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☆ 21+ Best Secret Santa and White Elephant Gifts for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-22 | by ( Bethany Heitman | Bethany Heitman Is A Contributing Editor At Nbc Select. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +12 min

Love them or hate them, Secret Santa and White Elephant gift exchanges are a popular holiday tradition. Below, find some of the best gifts for Secret Santa or White Elephant parties. SKIP AHEAD The best Secret Santa and White Elephant gifts in 2024 | Why trust NBC Select? The best Secret Santa and White Elephant gifts in 2024We rounded up gift ideas based on our previous coverage and NBC Select recommendations to help you find the right gift for your white elephant and Secret Santa gift exchanges. The bag is also slightly padded to provide protectionSometimes the best White Elephant or Secret Santa gifts are the things you may not buy for yourself, but that are super fun to own.

Persons: I’ve, Biana Alvarez, Peacock, Max, Rebecca Rodriguez, it’s, Rodriguez, ”, Harry Rabinowitz, “, Alvarez, gifting, Lindsay Schneider, foodies, Bethany Heitman, Bianca Alvarez, TikTok Organizations: NBC, JBL, NBC Giftable Tech, Netflix, Hulu, Apple, Bluetooth, Hydro, Facebook, Twitter Locations: Belgian, Texas

☆ Mattel apologizes for accidentally printing X-rated link on boxes for 'Wicked' dolls
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Mattel apologized for including an X-rated site link on "Wicked" doll packaging. AdvertisementToy maker Mattel has apologized for a printing error on the packaging of a line of "Wicked" dolls that listed an X-rated adult site. Related storiesWalmart confirmed it had paused the sale of the dolls as Mattel works to correct the misprint. A completed eBay listing for a Mattel "Wicked" doll with a URL misprint on the packaging. EbayAlthough the "Wicked" dolls are still visible on the Mattel website, the purchase links didn't yield available results on Monday morning.

Persons: Mattel, —, Stanley, Mattel's Organizations: Service, Mattel Locations: Target, U.S

☆ Painting the town pink and green: 'Wicked' takes over retail ahead of theatrical debut
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-09 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

These "Wicked" collaborations cross the spectrum from apparel, accessories, footwear, beauty and costumes all the way to home decor, toys and even one-of-a-kind cars. Universal 's theatrical retelling of the famed Broadway musical is creating buzz ahead of its Nov. 22 release with hundreds of merchandise offerings from dozens of retail partners. "Barbie" painted the town pink in 2023, and now "Wicked" is upping the ante by adding a splash of green. The report, which surveyed 2,000 adults in the U.S., also determined that fandom collaborations and partnered releases are most successful among niche super-fandoms. What could also drive demand is the fact that these merchandise collaborations are limited-time only.

Persons: Barbies, Betty Crocker, it's, Evan Hanson Organizations: Walmart, Mattel, Lexus, Gershwin, Broadway, Retailers, Universal, Hollywood Locations: New York City, U.S

☆ Starbucks' app is down on the first day of the chain's holiday menu
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-07 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Starbucks' mobile app appeared to be down during the morning coffee rush on Thursday. AdvertisementSome Starbucks customers could not place orders through its mobile app on Thursday, the first day of the coffee chain's holiday menu. The message that some Starbucks app users saw on Thursday. Alex Bitter/BIDowndetector, a website that tracks website outages, showed a spike in user reports of problems with the Starbucks app around 8 a.m. Related Video Meet the Amazon warehouse workers paying the price for fast, free shippingThursday is the first day Starbucks' holiday offerings are on sale.

Persons: —, Alex Bitter, chai, Gould 🖤, rinks., rian Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Business Locations: Washington ,, New York City

☆ 19+ bestsellers from Amazon October Prime Day 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Aksha Mittapalli | Aksha Mittapalli Is An Editorial Intern For Select On Nbc News. She Is A Senior At Nyu | Double Majoring In Journalism | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Prime Big Deal Days is finally here, offering discounts on plenty of items during the 48-hour sale, exclusive to Prime members. Below, we rounded up the most purchased products so far among our readers during NBC Select’s ongoing Prime Big Deal Days 2024 coverage. SKIP AHEAD October Prime Day 2024 bestsellersWant more from our everyday experts, straight to your inbox? All the products we recommend are highly rated items with at least a 4.0-star average rating from hundreds of reviews. To round up this list, I compiled bestselling products among our NBC Select readers during Prime Big Deal Days.

Persons: TikTok Organizations: NBC, Deal, Amazon, Wellness, Bath, Facebook, Twitter

Through Sept. 27, non-members can get a year-long Sam’s Club membership for just $15, that’s 70% off the typical $50 membership price (terms apply). There are two levels of Sam’s Club memberships: the classic Sam’s Club membership and a Sam’s Club Plus membership. Extra cash back: All Club members earn 1% Sam’s Cash when they use a Sam’s Club Mastercard, but Plus members get 3%. All Club members earn 1% Sam’s Cash when they use a Sam’s Club Mastercard, but Plus members get 3%. Up to $50 Sam’s Cash: Members get $10 Sam’s Cash for each friend that joins using the member’s referral link (limit of 5).

Persons: You’ll, Mark, aren’t, you’ll, it’s, Cash, Member’s Mark, maestros, They’re, wicks, Lauren Levy, TikTok Organizations: Sam’s, The, NBC, Club, Savings, Health, Mastercard, Cash, CNN, Yahoo Entertainment, MSN, USA, Facebook, Twitter

☆ Money launderers are increasingly turning to crypto to conceal flow of funds, Chainalysis says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Money launderers are increasingly using cryptocurrencies to conceal the origins and movement of illegally-obtained funds, according to a report by Chainalysis. In 2024, money laundering in crypto encompasses all crime — not just that which is inherently tied to the crypto ecosystem," the blockchain analytics firm said in a July report. Money launderers use various methods such as crypto mixers, cross-chain bridges and "hops" between wallets to conceal the flow of funds. Crypto mixers, or tumblers, involve mixing crypto from various sources to make the detection of their origin and ownership difficult. Bad actors also leverage on crypto bridges to hide the origins of funds by moving them between different blockchain networks.

Persons: — Locations: Paris, France

☆ 7 things Starbucks customers should stop wasting money on, according to a former barista
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Inga Parkel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewI worked as a Starbucks barista for nearly a year, and I became extremely familiar with just how expensive the popular coffee chain is. As a stingy spender, I made several mental notes on ways customers would unnecessarily waste their money during my shifts. If I find irresistible merchandise, I'll take advantage of the Starbucks rewards program. If you're looking for a caffeine fix, stop wasting your money on hot venti lattesGrande and venti lattes have the same amount of espresso. Stop paying for bottled waterI've always been baffled by people who insist on buying bottled water from Starbucks.

Persons: —, spender, Nadir Keklik, Michael Probst, It's, they're, Ramin Talaie Organizations: Service, Business, AP, Americano, Getty, Starbucks

☆ June Is the Month When Olympic Dreams Die
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-16 | by ( Scott Cacciola | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Before the Olympics even begin, there is always heartbreak. And June may be the hardest month of all. Caitlin Clark, the ascendant star of women’s basketball, just found out that she won’t be going to Paris. So did Bill May, whose hopes of becoming the first man to compete at the Olympics in the sport of artistic swimming were dashed by the U.S. selection committee. That’s because the U.S. trials in sports like swimming, gymnastics and track and field might just be the fiercest crucibles of all, with a ruthless requirement for Olympic berths: Perform well, or you’re staying home.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Bill May Organizations: U.S, Team U.S.A, Paris Locations: Paris

☆ E-Commerce and the Influencer Economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Annemarie Conte | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Wirecutter, The Times’s product recommendation service, tests many of the wares that clog Americans’ social media feeds. In today’s newsletter, I’ll explain how e-commerce, a $6 trillion global industry, became choked with junk. Paid to sellOnline shopping can expose people to a greasy influencer economy. When an influencer’s follower clicks a link and buys something, the influencer makes money. That’s why people on your social media feed are crowing about their 10 favorite Amazon finds or talking about how an expensive gizmo has changed their life.

Organizations: Brands

Within days, millions of TikTok videos using music from Universal artists went mute, and since then guessing which side would blink first has become a media-business parlor game. Backing this up, one study found that TikTok users reported experiencing higher levels of flow than Instagram users. Corey Basch, who analyzed 100 popular TikTok videos with the hashtag mentalhealth for a 2022 study, emerged concerned about the looping effect of the algorithm. Cerave Sales increased by more than 60 percent in 2020 after skin care became a lockdown pastime and TikTok users discovered the drugstore mainstay. Cat Crack Catnip It briefly sold out in 2021 after TikTok users posted videos of their cats going crazy for it.

Persons: randos, TikTok, you’ve, Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, ”, “ Wonka, Barbie, “ Oppenheimer, —, goofing, cavorting, Sue Fleishman, Z’s Walter Cronkite, Spehar, Donald J, Trump, he’s, Caitlin Clark’s, Joe Biden, Justin Bieber, Abbie Richards, Richards, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X, Fleetwood Mac, Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Drake, Swift, ByteDance, can’t, Mark Warner, hasn’t, Al, ear on, Li Organizations: Fleetwood Mac, Facebook, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, White, Pew Research Center, YouTube, The New York Times, Kansas City Chiefs, Media, Colgate, Universal Music Group, ByteDance, Intelligence Committee, e Locations: United States, Beijing, Biden’s, TikTok, Singapore, View, Calif, China, American

☆ I toured Google's new $2.1 billion office in NYC and it's like an all-inclusive wellness resort — see inside
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Madeline Park | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Madeline ParkThe natural wood yoga studio is right around the corner from the gym and has a calming glow of light. Madeline ParkThe items at the store ranged from T-shirts ($30), jackets (~$100), tumblers ($15), and children's books. Madeline ParkThe actual cafeterias at Google's new office are the ultimate benefit and charm of working here. The coworking spacesThis coworking space is called "ROYGBIV," an acronym for the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The Google Office at St. John's Terminal is so big that I didn't get to explore all of it.

Persons: Madeline Park, —, Park, café, Madeline, Klara, Patricia Urquiola, there's Organizations: Google, Hudson, Service, Americano, Recreation, YouTube Locations: York City, Hudson, New York City, chai, Spanish, St

☆ I toured Google's new $2.1 billion office in NYC. Here are the 15 coolest things I saw.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Madeline Park | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Madeline ParkThe natural wood yoga studio is right around the corner from the gym and has a calming glow of light. Madeline ParkThe items at the store ranged from T-shirts ($30), jackets (~$100), tumblers ($15), and children's books. Madeline ParkThe actual cafeterias at Google's new office are the ultimate benefit and charm of working here. The coworking spacesThis coworking space is called "ROYGBIV," an acronym for the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The Google office at St. John's Terminal is so big that I didn't get to explore all of it.

☆ I've been to 35 all-inclusive resorts. Here are 10 mistakes I always see first-timers make.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Kelly Magyarics | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

I've stayed at all-inclusive resorts around the world and seen first-timers make the same mistakes. AdvertisementVacationing at an all-inclusive resort is very appealing for many travelers — and with good reason. As a travel writer, I've been to dozens of all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico, the Maldives, and more. Not tippingSpeaking of tipping, I'm well aware that some all-inclusive resorts invite guests to "leave their wallets at home." AdvertisementOrdering drinks wrongYou have access to lots of drinks at all-inclusive resorts, but not all of them are good.

Persons: I've, —, Kelly Magyarics, you've, Stanley Organizations: Service, tote Locations: Caribbean, Mexico, Maldives

The mini totes are offered in four colors — blue, red, green, and yellow — and they are all in high demand. Videos shared on social media show crowds of customers visiting Trader Joe’s stores hoping to get their hands on one of the highly-coveted mini totes. “Our Mini Canvas Tote Bags certainly sold more quickly than we anticipated,” said Nakia Rohde, a spokesperson for Trader Joe’s. Of course, Trader Joe’s mini totes aren’t the first to become a viral sensation. “We do have more Trader Joe’s Mini Canvas Tote Bags coming,” said Rohde.

Persons: ”, Nakia Rohde, Joe’s, Rohde, Huy, Stanley, Wyatte Organizations: eBay, Facebook, “, AP, Philips Locations: Monrovia , California, Huy Fong, New York

☆ The ‘Sephora kid’ trend shows tweens are psyched about skincare. But their overzealous approach is raising concerns
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Tweens gravitate to Sephora and Ulta for the same reason that adult shoppers do. Carlo Allegri/ReutersThe retinol products sold in beauty products stores, she said, are for mature skin of older consumers. The beauty products chain also operates several hundred smaller format Sephora stores inside of Kohl’s department stores. Jennifer O’Brien celebrated her twin daughters’ 12th birthday at an event held at a Sephora store in Long Island, New York. Jennifer O’Brien's treated her twin daughters to a skincare event for their birthday this year at a Sephora store.

Persons: New York CNN — Tweens, skincare, ”, Lauren Penzi, gravitate, “, Stacey Tull, Tull, “ Retinol, it’s, Carlo Allegri, Penzi, she’s, Ulta, tweens, She’s, ” Penzi, Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Jennifer O’Brien, Jennifer O’Brien Ulta, O’Brien, Stanley, JC Penney, Jennifer O’Brien's, Jennifer O’Brien “, Gen Alpha, Sheryl Jorgensen Masowdi’s tween, Sheryl Jorgensen Masowdi, Masowdi Organizations: New, New York CNN, Gen Alpha, CNN, influencers, ”, Gen Locations: New York, Sephora, New York City, Missouri, Manhattan, United States, Long Island , New York

☆ Shoppers are scrambling to get their hands on Trader Joe's $3 mini tote bags, leading to a lucrative online resale market
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewTrader Joe's mini tote bags have only been on sale for a couple of weeks — and they've already sparked a lucrative online resale market. Hundreds of people have already bought the mini tote bags from the online marketplace. "The size is ideal for smaller shopping trips, to pick up those few items you forgot the first time around," Trader Joe's says in the product description. Probably not," one TikToker said in a video of her mini tote. Have you bought a mini tote bag from Trader Joe's?

Persons: —, they've, Stanley, Joe's, Quencher, Alphas Organizations: Service, Business, eBay

☆ These viral $2.99 Trader Joe’s tote bags are being resold for as much as $500 on eBay
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —A Trader Joe’s canvas mini tote bag that costs about the same as a pack of gum is being resold online for nearly 200 times its retail price. The Trader Joe’s bags, available in blue, red, green and yellow, have taken social media by storm in the past week, garnering more than 11 million views on Tik Tok. The viral Trader Joe's mini canvas tote bag. From Trader Joe'sSome have been reselling the bags on e-commerce platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace. As of Sunday afternoon, hundreds of mini tote bags have been posted on eBay with prices ranging from $5 to $500.

Persons: Tik, ”, “, Stanley tumblers, Stanley Organizations: New, New York CNN, eBay, Facebook, tote, CNN, Target, Shoppers Locations: New York, Iowa, New Jersey

☆ Stanley cup maker has a plan to make its product launches less chaotic
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

It’s because the Stanley tumbler is arguably one of the most viral products of the moment. So Stanley maker PMI has taken a different approach with its newest limited edition tumbler launch of the much-hyped chocolate and gold Quencher. The new chocolate gold Stanley tumbler. From StanleyOn Tuesday, Stanley unveiled the limited-edition chocolate gold Quencher tumbler on its website. When Target dropped a limited-edition Valentine’s collection of Stanley tumblers in bright pink and cherry red tones in December, the situation wasn’t pretty.

Persons: New York CNN — Stanley, Stanley tumbler, it’s, Stanley, Nike —, ” Andrew Lipp, ”, ” Lipp, William Stanley, Jr, marveled, Stanley tumblers, ” Matt Navarro, Lipp Organizations: New, New York CNN, Stanley, PMI, Nike, CNN, “, Starbucks Locations: New York, Australia

☆ Stanley has a plan to stop online chaos and scalpers from ruining its product launches
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Stanley cups have been wreaking havoc at Target stores and tearing tween relationships apart. AdvertisementWith Stanley cups stoking utter chaos among desperate Target shoppers (and employees) — and tearing apart middle schools — the brand is looking for ways to calm the fervor around its limited-edition launches. tumbler comes in an "ornate" striped box, according to Stanley, featuring a "rich ganache powdercoat finish" and gold accents. Advertisement"One of our priorities is to prevent bots and resellers from depleting stock meant for our genuine fans," Stanley said. Stanley SVP Matt Navarro told CNN he hopes the changes the company made "provide all consumers with a wider aperture and more user-friendly [online] experience to get the Stanley products they love."

Persons: Stanley, —, tumbler, EQL, they'd, Andrew Lipp, Matt Navarro Organizations: Service, CNN, PMI Worldwide, Nike Locations: Australia

☆ They’re the Stanley Cup Champions. And That’s a Lot of Mugs.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Hiroko Tabuchi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Stanley Tumbler, this year’s smash hit, is, at first glance, a win for the planet. Unlike the throwaway plastic bottles it’s meant to replace, it doesn’t generate mountains of plastic trash. “Some millennials or Gen-Z are already embarrassed to carry a Stanley,” said Casey Lewis, who writes the trendspotting newsletter, After School. Stanley sold an estimated 10 million “Quencher” water tumblers in 2023, and the company’s total sales for that year are expected to have reached $750 million, up from less than $100 million in 2020. The #StanleyCup hashtag has been viewed billions of times on TikTok.

Persons: Stanley Tumbler, ”, Casey Lewis, Stanley, hashtag Locations: TikTok

☆ Stanley Tumblers Contain Lead. Owala, Hydro Flask Pounce.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe news that Stanley's insulated stainless steel cups contain lead sparked a frenzy of concern on social media about the potential health risks for consumers. Stanley acknowledged in a statement that it uses "an industry standard pellet" that contains "some lead" to seal the vacuum insulation of its tumblers. We want to assure you that Hydro Flask does not use lead in our vacuum sealing process," HydroFlask said in a post on Threads earlier this week. Marketing experts told Business Insider this is a smart strategic move for companies seeking to differentiate themselves from Stanley and win over customers. And lead is still bad for manufacturing workers and the environment — it's just not a significant health risk for Stanley customers.

Persons: —, Stanley, hasn't, Jack Caravanos, HydroFlask, Anita Rao, Rao, Bruce Clark, They're, isn't, nibble Organizations: Service, Business, New York, Washington Post, Hydro, Georgetown University, Northeastern University, NBC Locations: New York University, Oregon

☆ I'm a millennial who's obsessed with Stanley cups. They remind me of collecting 'Harry Potter' books, and I even bought some on my wedding day.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewThis as-told-to article is based on a conversation with Kaitlin Gostel, a 29-year-old academic in Florida who collects Stanley cups. However, the feeling reminds me of getting Beanie Babies, Tamagotchis, or, most importantly, "Harry Potter" books. When waiting for both "Harry Potter" books and Stanley cups, we all get these nervous butterflies. So at 6 p.m., after saying my vow, I ran into the bathroom and purchased four different Stanley cups on my phone. However, they are built to last, and watching the video of a Stanley cup surviving a car fire, I'm like, "Geez, these things are insurance.

Persons: —, Kaitlin Gostel, Stanley, I'm, Harry Potter, Barnes, Noble, I've, he'll, you've, it's, Stanley Quenchers, Brian van der Organizations: Service, Starbucks, Business, Target, Stanley, eBay Locations: Florida, Korea, Starbucks Korea, Italy

☆ Stanley announces new limited-edition collab with the NBA's Utah Jazz
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Nicolas Vega | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ticketholders will be the first to have access to the limited-edition cups, which will be available in both black and white. The Utah Jazz will be selling exclusive Stanley Quenchers emblazoned with the Jazz logo at the team's next home game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, February 4. The drop is part of a multi-year agreement between Stanley and the Jazz. Stanley is particularly popular in Utah. If Stanley's recent drops are any indication, the Jazz cups should be a hot commodity.

Persons: Stanley, Stanley Quenchers, Lainey Wilson, Joanna Gaines Organizations: Delta Center, Jazz, Utah Jazz, Milwaukee Bucks, Starbucks, eBay, HGTV Locations: Utah

☆ A Lead Scare Strikes Stanley Tumblers, but You Don’t Need to Worry
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Sopan Deb | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

They’ve become a fashion accessory, especially since the company that makes the cups, Stanley 1913, has made use of influencer culture to target women and make the tumbler’s sales skyrocket. The reach of the bottles has been amplified by social media users. But social media giveth and social media taketh away. Some Stanley owners, hoping to check the claims, started to use home lead-testing kits, which experts say are not reliable. A sendup of the Stanley cup phenomenon on “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend — a sketch called “Big Dumb Cups” — even mentioned the lead in passing.

Persons: Stanley tumbler, They’ve, Stanley, ” YouTubers, —

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