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☆ Store closings have hit their highest level in years. Competition and higher prices crushed them
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-25 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“It kept these players alive that couldn’t survive in normal situations.”Competition from juggernauts like Amazon, Walmart, Costco, Home Depot and other big-box retailers has also squeezed smaller chains. In 2017 and 2018, retailers closed a combined 13,400 stores, according to Coresight. Retailers closed a record 9,800 stores in 2019. Around 9,700 stores closed in 2020, according to Coresight. Drug store chains are also shrinking.

Persons: —, ”, Michael Brown, Kearney, ” Brown, Barbara Kahn, Charlotte Russe, Shopko, Ted Decker, Joann Fabric, Denny’s, Kelli Valade, Justin Sullivan, Amazon’s, It’s, ” Kahn, TJ Maxx, TJX Organizations: New, New York CNN, Walgreens, Research, Companies, Consumers, “, Walmart, Costco, Home, ” Retailers, United, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, Coresight, Retailers, Sears, P Global Market Intelligence, CVS, Aid, Marshalls, Aldi Locations: New York, “, Amazon, United States, Gymboree, JCPenney, Tijuana, HomeGoods

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit CardThe Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is a great choice if you're just starting out. Transfer points from Diners Club or hotel loyalty programsDiners Club members can also transfer Club Rewards points to Southwest — 1,500 Club Rewards points, for instance, would convert to 1,200 Southwest points. It's also possible to redeem points earned through participating hotel loyalty programs if you'd rather put them toward flights than hotel stays, though redemption rates are pretty low:5,000 Best Western Rewards points = 1,200 Southwest points6,000 Choice Privileges points = 1,800 Southwest points2,000 Radisson Rewards America points = 200 Southwest points50,000 Radisson Rewards America points = 5,000 Southwest points100,000 Radisson Rewards America points = 10,000 Southwest points9,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 3,000 Southwest points30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 10,000 Southwest points60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 20,000 Southwest points90,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 30,000 Southwest points120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 40,000 Southwest points5,000 World of Hyatt points = 2,400 Southwest points50,000 World of Hyatt points = 24,000 Southwest pointsNote that World of Hyatt throws in an additional 6,000 Southwest points as long as you're a member, while Marriott Bonvoy adds 5,000 Southwest points for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred. Earn Southwest points by taking online surveysYou can earn points by taking online surveys through E-Rewards — $15 worth of E-Rewards yields 300 Southwest points, $25 worth of E-Rewards yields 600 Southwest points, $50 worth of E-Rewards yields 1,200 Southwest points, and $100 worth of E-Rewards yields 2,400 Southwest points. Southwest Rapid Rewards Points Frequently Asked QuestionsHow much is 50,000 Southwest points worth?

Persons: It's, you'll, You'll, Cardholders, Chase, Marriott, There's, you've, Hertz, —, Ronald McDonald Organizations: Business, Rewards, Southwest Airlines, Southwest Rapid, Rapid, Southwest, Business Credit, eBay, Rapid Rewards, Southwest ®, FDIC, Southwest Airlines ®, Card, Business Credit Card, Southwest Premier, Performance, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Club, Southwest —, Radisson, Marriott, Hyatt, Southwest Hotels, Best, Hotels & Resorts, Choice, Marriott Bonvoy, MGM Resorts International, MGM Resorts, Hertz, Apple, Old Navy, Dartington Crystal, Emergency, Reliant, Central America, Francisco, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Student Conservation Association, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Polaris, United Negro College Fund, Hispanic Heritage Foundation Locations: United States, U.S, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Aruba, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Turks, Caicos, Dominican Republic, Southwest, rideshare, Southwest airfare, Rocketmiles, Alamo, Avis, Pennsylvania , New Jersey , Maryland , Massachusetts, Illinois, Texas, Caribbean, Central, New York, Los Angeles, Honolulu , Hawaii, Baltimore, Cabos, Denver, Liberia, Nassau, Bahamas

The Aeroplan® Credit Card earns points directly, or you can transfer flexible points to Aeroplan. Using Aeroplan credit cardsThe Aeroplan® Credit Card is the only U.S. credit card that earns Aeroplan points directly. Aeroplan® Credit Card cardholders can also redeem Aeroplan points toward any eligible travel purchase through Chase Pay Yourself Back. So if you transferred 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you'd end up with 20,000 Aeroplan points, plus a 5,000-point bonus for a total of 25,000 Aeroplan points. Aeroplan Rewards frequently asked questionsHow can I earn Aeroplan points without flying?

Persons: we'll, Aeroplan, Chase, It's, cardholders, Uber, Wiley, Julie Mehretu, Peacock, Uber Cash, you’re, Bilt, Experian, TransUnion ™, Equifax, —, Hilton Organizations: Business, Business †, Marriott, Air Canada, Star Alliance, Read, Rewards, Canada, United Airlines, Lufthansa, ANA, Air, Air Canada Flying Air, Travelers, Air Canada Partner Airlines Aegean Airlines Aer Lingus Air China Air, Air Dolomiti Air India Air Mauritius Air New Zealand Air Serbia All Nippon Airways, Austrian, Avianca Azul, Airlines Bamboo Airways, Calm, North Cathay, Central Mountain Air Copa Airlines Croatia Airlines Egyptair Emirates Ethiopian Airlines Etihad Airways, GOL, Air Juneyao Airlines, Polish Airlines Lufthansa Middle East Airlines Olympic Air Oman Air PAL Airlines Scandinavian Airlines Shenzhen Airlines Singapore Airlines South African Airways SriLankan Airlines, TAP Air, Turkish Airlines United Virgin Australia Vistara, United, Air New Zealand, American Express, Chase, FDIC, Singapore Airlines, Global, TSA, Express, Hilton, Saks, Entertainment, Disney, ESPN, The New York Times, Street, American, Walmart, Saks Fifth, Capital, One, Premier, Chase Travel, Sapphire, Hotel, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Aeroplan, ™ Card, Mastercard, Alliance, Coast Hotels, Hilton Honors, Radisson, Wyndham, Avis, Budget, Apple, JetBlue, Fly United, All Nippon Airways Locations: Canada, Canadian, United, Air Canada, Air Canada Flying Air Canada, U.S, cardholder, Singapore Airlines ., rideshares, Hulu, Aeroplan, Alaska, Hyatt, America, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, Europe, East, Africa, India, Asia, Oceania, Australia, New Zealand, South America, North America, West Coast, Hawaii, Seattle, Vancouver, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Chevron

☆ Millennials rejoice: Wedge sandals are back!
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Chloé's runway show this week featured models (and celebs) in high-heeled wedge sandals. It wasn't the clothes on the models but rather the image of the celebrities sitting in the front row — all wearing big, chunky platform wedge sandals. Technically, Vogue already declared "wedge sandals are back" last April. AdvertisementElder millennials have suffered the indignity of seeing some of the trends of their youth come back — low-rise jeans, trucker hats. But wedge sandals?

Persons: —, Chemena Kamali, millennials, Vanessa Friedman Organizations: Service, Vogue France, Vogue, New York Times Locations: Paris

☆ How America’s once great department stores became a dying breed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

But department stores, focused on America’s middle class, are fading. The victims of shifting consumer tastes were not the department stores that anchored the local mall, it was the small, locally owned stores along downtown shopping districts that were closing their doors. And possibly even more than the big box competitors, department stores have suffered from consumers shifting to buying items online rather than in person. The steady closing of the department stores that once served as “anchors” of malls across suburban America has been another nail in the coffin of many malls, hurting the department stores that remained in hollowed-out malls with a fraction of their earlier traffic. Saunders said one of the primary problem for Macy’s is that its holding company, formerly known as Federated Department Stores, spent much of its resources on buying other department store brands, such May’s Department Stores, and Filene’s, rather than investing in the stores its held.

Persons: New York CNN —, Neil Sauders, ”, JC Penney, It’s, “, Neil Saunders, Shannon Stapleton, Saunders, ” Saunders, Al Bello, Sunny Zheng, Macy’s, Tony Spring, Taylor, Brian Snyder, Eddie Lambert, Michael Brown, Kearney, ” Brown, Mike Segar, Richard W, Sears, Alvah Roebuck, Sears Roebuck, Bettmann, PhotoQuest, Jack Manning, Frank Scherschel, Owen, Lucille Jagusch, Arlene Hardt, Martin Luther King Jr, Michael Ochs, Ron Frehm, Ralf, Finn Hestoft, Mark Peterson, Seth Meyers, Hugh Jackman, NBCUniversal, Kaylin Wilson, Jim Cole, Rene Johnston, Maria Alejandra Cardona, Scott Olson, Cesar Villasenor, Mel Melcon, Sarah Blesener, Paul Hennessy, Patti Naleck, Naleck, Stacey Wescott, Brown Organizations: New, New York CNN, American, Walmart, Company, Department, Sears, Target, GlobalData, JCPenney, Research, RadioShack, Reuters Sears, Federated Department Stores, May’s, Reuters, Chicago History, Sears Roebuck, Roebuck, Hulton, AP, AP Soldiers, Michael Ochs Archives, Getty, Bettmann, Kmart, Bloomberg, Toronto Star, Reuters Residents, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Tribune, Service Locations: New York, GlobalData, America, Nanuet , New York, North Redwood , Minnesota, Chicago, El Paso , Texas, Jackson , Mississippi, Tucson , Arizona, Caracas, Venezuela, Niles , Illinois, Morton Grove , Illinois, Baltimore, White Plains , New York, Woodfield , Illinois, Hicksville , New York, Nashua , New Hampshire, Mentor , Ohio, Mississauga , Ontario, Hialeah , Florida, Janesville , Wisconsin, Santa Monica , California, Rockaway , New Jersey, Leesburg , Florida, Schaumburg , Illinois

☆ Wolverine World Wide sells Sperry to Authentic Brands Group in shoe retail deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Wolverine World Wide has sold Sperry to brand management firm and Reebok owner Authentic Brands Group, as the footwear retailer looks to focus on better performing assets, the company announced Thursday. Aldo will also work with the brand on footwear design, production and global distribution. It already works closely with Authentic on running brands like Roxy and Brooks Brothers. The deal will generate $130 million, which Wolverine plans to use to pay down debt, it said. Wolverine originally acquired Sperry, a 90-year-old brand, in 2012 from Payless ShoeSource owner Collective Brands in a $1.23 billion deal that also included Saucony, Stride Rite and Keds.

Persons: Aldo, Brooks, Wolverine, Payless, Saucony, Merrell, Hush, Betty, Sperry, Wolverine's, Brendan Hoffman Organizations: Sperry, Reebok, Authentic Brands, Aldo Group, Brooks Brothers, Brands Locations: Ireland

☆ The new Bed Bath & Beyond's CEO is out, days after activist firm called for his ouster
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The new Bed Bath & Beyond announced Monday its CEO, Jonathan Johnson, is immediately stepping down from his position just days after activist hedge fund JAT Capital called for his ouster. He led the company through its acquisition of Bed Bath & Beyond earlier this year and its corporate name change to Beyond Inc. , which took effect Monday. David Nielsen, Beyond's president and a former Payless ShoeSource executive, has taken over as interim CEO while the board undergoes a search for a permanent candidate. Beyond said Johnson's departure "follows mutual agreement" between him and the board to transition the company to new leadership, but the move came on suddenly. The company and Johnson didn't immediately return a request for comment seeking additional information.

Persons: Jonathan Johnson, Johnson, JAT, Marcus Lemonis, David Nielsen, Jonathan, Allison Abraham, Beyond's, Johnson didn't, Patrick Byrne Organizations: Bed, Inc, CNBC PRO Locations: JAT, CNBC's, New York, Russian

☆ The rise and fall of pharma bigwig Rite Aid, which couldn't keep up with rivals Walgreen and CVS
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Nidhi Pandurangi | Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Rite Aid filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sunday following slumping sales and a series of lawsuits. Rite Aid, which has over 47,000 employees, has struggled in recent years to compete against larger peers like CVS and Walgreens Boots Alliance, as well as Amazon. Rite Aid has faced growing competition from direct-to-consumer pharmacy startups as well as medication deliveries from the likes of Amazon and Uber. Rite Aid also experienced supply chain challenges after changing supplier for many of its perishable consumer goods and shrink "continued to be a significant headwind," Burr said. Representatives for Rite Aid did not immediately respond for Insider's request for further comment beyond sending statements about Stein's appointment and its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

Persons: it's, —, Jeffrey S, Stein, Elizabeth Burr, Heyward Donigan, Donigan, Burr, there'd Organizations: Service, Rite, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Rite Aid, pharma, Aid, Discount, Rite Aid Corporation, PayLess, Walgreens, Albertsons, New York Times Locations: New Jersey, Scranton , Pennsylvania

☆ New York fines Avis Budget for denying car rentals to people who lack credit cards
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Budget rental car signage is seen at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York City, U.S., March 30, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Avis Budget Group Inc FollowNEW YORK, Aug 15 (Reuters) - New York state on Tuesday fined Avis Budget Group (CAR.O) $275,000 for refusing to rent vehicles to customers who did not have credit cards. Letitia James, the state's attorney general, said the civil fine resolved charges that the operator of Avis Car Rental, Budget Rent a Car and Payless Car Rental violated a state law against requiring credit cards for vehicle rentals. A probe begun late last year following a customer complaint found that 74 out of 106 Avis and Budget locations across New York insisted on credit cards, while 32 accepted debit cards. An outside public relations firm for Avis Budget did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: John F, Andrew Kelly, Letitia James, James, Jonathan Stempel, Mark Potter Organizations: Kennedy International Airport, REUTERS, Avis Budget, Tuesday, Avis Budget Group, Rental, Avis, Thomson Locations: Queens , New York City, U.S, New York, , New Jersey

Walk into Cesar Villavicencio's three-bedroom apartment in Washington Heights, New York City, and you might think he had two roommates. Villavicencio graduated in 2009, and, like many aspiring Broadway stars, packed his bags for New York City. But in drag, Villavicencio found empowerment that had eluded him. Zachary Green and Lauren Shamo | CNBC Make ItWhen it comes to getting in drag, Villavicencio's costs, just like his income, can be variable. In addition to five weekly shows, Villavicencio performs as Pixie at a residency in Fire Island and at corporate engagements.

Persons: Cesar Villavicencio's, Pixie Aventura, Villavicencio, I'm, Cesar Villavicencio, Zachary Green, Lauren Shamo, John Leguizamo, Vegas Dion, Payless, Cesar Villavicencio Villavicencio, Aventura, let's, I've, he's, Elham, Max, isn't, It's, She's, Pixie Organizations: CNBC, Miami, YouTube, Otterbein University, Salvation Army, Broadway, West, Cornell Medicine, Nursing, New, Fire, Apple, Max Locations: Washington Heights , New York City, Villavicencio, New York, Fire, South Florida, Westerville , Ohio, Columbus, New York City, Aventura, Villavicencio's New York, homebuying

How to earn Southwest pointsCompare Southwest credit cards Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit CardSouthwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit CardSouthwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Transfer points from Diners Club or hotel loyalty programsDiners Club members can also transfer Club Rewards points to Southwest — 1,500 Club Rewards points, for instance, would convert to 1,200 Southwest points. It's also possible to redeem points earned through participating hotel loyalty programs if you'd rather put them toward flights than hotel stays, though redemption rates are pretty low:5,000 Best Western Rewards points = 1,200 Southwest points6,000 Choice Privileges points = 1,800 Southwest points2,000 Radisson Rewards America points = 200 Southwest points50,000 Radisson Rewards America points = 5,000 Southwest points100,000 Radisson Rewards America points = 10,000 Southwest points9,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 3,000 Southwest points30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 10,000 Southwest points60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 20,000 Southwest points90,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 30,000 Southwest points120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 40,000 Southwest points5,000 World of Hyatt points = 2,400 Southwest points50,000 World of Hyatt points = 24,000 Southwest pointsNote that World of Hyatt throws in an additional 6,000 Southwest points as long as you're a member, while Marriott Bonvoy adds 5,000 Southwest points for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred. For instance, a $220 Business Select fare would yield 2,640 Southwest points, while a $200 Anytime ticket would yield 2,000 Southwest points, and a $100 Wanna Get Away ticket would yield 600 Southwest points. Earn Southwest points by taking online surveysYou can earn points by taking online surveys through E-Rewards — $15 worth of E-Rewards yields 300 Southwest points, $25 worth of E-Rewards yields 600 Southwest points, $50 worth of E-Rewards yields 1,200 Southwest points, and $100 worth of E-Rewards yields 2,400 Southwest points.

You can get many thousands of dollars in value from Aeroplan points even if you never step foot on an Air Canada plane. Earn Aeroplan points with credit cards and points transfersThe Aeroplan® Credit Card is the only US credit card that earns Aeroplan points directly. So if you transferred 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you'd end up with 20,000 Aeroplan points, plus a 5,000-point bonus for a total of 25,000 Aeroplan points. Earn Aeroplan points flying Air CanadaThe next easiest way to rack up Aeroplan points is by actually flying Air Canada, but the earning formula is going to change later this year. As far as we know, it will look like this:Basic fares: Earn 2x points per (Canadian) dollarStandard fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarFlex/Comfort fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarLatitude fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarPremium economy fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarBusiness fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarEssentially, everything but basic economy fares will earn 3x per dollar.

☆ Meet Thom Browne, the stripe-obsessed designer who took on Adidas and won
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Danni Santana | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Thom Browne defeated Adidas in court this month over its right to use its four stripe design. Adidas sought roughly $7.8 million in damages — equivalent to the amount Adidas believed it would have earned through a licensing agreement with Thom Browne and profits Thom Browne made off the parallel stripe designs. Fashion Designer Thom Browne arrives at Manhattan Federal Court on January 03, 2023. Thom Browne made $285 million in 2021 revenue compared to $23 billion for Adidas, according to the New York Times report. By then, Thom Browne was dressing sports teams like the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers and European soccer club FC Barcelona for pregame appearances.

☆ Is this the last Christmas for Sears?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Easterling was at the Sears in her hometown of Jersey City, New Jersey, one of only 15 full-line Sears stores still open. The two started a catalog business selling watches and jewelry in 1888, incorporating under the Sears Roebuck name in 1893. The Sears catalog was the way many Americans first started to buy mass-produced goods. File photo/AP People shop inside a Sears store in Morton Grove, Illinois, in 1961. AP Soldiers guard a Sears store in Baltimore after riots broke out following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.

How to earn Southwest pointsCompare Southwest credit cards Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit CardSouthwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit CardSouthwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Transfer points from Diners Club or hotel loyalty programsDiners Club members can also transfer Club Rewards points to Southwest — 1,500 Club Rewards points, for instance, would convert to 1,200 Southwest points. It's also possible to redeem points earned through participating hotel loyalty programs if you'd rather put them toward flights than hotel stays, though redemption rates are pretty low:5,000 Best Western Rewards points = 1,200 Southwest points6,000 Choice Privileges points = 1,800 Southwest points2,000 Radisson Rewards America points = 200 Southwest points50,000 Radisson Rewards America points = 5,000 Southwest points100,000 Radisson Rewards America points = 10,000 Southwest points9,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 3,000 Southwest points30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 10,000 Southwest points60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 20,000 Southwest points90,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 30,000 Southwest points120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 40,000 Southwest points5,000 World of Hyatt points = 2,400 Southwest points50,000 World of Hyatt points = 24,000 Southwest pointsNote that World of Hyatt throws in an additional 6,000 Southwest points as long as you're a member, while Marriott Bonvoy adds 5,000 Southwest points for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred to an airline. For instance, a $220 Business Select fare would yield 2,640 Southwest points, while a $200 Anytime ticket would yield 2,000 Southwest points, and a $100 Wanna Get Away ticket would yield 600 Southwest points. Earn Southwest points by taking online surveysYou can earn points by taking online surveys through E-Rewards — $15 worth of E-Rewards yields 300 Southwest points, $25 worth of E-Rewards yields 600 Southwest points, $50 worth of E-Rewards yields 1,200 Southwest points, and $100 worth of E-Rewards yields 2,400 Southwest points.

With the launch of the new Chase Aeroplan credit card, there are now more ways than ever to earn Air Canada Aeroplan points. How to earn Aeroplan pointsUnder the new scheme, Aeroplan members can earn points (not miles) in a number of ways. Earn Aeroplan points with credit cards and points transfersThe new Aeroplan® Credit Card is the only US credit card that earns Aeroplan points directly. So if you transferred 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points, you'd end up with 20,000 Aeroplan points, plus a 5,000-point bonus for a total of 25,000 Aeroplan points. As far as we know, it will look like this:Basic fares: Earn 2x points per (Canadian) dollarStandard fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarFlex/Comfort fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarLatitude fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarPremium economy fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarBusiness fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarEssentially, everything but basic economy fares will earn 3x per dollar.

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