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— Warren Buffett's annual shopping event, the pregame to Berkshire Hathaway 's annual meeting, is wowing shareholders flocking here this weekend. JazwaresSquishmallow pit at the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting in Omaha, Nevada on May 3, 2024. Sarah Min | CNBCSome highlights include the latest Squishmallows toys for Buffett and Charlie Munger, a splashy Squishmallows pit, as well as other displays. Poor Charlie's AlmanackCharles Munger remembrance ahead of the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting at Omaha, Nevada on May 3, 2024. Sarah Min | CNBCThe Bookworm only had one book to sell this year: "Poor Charlie's Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T.

Persons: Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, Sarah Min, — Warren, Berkshire Hathaway, Brooks, Buffett, Charles Munger, Charles T, Munger, Haslam, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, CNBC Brooks Organizations: Berkshire Hathaway, CNBC OMAHA, Berkshire, CHI, CNBC, CNBC Jazwares, Berkshire Hathaway's, FlightSafety, CNBC Berkshire, Travel Centers, Procter & Gamble Locations: Omaha , Nebraska, Neb, Omaha , Nevada, Berkshire, North America, Brooks, Queen

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

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

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

☆ Squishmallows and Skoosherz Plush Toys Face Off in Court
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Lola Fadulu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

What is the difference between Squishmallows and Skoosherz? Don’t fret if you couldn’t come up with an answer. The companies behind the colorful plush toys are in a court battle this week over what actually makes the toys distinct from each other. Kelly Toys, which said it released the Squishmallows plush toys in 2016, filed a lawsuit on Monday against Build-A-Bear over its Skoosherz line, which launched last month in anticipation of Valentine’s Day. Build-A-Bear filed its own lawsuit against Kelly Toys.

Persons: Kelly Toys, ”, Kelly, “, ” Kelly Toys Organizations: Kelly Toys, Central, Central District of Locations: Central District, Central District of California

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

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

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

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

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

☆ All kids want for Christmas this year … Robux and gaming subscriptions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Nicole Randol — a Missouri-based mother of two boys, ages 6 and 10 — recently posted a message on a popular Facebook parenting group about Robux, the virtual gaming currency for the platform Roblox: Target was having a 40%-off sale for Robux. “I expect it to be the most exciting thing they open [on Christmas],” Randol, who bought two $100 Robux cards, told CNN. Gaming subscriptions continue to gain popularity, too. “What’s changed, naturally, is the games that families are playing.”According to ESA, more than 212 million Americans play video games on a regular basis. Still, with the rise of subscriptions and gaming currency, what lands under the Christmas tree may be smaller in size than years before.

Persons: CNN — Nicole Randol —, —, ” Randol, Fortnite, trumping, ”, Christopher Byrne, Guy, “, ” Roblox, Robux, Michael Inouye, Cozy, Byrne, “ What’s, ” Byrne, Jim Silver, Bitzies, ” Bryne, Parija Kavilanz Organizations: CNN, Robux, Entertainment Software Association, Epic Games, PlayStation, Pro, Apple, ABI Research, National Retail Federation, ESA, Gaming Locations: Missouri

☆ Instagram's crisis highlights the bigger issues the entire ad industry is facing
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementBusiness Insider's Katie Notopoulos has a rundown on how a relatively scandal-free summer for Meta has erupted into a full-blown crisis at Instagram. And the fix for Instagram's Reels might not be simple or one Meta's willing to make. Instagram, Tyler Le/InstagramThe WSJ's report illustrates a broader issue the ad industry is grappling with. Ad spend has never fully recovered since the onset of the pandemic, meaning companies have to do more with less. AdvertisementAll of that puts the ad industry in a juxtaposition.

Persons: McDonald's, Meta, influencers, Katie Notopoulos, Instagram, Tyler Le, Lauren Johnson, Lauren, Joe Biden, Chip Somodevilla, Here's, It's, Chelsea Jia Feng, Veronica Thatcher, Dan DeFrancesco, Naga Siu, Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan Organizations: The New York Times, Wall, Meta, UBS, Business, Google, White, Philadelphia Federal Reserve, Apollo Management, Bank of America, Chelsea, Microsoft, BI, Broadcom, VMware, Amazon, Intuit, CrowdStrike, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Locations: Instagram, Washington ,, Gaza, America, New York City, San Diego, London, New York

☆ Buffett's Berkshire posts bigger loss as stocks fall; operating profit sets record
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Operating profit rose 41% to $10.76 billion, even as Berkshire's net loss more than quadrupled to $12.77 billion. "Against that backdrop it's not surprising that Berkshire's consumer and housing-related subsidiaries are seeing pressure," she said. "Berkshire is disciplined," said Tom Russo, a partner at Gardner Russo & Quinn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania who has owned Berkshire stock since 1982. Berkshire's net results swing widely because accounting rules require the company to report investment gains and losses even if it buys and sells nothing. His $117.5 billion net worth ranks fifth worldwide according to Forbes magazine.

Persons: Rick Wilking, Warren Buffett's, Jim Shanahan, Edward Jones, Cathy Seifert, extol, Buffett, Tom Russo, Gardner Russo, Quinn, Cash, Berkshire's, Ian, Geico, Shanahan, PACIFICORP, Haslam, Jonathan Stempel, Ira Iosebashvili, Jason Neely, Diane Craft Organizations: Berkshire Hathaway, REUTERS, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc, Apple, Treasury, BNSF, Clayton Homes ., Berkshire, Forbes, . Berkshire, Thomson Locations: Omaha, U.S, Berkshire, Omaha , Nebraska, Lancaster , Pennsylvania, California, Florida , New Jersey, New York, United States, Israel

☆ Leaked T.J. Maxx document shows the extreme lengths angry customers will go to get their hands on viral products like Rae Dunn mugs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Insider verified its legitimacy with a T.J. Maxx employee. Rae Dunn collectors, or "Dunn hunters," as The Washington Post calls them, are known to line up outside T.J. Maxx stores before opening and fight over merchandise. Insider spoke with two current T.J. Maxx employees who requested anonymity for fear of professional repercussions. In the document, T.J. Maxx suggests several ways for employees to engage customers to temper their frustration. "When someone is screaming at somebody else in a T.J. Maxx, you've kind of gone beyond logic," they said.

Persons: Rae Dunn, —, Maxx, Dunn, somebody's, it's, Squishmallows, It's, aren't, who's Organizations: Service, Maxx, Washington Post

However, the fall Prime event might have better prices for home goods. In fact, the best prices happened on days that were not key shopping event days. Regardless, the July Prime event offered a deeper discount to shoppers when compared to last year's October Prime sale and Super Saturday. The product did go on sale during last October's Prime member event and this past July's Prime sale, but the discounts were not as deep. Downloads of Amazon's shopping app have declined steadily during each subsequent Prime member shopping event since Amazon's Prime Days in July 2021, according to data intelligence platform Apptopia, which tracks mobile app usage for brands like Amazon.

Persons: Tom Williams, Nick Handrinos, Julie Ramhold, it's, Ramhold, iRobot's, Keurig, AF101, fryer, The Bissell Organizations: Washington , D.C, Cq, Inc, Getty, Adobe, Amazon Prime, Gallup, Finance, Deloitte, CNBC, Electronics, Deal, CoreSight Research, NBC, Scout, Amazon, Sony, Black, Health, Revlon, Philips, July's Locations: Washington ,, Research's U.S

☆ From Amazon to Target, here's a look at some of the biggest holiday sales happening now
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Here's a look at some of biggest sales events happening now. This year, other big-name retailers are getting a head start by launching their own holiday sales earlier than ever, according to Katie Roberts, consumer analyst with DealNews.com . You can set up deal alert notifications on Amazon or through your Alexa device so you'll know when the price changes. Prime members can also sign up for invite-only deals on the items that typically sell out fast. But first, you must be an Amazon Prime member.

Persons: Katie Roberts, Andrea Woroch, fryer, Dyson, Barbie Organizations: DealNews.com, Black, Amazon, Sony, Bose, Philips, Finance, July's, Hasbro Locations: iRobot

☆ Berkshire posts record operating profit, rising rates boost Buffett's returns
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"The earnings impact of higher interest rates on investment income is offsetting the economic softness caused by those same rates," he added. Investors closely watch Berkshire because of Buffett's reputation, and because results from the Omaha, Nebraska-based company's operating units often mirror broader economic trends. NOT LOVING VALUATIONSQuarterly operating profit rose 7% to $10.04 billion, or about $6,938 per Class A share, from $9.42 billion a year earlier. Berkshire repurchased $1.4 billion of stock in the quarter, down from $4.4 billion from January to March. Overall profit from Berkshire Hathaway Energy, where Berkshire has a 92% stake, was little changed at $785 million.

Persons: Warren Buffett, Rick Wilking, Berkshire Hathaway, Jim Shanahan, Edward Jones, Buffett, Cathy Seifert, Seifert, PacifiCorp, Jonathan Stempel, Ira Iosebashvili, Angus MacSwan, Jan Harvey, Alistair Bell, Diane Craft Organizations: Berkshire Hathaway Inc, Omaha , Nebraska U.S, REUTERS, Berkshire, Berkshire's Clayton Homes, Profit, BNSF, Forbes, Berkshire repurchased, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Occidental Petroleum, Thomson Locations: Omaha , Nebraska, Berkshire, Alleghany, Oregon, An Oregon, Occidental, New York

☆ How to watch the ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Barbie’ double feature
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

It’s the “Barbenheimer” double feature, and it started its life, as most phenomena do, as a meme. He says he’s seeing “Oppenheimer” first, on its opening Friday, and then “Barbie” “right after” so he gets to experience both with packed houses. Neither “Barbie” nor “Oppenheimer” seem like they’ll be boring, so ahead of both films, use the restroom. Use it again between “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie.” Gerwig’s film is also the more ICEE-friendly film, so re-up on snacks and such in between. 10:50 a.m.: Arrive 10 minutes early for “Oppenheimer,” get an extra-large popcorn and prepare for cinematic annihilation.

Persons: Greta Gerwig’s, Barbie ”, Christopher Nolan’s “, Oppenheimer, ”, Margot Robbie’s Barbie, It’s, “ Barbie ”, ‘, “ Oppenheimer, “ Barbie, Ken, Nicole Kidman’s, Nolan, you’ll, ‘ Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy, ” can’t, Tom Cruise, Emma Mackey, Simu Liu, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, —, it’s, you’ve, you’re, celebs, Christopher Nolan, Wes Anderson’s, Florence Pugh, Barbie Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros, Discovery, AMC, Pictures, Universal Locations: cliffhangers, ”, New Mexico

☆ 100 million Squishmallows sold in a year — How the toy sensation joined Warren Buffett's conglomerate
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Shrewd business legend Warren Buffett has a whimsical side, buying companies whose products he personally enjoys like Dairy Queen and See's Candies. Berkshire inherited Squishmallows parent Jazwares through its acquisition of Alleghany in the fourth quarter of 2022. Jazwares founder and president, Judd and Laura Zebersky, now report to and are in regular communication with Greg Abel, Berkshire's vice chairman for non-insurance operations and Buffett's successor. We're thrilled to be part of it," Laura Zebersky said in an interview. Often Buffett admires the business' management and expects it to continue to grow and remain profitable.

Persons: Warren Buffett, Squishmallows, Charlie Munger, Judd, Laura Zebersky, Greg Abel, Berkshire's, Buffett, Abel's, he's, Abel Organizations: Berkshire Hathaway, Berkshire Locations: Omaha , Nebraska, Omaha, Charlie Munger . Berkshire, Alleghany, South Florida

☆ Lonely adults are driving a boom in stuffed animal sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Grace Mayer | Gloria Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Adults are clamoring for stuffed animals, a craze that is part of a larger toy trend among adults. For some people, stuffed animals help alleviate anxiety and loneliness. She said she created Hugimals, a line of weighted stuffed animals designed to relieve stress and promote sleep, in part for herself. The stuffed animal craze is tied to a larger toy trend among adults, or, as the toy industry has labeled this group, "kidults." Weighing 4.5 pounds, these stuffed animals are designed to replicate a "calming, hugging you back" effect, she told Insider.

Persons: —, it's, Marina Khidekel, Khidekel, Marcella Johnson, she's Organizations: Service, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal Locations: Canada, Legos, London

☆ How TikTok sensation Squishmallows found Warren Buffett
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

May 13 (Reuters) - Squishmallows joined Warren Buffett's business empire two years after Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian and others helped make the plush stuffed toys a viral sensation on TikTok. They married in 1993 and embarked on law careers, but Judd Zebersky soon realized that wasn't his destiny. Laura Zebersky, a litigator, sold her practice in 2005 and joined him, becoming Jazwares' president. "This was a brand that needed a lot of love," Judd Zebersky said. "Greg is exactly what we have all learned about the Berkshire model," Laura Zebersky said.

☆ Warren Buffett's rival for attention at Berkshire weekend: Squishmallows
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Investors and guests walk by a Squishmallow display during the Berkshire Hathaway Inc in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. May 5, 2023. On Friday, the start of Berkshire Hathaway Inc's (BRKa.N) three-day shareholder weekend, thousands thronged a convention hall in downtown Omaha, Nebraska, for five hours to buy discounted products from many Berkshire-owned brands. For many, the $9.99 Squishmallows featuring Buffett and Munger, made by Berkshire's recently acquired toy company Jazwares, were the must-have memento. About 10,000 Buffett and Munger Squishmallows were sold, and by Monday they were fetching as much as $255 at auction on eBay. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in Omaha, Nebraska Editing by Megan Davies and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway just hosted its legendary annual investor weekend. Here's what to know.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Before we get to the news, we've got a dispatch from Theron — our in-house Warren Buffett expert — on the legendary conference. That's how Todd Finkle, the author of a new biography on Buffett, described the investor's yearly bash. There were also investment panels, cocktail parties, steak dinners, fun runs, and shopping events during the weekend. The stock market could become "untouchable" if the bank crisis keeps spiraling. Four of the world's top investors agree on the biggest risks that will cause the next recession.

☆ Follow Warren Buffett's comments and all the action at Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting: Live updates
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Watch the 2023 Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting via CNBC's livestream in English or Mandarin or read about it here throughout the day. The CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska, is welcoming tens of thousands for Berkshire Hathaway 's annual meeting on Saturday. The main event begins on Saturday when Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett and Vice Chairman Charlie Munger take the stage at 10:15 a.m. If previous gatherings are any guide, there will be a lively conversation about a wide range of topics. To prepare viewers for the main event, CNBC will begin its coverage at 9:45 a.m.

People at the See's Candies display at the Berkshire Hathaway Shopping Day event, May 5, 2023. Berkshire Hathaway 's annual shareholder meeting this weekend is kicking off with a shopping extravaganza. Called the "Berkshire Bazaar of Bargains," the shopping event is a tradition at the yearly convention. This year, shareholders can snap up Warren Buffett-themed plush dolls from Squishmallows for the first time. CNBC and CNBC.com will exclusively cover the annual meeting starting Saturday at 10 a.m.

☆ 'Kidults' age 12 and up are buying more toys than ever, with teens and adults driving significant growth for the industry thanks to the pandemic and TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

'Kidults' age 12 and above are comprising a growing sector of the toy industry, according to NPD Group. NPD Group's Juli Lennett told Insider the growth is largely due to the pandemic and social media. "Now many of them are hooked," Lennett said of kidults who purchased toys early in the pandemic. Today, Lego now sells 100 adult Lego sets, according to the Associated Press, including a replica of Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night and a functional roller coaster. "We make LEGO sets specifically for adults with more detail, challenging building techniques, and cool ways to display."

☆ Black Friday online shopping will hit a new record this year, even though consumers headed back to physical stores as the pandemic waned
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The day of Thanksgiving is growing as a shopping holiday, eating into Black Friday sales. Last year, the online total for the same shopping day was $8.92 billion. People spent $5.29 billion shopping online on Thursday, an increase of 2.9% from last year and an all-time high, according to Adobe. The rise of Thanksgiving as a shopping holiday and retailers releasing discounts on goods earlier and earlier may be affecting Black Friday's dominance. Cyber Monday is still expected to be the biggest online shopping day of the holiday season and the year.

☆ Black Friday online sales to hit new record, expected to top $9 billion
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Overall online sales for the day after Thanksgiving are expected to top $9 billion, according to Adobe, which tracks sales on retailers' websites. Typically, shoppers spend about $2 billion to $3 billion online in a day, according to Adobe. Adobe noted that mobile shopping also hit a record high this year, with sales from smartphones accounting for 55% of online sales on Thanksgiving Day. These sales are expected to account for 53% of total Black Friday sales, the company predicts. Cyber Monday is expected to be the biggest online shopping day, with sales slated to top $11.2 billion, the company forecast.

☆ From Apple AirPods and Squishmallows to 'Encanto' toys, here are some of the most anticipated gifts this holiday season, according to Adobe
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

"The shape of the holiday season will look different this year, with early discounting in October," Patrick Brown, Adobe vice president of growth marketing and insights, said in a statement. Here are the toys, gaming devices, games, and other gifts that Adobe predicts will be the most popular items this holiday season. SquishmallowsThe stuffed animals come in all sizes, shapes, and colors and are expected to once again be popular this holiday season. Xbox Series XThe Xbox Series X is the fastest, most powerful Xbox yet, per Microsoft. Apple Watch Series 8/UltraThe new Apple Watch Series 8 comes in eight different colors, with either a 41-millimeter or 45-millimeter case.

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