Whistles & Megaphones @ THD | Bain: Holiday +4% | WM +S.Africa
Forbes: The 400 Richest People In America (Musk #1, Bezos #4, Waltons -#11, 12, 15, 24) Full list
Walmart Announces First Stores in South Africa “With sites already in development, these new stores are set to open before the end of the year, with official opening dates to be announced in October.” Read more
Bain: US retail sales to grow 4% YoY in November and December (vs. 10 yr. avg of +5.2%) Press release
Mary Dillon Out as Dick’s Closes Foot Locker Deal at FN/Yahoo. “Dick’s executive chairman, Ed Stack, will lead the global Foot Locker businesses, in partnership with two new presidents…For North America, Dick’s has named former longtime Nike executive Ann Freeman as president…Dick’s said it has yet to officially name a president for the (international) division.” Read more
Megaphones and whistles used in Home Depot parking lots to warn of ICE raids at AP. “…while activists swap details over two-way radios about whether cars whizzing by could be unmarked vehicles carrying officers preparing for a raid. Their work is cut out for them. Agents have raided the lot outside the 108,000 square-foot Home Depot store in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles at least five times this summer…” Read more
Fast Company: Best Workplaces for Innovators 2025 Full list
Is America Ready for Japanese-Style 7-Elevens? at NY Times. “In Japan, the average convenience store receives multiple fresh-food deliveries per day. Beyond that, “it’s the ways in which they maintain stock and freshness, attention to detail,” said Gavin Whitelaw, executive director of the Edwin O. Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies at Harvard.” NY Times subs.
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Casey’s Q1: Net income +19.5% / Inside comp sales +4.3% Press release
US considers banning Iranians from shopping at Costco & Sam’s at AP. “Such stores have been a favorite of Iranian diplomats posted to and visiting New York because they are able to buy large quantities of products not available in their economically isolated country for relatively cheap prices and send them home.” Read more
Dollar Tree: Brent Beebe will be promoted to Chief Merchandising Officer effective April 2026. He will succeed Rick McNeely, who will retire next spring.” Press release
Taylor Swift to release exclusive Target CDs for ‘Life of a Showgirl’ at USA Today. “(Target) will be the first where fans can pre-order the album (out Oct. 3) with three exclusive CD packages that include an 8-page lyric booklet and exclusive posters. Select stores will host midnight releases.” Read more
Walgreens expands party supply assortment Press release
Lumber Prices Are Flashing a Warning Sign for the U.S. Economy at WSJ. “(Lumber) futures have dropped 24% since hitting a three-year high at the beginning of August…The price drop might have been greater—but two of North America’s biggest sawyers said last week that they would curtail output, slowing the decline…Crashing wood prices are troubling because they have been a reliable leading indicator on the direction of the housing market as well as broader economic activity.” WSJ subs.
The Ending of De Minimis Adds New Holiday Retail Challenge at Adweek. “Drabicky said that the ending of de minimis—as well as the broader retail environment—means that holiday ad budgets are not set in stone. He compared this year’s budgets to 2020, when brands planned their ad budgets week to week instead of yearly. This year, Drabicky said clients are asking for three to four holiday ad plans that can be quickly adjusted.” Read more
Salmonella outbreak has been attributed to Metabolic Meals, a meal kit service at USA Today
Walmart show features collectibles, sports memorabilia at NWA Democrat-Gazette. “Walmart Inc. has started a livestreaming, shoppable show that will feature different collectibles such as sports memorabilia each week. Live commerce platform TalkShopLive will power Collectors Night, streaming at 5 p.m. every Thursday on Walmart Live. The first episode of Collectors Night ran (last) week.” Subs.
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