 2.5% excluding fuel, in the fiscal year ahead. He said along with offering low prices, Walmart wants to catch customers' attention by putting fresh, trendy and seasonal items in front of them, such as spring dresses, patio furniture and toys for Easter baskets. He said the website and app's new look could also lift sales for third-party sellers that have joined or could join Walmart's marketplace.

☆ The 'lipstick index' strikes again: Beauty shoppers are still spending big, even as US consumers dial back on everything else
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Avery Hartmans | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Beauty sales are bucking a trend of declining consumer spending in other categories. The strength in beauty is reflecting a long-held retail indicator called the "lipstick index." Consumers are spending more on beauty in general, with over a third of survey respondents saying they spent over $500 on beauty products in the past year, up from a quarter the year prior, according to Inmar Intelligence. Other beauty retail partnerships, like Sephora and Kohl's, are getting a boost from the lipstick indexUlta and Target aren't the only retailers seeing beauty products fly off the shelves. In fact, the allure of Sephora is so strong that it's helped buoy same-store sales for Kohl's and draw younger consumers.

☆ DeSantis first-week memoir sales far outpace books by Trump, Pence, Clinton and Obama
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

DeSantis' book sales also appeared to far outpace recently published memoirs by a handful of other Republicans who have either launched 2024 presidential campaigns or are considering it, according to BookScan. Former Vice President Mike Pence's "So Help Me God," released last November, sold 37,600 print copies in week one. Of course, book sales alone don't guarantee a politician's future success. Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton sold 86,200 print copies of her 2014 book "Hard Choices" in the first week, BookScan data showed. On Friday, DeSantis' book was listed No.

☆ Nestle, Tyson and other food giants bet on air fryer boom to grow sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

An Air Fryer for sale at Kroger Marketplace in Versailles, Kentucky, U.S., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. Adam Graves, president of Nestle U.S.'s pizza and snacking division, said the company is leaning into the air fryer boom through its frozen food brands, specifically to offer customers more value. Other Nestle products, like Hot Pockets, now include air fryer cooking instructions alongside directions for heating up in the microwave and oven. Tyson is also a third of the way through adding air fryer directions to its packaging for its frozen prepared foods. The air fryer directions are boosting Tyson's brand favorability, according to Hall, who cited recent brand health data.

☆ Covid shrunk the restaurant industry. That’s not changing anytime soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

In 2020, Covid restrictions ground the nation’s bustling restaurant industry to a halt. Last year, there were about 631,000 restaurants in the United States, according to data from Technomic, a restaurant research firm. Meanwhile, restaurant operators are seeing their own costs, like rent and ingredients, rise, and say it’s hard to hire staff. With conditions so tough, some restaurant owners are advising newcomers to steer clear of the industry altogether. Daniel Jacobs, a chef and restaurant owner, has seen his own network of restaurants shrink over the past few years.

☆ People are spending more on groceries, pulling back on discretionary spending: NPD Group's Cohen
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailPeople are spending more on groceries, pulling back on discretionary spending: NPD Group's CohenMarshal Cohen, chief retail industry advisor at market research firm NPD Group, joins ‘Power Lunch’ to discuss whether consumers have stopped spending or have moved on to spending on different things. He also explains why 2023 will be the year of physical stores.

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview with NPD Group's Marshal Cohen
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch CNBC's full interview with NPD Group's Marshal CohenMarshal Cohen, chief retail industry advisor at market research firm NPD Group, joins ‘Power Lunch’ to discuss whether consumers have stopped spending or have moved on to spending different things. He also explains why 2023 will be the year of physical stores.

Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc., demonstrates the Meta Quest Pro during the virtual Meta Connect event in New York, US, on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. Analysts were expecting Reality Labs to record an quarterly operating loss of $4.36 billion on revenue of $715.1 million, according to StreetAccount. In July, Meta announced it was raising the price of its Quest 2 VR headset by $100. Meta then debuted its more expensive Quest Pro VR headset in October, pitching it to companies as an enterprise-workplace device for $1,500. This week, Meta is running a sale on its high-end VR headset, shaving off $400 for a limited time.

☆ McDonald's tops profit estimates, warns short-term inflation to persist
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Hilary Russ | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] McDonald's Crispy Chicken Sandwiches and fries are pictured in New York, U.S. March 30, 2021. REUTERS/Hilary RussJan 31 (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp (MCD.N) on Tuesday beat Wall Street estimates for quarterly profit on higher menu prices, even as it warned short-term inflationary pressures would persist in 2023. McDonald's benefited from higher menu prices, increased restaurant traffic and sales in the UK, Germany and France rose despite fears of a recession in Europe. Visits to some other fast-food chains started to fall last summer as they hiked menu prices, he said. McDonald's U.S. comparable sales rose 10.3% in the quarter ended Dec. 31.

☆ McDonald's sales surge, warns short-term inflation to persist
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Hilary Russ | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A huge advertisement for a branch of fast-food giant McDonald's is seen on the outskirts of Berlin, Germany, April 22, 2016. The burger chain's global same-store sales increased 12.6% in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with estimates for an 8.6% rise, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. That is compared to a 0.6% decline for fast food overall in the fourth quarter over the previous year. Visits to some other fast-food chains started to fall last summer as they hiked menu prices, he said. McDonald's U.S. comparable sales rose 10.3% in the quarter.

☆ McDonald's beats profit estimates, warns short-term inflation to persist
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Hilary Russ | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Hilary RussJan 31 (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp (MCD.N) on Tuesday beat Wall Street estimates for quarterly profit on higher menu prices, even as it warned short-term inflationary pressures would persist in 2023. McDonald's benefited from higher menu prices, increased restaurant traffic and sales in the UK, Germany and France rose despite fears of a recession in Europe. Even so, traffic rose 5% for full-year 2022 as McDonald's meals remained less expensive than many competitors, drawing low-income consumers. Visits to some other fast-food chains started to fall last summer as they hiked menu prices, he said. McDonald's U.S. comparable sales rose 10.3% in the quarter ended Dec. 31.

[1/2] Credit card is seen in front of displayed Visa logo in this illustration taken, July 15, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationJan 24 (Reuters) - U.S. card companies are expected to post the slowest revenue growth in seven quarters, as consumers tighten their purse strings and avoid spending on luxury and big-ticket items. Card firms pocket a small percentage of the dollar value of transactions and stand to lose out on fees if customers pivot away from buying luxury items. Shares in Visa, Mastercard and Amex closed last year between 3% and 10% lower. Mastercard and Visa are set to report quarterly results on Thursday, with AmEx rounding off the season on Friday.

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