Can a $1,699 Espresso Machine Help Walmart Challenge Amazon? at WSJ. “Walmart’s internal research shows that shoppers equate stylish designs with better quality, said Creighton Kiper, who runs the home category for Walmart in the U.S…“I went to Walmart because other people weren’t,” said (Drew) Barrymore of some other celebrity partnerships. When its (Beautiful) products hit Walmart stores, they were a hit…Beautiful is now expanding its offerings at Walmart, including a new line of outdoor furniture.” WSJ subs.

 

Top 100 Fashion Trends for 2026 at Trendhunter

 

Here’s the Best Way to Sell a Hot Rotisserie Chicken at Stanford Business. “Grocers typically use a first-in, first-out (FIFO) inventory rule…But the team discovered that when it comes to premade foods, the opposite approach works best: A last-in, first-out (LIFO) rule…combined with keeping products on the shelf longer increases sales and reduces waste.” Read more

 

How prices have changed at a Georgia Walmart since 2024 at NPR. “Prices in NPR’s basket rose 5% on average last year. Almost half the items on NPR’s shopping list got more expensive in 2025…” Read more | Chart

 

The Most Important Sneaker Releases to Watch in 2026 at WWD

 

What works to drive sales on TikTok Shop has changed, creators say at Glossy. “Unanimously, the creators said sustained results were no longer relying on viral moments. Instead, each had defined a repeatable system that consistently produces sales.” Read more

 

The Guinness Effect: Why Stout Is Suddenly Booming at Bloomberg. “…stout consumption in the UK rose 43% from 2019 to 2024. At the same time, ale drinking declined 31% and overall beer 7%…as people cut back on drinking, the relative luxuriousness of an order of stout makes it more compelling than an anonymous light lager or low-alcohol beer, if you’re ordering just one.” Bloomberg subs.

 

A Store Is Not a Strategy at The Robin Report. “Filson is one of the strongest examples of creating emotional connection. Walking into a Filson store, you immediately understand what the brand values…Filson’s stores succeed because they do not try to say everything. They say the right things clearly and repeatedly through physical choices.” Read more

 

Walmart announces top executive leadership changes at Talk Business

 

Harps Food Stores (160 locations) Announces New Leadership Across Company at The Shelby Report. “The promotions include Shannon Kincade to VP of center store merchandising, Josh Cleveland to director of grocery retail management…and Ashley Winget to director of general merchandise.” Read more

 

China deepens investigation into Temu parent PDD after fistfights with regulators Bloomberg subs.

 

As U.S. orders fade, Chinese salespeople face tough grind in new markets at Reuters. “Reuters interviews with 14 salespeople working on the frontlines of China’s export diversification push… reveal the costs and caveats behind the rosy headline trade figures…”I’m very anxious,” said (salesperson) Chen, adding that she had recently experienced stress symptoms like hair loss and insomnia.” Reuters subs.

 

Francesca’s allegedly fires workers without warning as women’s clothing retailer shuts down for good at Fox Business

 

China’s Birthrate Sinks to Record Low at WSJ. “New births in the country fell to 7.92 million, down from 9.54 million in 2024. The number of births per 1,000 people fell to 5.63, from 6.77 in 2024. That is the lowest number of births and lowest birthrate reported since records began in 1949, the founding of the People’s Republic of China.” WSJ subs.

 

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