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☆ Holiday sales fall short of expectations, set stage for tougher 2023 for retailers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Melissa Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Holiday sales fell short of industry expectations, as shoppers felt pinched by inflation and rising interest rates, according to data from the National Retail Federation. The retail sales number excludes spending at automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants and is based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The holiday sales gains include the impact of inflation, which drives up total sales. That translated to sharp year-over-year jumps in retail sales in the past two holiday seasons — a 14.1% gain in 2021 and 8.3% gain in 2020. Online and non-store sales saw the biggest year-over-year gains, with sales jumping 9.5% during the holiday season.

☆ Abercrombie & Fitch is cool again
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN Business —Abercrombie & Fitch has shed its perfume-filled mall stores, shirtless models and logo sweatshirts to win over Millennials and Gen Z.It’s working. Abercrombie (ANF) said Monday that its women’s segment was on track to deliver its highest holiday sales period ever, and its men’s division was growing, too. “Abercrombie was a key destination for holiday shopping,” Neil Saunders, an analyst at GlobalData Retail, said in a note to clients Monday. “This a further sign that the brand has successfully ditched the baggage of its past.”The brand, which has about 225 stores, plans to open around 10 Abercrombie stores a year over the next three years. Today, Abercrombie’s stores are lighter than they once were and its clothes are looser.

☆ Procrastinators, rejoice: Super Saturday is here and it could bring major discounts to shoppers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Super Saturday, the last Saturday before Christmas, could draw a record 158 million shoppers. But shoppers who take advantage of that extra time to buy are in for another treat: major discounts. "Retailers staring down time-limited inventory surpluses will do whatever they can to liquidate before the holiday season has expired." Shoppers could see major discounts on Super SaturdayBrandon Bell/Getty ImagesMajor retailers have been lamenting their inventory positions throughout 2022. The supply chain challenges that squeezed retail brands last holiday season have subsided, leaving a pandemic-induced hangover in their wake.

☆ Goldman Sachs ups its price target on one athleisure stock, giving it over 30% upside
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Goldman Sachs has upped its price target on athleisure retailer Lululemon , describing it as a "best-in-class market share gainer." The bank reiterated its buy rating on the stock in a note Friday and raised its 12-month price target to $431 from $383 prior. "We continue to believe Lululemon's innovation engine is best-in-class, leading us to believe that Lululemon will continue to demonstrate above-trend growth," she wrote. "We believe Lululemon is well-positioned given limited reliance on promotions and strong pricing power. She added that the company will benefit from "cost tailwinds" in 2023, which would help deliver "solid" earnings per share growth.

☆ Lululemon shares fall after company offers weak holiday quarter guidance
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Melissa Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Lululemon on Thursday reported sales and profit that topped estimates, but the company offered softer guidance than expected for the fourth quarter. CEO Calvin McDonald said on an earnings call that the company had a strong start to the holiday season. Lululemon said Thursday it expects fourth quarter per-share earnings of $4.20 to $4.30, compared to estimates of $4.30. It also sees revenue of between $2.605 billion to $2.655 billion, versus a projected $2.649 billion. It also raised its adjusted earnings per share outlook to a range of $9.87 to $9.97, from last quarter's guidance of $9.75 to $9.90.

☆ Black Friday and Cyber Monday editors' picks: What our staff bought
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Gabriella Depinho | Gabriella Depinho Is A Production Coordinator For Select On Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +12 min

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the busiest shopping events of the year. Some of our staff purchased tried and true favorites that needed replacing, like beloved Lululemon running sneakers or perfume. I bought the Kalorik MAXX 10-in-1 because I have a large household and its 26-quart capacity can cook an entire rotisserie chicken. They’re lightweight yet supportive, and great for running outdoors or on the treadmill.” — Zoe Malin, associate updates editor“My brother and I bought this iPad for my mother's Christmas present. It also comes with a dishwasher-safe scraping tool for easy clean-up, says Cuisinart” — Mili Godio, associate reporter“I bought this cute toiletry bag that looks roomy.

Black Friday is a great time to stock up on bedding essentials, whether you need sheets, a comforter, or pillows. From luxe linen sheets to plush robes to comfy loungewear, we've tested a lot of Brooklinen's products and liked just about everything. Starting on Black Friday and running through November 30, everything Brooklinen sells is discounted by 25%. That's an even better deal than during its last birthday sale and is the biggest sitewide sale we've seen from the retailer. Check out our articles on Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday deals for more expertly vetted discounts.

☆ The holiday shopping season is critical for many small businesses. Here's how entrepreneurs can prepare.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Early data indicated that Americans will be holding onto their wallets tighter this holiday season. Meanwhile, 24% of small businesses surveyed by Kabbage reported that holiday sales will determine their survival. Saturday is Small Business Saturday, an event created by American Express aimed at supporting small-business owners during the holiday shopping season. "The savviest of small businesses prepared in advance for supply challenges this holiday season," Nicole Leinbach Reyhle, the CEO and founder of the retail publication Retail Minded, said. Inventory levels are a top concern for small businesses this holiday season.

☆ It's better to dupe: Now it's cool to get the cheaper versions of luxury self-care products
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Dupes are back in the spotlight as shoppers search for better ways to save money. The term 'dupe' gained popularity in the beauty community during the 2010s. Online bargain hunters popularized the term "dupe" in the makeup industry during the 2010s. Beauty review site, Supergreat, defines "dupe" as "an affordable product that mirrors a more expensive one in quality, formula, and/or appearance." TikTokers have dedicated videos to sharing their go-to dupe products for skincare, loungewear, and more to help each other save some serious cash.

☆ 15 women who built companies on social media and booked thousands in revenue share their advice for growing a business
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Soph Mosca, Loungewear by Soph MoscaSoph Mosca, the founder of Loungewear by Soph Mosca. A post shared by SUNSHARK (@shopsunshark)Backstory: Soph Mosca downloaded TikTok at the end of 2019 for fun. By the end of 2021, Mosca's 1.7 million TikTok followers gave her the perfect fan base for her newly launched loungewear brand, she said. Advice on creating authenticity in your brand: Mosca is able to connect with her followers through her social content and loungewear brand because they're authentic to her, she said. When Mosca started listening to herself, that's when she made the most progress in brand growth.

☆ Gap beats on third-quarter revenue, but tempers expectations for holiday season
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Melissa Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Gap on Thursday beat Wall Street's quarterly revenue expectations, but gave a cautious outlook for the holiday season. Old Navy, known for casual clothing for adults and kids: comparable sales fell 1%. Banana Republic, known as a destination for suiting and dresses: comparable sales rose 10%. comparable sales rose 10%. Athleta, an activewear brand: comparable sales were flat, as shoppers shifted to buying more outfits for occasions and for work.

☆ Retailers' biggest holiday wish is to get rid of all that excess inventory
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Melissa Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Investors want a clearer sense of how much excess stuff retailers have sold off — and how deep they may have to discount to keep merchandise moving. Retailers are under pressure to clear out inventory and start fresh in the next fiscal year. Walmart and Target were among the retailers that shocked investors with significant jumps in inventory levels in the first quarter, which ended April 30. Kohl's swung from having too little inventory last year to having ballooning inventory in the second quarter of this year. Excess inventory could downgrade the shopping experience this holiday season at some stores, too.

☆ The Children's Place goes full-on into grown-up wear
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Recognizing that all-day “casual comfort” is now an acceptable sartorial standard, even for adults, kids’ clothing seller The Children’s Place is going full-on into grown-up wear. The retailer on Wednesday launched a new sleepwear and loungwear brand called PJ Place that specifically targets Millennials and Gen Zers. PJ Place products, priced at $10.95 to $69.95, include pajama sets, robes, thermal sets, graphic tees, socks and slippers for young adults and older shoppers. PJ PlaceTo that end, Markee said PJ Place aims to expand the company’s market share in the adult sleepwear and loungewear space overall. Going after the adult sleepwear and loungewear market is a smart move, said Maria Rugolo, apparel industry analyst with market research form NPD.

☆ 15 women who built companies on social media and booked thousands in revenue share their advice for growing a business.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-05 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

☆ Americans are spending less this holiday season. Here's how businesses can prepare for budget-conscious shoppers.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Those holding a glut of inventory will likely offer heavy discounts this holiday season. Early data indicates that Americans will be holding onto their wallets a little tighter this holiday season. "The savviest of small businesses prepared in advance for supply challenges this holiday season," Nicole Leinbach Reyhle, the CEO and founder of the retail publication Retail Minded, said. Inventory levels are a top concern for small businesses this holiday season. Yvonne doubles down on Nkeoma's top-selling robes and pajamas during the holiday season to ensure they don't sell out, but she doesn't stock as many new styles.

☆ Undecided? Here are 3 questions we ask ourselves before selling a troubled stock
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-25 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

When managing our own portfolio, these are three questions that we ask ourselves that could also be beneficial to Club members. This was a nastier separation than expected, making it unclear how it could impact PayPal's growth rate. (PayPal's stock price has fallen about 50% year to date.) This created liquidity, much of which made its way into the stock market. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.

☆ Founder Finances: A comprehensive guide to creating a budget for your business
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-19 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

This series, "Founder Finances," shares tips on how to allocate money, stabilize your team, and prepare for growth, according to founders who've done it. Read more: Founder Finances: A baker shares the $15K budget she's using to relaunch her business after stepping away to fight cancer. Read more: Founder Finances: How a 30-year-old entrepreneur uses a $2,000 monthly social-media marketing budget to build a thriving side hustle selling loungewear. Read more: Founder Finances: Etsy seller shares the $3,700 monthly budget preparing her business for its busiest quarterCreating company culture in the officeBranden Sewell, the founder of Seal Pro Painting. If you're interested in contributing to Insider's Founder Finances series, please contact Alex York at ayork@insider.com.

☆ A 25-year-old entrepreneur shares the most important investments to create a professional and personal brand
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-21 | by ( Alexandra York | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

She says social media, marketing, and personal branding are the most important investments. For her personal brand, she spends about $350 each month on a branding coach who helps her decide what message she wants to project through her work. Both a personal and professional brand are important for growthCurtis presenting at a TEDx event. courtesy of CurtisSince merging companies, "it's becoming less of a personal brand," Curtis said. The most important tactic to creating a sustainable brand online is providing value to viewers, she said.

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