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☆ Costco, Lowe's, Best Buy, and Tractor Supply are winning the battle against retail theft in a strikingly similar way
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Retail executives generally agree that retail theft is worse than they've ever seen. Even so, leaders from Costco, Lowe's, Best Buy, and Tractor Supply have said their businesses aren't so affected. The companies have five striking similarities that are helping them win the war on retail theft. "Organized retail crime is worse now than I've ever seen it," Tractor Supply CEO Hal Lawton told Insider in August. Meanwhile, a typical Tractor Supply location may have as many as eight people working in a relatively small, 20,000 square-foot store.

Persons: Hal Lawton, I've, Marvin Ellison, Corie Barry, Richard Galanti, We've, Lawton, Dominick Reuter, John Tlumacki, Ben Tobin, they're, Paul Hennessy, Lowe's, Mario Tama, Barrie, Ellison Organizations: Costco, Lowe's, Tractor Supply, Service, Goldman Sachs, Conference, Supply, Massachusetts Costco, Boston Globe, Getty, Electronics, Retailers, Tractor Locations: Wall, Silicon, Massachusetts, Costco, Orlando

In 2016, Allbirds received B Corp certification, a designation given to companies that work to advance environmental and social causes, and shareholder concerns. AllbirdsFor Allbirds, the designation codified, "how we take into account the impact our actions have on all of our stakeholders, including the environment, our flock of employees, communities, consumers, and investors." Sources: Harvard Business Review, Allbirds S-1

Persons: Allbirds Organizations: Corp, Harvard Business

☆ Walmart gobbled up and spit out e-commerce brands like Bonobos and Moosejaw. Here's what happened to the retailer's jilted exes.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Walmart has sold three digital companies — Moosejaw, Bonobos, and Eloquii — this year. In the past few months, Walmart announced it was selling outdoor recreation apparel and gear company Moosejaw, upscale e-commerce apparel company Bonobos, and plus-size clothing company Eloquii. Under Lore, despite big revenue growth, the Walmart e-commerce division incurred major losses, sometimes annually upwards of $1 billion. Here's a look at each of the companies Walmart has offloaded this year. Bonobos, founded in 2007, attracts young, urban customers with its slim-fitting pants, shirts, jackets, and suits.

Persons: Marc Lore, —, Lore, Doug McMillon, Eoin Comerford, Bebeto Matthews, Ben Tobin Organizations: Walmart, Service, Privacy, Lore's, Dick's Sporting Goods, Moosejaw Walmart, Bonobos Walmart, Bonobos, Bebeto Matthews Walmart, WHP Global, Express, FullBeauty Brands Locations: Arkansas, Bentonville , Arkansas, Michigan, Walmart's, New York

☆ Patagonia accuses Nordstrom of selling 'thousands' of fake Patagonia sweatshirts and T-shirts at its Rack stores
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Patagonia filed a lawsuit against Nordstrom in California federal court on Tuesday accusing the retailer of selling 'counterfeit' Patagonia products. Patagonia had a "years-long dealer relationship" with Nordstrom, but after Patagonia chose to end the agreement Nordstrom sold "counterfeit" Patagonia items in its off-price Nordstrom Rack stores in 2023, according to the suit filed Tuesday in the US District Court for the Central District of California. An alleged counterfeit Patagonia clothing item claiming to be both 100% polyester and made of organic cotton. A tag attached to an alleged counterfeit Patagonia clothing item showing a typographical error. Additionally, Patagonia is asking a judge to immediately prevent Nordstrom from manufacturing, producing, sourcing, importing, and selling any products that resemble Patagonia's products and trademark.

Persons: Nordstrom, —, Defendant, Ben Tobin Organizations: Nordstrom, Service, Seattle, Court, Central, Central District of, Patagonia Inc, Nordstrom Inc Locations: Patagonia, California, Central District, Central District of California, Nordstrom

☆ Sam's Club history: How Walmart grew its small-business supply store to a 600-warehouse behemoth locked in a battle with Costco
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Kathryn McLay is the current CEO of Sam's Club, assuming the role in 2019. "We still see ourselves as the 'experiment' Sam Walton launched back in 1983, always looking to evolve and improve," she said in a recent LinkedIn post. Sam's ClubSource: Sam's Club, LinkedIn

☆ Big Lots says its decision to accept Bed Bath & Beyond coupons is drawing more 'dislocated' shoppers to the struggling discount retailer
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Big Lots is one of many retailers that have accepted Bed Bath & Beyond coupons at their stores. Big Lots president and CEO Bruce Thorn said the retailer is trying to pick up 'dislocated' BBBY customers. For Big Lots, a discount furniture and home decor retail chain that's been wrestling with its own financial problems, Bed Bath & Beyond's pain has been its gain, per Big Lots executives. He said Big Lots also plans to focus on "other companies that unfortunately have gone out of business." The Container Store, JoAnn, and Sur La Table have also been accepting Bed Bath & Beyond coupons in hoping to attract new customers.

☆ Walmart employees are inundating the company's social-media site with memes making fun of management
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Walmart started using Workplace, a Meta-designed social-media app, in 2017. "Most of the posts I see on Workplace are just memes making fun of management and corporate," a Walmart employee from Minnesota said. On Walmart's Workplace site, the first photo was captioned "using workplace for work-related posts," and the second photo said "using workplace for memes." Just as on Facebook, users have Workplace feeds where they see what other Walmart workers post, with their names attached. The Walmart employee from Michigan said he was "surprised at first" that workers would share memes on Workplace without being anonymous.

☆ Lowe's is trying to lure rural shoppers by copying Tractor Supply and selling livestock products, Carhartt, and Wrangler
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Analyst group Jeffries says Lowe's may cut into Tractor Supply Co.'s rural-customer market share. They will roll out in up to 300 Lowe's stores by the end of the year and include new Carhartt apparel, an expanded Wrangler lineup, as well as items for pets, livestock, and trailers. Lowe's push to expand farm and ranch offerings could be troubling news for Tractor Supply Co., which has more than 2,000 stores nationwide. Per the Jeffries report, Lowe's rolled out a pilot of its rural concept in two stores in rural parts of Tennessee in 2020. Tractor Supply could face greater competition from Lowe's.

The characters on the HBO show "Succession" often reference real events and billionaire figures. Here's what the Roys have said, done, and worn that capture the real-life world of the rich. Top editors give you the stories you want — delivered right to your inbox each weekday. The HBO drama, which has won awards for its acting and writing, is also incredibly well-researched. There are obvious nods: The Roys, like the Murdochs and the Arnaults, have succession drama that's made for TV.

☆ The most dangerous place for retail workers might be right outside their stores
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Ben Tobin | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Store parking lots can present dangers for workers and customers alike. Roughly half of all deaths one outlet recorded at retailers in early 2022 occurred in parking lots. The incident illustrates a particular danger for retail workers that lies not within the confines of their brick-and-mortar stores but outside them, in the parking lot. Many of them identified the parking lot as the place they felt most unsafe. Retail store's parking lots are the scene of both violence and accidentsA worker collects shopping carts from the parking lot of a Walmart store in Chicago.

☆ Walmart is winning back online shoppers with 3 key strategies
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Walmart's US e-commerce sales grew 27% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2023. Throughout 2020, Walmart US e-commerce sales soared, as customers hunkered down at home and bought more groceries and general merchandise on walmart.com and through the Walmart app. For the second quarter of 2020, Walmart reported 97% year-over-year e-commerce growth. The following years, Walmart e-commerce growth naturally dropped as more shoppers returned to stores. What do you think of Walmart's e-commerce operations?

☆ Inflation brought higher-income customers to Walmart, and the retailer's determined to keep them coming back
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Walmart prides itself on offering "everyday low prices" no matter the economic environment. Executives said in a recent earnings call that they want to retain shoppers through convenience. This isn't the first time Walmart, which prides itself on "everyday low prices," has talked about the importance of higher-income shoppers to its bottom line. But the brand's low prices and penchant for discounting — or in Walmart parlance, rollbacks — have also historically attracted lower-income shoppers. Yet, as food inflation remains "stubborn," per McMillon, higher-income shoppers looking to save a few bucks have stuck with the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retail giant.

☆ Check out the wild robot that Sam's Club is testing to make burgers in its cafes
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sam's Club recently unveiled a robot that can assemble a burger start-to-finish without humans. Walmart-owned Sam's Club is testing out a robot that can assemble your burgers — toppings, seasoning, and all — at a location in Fayetteville, Arkansas, not far from the company's headquarters of Bentonville. Sam's Club declined to comment when Insider reached out about the robot. Sam's Club does not have any current plans to roll out this robot nationwide, Tim Simmons, Sam's Club senior vice president and chief product officer, told Axios. Have you tried the Sam's Club burger or do you want to?

☆ An obituary for the Metaverse, the latest fad to join the tech graveyard
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Matt Turner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

On the agenda today:An obituary for the metaverse, the latest fad to join the tech graveyard. BlackRock is wrestling with who could succeed Larry Fink. Also read:Who will succeed Larry Fink? BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Thos Robinson/Getty Images for The New York TimeWall Street has long been fascinated by succession stories. CEO Larry Fink, now 70-years old, has the rare distinction of leading a Wall Street behemoth he helped found.

☆ Walmart and Target employees reveal the most dangerous parts of working in retail, from towers of boxes to armed customers and inattentive drivers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Dominick Reuter | Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Front-line retail workers face a variety of workplace hazards both inside and outside their stores. "There are a lot of dangerous aspects to working retail," said a Walmart employee of eight years who works at a store in Minnesota. In a statement to Insider, Walmart said, "The safety of our customers, suppliers, and associates is a top priority. Insider spoke to a dozen current and former Walmart and Target employees nationwide to understand the dangers that retail workers face on the job. Three Walmart employees and a former Target executive team lead told Insider about incidents with customers wielding guns.

☆ Peloton recalls more than 2 million of its original $1,400 bikes after reports that the seat posts can break, causing lacerations and bruises
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Peloton is recalling more than 2.1 million of its original bike products, the company announced. The seat posts of dozens of these bikes suddenly broke, causing injuries, per the company. This recall does not impact Peloton Bike+ Members nor Peloton original Bike owners in the UK, Germany, and Australia, according to the company. The company is offering free, updated seat posts to all US Peloton original Bike owners, which can be installed at home, according to Peloton. Do you work for Peloton or own Peloton's original bike?

☆ Party City is planning to close over 30 stores across the country — here's the full list
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Avery Hartmans | Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Party City says it's closing over 30 stores after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Cartersville: Cartersville Crossing, 451 East Main St.IowaWaterloo: Crossroads Commons Shopping Center, 1415 Flammang Dr.IllinoisBradley: Bradley Commons, 2060 N. State Rte. 20Felch Street Shopping Center, 3050 Beeline Rd., Ste. L12East Hills Shopping Center, 3702 Frederick Ave., Ste. K2Five Points Shopping Center, 4101 Hwy.

☆ Sam's Club's history: How Walmart turned a supply store for small businesses into Costco's biggest rival
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

☆ If you get an email from Walmart, there's a good chance it's fake. Here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Walmart was the most imitated brand in phishing schemes in early 2023, per a new report. Walmart warns customers about the dangers of phishing and other types of scams on its website. The Walmart name appeared in 16% of all phishing attempts globally in the time frame, per Check Point Research. Those brands were imitated in 13% and 12% of phishing attempts, respectively. Under a category that explains "phishing," the website says a "scammer sends an email to an unsuspecting customer that may look just like a legitimate Walmart email (including use of the Walmart logo.)"

☆ Walmart has rolled out 7 different logos over the years. See how the retailer's logo has evolved.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Finally, in 2008, Walmart dropped the hyphen and arrived at the blue logo it touts today. The logo includes a yellow "spark," which represents the spark of inspiration that led Sam Walton to create the first store, and each part of the spark is associated with one of the company's values and principles, according to the company. WalmartSource: Walmart Museum

☆ Subway's US restaurant locations have hit their lowest level since 2005 as the company looks to sell – report
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Subway now has its lowest number of US restaurants since 2005, according to Restaurant Business. The company reportedly closed 571 restaurants in 2022 and operates more than 20,000 nationwide. But more than 6,500 Subway restaurants have closed since 2016, or nearly one of every four restaurants in the country, according to Restaurant Business. Multiple media outlets have reported that the company wants a sale that values the chain at $10 billion. Despite previous years of slumping sales and closing stores, Subway, a privately held company, has recently gained some momentum.

☆ Crate & Barrel offers to take over gift registries for jilted Bed Bath & Beyond couples and BuyBuy Baby parents-to-be. Here's how to switch.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Crate & Barrel is allowing Bed Bath & Beyond customers to transfer their registries to furniture and home-decor chain. Crate & Barrel says customers who created wedding or baby gift registries at Bed Bath & Beyond or its BuyBuy Baby brand can transfer them to the Illinois-based furniture and home-decor retailer. To do a transfer, the customer would need to create a Crate & Barrel or Crate & Kids registry, take a screenshot of their Bed, Bath & Beyond or BuyBuy Baby registry, then bring it into a Crate & Barrel store. And stores like JoAnn, The Container Store, and Big Lots are all accepting Bed Bath & Beyond coupons. Do you have a wedding or baby registry through Bed Bath and Beyond?

Organizations: & &

☆ Sam's Club is testing out a robot that can grill and assemble your burger. And you can order and pay for it without even speaking to a human.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sam's Club recently unveiled a robot that can assemble a burger start-to-finish without humans. Walmart-owned Sam's Club is testing out a robot that can assemble your burgers — toppings, seasoning, and all — at a location in Fayeteville, Arkansas, not far from the company's headquarters of Bentonville. Sam's Club declined to comment when Insider reached out about the robot. Sam's Club does not have any current plans to roll out this robot nationwide, Tim Simmons, Sam's Club senior vice president and chief product officer, told Axios. Have you tried the Sam's Club burger or do you want to?

☆ Tuesday Morning set to close all remaining stores after filing for bankruptcy twice in 3 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Tuesday Morning said in a Facebook post it is gearing up to close all of its stores across the US. The home goods retailer filed for bankruptcy earlier this year after it faced numerous struggles. When Tuesday Morning filed for bankruptcy on February 14, it said it wanted to close 265 stores across the US, or more than half of all of its 487 stores. An Insider tally of announcements by major retailers in 2023 finds that more than 2,000 stores set to close across the US. Bed Bath & Beyond leads the list of retail closures, as the home goods company filed for bankruptcy last month and is on track to close to about 900 stores this year.

☆ Walmart dictates battery prices at competing retailers by pressuring Energizer, a trio of new lawsuits allege
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Energizer was "under pressure from Walmart" to ensure that nobody sold batteries for a lower price, three lawsuits say. The lawsuits allege that Energizer inflated wholesale battery prices for Walmart competitors. The lawsuits allege that in exchange for Walmart giving Energizer "preferential treatment" at its stores, Energizer agreed to a scheme to "artificially inflate the wholesale prices it charged to Walmart's competitors for Energizer Battery Products to prevent them from undercutting Walmart's retail prices." They further allege that, as a result, prices for batteries from Energizer's chief rival, Duracell, also were artificially inflated. The group "policed Energizer's customers' retail prices and raised wholesale prices as necessary to force Energizer's customers to maintain retail prices that did not undercut Walmart's," per the lawsuits.

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