It’s 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’re still thinking about.
From Amazon’s “record-breaking” fall sales event to the pickle customers are in over holiday return policies, here’s our closeout for the week.
What you may have missed
Primark comes to Herald Square
Ireland-based retailer Primark is planning to open a flagship store in New York City’s Herald Square, the company said in a press release earlier this week. The location is on a popular shopping strip “directly across the street from Penn Station” and minutes from Macy’s famous Herald Square spot. An opening date is not yet set.
Primark’s 54,000-square-foot Manhattan store will feature apparel, homewares and beauty across four floors of selling space. It represents Primark’s 11th location in the state of New York. A small slice of a 450-store footprint globally, the retailer runs 27 Primark locations across the U.S., noting that it has been “strategically expanding” in the country for nearly a decade.
“Opening a location in the epicenter of US fashion is going to be an exciting milestone for Primark US,” Primark U.S. President Kevin Tulip said in a statement. “When the opportunity arose to bring Primark to Herald Square in Manhattan, a store with exceptionally high foot traffic, national influence, and perfectly located to attract customers who already know us from other Primark stores in the boroughs and surrounding areas, we knew it was the perfect fit. We're thrilled to bring more affordable quality fashion directly to Manhattanites, commuters, and people across the world who are visiting the great city of New York.”
Rare Beauty and J.C. Penney debut accelerator winners
Rare Beauty Brands, J.C. Penney and Black Beauty Collective on Thursday announced the winners of the fourth annual Lift Beauty accelerator program. The program was founded to aid female-identifying beauty brand founders from underrepresented communities with mentorship and funding. Each winner earns a $10,000 grant and professional development opportunities like product testing and retail support software.
This year’s class consists of: Chéribé, a hair care brand founded by Salwa Petersen; Daybird a clean makeup and skin care brand founded by Veena Krishnan; Deon Libra, an adaptogenic beauty brand by founders Devin McGee Kirkland and Brit Kirkland; Naturally Drenched, a curly hair care brand founded Jamila Powell; and Ourside, a unisex fragrance brand founded by Keta Burke-Williams.
Winners will be able to pitch their brands for retail distribution at J.C. Penney Beauty. They also earn a year’s membership in the Black Beauty Collective with the chance to be placed in BBC's Chicago and Los Angeles stores.
Walmart expands pet center locations
Walmart on Tuesday announced the expansion of its Pet Services centers to the cities of Cumming and Alpharetta, Georgia; and Glendale, Chandler and Mesa, Arizona. All locations will launch in the next month and the retailer plans to introduce more centers in the future, according to a company press release. Services at the centers are provided by veterinary and grooming professionals in partnership with PetIQ.
Additionally, Walmart will debut its previously announced Walmart+ partnership with Pawp on Oct. 18. Walmart+ members will receive free, 24/7 access to Pawp’s veterinary staff with unlimited visits via text or video.
“Walmart offers a differentiated omnichannel experience and a wide assortment of offerings – from products and prescriptions to services – available at our Every Day Low Prices to make pet care affordable and convenient,” Kaitlyn Shadiow, vice president of merchandising, Pets for Walmart U.S., said in a statement.
Retail therapy
It’s a Croc
Everyone’s favorite hole-filled footwear company announced this week the release of Pet Crocs. As part of the company’s “Crotctober” and designed in partnership with Bark, Pet Crocs launch on Oct. 23 and will match the company’s Classic Lined Clogs, ergo people and pets can coordinate their outfits. Products will be available in select Croc stores and online for a limited time.
Humans can also spend their hard-earned, inflation-battered money on a Crocs Costume wherein they can dress up like a life-sized Classic Clog.
"We take pride in connecting with our fans and celebrating their boundless creativity, which makes our brand truly unique," Anne Mehlman, Crocs brand president, said in a statement.
Spencer’s drops ‘Morbid’ true crime collab
Spencer’s on Tuesday teamed up with true crime podcasters Alaina Urquhart and Ash Kelley, hosts of Morbid, for an exclusive merchandise collection.
For its fanbase, dubbed “weirdos” by the podcasts hosts, shoppers can choose from drinkware, apparel, makeup, accessories, and more, available in stores and online ahead of Halloween.
What we're still thinking about
112
That’s the number of people being laid off at Orvis, the company confirmed this week.
Those being let go will receive two months of full pay and benefits. They’ll also receive additional severance pay and assistance with health insurance and job transition services.
The Vermont-based outdoor retailer said the job cuts represent about 8% of its workforce.
President Simon Perkins said other upcoming changes over the next 18 months include an undisclosed number of store closings, a narrowing of its assortment and the discontinuation of the retailer’s long-standing print catalog.
“We know this work is necessary,” Perkins said in a statement to Retail Dive. “We also know that it is difficult, because it impacts the lives of our associates and communities.”
$1B
That’s how much Amazon said members saved during its latest Prime Big Deal Days.
While the company didn’t say how much was actually spent, the two-day sales event, which ran on Tuesday and Wednesday, was Amazon’s biggest October shopping event ever, the retailer said in a Thursday statement.
"Our 2024 Prime Big Deal Days event marked a strong start to the holiday shopping season, with record-breaking sales and participation from Prime members worldwide,” said Doug Herrington, CEO of worldwide Amazon stores.
Amazon said some of the top selling brands and gifts during the recent promotion included Apple AirPods and Apple Watches; Barbie, Fisher-Price, Nerf, Mattel and Barbie toys; skin care products from Laneige, Innisfree and Sulwhasoo; and Dyson vacuums and air purifiers.
What we're watching
Kickoff to the holidays?
Amazon, Target and Walmart hosted October sales events — with some still ongoing — in what they all considered the kickoff to the holiday shopping season.
The sales events, however, came before Amazon and Target introduced their holiday return window. Last year Target extended its holiday return window through Jan. 24 for electronics and entertainment purchases, while Amazon last year said that for purchases made between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, they are eligible for returns through Jan. 31 (excluding Apple products, which could be returned through Jan. 15).
Many products purchased during the sale must be returned well before the end-of-year holidays: On Amazon product pages, it says returns must be made within 30 days of purchase, while some sale products from Target, like an Apple iPad, state it “must be returned within 14 days of the date it was purchased in store, shipped, delivered by a Shipt shopper, or made ready for pickup.”
Walmart, which is currently hosting its “Holiday Deals” event through Sunday, has an extended holiday returns window posted on product pages, with items eligible for returns until Jan. 31.
Correction: A previous version of this article misstated Primark's origin. It is an Ireland-based retailer.
