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 Kmart’s early ‘90s shopping soundtrack to a new beer-themed wardrobe, below are some of the most interesting reads from the past week.
Politics goes retail
The presidential election cycle is in full swing—and that means candidates are pumping out memorabilia to adorn every supporter’s car, yard, and even dog. Emily Grimm on Medium has rounded up some of the best items from campaign websites, including a “Guaca Bowle” from Jeb Bush and a strange “Blacklisted and Loving it” poster from Ted Cruz.
A new type of political spend
Even if you skip buying in your favorite candidate’s memorabilia shop, data can show what political party you voted for last election based on your everyday purchasing choices. CNBC looked at the most popular retailers for red and blue states in the 2012 election, based on spending in those states.
Kmart’s greatest hits
Missing a great playlist for your next big party? Consider the complete hits of Kmart. According to Chart Attack, one ex-employee has uploaded all the Kmart background music played over their stores’ speaker system from 1989 to 1993 to Archive.org.
Wear your beer
If drinking the “champagne of beers” wasn’t enough, fans of Miller High Life can now show their love by wearing clothing from the beer company. Reported by Racked, the company has created a men’s clothing line inspired by Miller’s vintage advertisements, featuring some surprisingly stylish wares like a plaid “fisherman’s shirt” and vintage cap.
So the prophecy says
The Atlantic’s David A. Graham explains Wal-Mart’s stock plunge this week with a truly creative theory from none other than Ibn Khaldun, the 14th-century Muslim philosopher and scholar.
“‘Empires age and decay in the course of three generations,’ Ibn Khaldun warned. And while his theory referred to early-modern desert dynasties, it could easily apply to Walmart,” Graham writes.