It’s been another week with far more retail news than there is time in the day. Below, we break down some things you may have missed during the week, and what we’re still thinking about.
From Build-A-Bear’s nightcrawler plush to Vuori’s new chief marketer, here’s our closeout for the week.
What you may have missed
Long lead times mean Target’s home and decor turnaround needs time
Target’s second quarter report was mostly a step in the right direction for its turnaround, but a notable lag was in its home and decor sales. The merchandise category grew just 0.2% year over year, a much lower rate compared to its beauty and hardlines results.
Part of the issue is the long lead times associated with home products, CEO Michael Fiddelke said on a call with analysts Wednesday.
“Those are longer lead time businesses, and so change doesn't come as quickly there as it might in a category like food and beverage,” Fiddelke said. “As we embarked on the year, we said home would be a multiyear journey.”
Home and apparel — another merchandise category that saw a lower rate of growth compared to last year — are ironically the two areas that once differentiated Target’s assortment, Roth’s Managing Director and Senior Research Analyst Bill Kirk said in a note Wednesday.
“While management highlighted positive guest response where changes have been made, Home and Apparel, two important high-margin categories, remain works in progress and management was clear that both categories will require additional work extending into 2027 and beyond,” TD Cowen analysts said in another note Wednesday.
Vuori taps Abercrombie & Fitch vet as chief marketer
Athleisure brand Vuori has hired Carey Collins Krug as its next chief marketing officer, effective Oct. 5.
Krug joins the brand from Abercrombie & Fitch, where she held the same role and helped bring back cultural relevance to the apparel brand. She has also held leadership positions at David Yurman, Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan International.
At Vuori, Krug will focus on growing the brand’s global marketing strategy, strengthening its position across channels and continuing its momentum.
“Carey brings the kind of brand-building, consumer engagement and cross-functional marketing leadership that will be instrumental as Vuori enters its next chapter of growth,” Joe Kudla, Vuori founder and CEO, said in a statement. “Her experience helping global lifestyle brands sharpen their storytelling and build deeper connections with consumers aligns closely with where we’re headed as we continue to scale.”
Retail therapy
Build-A-Bear’s cutest lil Fresno Nightcrawler walks away with it
An adorable pair of semi-humanoid pants didn’t even make it onto Build-A-Bear’s Aug. 6 press release of “Spooky Stuff” available for Halloween this year. But the Fresno Nightcrawler Posable Plush, part of its “lovable legends” collection, is already sold out online and, according to the Fresno Bee, unavailable at stores – even in Fresno, California.
The stuffie is based on a grainy security video from 2007 in which a pair of pants appears to be slowly and awkwardly walking on its own. The FBI ruled the phenomenon unexplainable, according to the Bee, and Build-A-Bear’s faithful recreation of the footage has likely contributed to the lore, or at least to sales.
In an Instagram post, horror news site Dread Central called the Fresno Nightcrawler Posable Plush a “cuddly cryptid” and “possibly the cutest lil’ guy,” based in part on the ability to buy him a cowboy hat. Other accessories include a somehow not-at-all redundant pair of pants.
What we’re still thinking about
100
That’s how many Thanksgiving Day parades Macy’s will have put on by the end of the year. The department store kicked off a countdown to the event this week, according to a Tuesday announcement.
“As we begin the 100-day countdown to our historic 100th Parade, we're inviting customers to be part of the celebration, not just on Thanksgiving morning, but throughout the season,” Chief Marketing Officer Sharon Otterman said in a statement. “Over the next 100 days, we'll honor the memories, traditions and experiences that have made the Parade a beloved part of the holidays while creating new moments of magic for the next generation.”
The celebration includes a brand-new character balloon created for the occasion, Billie Brightpaw, limited-edition products and collaborations from brands, including Crocs, Marvel, Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera and Apotheke.
What we’re watching
Lululemon’s evolving C-suite
This week brought another executive departure from Lululemon. Bill Chandler, chief communications officer at the athleisure brand, will exit Sept. 4 to “pursue other opportunities.”
He joins Chief AI and Technology Officer Ranju Das, who left Lululemon on Aug. 13, and Chief Strategy Officer Rachel Acheson, who retired earlier this month, in exiting the retailer just ahead of incoming CEO Heidi O’Neill’s start date. O’Neill, a longtime Nike executive, takes on the top spot on Sept. 8.
The executive shuffling adds another layer of uncertainty to Lululemon’s turnaround, especially as there is likely to be more once O’Neill actually takes on her position. With the weeks winding down to O’Neill’s start date, we’ll be watching for more turnover at Lululemon — and how the new chief structures her team.
