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It\u2019s been another week with far more retail news than there is time in the day. Below, we break down some things you may have missed during the week, and what we\u2019re still thinking about.<\/p>\n
From Birkenstock opening its seventh U.S. store to a candle that smells like KFC\u2019s fried chicken,\u00a0here\u2019s our closeout for the week.<\/p>\n
What you may have missed<\/h3>\n
Stitch Fix rolls out \u2018Stylist Profiles\u2019 to boost customer experience <\/em><\/p>\nWhile other retailers are scrambling to boast about their AI prowess, apparel box retailer Stitch Fix has been slow-launching a new feature, \u201cStylist Profiles,\u201d that provides details on the humans involved with curating the apparel and accessories in each box.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Customers can now see their stylists\u2019 first name, photo and how many Fixes they\u2019ve curated, along with fun facts, specialties or, in coming weeks, client testimonials. Elements of the new feature have rolled out incrementally over the last quarter to see what resonates, per a Stitch Fix spokesperson.<\/p>\n
Warning analysts that \u201ctransformations take time,\u201d CEO Matt Baer in September said such changes to the customer experience had already begun to pay off, but that the company would need a couple of years to return to growth.<\/p>\n
Lands\u2019 End spotlights personalization \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n
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\nCourtesy of Lands’ End<\/p>\n
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Lands\u2019 End this month opened a holiday concept shop in New York City that focuses on personalization. The store highlights the company\u2019s Canvas Pocket Tote, and allows shoppers to make it their own with on-site embroidery, hand painted calligraphy and an assortment of patches, ribbons and pins.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0The Lands\u2019 End Crosby Street Market is open through Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Birkenstock chooses Boston\u2019s Newbury Street for seventh U.S. store<\/em><\/p>\nBirkenstock this week announced the opening of its seventh U.S. store, which is located on Boston\u2019s popular Newbury Street and coincides with the brand\u2019s 250th anniversary, according to a company press release. The location, which offers a full range of clogs, sandals, sneakers, boots and socks, joins the brand\u2019s other U.S. storefronts in New York, California, Florida and Texas.<\/p>\n
“Opening our seventh retail store in the namesake city of our iconic Boston clog is a particularly special moment for the brand,” David Kahan, president of Birkenstock Americas, said in a statement. “Boston’s rich history and contemporary energy perfectly align with Birkenstock\u2019s values of tradition and innovation.”<\/p>\n\n\n
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\nBirkenstock is rolling out a photography campaign focused on Bostonians wearing its Boston clog shoe as part of the opening.<\/p>\n
Courtesy of Birkenstock<\/p>\n
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The footwear brand collaborated with artist Kevin Mirsky on exclusive artwork for a limited-time offering of tote bags and stickers at the location, and is rolling out a community campaign shot by local photographer Steph Larsen. \u201cThe Boston in Boston\u201d captures Bostonians wearing Birkenstock\u2019s Boston clog and \u201ccelebrates the unique character of Boston and its community.\u201d<\/p>\n
The store\u2019s interior features cork, felt and leather, which are key materials in Birkenstock\u2019s manufacturing, as well as a brand history section showcasing artifacts from the company\u2019s archives. The store will also sell a new Birkenstock Care Essentials collection, which includes balms, oils and other products.<\/p>\n
Retail therapy<\/h3>\n
A finger lickin\u2019 good holiday<\/em><\/p>\nNothing quite says the holidays like a cracking fireplace, friends and family gathered together, and the scent of freshly fried chicken wafting through the air. At least KFC would like to think so.<\/p>\n\n\n
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\nCourtesy of Homesick Candles<\/p>\n
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The fast-food chain recently announced two \u201cfinger lickin\u2019 good\u201d partnerships to help customers check some items off their holiday gift lists. For the homebody that loves to cozy up to the smell of a comforting meal, KFC partnered with Homesick Candles to bring home the restaurant\u2019s most-famous scents. The pair is offering a Bucket of Chicken Candle, Buttery Biscuit Candle and Bucket of Chicken Car Freshener, available to purchase on both KFC\u2019s and Homesick\u2019s websites.<\/p>\n
But if that\u2019s not enough, KFC cooked up another partnership, this one with Build-a-Bear, to launch a limited-edition collection that includes a KFC Bucket Costume and KFC Pajama Outfit for stuffed animals, as well as a \u201cKFC Plush Chicken Wristie\u201d that the stuffed animal can wear.<\/p>\n
The Build-a-Bear and KFC collection launched Thursday online and in select stores.\u00a0\u2018Tis always the season for fried chicken.<\/p>\n
Break me off a piece of that Santa Claus?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nThe Hershey Company on Monday announced its first ever seasnal Kit Kat shape, Kit Kat Santas.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
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\nCourtesy of The Hershey Company<\/p>\n
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To celebrate the release, Kit Kat teamed up with Simon Property Group and enlisted Santa Claus himself for a traditional mall photo experience that includes a free Kit Kat Santa for those on his \u201cNice List.\u201d The Kit Kat Santa Photo Experience will take place Dec. 7 and Dec. 8 at the Roosevelt Field Mall in New York, the Woodfield Mall in Illinois and the Brea Mall in California.<\/p>\n
The limited-edition, Santa-shaped candy is now available nationwide at retailers in 8.85 ounce snack-size bags.\u00a0<\/p>\n\nWhat we\u2019re still thinking about<\/h3>\n
12%\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nThat\u2019s how much net income dropped in Shoe Carnival\u2019s third quarter, coming in at $19.2 million compared to $21.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Net sales were $307 million, down 4% for the quarter, while comparable sales declined 4.1% year over year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
CEO Mark Worden pointed to two hurricanes that disrupted the quarter and a warm October that delayed the start of the company\u2019s winter boot season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shoe Carnival lowered its guidance, now expecting net sales to be between $1.2 billion to $1.23 billion versus prior guidance of between $1.23 billion and $1.25 billion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
$5 billion+<\/em><\/p>\nThat\u2019s how much \u014cura \u2014 the company behind the Oura Ring \u2014 is valued at following a $75 million strategic investment from Dexcom.<\/p>\n
The two companies have formed a strategic partnership to bring together Dexcom\u2019s glucose data with \u014cura\u2019s data on stress, vital signs, sleep, activity and heart health, according to a Tuesday press release.<\/p>\n
\u201cNinety-seven percent of Oura Members have expressed interest in understanding how the food they eat impacts their health,\u201d Tom Hale, \u014cura CEO, said in a statement. \u201cThis partnership with Dexcom will enable us to empower our members to make informed decisions and adjust behaviors to positively impact their biometrics and long-term health. Working together, \u014cura and Dexcom will help members decide what and when to eat by surfacing correlations between activities like sleep and exercise and members\u2019 glucose levels. And because we know that people are affected differently by the same foods and activities, guidance and insights will be personalized.\u201d<\/p>\n\nWhat we\u2019re watching<\/h3>\n
Retail\u2019s response to the reversal of the DOL\u2019s overtime rule<\/em><\/p>\nA federal judge on Nov. 15 struck down a recently expanded overtime rule, which changed the threshold of overtime pay from $35,568 to $43,888, and would have raised it further in 2025. As a result, the roughly $35,000 threshold is now back in effect. According to the National Retail Federation, the rule may have impacted roughly 7.2 million workers had it taken effect.<\/p>\n
Retail trade organizations were quick to react, with the Retail Industry Leaders Association saying in comments shortly after that the industry was \u201crelieved\u201d with the court\u2019s decision to block the overtime rule, calling it \u201can overzealous and unreasonable approach from the start that ignored the realities of today\u2019s economy and the law.\u201d<\/p>\n
The rule would have \u201ccreated an unworkable standard,\u201d according to RILA, which said retailers remain advocates for workforce policy that favors flexibility and job growth. The NRF likewise chimed in to support the move, saying the rule exceeded the Department of Labor\u2019s legal authority and would have \u201ccurtailed retailers\u2019 ability to offer the most flexible, generous and tailored benefits packages to lower-level exempt employees across the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNRF opposed these rules from the outset,\u201d Executive Vice President of Government Relations David French said in a statement. \u201cThey would have forced employers to reexamine compensation packages for millions of workers nationwide. Had the rule taken effect, some workers would have lost the status of a managerial position, valuable educational and training experiences, the capability to travel on the employer\u2019s behalf, and\/or flexibility as to when, how and where they work.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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