Candy-maker Mars Wrigley plans to refresh the multicolor mascots of its M&Ms to be more “inclusive” and have “more nuanced personalities.” “It’s not immediately apparent how this will be accomplished by swapping the go-go boots the anthropomorphized green M&M has worn in advertisements since 1997 for a new pair of ‘cool, laid-back sneakers,’ as the company said it would,” per The Washington Post.

This year’s theme for those little chalky heart-shaped candies seems to be less romantic and more positive reinforcement. “Many of this year’s ‘words of encouragement’ read like exhausted email greetings,” per The Cut. “I’m surprised one of the 16 new phrases isn’t ‘Hope This Finds You Well.’” The phrases include: Proud of U, Big Fan, Go 4 It, Be You, Fear Less, Good Job, U Got This, Way to Go, High Five, Don’t Quit, Chin Up and Push Thru.

American Airlines alleges in a lawsuit that the travel tips site The Points Guy is violating its terms of use and infringing its trademarks. The airline is seeking an order blocking the site from accessing or using its customer data and from allowing its users to access their own accounts through the The Points Guy app or site. “American is also seeking to block The Points Guy from displaying the American Airlines logo and other trademarks,” per The Verge. 

Larry Miller, the longtime head of the Michael Jordan brand for Nike, served time in a juvenile detention facility six decades ago and had never spoken about it to colleagues or even close friends. “That all changed in 2021 when he decided to reveal in a Sports Illustrated interview that as a teen in 1965 he shot and killed another teenager in Philadelphia,” reports People. “Now, he's recounting his life's experiences and decisions in an upcoming memoir.”

Consumers are being given the choice of an increasing number of options for reusable period products like absorbent underwear, menstrual cups, cloth pads and panty liners. “Members of Gen Z and beyond are more forthcoming about their periods than generations past, and they are more likely to care whether the products they use are environmentally sustainable,” per The New York Times. “The convergence of the two ideals may signify a cultural shift in how young people are approaching menstruation.”

Grocery delivery company Instacart will be the first of its kind with a co-branded payment form. “Launching later in 2022, the new Instacart Mastercard credit card is classified as a ‘World Elite’ Mastercard and will have some shopping perks for users,” per Progressive Grocer. Users can earn points on purchases across Instacart’s marketplace that currently spans more than 700 grocers and retailers nationwide. 

The retail industry had a record holiday season that included double-digit year-over-year growth in most categories, according to the National Retail Federation. Retail sales from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 were up 14.1% over 2020 to $886.7 billion, which easily beat the NRF’s forecast and set a new record despite challenges from inflation, supply chain disruptions and the ongoing pandemic, according to Chain Store Age. 

Walmart appears to be planning to develop cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens. “The big-box retailer filed several new trademarks late last month that indicate its intent to make and sell virtual goods, including electronics, home decorations, toys, sporting goods and personal care products,” per CNBC. “In a separate filing, Walmart said it would offer users a virtual currency, as well as NFTs.” Other retailers including Gap and Under Armour have started selling NFTs.

Lego is being sued by fashion designer James Concannon over its plastic version of a custom leather jacket that he made for "Queer Eye’s" Antoni Porowski. The item appeared in a Lego set that includes outfits for each "Queer Eye" personality that are based on the clothes they wear in the show. “Concannon believes that Lego Antoni’s jacket is simply too similar to the real one for him to not be getting credit,” per AV Club.

Outdoor brand Arc’teryx’s Gore-Tex jackets have become a TikTok meme, thanks to their waterproof fabric. Ads for the 33-year-old North Vancouver outdoor-gear company often show it being worn on powder-drenched ski slopes. “But lately, Arc’teryx consumers can’t seem to stop wearing the brand’s jackets in a far less extreme setting: their showers,” per The Wall Street Journal. “These clips are weirdly mesmerizing. Many commenters voice the same observation, that the water ‘just beads right off’ the jackets (that exact wording has become meme-ified, becoming part of the in-joke).”