Dept. Toys & Games

  1. Department: Food

Your Views:  Hard Choices

MNB reader Theresa M Zaske had some thoughts about the potential end of SNAP benefits because of the federal government shutdown: I have a nephew with severe disabilities who relies on SNAP. He lives two time zones away from me. My sister and I are figuring out how to help him. That means my sister […]
7 min read
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  1. Technology & Innovation

Blank Canvas Strategy Revealed! Plus News from Dick’s Sporting Goods, Amazon, Hermes, and More

The News Rundown Steve leads off with the latest tariff turmoil, as trade negotiations between the U.S. and Canada stall amid the Trump administration’s response to an ad created and paid for by the Ontario government running in U.S. media whose key auto  sector is endangered by Trump trade policies. They also explore luxury corporate […]
3 min read
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  1. Channel: Ecommerce & Digital

Nordstrom Holiday Plans: 1,000-Item Gift Shops, Plus Visits from Santa, in All Stores

Nordstrom is making its bid to be a major holiday destination with gift shops in every store that will feature more than 1,000 items, 90% of which will be priced under $100 and 60% under $50. In-store events will include special appearances by Santa at each store, with Nordstrom cardholders qualifying for free photos with […]
2 min read
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  1. International

OffBeat:  Elbows Up, Canada!  

So the World Series begins tomorrow, with the Los Angeles Dodgers facing off against the Toronto Blue Jays.  I am disappointed that the Seattle Mariners still have not made it to the World Series, but as they say in baseball, Wait ’till next year. The Dodgers have to be considered the prohibitive favorites, but I […]
2 min read
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  1. Shopper & Customer

Value Takes Precedence in Purchase Decisions as Consumers Tire of Price Fluctuations

New consumer research from AlixPartners reveals that despite rising inflation and concerns about the impact of tariffs, price alone is no longer the primary driver of consumer purchase decisions in the fashion and beauty sectors. Rather, the 2025 Consumer Sentiment Index report, Fashion: In Flux, reveals that a combination of value, authenticity and strong brand […]
3 min read
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  1. Technology & Innovation

Amazon Could Replace 600,000 Jobs With Robots In Less Than A Decade

The New York Times reports that “interviews and a cache of internal strategy documents viewed by the New York Times reveal that Amazon executives believe the company is on the cusp of its next big workplace shift: replacing more than half a million jobs with robots. “Amazon’s U.S. work force has more than tripled since […]
3 min read
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  1. Technology & Innovation

2025 RTIH Innovation Awards winners announced, including Tesco, White Stuff, Currys, and EE

VoCoVo, Everseen, Sensei, Gander, Iceland, Olio, Trust Retail, East of England Co-op, Lekkerland SE, Poq, Mamas & Papas, Varner, Sitoo, and Zebra Technologies were among the winners last night at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, sponsored by Vista Technology Support, STRATACACHE, VenHub, 3D Cloud, EdTech Innovation Hub, and Retail Technology Show. We received a record […]
3 min read
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  1. Department: Beverage

OffBeat:  Play Ball!

We’re not finished with Major League Baseball’s League Championship Series yet, and we still have a way to go until the World Series.  I’ve watched almost every inning, even though, once the New York Mets did not make the postseason, I expected pay cursory attention. Instead, I’ve found these games to be largely riveting, not […]
2 min read
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  1. Data & Insights

Engaging U.S. soccer fans ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026™

Soccer fandom in the U.S. is gaining momentum in anticipation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup™. And with this growing audience, brand sponsors and advertisers need to understand who these fans are and how they’re engaging to capitalize on this rising popularity.  The tournament is set to significantly boost soccer’s popularity, with 37% of the […]
3 min read
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  1. Media & Marketing

Re-Craving Domino’s: How the Pizza Giant Rewrote Its Own Recipe for Relevance

  After thirteen years of the same look, Domino’s Pizza has done something bold: it hit refresh—visually, sonically, and strategically. According to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®, it’s about time! The $20-billion pizza juggernaut (with more than 21,500 stores worldwide) rolled out a sweeping rebrand in October 2025 featuring a […]
5 min read
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  1. Technology & Innovation

Government Shutdown Retail Math, Zombie Retailers Come Back from the Dead, and the Future of Agentic Commerce (feat. Scot Wingo)

The Weekly News Rundown The episode opens with a fast-moving retail update. New DataWeave analytics reveal that Nike has raised prices significantly — by 17 percent for footwear and 14 percent for apparel — as tariff cost mounts, potentially disrupting their turnaround plans. Steve and Michael then examine the continuing U.S. government shutdown and its […]
3 min read
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  1. Data & Insights

Pacsun’s Formula for Relevance: Youth Culture + Co-Creation

This episode is brought to you by Commerce. Legacy brands from the Y2K era are back — but the smartest ones aren’t just trading on nostalgia, they’re reinventing themselves for today’s digital-native youth. Pacsun is the poster child for this kind of strategic reinvention, and in this episode of Retail Remix the brand’s Chief Merchandising […]
< 1 min read
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  1. Shopper & Customer

Burger King’s Monster Menu: How the King is Turning Halloween Into a Meal Occasion

  Burger King is leaning hard into Halloween with its first-ever Monster Menu, and that a good thing according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. From an orange-bunned Whopper to vampire-shaped nuggets, the promotion goes beyond novelty — it’s a case study in how a QSR brand can tap into […]
4 min read
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  1. Technology & Innovation

MINISO gears up to open new store at The Glades Shopping Centre in Bromley this Friday

Pop culture and lifestyle brand MINISO has announced the opening of its latest store at The Glades Shopping Centre in Bromley on Friday, 3rd October at 12pm. The retailer is promising an extensive range of products, including Vinyl Plush, blind boxes, plush toys, beauty essentials, lifestyle accessories, and snacks. In addition, customers will have access […]
2 min read
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  1. Department & Category

What We’re Eating on October 31 (and Craving After)

  Halloween has become one of the biggest spending holidays in America—and this year is bigger than ever. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are expected to spend a record $13.1 billion on Halloween this year. That’s up from $11.6 billion last year, and even more than the previous record of $12.2 billion set […]
4 min read
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  1. Media & Marketing

Target introduces in-store toy demos, kids’ catalog for the holidays

​[[{“value”:” The retailer is also highlighting thousands of toys it will offer under $20, as a way to emphasize value. Published Sept. 26, 2025 A Target checkout toy. The company released its Bullseye Top Toys List, which features over 40 toys. Courtesy of Target “}]] 
< 1 min read
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  1. Media & Marketing

Pacsun Takes Co-Creation to the Next Level with New Youth Advisory Council

Pacsun wants to make it clear that it doesn’t just sell products to young consumers; it listens to them. The brand introduced its new Pacsun Youth Advisory Council — a group of Gen Z and Gen Alpha creators who will collaborate directly with Pacsun executives — at the Pacsun Purpose Partner Summit held Sept. 18 […]
2 min read
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  1. International

Toys ‘R’ Us to Expand U.S. Store Footprint with 10 New Flagships Plus 20 Holiday Pop-Ups

By the end of 2025, Toys ‘R’ Us plans to open 10 new permanent flagship stores in the U.S. as well as 20 seasonal holiday pop-ups, all in partnership with Go! Retail Group. These stores represent a significant addition to the retailer’s physical footprint, which includes global flagships at the American Dream and Mall of […]
2 min read
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  1. Department & Category

Food Marketing Football Game Day Spreads: Gambling on Snacks and Sports

  Football isn’t just America’s favorite pastime anymore—it’s become the centerpiece of a high-stakes marketing strategy where food, fandom, and gambling collide. The big screen in the living room, the sizzling of wings in the kitchen, and the tap of a sportsbook app on a smartphone—it’s all part of a new cultural mashup. What used […]
5 min read
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  1. Department: HBC

Ulta Beauty Kicks Off ‘College Glow Up’ Tour to 6 Campuses

Ulta Beauty has embarked on its first multi-market experiential activation — a College Glow Up Tour presented in partnership with HerCampus Media — that will stop at six campuses between now and Sept. 26. At each stop, the custom Ulta Beauty truck will offer free treats, unique photo opportunities, product gifts and surprise influencer meets. […]
2 min read
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  1. Shopper & Customer

The Experience Equation: What Retailers Need to Get Right

This episode is brought to you by Commerce. In an age of instant delivery, why are so many consumers still making the trip to the store? In this episode of Retail Remix, host Nicole Silberstein sits down with Melissa Gonzalez, Principal at the design firm MG2, to explore why the in-store experience is still such […]
< 1 min read
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Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go Are Gone A Historical Retrospective on Amazon’s Grocery Experiments & the Road Ahead

  On January 27, 2026, Amazon confirmed what many analysts had quietly anticipated: its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go store banners are being shuttered across the U.S., ending a decade of experimentation in brick-and-mortar grocery retail. According to Amazon, all 57 Amazon Fresh grocery stores and 15 Amazon Go locations are slated to close imminently […]
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BREAKING NEWS:  Amazon Bails Out Of Physical Stores Business, Closing Go And Fresh Stores

Amazon announced today that it is closing its 57 Amazon Fresh Stores and 15 Amazon Go stores.  With the exception of Whole Foods, which it acquired for $13.7 billion in 2017, it will now be out of the bricks-and-mortar business for the time being. The company’s food retail focus now will be on expanding its […]
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  3. Department: Food
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December E-Grocery Sales Hit $12.7 Billion, Up 32% YOY

The latest Brick Meets Click Grocery Shopper Survey is out, reporting that “monthly U.S. online grocery sales accelerated dramatically in December, with total sales surging 32% year-over-year (YOY) to finish the month with a record high $12.7 billion … This robust performance reflects higher order frequency, spending rates, and a larger user base than December […]
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NRF 2026 review: AI grabs the spotlight as retail technology steps into its next chapter

By James Pepper, Vista Technology Support A Brief Introduction to NRF and How the Show Is Structured Every January, the National Retail Federation’s ‘Retail’s Big Show’ transforms New York’s Javits Centre into one of the most influential gatherings in the global retail calendar. Tens of thousands of professionals arrive to explore new technologies, exchange ideas, […]
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