From 12 noon ET on Monday, April 29 through noon on April 30, the Walmart+ Early Access online sales event will offer program members a curated assortment of products new to Walmart — including Dolly Parton’s Rockin’ New Baking Collection, Doritos Flamin’ Hot Mystery Flavor, Pampers diapers and men’s and women’s shoes from Reebok. “Walmart+ members have shown significant engagement with our digital offerings, particularly in the grocery sector, so we’re excited to offer them a shopping event like no other where they can shop a wide selection of limited-edition grocery items and more, all with ..read more

Room & Board has transitioned to a 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), giving its 1,100 employees a financial stake in the Minneapolis-based company that generates annual sales exceeding $500 million. The retailer also has received B-Corp certification, amplifying its investment in both its employees and environmental stewardship. “At Room & Board our staff members are at the heart of everything we do,” said John Gabbert, Founder and Chairman of Room & Board in a statement. “Over the past few years, we have explored every possible option for future ownership — from going pu ..read more

Just in time for Mother’s Day May 12, UrbanStems has added same-day delivery in four major markets by expanding its partnership with the Walmart GoLocal white-label fulfillment service. Customers in Chicago, Dallas, Miami and Atlanta join those in Washington, D.C., New York and Los Angeles who can now take advantage of same-day delivery of UrbanStems’ in-house designed arrangements. UrbanStems plans to deliver 13 million stems this Mother’s Day. “We know customers expect a reliable and timely delivery experience when placing an order, and those expectations are magnified for special occasions ..read more

A little less than one year after Toys ‘R’ Us made its return to the world of UK brick-and-mortar via nine shop-in-shops in WHSmith stores, TRU parent company WHP Global has announced plans to expand the partnership and add 30 new locations by this summer. Image courtesy WHP Global WHSmith’s High Street stores will now serve as the exclusive long-term shop-in-shop partner for Toys ‘R’ Us in the UK. Locations and opening dates will be announced in the coming weeks. “Our customers have been delighted by the launch of Toys ‘R’ Us in WHSmith stores, so we are excited to have signed a new exclusiv ..read more

In today’s market landscape, ethical, political and environmental considerations increasingly sway consumer purchasing decisions, particularly when it comes to packaging. Studies indicate that consumers are willing to put their money where their mouth is, with products that make environmental, social and governance-related claims seeing disproportionate growth over products that don’t make such claims, achieving a 1.7 percentage point increase in the CAGR. Nevertheless, brands often fall short of meeting consumer expectations through various avenues, with a recent survey finding a staggering ..read more

Americans spent $136.8 billion on their pets in 2022, up from $123.6 billion in 2021, according to the American Pet Products Association. Half of these pet-owning households are run by millennials and Gen Zers, who don’t just look at their pets as “furry friends” but as their children. Bark is one company that is laser-focused on engaging these pet lovers — specifically, pup parents. The company was founded in 2012 with its core product offering, BarkBox. Known widely as one of the first subscription boxes to make a splash in the retail market, BarkBox has become just one piece of a much lar ..read more

Mall operator Simon revealed big plans to expand its Woodbury Common Premium Outlet center in Fall 2023, including the addition of 155,000 square feet of retail stores and restaurants, a 200-key luxury hotel, a second parking facility and upgraded amenities. To cement the center’s image as a luxury destination, the first enhancement will be a VIP Suite featuring multiple private spaces with their own dressing rooms, an upscale lounge area and a private kitchen. The VIP Suite, which is expected to open later in 2024 in the center’s luxury wing, The Adirondacks District, also will host private ..read more

Spanish-language media and content company TelevisaUnivision has partnered with Shopsense AI to make some of its programming, on both linear and streaming platforms, shoppable.   Using onscreen QR codes and dedicated URLs, the Shopsense technology makes onscreen content shoppable via mobile devices by directing viewers to a show-specific digital store. The partnership will kick off with the Latin American Music Awards, airing live tonight on Univision, UNIMÁS, Galavision and ViX. For the awards, TelevisaUnivision and Shopsense have launched four curated collections tailored to distinct t ..read more

Membership programs are quickly becoming 2024’s hottest accessory, whether you’re a luxury resale platform or an electronics ecommerce site. Online marketplaces Rebag and Newegg have joined the growing roster of retailers launching membership programs. This year alone, the list of retailers that have launched or beefed up their loyalty and membership programs includes Albertsons, Carter’s, PetSmart, Target, Sunglass Hut, Staples, Lowe’s, Ulta Beauty and CVS. Rebag+ Membership Operates as Installment Purchase Plan Image courtesy Newegg The new Rebag+ mem ..read more

Best Buy and media site CNET will work together to provide shoppers with experts’ picks and product reviews throughout their purchasing journey. The retailer and tech publisher’s new partnership also will allow advertisers to share ad spaces across both ecosystems, allowing them to see the impact of their campaigns through a full-funnel, closed-loop media solution. Best Buy and CNET have a combined, unduplicated reach of 50 million unique visitors per month. “When shopping for technology, we know that many consumers like to do their own research and turn to Best Buy and CNET to help them expl ..read more