When a Starbucks store suddenly closes, most people assume it’s due to renovations, a staffing hiccup, or a lease issue. But across dozens of U.S. cities, locked doors and handwritten signs are pointing to something more urgent. At least 75 stores have shut down as baristas stage walkouts—not just over a new dress code, but over what they say is a deeper breakdown in workplace respect. ...
Chinese Billionaire To Buy North America’s Oldest Company
Many assumed Hudson’s Bay Company—North America’s oldest business—was beyond saving when it filed for bankruptcy early this year. But in a stunning twist, Chinese-born Canadian billionaire Weihong Liu is poised to buy a large chunk of the retailer—and may revive its most iconic department: beauty. Her modern, Asia-inspired vision could turn The Bay from fading legacy to future-forward ...
Walmart Responds to Backlash Over Reinstating Harsh Policy
Walmart has brought back a controversial minimum basket fee for online orders paid with Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards, which has sparked widespread backlash. The $6.99 fee affects Walmart+ Assist members when their orders total less than $35. This fee was paused during the pandemic but is now being reinstated to cover the costs associated with picking and packing orders from ...
FDA and RFK Jr. Move To Ban Fluoride From Everyday Care Products
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the leadership of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has announced plans to phase out ingestable fluoride supplements intended for children. These products, including tablets, lozenges or drops, and are generally prescribed to children at risk of tooth decay due to low fluoride levels in their local water supply. The FDA aims to conduct ...
Target CEO Publicly Confesses To Huge Mistake As Boycotts Reach Breaking Point
For years, Target was seen as a corporate trailblazer—championing inclusivity through Pride collections, Black-owned brand partnerships, and progressive marketing. But despite the image, some warned it was more branding than belief. Now, those concerns are proving true. Early this year, Target quietly scrapped its $2 billion pledge to Black-owned businesses and scaled back LGBTQ+ displays, ...
Big Lots Is Exploding Into 70 New Cities—Here’s Where They’re Headed
Big Lots is making a comeback in 2025, with 70 stores reopening in more than a dozen states across America. This expansion is partially due to new ownership - Variety Wholesalers. After filing for bankruptcy, over 200 Big Lots stores were acquired by Variety Wholesalers, which is pushing the brand back into the limelight with new inventory, expanded product lines such as new clothing ...
The 9 Most Ridiculous And Expensive Met Gala ‘Outfits’ Of 2025
The Met Gala has always been a spectacle of fashion extremes—remember Jared Leto's severed head in 2019 or Kim Kardashian's full-body black morph suit in 2021? This year, fashion's biggest night somehow raised the bar. With a $75,000 ticket price and a theme—“Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”—that celebrated Black dandyism, the 2025 Met Gala fused personal identity with boundary-breaking ...
How Good Is the China Trade Deal for the Average Consumer
Many headlines suggest the U.S.-China trade war is finally over—but that’s far from the whole story. While a new 90-day agreement has slashed tariffs on imports, this deal is more pause than peace. Beauty products, fashion items, and everyday essentials may see temporary relief, but real prices aren’t dropping overnight. One overlooked figure? Tariffs on Chinese imports dropped from 145% ...