Traub Weekly News Roundup // November 28, 2023

Here's our weekly roundup of recent consumer and retail news. This week, empty Bed Bath & Beyond stores are hot real estate, Allbirds begins selling on Amazon, and more. 

WORDS FOR THE WEEK

For more inspiration, visit @dailystoic and @dailyphilosopher on Instagram. 

M&A, INVESTMENTS and IPOs

• Fast-fashion giant Shein reportedly has filed for IPO MarketWatch
• Temperley London Sells Majority Stake to Dubai-based Times Square Group LLC WWD
• Reddit Leads Class of 2024 IPO Candidates Testing the Water Bloomberg

INDUSTRY NEWS

CPG & RETAIL

Allbirds begins selling on Amazon

The sustainability-focused brand expands its sales channels amid a company-wide transformation effort focused on improving profitability. Retail Dive

Diptyque opens Madison Ave. flagship ahead of the holidays

On December 1, Diptyque Paris will open a new 2,100-square-foot two-story flagship store on Madison Avenue in New York City, kicking off the holiday season. Glossy

Physical stores could be the next frontier for retail media networks

In-store media is a small slice of retail media spending, but larger brick-and-mortar audiences present a major opportunity for retailers. Retail Brew

Empty Bed Bath & Beyond stores are hot real estate

After the closing of its business, Bed Bath & Beyond locations that have been abandoned are now being claimed and transformed by other companies. CNN

Don’t Be Fooled by a Robust Black Friday Weekend

Consumer spending over Thanksgiving Weekend may have exceeded expectations, but shoppers are stretching their wallets too thin, analysts say. BoF

Buybuy Baby Is Back—and Opening Stores Again

The retailer is starting over after the bankruptcy of former parent Bed Bath & Beyond. WSJ

Why grocers are experimenting with sensory-friendly shopping experiences

Retailers have been experimenting with ways to make in-store shopping more pleasant for shoppers, either by remodeling stores or updating the store layout. Modern Retail

Cyber Monday spending hits all-time record

Americans rang up $12.4 billion worth of online purchases, up 9.6% from last year. Axios

LVMH-backed Madhappy Takes the Wraps Off First Permanent West Hollywood Store

The L.A. brand has spent six years opening more than 20 pop-up stores around the country, preparing for this moment. WWD

Nordstrom pushes Rack expansion as full-line fleet contracts

Analysts question the emerging dependence on an off-price business that is struggling to compete in an otherwise thriving segment. Retail Dive

EXPERIENCES, RESTAURANTS & HOSPITALITY

Consumers Splurge Even as Savings Fall

A group of US consumers has surprised companies and economists by splurging on Taylor Swift concerts, trips to Paris and dining out — even as their savings decline. Time

Inflation is still on the menu at McDonald's and other fast-food chains.

The harsh inflation that's battered consumers in the pandemic's wake may be subsiding, but that trend isn't yet extending to fast-food chains, which have continued to hike menu prices at a faster clip than inflation overall as well as at the grocery store. CBS

COMINGS & GOINGS

• Sam Altman Is Reinstated as OpenAI’s Chief Executive NYT
• Antoine Arnault to Relinquish CEO Role at Berluti WWD
• Binance CEO Steps Down After $4 Billion DOJ Settlement NBC
• Blackstone Executive Spins Out Brand Group, Hires Ex-J. Crew President Jenna Lyons Bloomberg
• Amandine Ohayon Named CEO of Stella McCartney BoF
• Vanessa Kingori to Exit Condé Nast, Join Google BoF
• Macy’s Names Sharon Otterman Chief Marketing Officer WWD
• Former NBCUniversal Chief in Talks to Join Private-Equity Firm RedBird Capital Partners WSJ
• Genesco Taps Foot Locker Exec as Journeys Group President SGB Media

GOOD READS 

• It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (for the Economy) NYT
• Ozempic and Wegovy have upended the diet industry. So why is the WeightWatchers CEO betting the company’s future on them? CNN