An unlikely brand is taking a hit this election. Some social media users are falsely claiming that election ballots are being invalidated in Arizona because of the use of Sharpie markers. “In what’s come to be known as #Sharpiegate, social media posts suggest that election officials in Maricopa County provided voters with Sharpie pens, which interfered with ballots being recorded, specifically those for President Donald Trump,” according to the Chicago Tribune.

There aren’t many toys or games that keep selling for nearly five decades. The Rubik’s Cube has become “one of the most enduring, beguiling, maddening and absorbing puzzles ever created,” according to The New York Times.“More than 350 million cubes have sold globally; if you include knockoffs, the number is far higher. They captivate computer programmers, philosophers and artists.”

Impacts from the coronavirus are to blame for the failure of another retailer.  Pet food and supplies chain Pet Valu is closing its 358 locations in the Northeast and Midwest. “The move comes despite an increase in spending on pets throughout the country during the pandemic,” according to USA Today. “Rival retailers like PetSmart have been thriving. More than one-third, or 34%, of pet owners have increased their pet-related spending since the pandemic began.”

Walmart is calling four stores, including two in Arkansas, its “test centers” for piloting new technologies and practices. This year has “ushered in a new era of retail,” with customers now “asking for retailers to show up differently,” according to a blog post written by John Crecelius, senior vice president of associate product and next-generation stores at Walmart U.S. Test center stores will “increase the speed at which we learn” and create a “true rapid prototype environment,” he wrote.

No matter which presidential candidate comes out ahead, marketers will be affected. “The Trump administration would likely continue to apply existing antitrust legislation against large tech companies. It would also likely increase pressure on foreign technology companies, particularly those based in China,” per eMarketer. Biden, on the other hand, “could include efforts to expand internet access and regulate data privacy, both of which Biden has embraced either in public comments or on his campaign website.”

Chicago businesses like Macy’s are boarding up windows to protect against possible violence as a result of Election Day. “Between the civil unrest this summer, the coronavirus pandemic and a divisive election whose outcome may not be known Tuesday, business owners are weighing the prospect of further unrest in a way they haven’t during past elections,” according to the Chicago Tribune, which quoted one business owner as saying, “it’s clearly a potential triggering event.”

The mayors of eight California cities are pushing the state’s governor to allow large theme parks to reopen sooner than the new state coronavirus guidelines allow. The affected parks include Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles County, and Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm in Orange County. The mayors warn the closed parks threaten jobs and economic recovery in their communities.

Inspire Brands Inc. and Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. announced Friday the two restaurant companies will merge. Inspire will buy Dunkin' for $106.50 a share, for a total of approximately $11.3 billion, including assumption of Dunkin’s debt. "The merger brings Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins into Inspire’s existing portfolio of Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic Drive-In, Jimmy John’s and Rusty Taco," according to Nation's Restaurant News. "With the merger, Inspire Brands' restaurants have $26 billion in systemwide sales and more than 31,600 restaurants in more than 60 countries. It will make Inspire one of the largest restaurant companies in the world."

Walmart is returning guns and ammunition to store displays. The retailer had asked all of its stores to move firearms and ammunition to a secure backroom area of the store out of “an abundance of caution” on Thursday in response to concerns about "isolated civil unrest," Walmart spokesperson Kory Lundberg told NBC News. But, “as the current incidents have remained geographically isolated, we have made the decision to begin returning these products to the sales floor today,” he said Friday.

Cleveland's football team is donating $350,000 to East Cleveland’s schools to better equip students for virtual learning. The funds will purchase 325 Chromebooks for students, improve internet connections for 500 families, provide 200 hotspots for others, and get five teachers Dolby voice room kits. The team says it hopes to help bridge “the digital divide” as part of its social justice efforts.