Walmart is standing by its promise to increase “Made In USA” goods with the opening of a Classic Fashion production facility in Santa Ana, Calfornia. The factory will cut and sew apparel exclusively for Walmart. With this facility, Jordan-based Classic Fashion will create 125 new jobs by the end of next year, and an additional 225 by 2027, reaching 350 U.S. American jobs over five years, per Sourcing Journal. Classic Fashion is also a supplier to Adidas, JCPenney, Tommy Hilfiger and American Eagle.

TikTok, described by one exec as the new MTV, seems to be the hot place for brands when it comes to product placements. Some recent examples include Miley Cyrus turning up the volume on a Beats Pill and applying Eos lip balm, Ariana Grande whipping out a Samsung Galaxy Note and Lil Nas X, dressed as a vampire, reaching for an Estée Lauder anti-aging serum.

Alaska Airlines is cutting four routes over the next several months in response to decreased customer demand. "In the past few months, United dropped 12 domestic flight paths, American pulled out of four cities, and Delta trimmed 100 flights per day over the summer as airlines continue to grapple with pilot and staffing shortages," per Afar. 

Electric vehicle automaker Rivian has recalled 13,000 EVs, nearly all of the vehicles it has delivered to date, over a steering issue. "Rivian, which is based in Irvine, Calif., and positioned itself as a Tesla competitor, has lost its luster with investors since it completed its initial public offering last year," per The New York Times. "The company has struggled to meet production goals because of the computer chip shortage and to fulfill its promise to provide Amazon, one of its biggest investors, with delivery vans."

A whopping 18 retailers are at risk of bankruptcy as consumers tighten wallets in 2022. “With stimulus payments gone, consumers under pressure from inflation, capital markets tighter and business inputs still expensive, the financially or operationally weaker players who rode a wave of high demand and a quiet promotional environment are at risk once again,” per Retail Dive.

YouTube, Google and Netflix are the top brands according to Gen Z consumers, according to Morning Consult. Amazon and M&M round out the top five.  “Two retailers also scored well, with Walmart at No. 5, followed by Target, No. 6, with each hovering around 80% favorability," per Chain Stores Age. "Nike was No. 12, and Apple was No. 20."

Americans believe that food inflation has hit 22.8%, 9.7 points higher than the 13.1% annual rate reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and 5.1% higher than in February, according to Dunnhumby, a global customer data science company. “Dunnhumby first reported on the mismatch between consumer sentiment and reality regarding food inflation some seven months ago,” per Supermarket News.

U.S. online resale site Poshmark has been acquired by South Korean internet giant Naver Corp. in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $1.2 billion or $17.90 per share. “The deal comes as online sales of secondhand goods continue to surge," per Chain Stores Age. “The market is expected to grow by 20% annually to $130 billion by 2025, according to Activate Consulting.”

Victoria's Secret is taking a different approach to its new campaign, themed “Undefinable.” The creative “serves as a visual manifesto for a brand caught in a tricky place: Reassuring its fans that VS is still a trusted source for affordably flirty lingerie, and convincing its detractors that it’s used a public reckoning as a catapult for social good,” per Elle. “It’s a powerful rebuke of Victoria’s Secret’s previous M.O., which celebrated a certain type of beautiful girl—young, bouncy, delighted by the appeal of her (slim, taut, bare) body, and unbothered by Adam Levine’s front row catcalls—while deliberately shutting others …

Spanx has promoted Kim Jones, its current president and chief financial officer, to be its new CEO.  "The promotion is one of five new appointments announced in Spanx’s leadership team," per the Atlanta Business Chronicle. "Jones takes over the top executive position from Spanx founder Sara Blakely, who remains executive chairwoman. Jones and Blakely worked together to secure the majority stake investment from Blackstone in 2021."