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☆ Damar Hamlin's breathing tube removed, told teammates 'Love you boys' over FaceTime, Bills say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Antonio Planas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Cincinnati Reds show their support for Damar Hamlin outside of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame on January 4, 2023, in Cincinnati, OH. "Damar Hamlin FaceTimed into our team meeting today to talk to players and coaches. It remains unclear what exactly caused Hamlin's cardiac arrest. The league acknowledged that canceling the game "creates potential competitive inequities in certain playoff scenarios" and said NFL clubs will consider a resolution at a special league meeting Friday. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in Thursday's statement that it has been "a very difficult week" and that the league is focused on Hamlin's recovery.

☆ TikTok videos show exasperated Target shoppers battling carts that lock in place — and it shows how anti-theft measures make the shopping experience worse
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Nearly 2 million shopping carts are stolen each year, costing retailers an estimated $800 million. Videos of shoppers battling anti-theft devices on carts in a Target parking lot have gone viral on TikTok. A TikToker going by the name Taylor Ann cheerfully narrates in a video of the moment, which has amassed over 4.4 million views on TikTok. Taylor Ann acknowledges the technology has been around for years, but it can still come as a surprise when it arrives at your store. The Food Marketing Institute meanwhile estimates that 2 million shopping carts are stolen each year, costing retailers an upwards of $800 million globally.

☆ Amazon will take years to recover from a warehouse overbuilding binge during the pandemic. In 2022, it still added a third of Walmart's total capacity.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Eugene Kim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The company scaled back warehouse expansion last year in the face of an economic downturn. Amazon grew its warehouse footprint by 125 million square feet in 2020 and 137 million square feet in 2021, Wulfraat estimated. Amazon currently uses about 65% of its total warehouse capacity, lower than the 85% levels from 2019, Wulfraat estimated. That's because Amazon over-expanded in recent years, with warehouse growth "materially" outpacing product sales growth, he said. The company saved up to $4 billion last year when it scaled back warehouse expansion plans, according to Wulfraat.

☆ Damar Hamlin showing signs of 'remarkable improvement,' the Bills say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Erika Edwards | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"Damar has shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours," the Bills tweeted. Hamlin, 24, has been in intensive care after collapsing on the field from cardiac arrest during "Monday Night Football" on Jan. 2. There has been no official statement about what caused Hamlin's cardiac arrest. It is in this exact moment, experts say, that a blow to the chest in the exact right place can launch an otherwise healthy person into cardiac arrest. Thursday morning, Hamlin's teammate Kaiir Elam said in a tweet, "Our boy is doing better, awake and showing more signs of improvement."

A potential cause of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin's jarring collapse and cardiac arrest — witnessed in real time by millions of viewers watching "Monday Night Football" — was immediately recognized by heart experts who also happened to be watching the game. In a statement, the Buffalo Bills has only said that Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest, when the heart stops beating properly, and is now in critical condition. While there are several potential causes for Hamlin's cardiac arrest, cardiologists suggested that a rare phenomenon called "commotio cordis" was to blame. It is in this exact moment, experts say, that a blow to the chest in the exact right place can launch an otherwise healthy person into cardiac arrest. But there are several other reasons a person may go into cardiac arrest.

☆ BuzzFeed's $300M purchase of Complex promised to grow both brands, but insiders say strategies have clashed and Complex's culture is being 'completely gutted'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Complex insiders worry that the cuts threaten their brand's culture and future. Clashing video strategies as some fear Complex culture is being 'completely gutted'Kevin Hart appeared on Complex's "Hot Ones" series. Before joining with BuzzFeed, Complex's then-CEO Rich Antoniello had conversations with Vice Media and Vox Media. But Complex insiders felt especially aggrieved when, this fall, BuzzFeed announced a global expansion for ComplexCon. To Complex insiders, BuzzFeed's plan to take the event to Australia, Europe, and Asia simultaneously was unrealistic and under-resourced.

☆ Retailers brace for tougher times and more frugal customers in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( Melissa Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Sales from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24 rose 7.6%, according to data from MasterCard SpendingPulse, which measures in-store and online retail sales across all forms of payment. The next few weeks, which close out many retailers' fiscal year, could help determine whether the holiday quarter is a win or a bust. Retailers enter 2023 reckoning with the fact that store traffic already lagged during peak weeks of the holiday season. It is also retailers' last chance to sell through excess inventory and start the new fiscal year in a cleaner position. Like many other retailers, Walmart's holiday quarter includes January.

☆ Putin says Russia expects China's Xi to make state visit in spring
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MOSCOW, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday he was expecting Chinese President Xi Jinping to make a state visit to Russia in spring 2023, in what would be a public show of solidarity from Beijing amid Russia's flailing military campaign in Ukraine. In introductory remarks from a video conference between the two leaders broadcast on state television, Putin said: "We are expecting you, dear Mr Chairman, dear friend, we are expecting you next spring on a state visit to Moscow." Though Western countries imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia, China has refrained from condemning Moscow's military campaign, instead stressing the need for peace. Russian energy exports to China have risen significantly since the outbreak of the conflict, with Russia now China's single largest oil supplier. At a September summit in Uzbekistan, Putin acknowledged his Chinese counterpart's "concerns" about the situation in Ukraine.

☆ India's Mamaearth parent files for IPO - draft prospectus
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Indian skincare startup Mamaearth's products are on display for sale at a wholesale shop in Ahmedabad, India, June 22, 2022. REUTERS/Amit DaveBENGALURU, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Parent of Indian personal care products startup Mamaearth, Honasa Consumer Ltd, on Thursday filed for an initial public offering (IPO), according to draft papers submitted to the market regulator. The Sequoia- and Sofina-backed company's IPO will comprise of a fresh issue of shares worth 4 billion rupees ($48.30 million) and an offer for sale of 46.8 million shares. Reuters had reported in June that Mamaearth was in talks to raise at least $300 million for the IPO scheduled for 2023. Honasa said it would use about 1.86 billion rupees from the IPO for advertising expenses.

☆ Aldi is the US's fastest-growing grocery chain and more middle-income households are shopping there. Here are the no-frills tactics that help make it so cheap.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

More middle-income households are shopping there, lured by low prices and Aldi's "treasure hunt" approach. Smaller properties are cheaper to buy and maintain, and Aldi has said that its store layout enables "quick and easy shopping." Monford added that consumers "don't mind" that products aren't taken out of their boxes because they're shopping at Aldi for value. Campbell said the Aldi stores near her generally had just four or five aisles. Vadakkepatt said Aldi's stores have fewer employees and shorter hours than at other chains.

☆ Walmart will stop providing single-use plastic and paper bags in New York and Colorado in January, accelerating its sustainability push – but creating a new task for customers.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The single-use bag policy will go into effect on New Year's Day in Colorado and Jan. 18 in New York. In the states in which Walmart has or will be eliminating single-use bags, legislatures have already passed laws that ban single-use plastic bags and require retailers to charge a fee for, or outright ban, single-use paper bags. It's unclear if that includes eliminating single-use plastic bags at all stores. A Walmart spokesperson did not respond to questions on that goal and if Walmart would ban single-use bags in any other states in 2023. Do you live in Maine, Vermont, New Jersey, Colorado, or New York and have thoughts on Walmart's ban of single-use bags?

☆ Companies like Airbnb can ban customers based on a criminal background check: Here's how to dispute it if you think yours is in error
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Companies like Airbnb say they use background checks to help protect the community. Background checks have proliferated but there are common flaws in the system, experts say. Here's what criminal justice experts say about inaccurate background checks and how to file appeals. "They're not really looking at potential risk in terms of public safety, per se," Stewart told Insider. "I think part of it is companies being able to determine their own criteria," Stewart told Insider.

☆ Amazon bulked up its advertising behemoth in 2022 — and its becoming an even bigger threat to Meta
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Lauren Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Amazon's digital ad business is only behind Google's and Meta's — and it's already stolen budget from Meta. Today, that advertising business is no longer simply a way to drive product sales on Amazon. Amazon's ad business, which generated $9.5 billion during the third quarter of 2022, dwarfed Microsoft and Snap and ranked third behind Google and Facebook parent, Meta. There are now nearly 600 advertising partners in Amazon's advertising ecosystem, according to Amazon's directory of companies in the space. As part of its ambitions to grow advertising, Amazon also pitches a data clean room called Amazon Marketing Cloud.

We talked to several workplace experts to gain their insight on phrases you shouldn't say to your boss, even if you're close. 'I can't'A can-do attitude is always a valued trait, and just because you're friends, it doesn't mean you'll get called on the next time an important project comes up. It's fine if you have to leave early, but don't say it's because "things are slow" or you have "nothing to do." 'I'm going to be out these days,' or 'I'm leaving early tomorrow'Just because you're friends, it doesn't mean you should tell your boss you're going on vacation or leaving the office early. "Your boss hopes you're honest 100% of the time, and what you're about to say is not an aberration," said Taylor.

☆ Warren Buffett treasures Borsheims as one of his most-beloved businesses. CEO Karen Goracke offered a rare glimpse inside Berkshire Hathaway, and broke down how she's dealt with the pandemic and infla
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has owned Borsheims, an Omaha jeweler, since 1989. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway acquired Borsheims, a single jewelry store in the investor's hometown of Omaha, in 1989. "What works with diapers works with diamonds," Buffett once quipped, comparing Borsheims' high-volume, low-cost model to Walmart's. Insider spoke to Borsheims CEO Karen Goracke on the store floor during Berkshire's annual-meeting weekend in April 2022. "That's the greatest thing about jewelry," Goracke said.

☆ 4 hurdles Walmart needs to clear in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Analysts expect the retailer to work through excess inventory in 2023, but obstacles may arise. Here are four major Walmart challenges to watch in 2023. Expanding clinic presence is a 'must' to create major healthcare gainsA Walmart Health clinic. In 2022, Walmart saw competitors like Amazon make major healthcare splashes. Part of expansion has been announced for 2023, as Walmart plans to launch 16 more clinics in Florida by the end of the year.

Share this -Link copied'It's too much for me': Zelenskyy begins speech by thanking U.S. Zelenskyy began his remarks before a joint meeting of Congress at 7:40 p.m. "I think we share the exact same vision, that of a free, independent and prosperous Ukraine," Biden said. The Ukrainian president added that the soldier told him that "many (of) his brothers, this system saved." President Joe Biden holds a medal presented to him by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. Share this -Link copiedPhoto: Zelenskyy shakes hands with Biden as he arrives President Joe Biden welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House.

☆ Complex insiders say owner BuzzFeed has shed key talent, failed to invest in core content, and threatens to dilute the hip culture brand: 'The BuzzFeed ethos does not get it'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Clashing video strategies as some fear Complex culture is being 'completely gutted'Kevin Hart appeared on Complex's "Hot Ones" series. Before joining with BuzzFeed, Complex's then-CEO Rich Antoniello had conversations with Vice Media and Vox Media. Rubbing salt in the wound, Complex insiders said they felt their brand was scrappier and more culturally relevant than BuzzFeed, which many consider past its prime. But Complex insiders felt especially aggrieved when, this fall, BuzzFeed announced a global expansion for ComplexCon. To Complex insiders, BuzzFeed's plan to take the event to Australia, Europe, and Asia simultaneously was unrealistic and under-resourced.

☆ Survey shows a Costco membership fee hike would face little resistance — we think so, too
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Most American shoppers say they are willing to pay more for their retail club memberships — a sentiment that bodes well for Investing Club holding Costco (COST). As a result of the survey findings, Evercore favors Costco for a planned fee increase and the potential for a special dividend sometime next year. Costco's last membership price hike was in June 2017, when the wholesale retailer increased its standard membership fee from $55 to $60 and its Executive membership from $110 to $120. Historically, Costco has increased its membership fee every five years, an anniversary that passed a few months ago. Another potential catalyst for Costco stock is the company's likely decision to issue a special dividend, which Evercore thinks could happen in 2023.

☆ Here are Wednesday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, McDonald's, Alphabet, Amazon, Tesla, Meta & more
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Here are Wednesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Citi reiterates Apple as buy Citi said it sees several reasons that Apple stock is likely trade higher. Jefferies names McDonald's a top 2023 pick Jefferies said the fast food giant is a top defensive idea for 2023. Jefferies downgrades Starbucks to hold from buy Jefferies said it sees a more "balanced" risk/reward outlook for the stock. Evercore ISI reiterates Alphabet as outperform Evercore lowered its estimates on the stock but said it's still "highly attractive" for long-term investors. UBS reiterates Nike as buy UBS said Nike's earnings growth potential is "underestimated" after the company's earnings report on Tuesday.

☆ Black women are worn out from discrimination in corporate America. They're leaving to launch their own businesses, creating a hole for talent across industries.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Alexandra York | Marguerite Ward | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Black women are being pushed out of corporate America by microaggressions, belittling, and burnout. Their departures are likely to hurt innovation and profits in corporate America. For Black women facing disrespect on the job, those pledges of a more equitable workplace can seem hollow. Insider spoke with Stewart and two other Black women who've left the corporate world since 2020 to start their own businesses. They're among those making Black women the nation's fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs.

☆ Amazon may have slowed its warehouse expansion, but it still added space equal to half of Walmart's distribution capacity this year
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Even so, Amazon's warehouse footprint is "remarkable" compared to competitors, analysts say. Amazon added roughly half of Walmart's distribution network this year and will keep adding in 2023. The company delayed new building openings and canceled 11 million square feet of projects this year, according to Wells Fargo, citing Wulfraat. But Amazon's moves are by no means a retreat since the company continues to improve delivery speeds and dominate the US market in terms of warehouse footprint. Between 2020 and 2022, Amazon added more than 200 million square feet of warehouse space, doubling its physical footprint in the United States.

☆ Where Walmart CEO Doug McMillon expects inflation to stick around into 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Frank Holland | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Retail sales slumped on Thursday even though the latest data on consumer prices earlier this week showed a cooling. Grocery sales, responsible for 56% of Walmart's revenue, is a key inflation read for the McMillon and company. McMillon's comments came after November CPI report that showed consumer prices rose 7.1% year over year, which was below estimates, but before the retail sales decline posted on Thursday. "But dry groceries, consumables is where we're seeing the most stubborn and persistent inflation, mid double-digit inflation. McMillon said Walmart is continuing to look for new technology to maintain inventory and increase the speed of its e-commerce business.

☆ Walmart shoppers can now order products via text message, two years after a similar text-to-shop experiment failed
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Walmart hopes to streamline shopping by allowing customers to text items they'd like to purchase. That feature, Walmart Text to Shop, is coming online roughly two years after Walmart shut down a limited text-to-shop experiment. Launched as a beta test in October 2021 to select markets, Walmart Text to Shop "is seamlessly connected" to users' Walmart accounts, Dominique Essig, vice president of conversational commerce for Store No. Eckert told Insider last month that Walmart is looking to "rapidly sign up customers" for text-to-shop. In 2018, the company rolled out Jet Black, a $50-per-month service where customers could access personal shoppers through text message.

☆ Walmart shoppers are flocking to stores for cheap groceries, while website visits languish — proving how vital its stores are in a tough economy
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Ben Tobin | Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But while online shopping has dipped this year, more people have been flocking back to Walmart stores. According to estimates from Placer.ai, a location-data company, Walmart stores saw a 1% increase in the average number of daily shoppers through December 4 compared to the same year prior. But those customers are typically not buying food online, according to Yarbrough. Online food sales slowing across retailersWalmart is the top US grocer. The membership platform that launched in 2020 incentivizes online shopping by offering free delivery.

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