As the editor of Retail Dive, it’s my job to keep tabs on every piece of retail-related news—the good, the bad, and the silly.
From a new conspiracy theory about Wal-Mart's latest store closing to Colorado’s booming cannabis market, here are the most interesting reads from the past week.
First comes love, then comes Ikea
Forget meeting the parents. The ultimate test of a relationship is that overwhelming, stress-inducing trip to Ikea (and don’t even get us started on the furniture assembly). The Wall Street Journal looks at this rocky terrain in a new video.
Conspiracy theory: Wal-Mart stores to become human 'processing' facilities
While a labor advocacy group insists that Wal-Mart’s abrupt firing of 2,200 employees last week was “retaliatory,” a new conspiracy theory has surfaced that has a more—how do I put this?—unique idea that the stores will become “processing” facilities for humans once a covert Special Operations exercise called Jade Helm 15 commences this summer.
The new cannabis consumer
In a deeply researched story, Racked editor Chavie Lieber tries to navigate the haze surrounding Colorado’s budding cannabis lifestyle industry. The narrative includes pot facials, high yoga, and visits to gluten-free cannabis sellers—all rolled into one neat and readable joint.
My favorite quote: “It’s like being at a trendy coffee shop, except I’m about to buy a $12 rolled joint instead of a soy latte.”
The great shopping cart getaway
We turn once more to Wal-Mart for some pre-weekend entertainment. A woman shopping in a Pittsburgh Wal-Mart walked out of the store without paying, according to CBS, and proceeded to use the cart she was shopping with “as a skate board to skate across the parking lot with a cart full of groceries,” state police trooper Steve Limani told CBS.
You get a coffee! And you get a coffee! Everyone gets a coffee!
An article from the Washington Post explains why some consumers have received free coffee for months at their favorite Pret A Manger: It’s actually part of the job.