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☆ Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and at least 15 other retailers will be closed on Thanksgiving this year — see the list
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Ann Matica | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Retailers like Walmart and Target are closing their stores on Thanksgiving Day again this year. The following year, Target followed suit, announcing it would be closed on Thanksgiving for good. Here's a list of retailers that have decided to stay closed on Thanksgiving Day. While a small number of employees still work on Thanksgiving Day to keep things operating smoothly, they all receive holiday pay, according to Target. PetcoEducation Images/Contributor/Universal Images Group Editorial via GettyA company spokesperson confirmed to Insider that Petco will remain closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightThe Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a solid cash-back card with no annual fee. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express earns cash back on every purchase, with no annual fee. Blue Cash Everyday card benefits and featuresBecause the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is fairly basic, there aren't a lot of the ancillary benefits that come with some other cards. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightBlue Cash Everyday fees and costsThe Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has no annual fee but does charge a variety of other fees. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express could be worth it, depending on where you spend the most money.

☆ Nordstrom CFO Anne Bramman to Leave the Company
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Jennifer Williams-Alvarez | Suzanne Kapner | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +3 min

Nordstrom Inc.’s finance chief is stepping down as the retailer confronts industrywide pressures including soft consumer spending and high inventory levels. The Seattle-based retailer said Monday evening that Anne Bramman will leave the company effective Dec. 2 after more than five years as CFO. Nordstrom’s senior vice president and chief accounting officer, Michael Maher, will serve as interim finance chief. Nordstrom is looking for ways to reduce its inventory levels, Mr. Nordstrom said during an earnings call in late August. Merchandise inventory levels increased 9.9% from a year ago, to around $2.4 billion, although they were lower than the previous quarter.

☆ We're using this rally to make a few trades in the portfolio: one sale, two buys
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

We're buying 20 shares of Danaher (DHR) at roughly $263.99 and 40 shares of Estee Lauder (EL) at roughly $217.05. Estee Lauder We are taking some of that MRVL cash to add to our newest position Estee Lauder . When the pandemic hit and department stores temporarily closed their doors, Estee Lauder pivoted quickly and built direct-to-consumer channels like e-commerce. This shift has allowed Estee Lauder to recapture some lost market share and improve its operating margin outlook. Over the last three years, Estee Lauder has expanded its operating margins by 220 basis points.

☆ Bargain retailer TJX strategically placed to navigate a recession, JPMorgan says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

TJX Companies (TJX) is competitively positioned to weather an economic slowdown, JPMorgan said Monday, underscoring the Club case for owning the off-price retailer. JPMorgan analysts added TJX — whose brands include T.J Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods — to their "Analyst Focus List," while reiterating an overweight rating and a Dec. 2023 price target of $80 a share. TJX stock, which is down about 13% year-to-date, was trading up more than 4% in midday trading Monday, at roughly $66.23 a share. That's helped to insulate the retail operator from a recession, JPMorgan analysts argued, and should allow management to make good on its promise to expand merchandise margins within the next three years. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

☆ Retail sales were flat in September as inflation takes a bite
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Retail sales were flat last month, down from a revised. Retail sales fell 0.4% in July. Excluding sales of automobiles and at gas stations, retail sales rose 0.3%. Sales at clothing stores rose 0.5%, while business at department stores rose 1.3% That indicates a solid back-to-school season but adjusted for inflation, spending was modest, analysts said. AlixPartners predicts holiday sales to be up anywhere from 4% to 7% from last year, which was up 16%, according to its calculations.

☆ Falabella may close up to 10% of its department stores this year
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Chilean retailer Falabella (FALABELLA.SN) may close between 5% and 10% of its department stores in Peru, Colombia and Chile, its Department Store Chief Executive Francisco Irarrazaval said on Wednesday. A source close to the company said store closures were currently being considered but no final decision has been taken. It was expected that employees of stores shut down would be relocated to other shops, the person said. The decision was part of a "constant" evaluation of the business profitability, with adjustments "based on customer demands," the source added. Falabella - which also operates brands including Ikea and Gap in Latin America - is also preparing to open a small number of other stores this year, executives said.

That adds up to $1,500 per quarter, which is lower than the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card's $2,000 threshold. And like the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, you'll earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. That's not as lucrative as the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, which has an uncapped 2% cash back category. The 3% category options are also much more limited than the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card. Visa Signature benefitsThe U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is a Visa Signature card, which means you'll get built-in benefits including:Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection upgrades and extrasRoadside dispatchTravel and emergency assistance servicesVisa Signature ConciergeVisa Signature Golf Benefit by TroonCar rental discountsHere's more about Visa Signature credit card perks.

☆ Holiday bargains will dent retail profits. How investors can avoid taking a beating
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Stifel's research found that consumers plan to spend 9% more this holiday season over 2021. Roughly three-quarters of respondents to a PwC holiday poll indicated they plan to spend the same or more this holiday season. Rather than marking down inventory, companies should hold on to it for the next year if their balance sheets can withstand it, said Siegel. Across the board, many flagship retail stores heavily focused on apparel and footwear like Kohl's and Macy's may struggle to lure customers intent on saving money on discretionary purchases. He points to names heavily focused on electronics and home goods purchased by consumers during the pandemic as one of the weaker areas this holiday season.

☆ The decline of the American mall has left just 700 still standing. Soon there may be just 150 left.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

There may be just 150 malls left in the US in 10 years, according to one industry watcher. Other industry watchers predict a similarly painful fate for malls and retail stores more generally. In April, analysts at UBS projected that 40,000-50,000 American retail stores would shut down by 2027. They said traditional shopping malls are at particularly high risk because shoppers now prefer to make quick trips to close-by stores, per CNBC. According to Egelanian, the malls that will weather the storm will be premium locations with entertainment, dining, and luxury stores.

☆ Blackstone’s Schwarzman kickstarts UK asset grab
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Sept 28 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Britain’s currency crisis may have an upside after all – at least for foreign investors. Blackstone’s (BX.N) Steve Schwarzman is paying 80 million pounds for 17th-century country estate Conholt Park, the City A.M. newspaper reported. But it’s exactly the kind of purchase that will make more sense the lower the pound goes. And to the extent that future cash flows are denominated in dollars or euros, the sterling purchase price should rise. U.S. investors just bought Chelsea soccer club, while Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund last year swooped on rival Newcastle United.

☆ 10 best credit cards for bad credit of September 2022: Secured and unsecured cards, including some that earn cash back or flexible points
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Holly Johnson | Jasmin Baron | Freelance Writer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +56 min

Best secured card with flat cash-back earning: Capital One Quicksilver Secured CardThe Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is a new secured credit card that doesn't charge an annual fee, and it earns 1.5% cash back on all other purchases with no limits. This credit card comes with no annual fee and no hidden fees, yet it's a Visa credit card that can be used anywhere Visa is accepted worldwide. How to choose the right credit card if you have bad creditBefore you pick the best credit card for your situation, you'll want to decide if you want a secured or unsecured credit card. A secured credit card is a type of credit card that requires a cash deposit as collateral. To avoid paying interest on purchases made with a credit card, you need to pay your credit card statement balance in full each month.

A comparative few credit cards on the market specify that EV charging stations will receive bonus rewards. Earn 2X at airlines, gas stations and EV charging stations. These cards do not officially list EV charging stations in their bonus categories, so your results may vary. Bonus: Save between 10% and 18% at Tesla EV charging stationsIf you're willing to incorporate the stock market into your rewards-earning plan, you can receive 10% or more back on Tesla EV charging. Electric vehicle charging station credit cards — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Is there an EV charging stations map?

We're initiating a position in Estee Lauder (EL), buying 75 shares at roughly $224.37 each. After not chasing Tuesday's higher open on Wall Street, we're putting some cash to work in the afternoon in a Club Bullpen stock that we have owned in the Trust in the past. We are calling up Estee Lauder from our Bullpen watch list. When the pandemic hit and department stores temporarily closed their doors, Estee Lauder pivoted quickly and built out direct-to-consumer channels like e-commerce. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.

☆ Nike's betting big on DTC, but it'll be a 'battle' to engage customers without retailers, analyst warns
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Matthew Kish | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

At Nike's annual shareholder meeting two weeks ago, top executives once again defended the company's ongoing shift to more direct sales. Direct sales increased 7% to $4.8 billion in Nike's most recent quarter as it cuts down its reliance on wholesale. But yet another analyst is questioning the logic of the company's drastic pivot to direct sales. For decades, Nike largely operated through wholesale partners, such as department stores, sporting goods retailers, and mom-and-pop sneaker shops. At its annual shareholder meeting this month, CFO Matt Friend said the DTC strategy has driven a 2.6 percentage point increase in the company's gross margin in two years.

☆ 24 GOP attorneys general warn Visa, AmEx, and Mastercard about using a code that identifies purchases at gun stores
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AGs from 24 states sent a letter threatening to take action over a new merchant code for gun stores. The attorneys general warned that tracking the data could lead to misuse, whether intentional or unintentional. They said using a merchant code for gun stores would be an inaccurate method for keeping track of firearms purchases. The coordinated move came after the Geneva-based nonprofit International Organization for Standardization (ISO) approved the creation of the merchant code earlier this month. Gun rights advocates, including the NRA, have expressed concerns that the new merchant category code would effectively create a gun registry, and put gun owners at risk.

☆ More celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian are turning themselves into department stores. Here's the platform helping to grow their customer list.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Cortina enables celebrity marketplaces like Kourtney Kardashian's Poosh and Graydon Carter's Airmail. These marketplaces may soon replace department stores, Cortina founder Keith George says. PooshSeveral celebrity marketplaces have popped up in recent years. Now, platforms that serve as a bridge between brands, celebrities, and their audiences — like Cortina — are also on the rise. Celebrity marketplaces also might help traditional brands have faced in acquiring customers.

☆ Factbox: UK retailers raising staff pay amid cost-of-living crunch
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Toby MelvilleSept 22 (Reuters) - Retailers in Britain are looking to increase pay and attract staff in a tight labour market, as workers are increasingly taking to strike action amid a cost-of-living crisis in the country. read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterMARKS & SPENCERMarks & Spencer (MKS.L) said on Sept. 21 it would pay a minimum of 10.20 pounds, up from 10.00 pounds, from Oct. 1. read moreSAINSBURY'SSainsbury's (SBRY.L) said on Sept. 13 it will from Oct. 16 pay a minimum of 10.25 pounds, up from 10.00 pounds, and 11.30 pounds in London, up from 11.05 pounds. read moreTESCORetailer Tesco (TSCO.L) in September started to offer better perks to its workers including free food and essentials. read moreMORRISONSMorrisons on June 10 said it would pay a minimum of 10.20 pounds from October, with London workers paid a minimum of 11.05 pounds.

☆ Analysis: Rally in U.S. consumer stocks teeters with Fed, inflation in focus
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( David Randall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe gains in the consumer discretionary sector may prove fleeting. read moreStill, some investors believe inflation and growth woes may already be largely reflected in many consumer discretionary shares. "But we're seeing a lot of consumer stocks that we think will hold up and come out of this in a better position." Consumer stocks are rallying despite looming Fed hikes. Global fund managers have remained bearish on consumer discretionary stocks despite recent gains, with nearly 25% of those surveyed by BofA Global Research this month underweight the sector - the most of any group.

☆ Nordstrom Adopts Poison Pill After Mexican Retailer Buys Stake
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Suzanne Kapner | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The largest shareholder of Nordstrom is the Nordstrom family, which owns about 30% of the Seattle company. Nordstrom adopted a so-called poison pill to prevent outsiders from boosting their stake in the business after a Mexican company acquired a 9.9% stake in the upscale U.S. retailer. A roughly $300 million investment made El Puerto de Liverpool SAB—which operates high-end department stores in Mexico—the second largest shareholder after the founding Nordstrom family, which owns about 30% of the Seattle company.

Ralph Lauren Corp. aims to buy back more stock and boost its profit margins as it benefits from strong consumer demand after years of restructuring. Ralph Lauren bought back $234.7 million in shares and paid $48.1 million in dividends during the quarter ended July 2. “We already have momentum and that’s what’s giving us confidence,” Ms. Nielsen said. Ralph Lauren last month said its cash and cash equivalents totaled $1.46 billion as of July 2, down from $2.6 billion a year earlier. The next step would be to open more of its own stores, which in turn boosts e-commerce sales, Ms. Nielsen said.

☆ Petrodollar rush may disappoint Western financiers
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Liam Proud | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Yet Western financiers hoping to share in the spoils of a 1970s-style petrodollar boom will be disappointed. In previous petrodollar booms, energy producers have recycled their windfalls into the Western financial system. These financial flows, known as petrodollar recycling, mean that the money Westerners spend on fuel eventually makes its way back into their economies through energy producers’ financial investments. Either way, it would mean that Westerners miss out on some of the spoils of the new petrodollar boom. A more muted petrodollar boom might not be such a bad thing after all.

☆ GOP attorneys general threaten Visa, American Express and MasterCard over gun-store code
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Two dozen Republican attorneys general warned Visa, American Express and MasterCard on Tuesday not to go ahead with their plans to add a new merchant category code for gun retailers. In a letter to the CEOs of the card giants, the officials expressed serious concern that adopting a new sales code for gun stores would harm the constitutional rights of gunowners and potentially violate consumer protection and antitrust laws. Previously, gun store sales were classified under a general merchandise or sporting goods category. In other words, legal gun purchases won’t be blocked by this new merchant category code, or MCC. “We do not believe private companies should serve as moral arbiters,” Visa said in a blog post last week.

☆ Ralph Lauren sells luxury at too steep a discount
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A man walks past Ralph Lauren Corp.'s flagship Polo store on Fifth Avenue in New York City, U.S., April 4, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidNEW YORK, Sept 19 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Ralph Lauren (RL.N) laid out a promising financial outlook for investors on Monday. Since 2018, Ralph Lauren has closed more than two-thirds of its wholesale business by halting sales to department stores such as Belk, slashed promotions and lifted its average unit price 60%. The House of Polo trades at 10 times expected 2025 net profit, per estimates on Refinitiv, compared to Burberry’s (BRBY.L) 15 times and Prada’s 20 times. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ British business is grinding to a halt on Monday for the Queen's funeral, with most big chains closing
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-17 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Supermarkets, fast food chains, gas stations, and cinemas across Britain will close on Monday. Sign up for our newsletter to receive our top stories based on your reading preferences — delivered daily to your inbox. Gas stations operated by the supermarket chains will also close, with some reopening after 5pm. KFC will also close many of its restaurants until after the funeral has taken place, it said on its website. The British Retail Consortium has published a list of chains not opening on Monday here.

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