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☆ I visited a 'bin store' that sells Amazon returns for as little as 25 cents. It made me rethink my shopping habits.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Gloria Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

After two trips to my local Where Ya Bin store, I've seen enough returned Amazon items to last a lifetime. (Amazon would not answer specific questions about its relationship with bin stores and why certain products end up there. Gloria Dawson / Business Insider"People generally love it or hate it," Jason Carrick, the owner of Where Ya Bin, told me. What to expect when bin shoppingHours and prices at Where Ya Bin Gloria Dawson / Business InsiderI visited a Where Ya Bin store in Columbus, Ohio, on a Saturday and Wednesday in December. Despite my hesitations, I bought a few items and can see the benefits of bin store shopping.

Persons: —, Gloria Dawson, I've, I'm, Jason Carrick, It's, Carrick, Bin Gloria Dawson, Kamala Harris, Hightower, Gloria Organizations: Service, Business, National Retail Federation, Bed, Amazon Locations: Local, Ohio , Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Columbus , Ohio, Bed Bath

☆ Dollar stores are the new hot spot for beauty dupes
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewShoppers are turning to dollar stores for a growing array of name-brand and dupe beauty products. Recent posts to TikTok and Business Insider's visits to stores run by Dollar General and Dollar Tree show everything from the stores' own-brand face masks to big brands like Garnier and Maybelline. AdvertisementUser @kontourandkale posted in September about blush and a brow pencil from the brand ProFusion that she bought at Dollar General. Dollar stores see beauty products as an area where they can grow sales. Do you work at Dollar General or Dollar Tree and have a story idea?

Persons: —, Garnier, @allthingsdollartree, Gloria Dawson, Drew Barrymore, Drew Barrymore's Flower, Flower, Richard L, McNeely, Gen, dupes Organizations: Service, Business, Dollar, Revlon Locations: Maybelline, Ohio

☆ Starbucks workers say they're worried about the new reusable cup program
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-05 | by ( Gloria Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But some baristas are worried about how the reusable cup program will actually work. And will handing over a personal cup at the front of a drive-thru line slow down all the orders behind? Business Insider spoke to three Starbucks baristas about the reusable cup program. The Starbucks spokesperson said baristas got training on the new personal cup program — including practice time. I just can't see this working for morning rushes when we get like 30+ mobile orders per half hour."

Persons: —, they're, it's, barista, there's, baristas, we're Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Business, BI, Mobile Locations: Atlanta, Israel, Colorado, Texas

AdvertisementEarlier this week, Iman Jalali, a real estate investor in the greater Chicago area, had business in Bolingbrook, Illinois, and decided to take a detour to visit McDonald's new spinoff concept: CosMc's. AdvertisementA menu board in front of an CosMc's restaurant Iman Jalali"It's surprising. There's a spicy queso sandwich and classic McDonald's breakfast options like the Egg McMuffin and Sausage McMuffin with Egg. Joe CiolliA close-up shot of the drone Joe CiolliFrom his car, Jalali asked someone near the drive-through: "Hey, are you open?" The chain did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment on CosMc's menu.

Persons: McDonald's, —, Iman Jalali, Jalali, Iman, Joe Ciolli, Ciolli Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Chicago, Bolingbrook , Illinois, Boston, Dutch, Oregon, CosMc's, Illinois

☆ We just got a first look at McDonald's secretive new spinoff restaurant CosMc's
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Gloria Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

McDonald's has been reluctant to share many details about its planned new restaurant concept CosMc's. AdvertisementWe know just a bit more about CosMc's, McDonald's super-secret new restaurant concept based on an obscure McDonaldland character from the late '80s. Scott FredricksonA Google Maps search indicates the building is a former Boston Market restaurant that is indeed next door to a McDonald's. CosMc's on Google Maps Google MapsScott Fredrickson posted a few photos of the building's exterior on Facebook. The building appears to have a blue exterior and the CosMc's sign logo has a retro feel.

Persons: McDonald's, —, Chris Kempczinski, TikToker Snackloator, Snackloator, Scott Fredrickson, CosMc's Organizations: Service, Google, Boston Market, Facebook Locations: Bolingbrook , Illinois, CosMc's, Boston

☆ Anti-theft vending machines could solve one of our biggest shopping frustrations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Gloria Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The vending machines, or self-service shelves, eliminate the need to ask an employee for help. Now a vending machine company wants to make one of the most popular anti-theft methods — locked aisles — a bit more tolerable. Ashforth's huge modular vending machines with robotic arms can replace a store aisle's shelving units, according to the segment. Some retailers are inquiring about using bullet-proof glass on the vending machines to combat smash and grabs, according to the segment. He said his vending machines would hold the 10% or so of most commonly stolen items.

Persons: —, David Ashforth, Ashforth, it's Organizations: Service, Digital Media Vending International, NBC, Bay Area Locations: plexiglass, Bay

☆ Starbucks faces backlash over a symbol in a Native American Heritage Month sign
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Gloria Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Some Starbucks workers are calling out a poster intended to celebrate Native American History Month. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . The latest issue centers around a poster Starbucks created to celebrate Native American History month. AdvertisementAdvertisementOne Reddit user who said they were a Native American Starbucks employee wrote: "it would've been a great opportunity for the company to feature the tribes located near each region. "In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, Starbucks is celebrating Indigenous Peoples across the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawai'i alongside our Indigenous Partner Network (employee network), local communities, and in our stores," a Starbucks spokesperson told Insider.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, American Starbucks, Starbucks, American Heritage Month, Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Partner Network, Network, American Heritage Locations: American, United States, Alaska, Hawai'i

☆ Starbucks says it's fixing a customer frustration: ordering drinks to the wrong pickup location
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Gloria Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Starbucks says it's rolling out a fix to prevent customers from ordering drinks to the wrong pickup location. AdvertisementAdvertisementStarbucks says it's fixing a common customer frustration: ordering drinks to the wrong pickup location. "So we recently improved the ability for people to select a store and significantly reduce the orders that are sent to the wrong store." Ordering a drink to the wrong pickup location isn't just inconvenient for customers. These mistakenly placed orders are "our most frequent refund requests," Niccol said.

Persons: aren't, —, Brady Brewer, Brian Niccol, Chipotle, Niccol Organizations: Starbucks, Service Locations: Chipotle

☆ Spora Health's founder painted a rosy portrait of his healthcare startup. The reality is more complicated.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

The way Dan Miller told it, his startup Spora Health was crushing it, providing high-quality care to "thousands" of people online. The startup had secured at least one big contract, with Apple, according to three former Spora employees and another source close to Spora. Four of them told Insider they either no longer worked with Spora or hadn't seen Spora patients in a year. Two doctors listed on Spora's website as "featured Spora providers" also told Insider that they no longer worked for the startup. Another former clinician said she only ever treated a handful of Spora patients.

Persons: Dan Miller, Miller, Spora, it's, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna didn't, paychecks, hadn't, he's, It's, —, we've, " Miller, Shelby Livingston, Rob Price, Emmalyse Brownstein, Ryan Pickrell, Gloria Dawson, Stephanie Hallett, Alcynna Lloyd, Hayley Peterson Organizations: Company, TechCrunch, Spora, US Securities and Exchange Commission, Apple, Aetna, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Human Ventures, MaC Venture, SEC Locations: Spora, Level's, slivingston@insider.com

☆ Olaplex's CEO, who once said hair loss complaints are 'sadly, a fact of life in our industry,' steps down
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Gloria Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Olaplex CEO JuE Wong is stepping down and resigning from the haircare brand's board. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementOlaplex Holdings CEO JuE Wong is stepping down after a tumultuous three years at the helm of the haircare brand. Then, some customers shared complaints online saying the products were causing their hair to fall out. AdvertisementAdvertisementA group of customers sued Olaplex in California, claiming its products caused "serious" problems including hair loss and scalp damage.

Persons: JuE Wong, Amanda Baldwin, Wong, —, John P, Bilbrey, Olaplex, Jefferies, Baldwin Organizations: Service, Olaplex, LinkedIn Locations: California

☆ Walmart says customers on Ozempic are actually spending more money overall
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Gloria Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Walmart told the analysts the small group of known customers who take the drugs spend more overall. AdvertisementAdvertisementWalmart is trying to clarify the impact weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are actually having on its bottom line. AdvertisementAdvertisementBut speaking to Morgan Stanley analysts, Walmart has clarified "two potential misconceptions," the analysts wrote. But, within this group, Walmart observed these customers were spending slightly less on food year over year. In aggregate, GLP-1 spending changes are not moving the needle for Walmart's total business, the authors write.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, —, John Furner, Furner, hasn't, Rice Krispies Organizations: Walmart, Service, Bloomberg

☆ Starbucks is closing 7 San Francisco stores, as it expands delivery and new store formats. Here's the full list of closing locations.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Alex Bitter | Gloria Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Starbucks is closing seven locations in San Francisco as the chain cuts back on a dense store network. Many retailers have closed stores in downtown San Francisco, citing low foot traffic and crime. AdvertisementAdvertisementStarbucks is closing seven stores in San Francisco as it renovates others and adds a pickup-only location. AdvertisementAdvertisementEven without the planned closures, Starbucks operates fewer stores in San Francisco than it did several years ago. Starbucks has "opened or re-opened" three locations in San Francisco over the last six months, the company spokesperson told Insider.

Persons: it's, —, Geary, Van, Yves Saint, Laurent Organizations: Starbucks, Service, San Francisco Business Times, Safeway, Geary St, California St, Employees, Business Times, Times, Restaurant, Nordstrom Locations: San Francisco, California, Van Ness

☆ Starbucks' dome lids are infuriating baristas and embarrassing customers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Gloria Dawson | Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Some Starbucks baristas say the company's dome lids are difficult to attach to cups. The dome lids are also getting heat from Starbucks customers. "This is our plea to Starbucks to make the tall dome lids differently because they don't work," she says. A Starbucks spokesperson told Insider, "Dome lids are used for any cold beverage that is topped with whipped cream." AdvertisementAdvertisement"When the TikTok community cancels us because we have dome lids instead of flats."

Persons: it's, Laxman Narasimhan, They've, I've, TikTok, Juice Organizations: Starbucks, Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ohio, Virginia

☆ Walmart's CEO loves Sam's Club's TikTok-famous cashews, too
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Gloria Dawson | Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sam's Club private-label cashews are popular on TikTok. Sam's Club shoppers on TikTok enthusiastically discover and try new flavors like everything (as in bagel) and street taco cashews. The top seller is the Member's Mark Roasted Whole Cashews with Sea Salt, according to Sam's Club. Last year, Sam's Club announced a revamp of its Member's Mark brand, according to Marketwatch. Sam's Club said its cashews are highly rated and often re-purchased.

Persons: Doug McMillon, Goldman Sachs, cashews, Goldman, McMillon, Dale Peterson Organizations: Sam's, Walmart, Shoppers, Service, Sam's Club, Goldman Sachs, Target, Costco, Alabama Locations: Wall, Silicon, Alabama

☆ Starbucks said its app suffered a partial outage and mistakenly blasted 'order ready' notifications to customers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Gloria Dawson | Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Starbucks app glitch sent an "order ready" notification to customers' phones. Starbucks' app malfunctioned and sent the notifications by mistake, the company told Insider. Dozens of Starbucks customers also reported glitches to DownDetector, a website that tracks app outages. Some users, including Insider staff, are reporting error messages on the app, including a cheeky one that reads: "We're cleaning up a big spill. Last summer, the company faced days of technical issues, including widespread issues with mobile ordering, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Persons: Gloria Dawson Organizations: Service, Starbucks, Twitter, Wall Street Journal, Mobile Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ 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

☆ Why Starbucks' Pride decor ignited chaos and confusion this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Gloria Dawson | Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Some Starbucks employees said they were asked to remove Pride flags and decor. #pridemonth #rainbowcapitalism #shameonstarbucks #starbucks #starbuckssucks #prideflag #pridedecor #starbucksbarista #starbucksstore #targetlgbtq #starbuckslgbtq ♬ Makeba - Jain @sbworkersunited STARBUCKS IS BANNING PRIDE FLAGS ACROSS THE US. Starbucks employees said they got mixed messages about Pride decorSome store employees told Insider they were given various rationales for changes in Pride decor at their stores. A Starbucks store manager in the Midwest said her district manager told her, "We are not allowed to have any decorations that are not Starbucks brand, period. "This year, they told us we can't decorate," Alisha Humphrey, a Starbucks partner in Oklahoma City and Starbucks Workers United organizer, told Insider.

Persons: —, they've, Damon Schnur, Alisha Humphrey, they'd, Elaine Thompson, We're, Gloria Dawson Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Twitter, US Pride, STARBUCKS, PRIDE, Starbucks Workers United, Midwest, Oklahoma Locations: Pride, Ohio, Wisconsin, Oklahoma City

☆ Uber and DoorDash warn of huge changes when New York City adopts its new $18 minimum wage for delivery workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Gloria Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

New York City announced a new law making $18 the minimum wage for delivery workers. "New York City is setting the tone for across America," Adams said during a press conference announcing the new minimum wage. Currently, most apps pay delivery workers, who are contractors and not employees, per order. DoorDash's spokesperson said many of its delivery workers are casual users who are supplementing income at their full- or part-time jobs. Grubhub, for its part, said the pay structure had "good intentions" but would have "serious adverse consequences for delivery workers in New York City."

Persons: Uber, —, Eric Adams, Adams, Josh Gold, Gold, DoorDash's, Gloria Dawson Organizations: York City, Service, New York City Department of Consumer, New Locations: York, York City, America, New York City, New York

☆ A Walmart shopper said a police officer kneeled on his neck during a receipt check over a frozen pizza
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Hayley Peterson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Walmart shopper said a police officer pinned him to the ground after asking about his receipt. Dayton Borisouth told Insider the officer confronted him after he purchased a $5 frozen pizza. The Kansas City, Kansas police department said it disciplined two officers involved in the incident. Dayton Borisouth, 24, told Insider he was leaving the Walmart store in early June after purchasing the pizza for his family, when an officer confronted him. Video shows officers kneeling on the Walmart shopperThe police department said Borisouth became "belligerent" after he was asked for his receipt.

Persons: Dayton Borisouth, —, Borisouth, Borisouth's, Chris Enloe, Gloria Dawson Organizations: Walmart, Service, Dayton Borisouth, Fox, Kansas City, Shoppers Locations: Kansas City , Kansas, Denver

☆ Teens can cash in on summer jobs and expect to be paid more as employers scramble to fill openings this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Gloria Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

There were 10 million job openings in April, many in sectors ripe for teen employment. Teens in typical summer jobs like lifeguards, camp counselors, waiters, and retail workers should see raises this year. Summer job openings are slightly less than last year, according to Indeed. But overall, summer jobs have positive benefits for teens and the economy, according to the Rhode Island College report. "Teen employment is highly path-dependent — the more teens work today, the more likely they will work tomorrow," the report said.

Persons: —, Paul Harrington, Harrington Organizations: Service, Privacy, Employers, Rhode Island College, Wall Street, New York Times, Times, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Rhode Island

☆ Why Walmart, Costco, and Sam's Club workers check your receipts — and you should comply
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Hayley Peterson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club, and many other retailers check shoppers' receipts at store exits. Retail employees check receipts to reduce theft and ensure customers leave with all their purchases. So why would any store check receipts if it creates if it causes so much tension? Why Costco and Sam's Club check receiptsBut checking receipts isn't just about reducing theft. "To ensure that you are charged correctly for the merchandise you have selected, Sam's Club may inspect or electronically scan your merchandise and electronic/phone or paper copy receipt(s) when you exit any Sam's Club location," the warehouse chain said on its website.

Persons: —, you've, Gloria Dawson, Costco, it's Organizations: Walmart, Costco, Sam's, Service, Shoppers Locations: Denver

☆ Gen Zers are the worst tippers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Gloria Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In a recent survey from Bankrate, Gen Z respondents were identified as the worst tippers. But like so many issues of the moment, Gen Z has a slightly different take and response to the situation. A recent survey from Bankrate found Gen Zers, or people 18-26 years old, are the generation least likely to tip. More than half of Baby Boomers surveyed tip at least 20%, but only a quarter of Gen Zers do. But just 22% of Gen Zers felt that way.

Persons: Tipping, Gen, —, Z, Bankrate, Zers, Gen Z, Gen Zers, Ted Rossman, Gen Xers, Rossman, Boomers, it's Organizations: Service, Baby Boomers, Boomers Locations: Bankrate

☆ What Boycott? Target foot traffic is up days after LGBTQ collection blowback began.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Gloria Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

But while all the drama was unfolding, foot traffic was up at Target stores. Despite the outpouring of anti-Target sentiment (and false information) online and from right-wing politicians and pundits, foot traffic at Target stores for the last few days of May was up. From April 30 to May 27, 2023, Target saw a 69% increase in foot traffic compared to the same time period last year, Gravy Analytics found. To be sure, Target's foot traffic boost is part of a longer-term trend, Gravy Analytics noted in a blog post. Early in 2022, foot traffic at Target declined.

Persons: Target, — Organizations: Service, Target, Twitter, Analytics, Walmart, Costco

☆ Stores are locking up entire aisles of items. They blame shoplifters — but some of it is their own fault.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Gloria Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Retailers like CVS, Walmart, and Target have tried to fight theft by locking up aisles of products. Stores must also consider staffing and supply chain issues, a retail theft expert told UBS. Tech can help fight organized retail crime, but "it's necessary to follow up with human intervention," the expert said. The source told UBS that retailers often miss two key elements — staffing levels and supply chain issues — when trying to tackle shrink. "The lack of sufficient staffing remains a major contributor to shrink, as shrink monitoring technologies are only effective insofar as they flag risk," the UBS note said.

Persons: — Organizations: CVS, Walmart, Target, UBS, Tech, Service, Privacy

Mobile ordering and delivery have boosted Starbucks' bottom line and have become an incremental and growing part of the business. Starbucks would not share specifics on the size of its delivery business but has previously said the segment has seen a 20% year-over-year growth. CloudKitchens, which rents small, private kitchen bays that share a reception, offers one solution to delivery growth. Starbucks plans to open the San Francisco ghost kitchen on August 22 and operate it from 7am to 6pm, per a March filing with the city. The ghost kitchen will not sell alcohol.

Persons: Uber, —, Travis Kalanick, Laxman Narasimhan, Travis Kalanick Steve Jennings, CloudKitchens, Pat Grismer, Brady Brewer, Gloria Dawson, Darius Rafieyan, Meghan Morris Organizations: Starbucks, Service, CloudKitchens, Mobile, Buffalo Wild Wings, Getty, TechCrunch, Food Locations: Francisco, San Francisco, China, New York

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