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Retail & Consumer

Costco just gave bargain hunters a powerful reason to upgrade to its $130 Executive Membership

Costco this week rolled out its highly anticipated exclusive shopping hours for Executive Members, giving the warehouse giant’s highest-paying customers a compelling new reason to justify its $130 annual membership fee. The new policy, which soft-launched in June but went into effect more broadly on Sept. 1, lets Executive Members access Costco warehouses one hour earlier than regular shoppers during weekdays and Sundays, and 30 minutes earlier o...

Jane Smith in Retail & Consumer 2025-12-07 14:55:21

Despite some green shoots, the new CEO of Kohl’s faces a tough slog to win back its AWOL shoppers

First the good news: Kohl’s finally has a steady hand at the helm after promoting its interim CEO to the top job, following years of churn in its C-suite. The deterioration of the retailer’s net sales is finally slowing.Recommended VideoNow for the bad news: Kohl’s business is still bleeding. And to stop the downward spiral it finds itself in, the department store will have to make big moves that may deprive its employees of some of the stability...

Michael Smith in Retail & Consumer 2025-12-03 14:00:35

What’s open (and closed) on Labor Day 2025?

Labor Day might technically be a holiday for the working class, but we sure do a lot of home repairs on that day off (well, before the barbeque, at least).Fortunately, most home-improvement stores are open that day—and usually have some pretty good sales going on. Some retailers are closed, though. And if you’ve got financial business or want to get a license renewed on Monday, you’re going to have a hard time.Here’s a look at who’s open and clos...

Michael Johnson in Retail & Consumer 2025-11-15 23:22:55

A tale of two CEO successions: Walmart’s clean break vs. Target’s much-criticized transition

A decade ago, on a Wednesday afternoon in September 2015, Target CEO Brian Cornell stood onstage at the Target Center arena in downtown Minneapolis beneath a Jumbotron projecting a chart showing how the retailer’s stock had dramatically outperformed that of its archrival, Walmart, in the preceding year, his first as chief executive.Recommended VideoThe crowd of 13,000 Target employees attending the annual corporate gathering erupted into applause...

Michael Smith in Retail & Consumer 2025-11-25 11:35:23

For Gen Z, quiet luxury is dead—they’re packing lunch at home while shelling out on conspicuous consumption

When economist Thorstein Veblen coined the term “conspicuous consumption” in 1899, he was describing a new kind of social display: one where people bought goods not out of need but as “trophies of success.” To Veblen, the emerging “leisure class” proved its superiority not by labor or contribution but by its seeming exemption from work and its power to waste. The middle class, desperate to prove this distinction too, would spend an outsized ...

Robert Williams in Retail & Consumer 2025-12-08 12:26:15

Here’s what’s open and closed on Thanksgiving 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — With Thanksgiving and the formal launch of the holiday shopping season this week, Americans will again gather for Turkey Day meals before knocking off items on their Christmas gift lists.Most big U.S. retailers are closed on Thanksgiving Day. However, many will open early the following day, Black Friday, the unofficial start of the holiday gift-buying season and the biggest shopping day of the year.Here’s what is open ...

John Davis in Retail & Consumer 2025-12-12 01:39:27

Fortune Archives: The Jewish mogul who shaped the Christmas shopping season

The Christmas shopping season traditionally begins the day after Thanksgiving, with turkey leftovers in the refrigerator. Recommended VideoThat period—27 days this year, between Black Friday on Nov. 28 and Christmas Eve on Dec. 24—is a make-or-break time for American retailers, with holiday sales accounting for almost a fifth of annual sales overall, and a third for department stores. This year, forecasters expect that jitters about the econ...

David Brown in Retail & Consumer 2025-11-16 00:00:56

Inflation is so bad Americans are counting on Black Friday just to afford groceries and everyday essentials

Holiday season is fast-approaching—and so is the biggest shopping season of the year. Black Friday is just 23 days away, a day synonymous with deal-chasing and a widespread shop-til-you-drop attitude among consumers. Recommended VideoBut Black Friday will look a little different this year, a new survey shows. Instead of cashing in on discounts for mega TVs and luxury appliances, consumers this year are just trying to get by. Spending priorit...

Michael Johnson in Retail & Consumer 2025-11-15 08:50:08

McDonald’s CEO says Trump’s no tax on tips amplifies an ‘uneven playing field’ for its restaurants, which don’t get ‘customers to pay’ for labor

President Donald Trump has outlined which workers will be eligible for tax deductionsas a result of his no tax on tips policy. This policy will not benefit McDonald’s workers, according to CEO Chris Kempczinski, because its restaurants do not have tips. Instead, the policy will give businesses that dole out smaller wages for tipped workers an outsize advantage.McDonald’s employees will not only get no benefits from President Donald Trump’s no tax...

Jane Williams in Retail & Consumer 2025-12-03 09:36:25

Half of millennial and Gen Z couples pick engagement rings with lab-grown diamonds— ‘well beyond what the mining industry had expected,’ McKinsey says

More than half of coupleshave reported buying a lab-grown diamond for their engagement rings for the first time in history, according to a study by The Knot. That’s because lab-grown diamonds typically have better value in terms of size and price. While lab-grown diamonds were originally touted as a more environmentally friendly option, they still require large amounts of energy to produce.More carats at a lower price sounds like a great deal. Th...

Emily Davis in Retail & Consumer 2025-11-17 20:23:04

McDonald’s CEO is grappling with a ‘two-tier economy’ as he slashes prices on value meals—and signals backing for a minimum wage increase

McDonald’s is banking on burgers and fries to tell a bigger story about the American economy. Chief executive Chris Kempczinski is slimming down the cost of the fast-food giant’s value meals as he grapples with what he calls a “two-tier economy”—a widening divide between consumers who are still spending freely and those who are pulling back.Recommended VideoFor years, dating back to the 2022 inflation wave, McDonald’s and its fast-food rivals hav...

Robert Miller in Retail & Consumer 2025-12-06 09:10:19

Can Macy’s win back America? How CEO Tony Spring is moving past denial and embracing change

Respected retail analyst Neil Saunders had for years regularly posted pictures on social media showing extreme messiness at Macy’s stores—mounds of unfolded sweaters strewn on the floor or shelving that had fallen into disrepair—on social media. Now he was getting an individual tour from the department store’s new CEO, Tony Spring.Recommended VideoAt the well-appointed Macy’s in the upscale Topanga Westfield mall in Los Angeles in June 2024, Spri...

Jennifer Davis in Retail & Consumer 2025-12-02 05:15:51

‘Consumers are going to be shocked’: An expiring tariff exemption for goods under $800 is about to throttle the world of e-commerce

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. consumers have gotten used to shopping the world without paying customs duties on the international packages they receive from big e-commerce companies like Shein and Temu, specialty shops and businesses that sell goods through online marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy and eBay.That era is about to end. On Friday, the United States plans to eliminate a tariff exemption that allowed imports worth $800 or less t...

Michael Brown in Retail & Consumer 2025-12-10 04:57:38

Here’s when Black Friday starts at all the major U.S. retail stores

Black Friday has become something of an anachronism in the e-commerce era. The day after Thanksgiving marks the official start of the holiday shopping season, but retailers already have spent weeks flooding their websites and customers’ email inboxes with early Black Friday offers.While sales trends have been shifting, the best bargains may still be from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. That may be especially true for big ticket items, seasonal...

David Brown in Retail & Consumer 2025-11-29 11:47:37

Holiday survival guide: How small businesses can compete with Amazon and Walmart this shopping season

For small businesses, the holiday season isn’t just busy—it’s make-or-break. Yet, many small businesses still don’t have a website, or are unhappy with the limited resources they have. That digital gap is costly at a time when buyers are browsing and buying online more than ever.Recommended Video“Small businesses don’t win by outspending—they win by out-connecting,” Christine Telyan, co-founder of UENI, which has built over 750,000 small business...

Sarah Williams in Retail & Consumer 2025-11-29 23:57:30

Toyota slashes outlook on tariff concerns as profit plunges 37%

Toyota’s profit plunged 37% in the April-June quarter, the company said Thursday, cutting its full year earnings forecasts largely because of President Donald Trump’s tariffs.Recommended VideoThe Japanese automaker said it based its report on the assumption that Trump’s tariffs on exports from Japan, including autos, would be 12.5% starting this month. As of now they stand at 15%.The world’s top automaker also makes vehicles in Mexico and Canada....

Sarah Williams in Retail & Consumer 2025-11-21 11:07:17

Dollar Tree says the majority of its new customers earn at least $100,000 a year

Something unusual is happening at Dollar Tree: The discount retailer said this week that of the 3 million new households that shopped its stores in the third quarter, approximately 60% of those new customers came from households earning more than $100,000 a year.​​The trend underscores a deepening split in the American economy. While cumulative inflation has pushed prices up roughly 25% since 2020, wage growth has not kept pace for most household...

Michael Smith in Retail & Consumer 2025-11-29 16:14:57

Dunkin’ customers outraged after anonymous Facebook user leaks display showing tariff shrinkflation costing you less coffee in your cup

Dunkin’ Donuts has come under fire this week from customers after its alleged ‘new’ ice policy was revealed in a social media post.Recommended VideoOn Monday, an anonymous Facebook user shared a picture of a paper displaying alleged pour directions for a variety of coffee and other beverage orders in the Dunkin’ World Facebook group, which has over 550,000 members. The photo shows that an assortment of iced drinks—lattes and signature lattes...

David Miller in Retail & Consumer 2025-11-24 12:30:27

Cracker Barrel’s inconvenient fact: all the customers who loved its old logo had stopped going to the restaurant

“Affordability” has become business’s favorite new buzzword  – and for good reason. US inflation remains high, alongside pricing on everyday household expenses. As a result, countless studies show that it’s top of mind for the vast majority of people – driving decision-making across demographics. In the fast casual space in particular, affordability has been cited as a factor in ongoing slumps, but across the quick-service landscape, a clear...

Robert Jones in Retail & Consumer 2025-12-05 21:49:11

Black Friday faces its ultimate test as desperate retailers and low consumer confidence collide in a high-stakes holiday standoff

NEW YORK (AP) — Black Friday no longer tempts people to leave Thanksgiving tables for midnight mall runs, but the annual sales event still brings more shoppers into stores than any day of the year and still rules as the U.S. retail industry’s unofficial start of the holiday shopping season.This year’s kickoff arrived as consumer confidence in the U.S. economy fell this month in the aftermath of the federal government shut...

Jennifer Williams in Retail & Consumer 2025-12-11 08:14:51

Wendy’s plans hundreds of store closures to boost profits

Wendy’s plans to close hundreds U.S. restaurants over the next few months in an effort to boost its profit.Recommended VideoThe Dublin, Ohio-based chain said during a conference call with investors Friday that it planned to begin closing restaurants in the fourth quarter of this year. The company said it expected a “mid-single-digit percentage” of its U.S. stores to be affected, but it didn’t give any more details.Wendy’s ended the third quarter ...

Jennifer Smith in Retail & Consumer 2025-11-16 22:06:08

Grocer who once sold Trump popcorn rips ‘inhumane’ shutdown: ‘You can’t take away from the most needy people in the country’

A little more than a year ago, Ryan Sprankle welcomed President Donald Trump to one of the three grocery stores his family owns near Pittsburgh. Trump was on the campaign trail; they talked about high grocery prices, and the Republican nominee picked up a bag of popcorn.Recommended VideoBut these days, Sprankle would have a different message if Trump or any lawmakers visited his store. He wants them to know that delayed SNAP benefits&nb...

John Smith in Retail & Consumer 2025-11-22 16:56:07

Cracker Barrel, under fire from Donald Trump Jr. and Steak n’ Shake, apologizes to fans but won’t drop new logo

Cracker Barrel is sticking with its new logo but apologizing to fans who were angered when the change was announced last week.Recommended Video“If the last few days have shown us anything, it’s how deeply people care about Cracker Barrel. We’re truly grateful for your heartfelt voices,” the company said Monday in a statement on its website. “You’ve also shown us that we could have done a better job sharing who we are and who we’ll always be.”Crac...

Michael Williams in Retail & Consumer 2025-11-29 01:54:55

Adidas stole sandal design from traditional Mexican artisans, Sheinbaum says

Mexican authorities are accusing sportswear company Adidas of plagiarizing artisans in southern Mexico, alleging that a new sandal design is strikingly similar to the traditional Indigenous footwear known as huaraches.Recommended VideoThe controversy has fueled accusations of cultural appropriation by the footwear brand, with authorities saying this is not the first time traditional Mexican handicrafts have been copied. Citing these con...

John Jones in Retail & Consumer 2025-12-08 15:04:55

McDonald’s and Cava earnings have one thing in common: The K-shaped economy has a vise grip on the lunchtime crowd

McDonald’s may be known for its golden arches, and Cava for its four-letter name boldly stamped on each takeout bag, but both restaurant chains use the same letter to sum up business right now: a big K.Recommended VideoThe respective fast-food CEOs are the latest in the restaurant business to sound the alarm of a K-shaped economy, where high-income earners are spending as if nothing is wrong, while lower-income Americans tighten their belts and p...

John Brown in Retail & Consumer 2025-11-14 01:38:15

Home Depot blames its recent sales slump on a major funk in the housing market: ‘Our customers are homeowners’

Home Depot is grappling with a deep funk in the housing market, which is “disproportionately impacting home improvement demand” as homeowners delay projects and wait out economic uncertainty, its CEO Ted Decker said during the company’s third-quarter earnings call Tuesday.​The Atlanta-based retailer missed Wall Street expectations for the third consecutive quarter, posting net income of $3.6 billion, or $3.62 per share, compared with $3.65 billio...

Emily Williams in Retail & Consumer 2025-12-09 18:28:01

Here’s what’s open—and closed—on Thanksgiving 2025

With Thanksgiving and the formal launch of the holiday shopping season this week, Americans will again gather for Turkey Day meals before knocking off items on their Christmas gift lists.Recommended VideoMost big U.S. retailers are closed on Thanksgiving Day. However, many will open early the following day, Black Friday, the unofficial start of the holiday gift-buying season and the biggest shopping day of the year.Here’s what is open a...

Michael Johnson in Retail & Consumer 2025-12-06 15:18:18

Nestlé picks insider to replace CEO fired over affair

(Bloomberg) — Nestlé SA is turning to the executive who runs its Nespresso coffee empire to try and steady the world’s largest food business after it was rocked by the second CEO firing in a little over a year.Recommended VideoPhilipp Navratil is taking over as chief executive officer at the Swiss company, after the exit of Mark Schneider for underperformance last year and Laurent Freixe on Monday for failing to disclose an affair with a direct s...

John Davis in Retail & Consumer 2025-11-16 01:14:40

Kohl’s ‘surprised’ Wall Street with a big earnings beat in the aftermath of its CEO drama—possibly thanks to tariffs

Kohl’shas had a challenging yearmarked by leadership turmoil and declining sales. But its second-quarter earnings report surprised analysts. In Q2, Kohl’s posted adjusted earnings per share of $0.56, significantly exceeding the expected $0.30, leading to a nearly 20% surge in its stock price. Yet net sales declined by 5.1%, and comparable store sales fell 4.2%, reflecting ongoing consumer spending pressures.Kohl’s has had a rocky year, so it was ...

Robert Smith in Retail & Consumer 2025-12-09 04:01:33

Masked thieves stole all the Labubu dolls from a Los Angeles-area store. ‘We are still in shock’

A group of masked thieves stole about $7,000 worth of Labubu dolls from a Los Angeles-area store this week, authorities said.Recommended VideoThe incident took place early Wednesday morning at a store in La Puente, a city about 18 miles (29 kilometers) east of Los Angeles, the LA County Sheriff’s Department said. The department said the suspects used a stolen Toyota Tacoma in the incident, which was recovered shortly afterward. The agency said it...

Emily Williams in Retail & Consumer 2025-11-28 15:50:05

Teen brands win over wary Black Friday shoppers while other deals disappoint

This Black Friday, one class of retailers has figured out the trick of luring shoppers suffering through frigid temperatures and high inflation: teen brands.Recommended VideoTo tempt picky Americans, they are offering sales on products like perfume, body wash and sweatshirts. It’s seemingly paying off: The most crowded stores Friday in cities across the US belonged to brands including Edikted, Kendra Scott, and Bath & Body...

David Davis in Retail & Consumer 2025-11-25 13:46:54