News Briefs

Amazon is letting consumers custom design merchandise with the help of AI. 

 The online giant is introducing a new feature of its “Alexa for Shopping” solution, which combines the personalization capabilities of the next-gen Alexa+ voice model with generative AI shopping functionality, to provide AI-based product design to consumers. Designs can be put on T-shirts, hoodies, tumblers, and other products available through Amazon’s Merch on Demand print-on-demand service, which is also used by organizations such as global mixed martial arts organization UFC to create print-on-demand products.

From there, Amazon handles production and delivery with Prime-eligible shipping.

[Read more: Online giant granted patent to create on-demand clothing]

The feature is designed to guide customers through the process with tips along the way even if they don't know anything about graphic design. Designing merchandise with Alexa for Shopping is free. Customers only pay for the products they order. The feature is now available to all U.S. customers. Amazon plans to add more product options over time.

Amazon is teaming with a leading manufacturer of advanced glass and fiber optic technology to help support data center operations.

The online giant has launched a multibillion-dollar agreement with Corning Inc. to supply the optical fiber, cable and connectivity solutions that support the expanding Amazon data center infrastructure across the U.S. According to Amazon, the investment will create 1,000 new skilled jobs at Corning's manufacturing facilities across North Carolina and support hundreds of additional construction jobs to expand Corning’s facilities.

Amazon will also work with Corning on a new program to expand its Fiber Optic Technician Training Program with Catawba Valley Community College to train students for careers in fiber optic manufacturing and related technical roles. The program provides hands-on education and courses the companies hope will help strengthen the domestic supply chain and U.S. manufacturing base. 

"Amazon's investments in North Carolina have created more than 26,000 jobs across the state.,” said Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services (AWS).  This multibillion-dollar agreement with Corning continues that commitment, channeling investment into American manufacturing and creating 1,000 new jobs at their facilities near our data centers.”

The agreement with Corning follow’s a commitment Amazon made to invest an estimated $10 billion in North Carolina to support AI and cloud computing technologies in June 2025. Since the beginning of 2025 alone, Amazon has committed to invest more than $140 billion in data centers around the U.S., most recently in Mississippi.

[READ MORE: Amazon ups Mississippi AI data center commitment to $25 billion]

"This agreement with Amazon represents a significant milestone for Corning and for American manufacturing," said Wendell Weeks, chairman, CEO, and president of Corning. "Amazon's investment will help us expand production and lead the way toward building a resilient U.S. manufacturing base."

Photo: Corning Incorporated

A company veteran is returning to Sam’s Club.

Walmart Inc.'s  membership warehouse club division named Steve Schrobilgen as incoming COO and executive VP following the retirement of Tom Ward. Ward’s retirement was revealed in May, along with the departure of Cedric Clark, Walmart’s executive VP of U.S. store operations.

Schrobilgen most recently served as COO, end-to-end for Walmart Canada, overseeing operations, supply chain, real estate and format. He was named to the position in January 2025, after serving as senior VP, business unit leader for Walmart in the Western U.S. Prior to his roles at Walmart, Schrobilgen spent over 30 years at Sam’s Club in various roles,

Schrobilgen joined Walmart as an hourly cart attendant in June 1989 at Sam’s Club in Davenport, Iowa and continued working his way up through the operational ranks, with increased responsibilities and building up his strong understanding of the Walmart business, the company stated.

“We’re also thrilled to welcome Steve back home, bringing his experience from across the enterprise back to Sam’s Club,” Sam’s Club CEO Latriece Watkins said in a memo as reported by talkbusiness.net. “His first job with the company was here and has over three decades of Sam’s Club experience, including being a Blue Coat recipient, Sam’s Club’s highest individual honor. Opportunities like this are earned through years of strong leadership, performance, and impact, and Steve has consistently demonstrated all three throughout his career.”

A new retail concept has unveiled a new pricing strategy.

Bed Bath & Beyond/The Container Store  is resetting prices across thousands of products in stores and online, with reductions averaging up to 25%. 

READ MORE: Bed, Bath & Beyond purchasing The Container Store for $150M

“This is not a promotion, a temporary sale or a marketing event,”  Marcus Lemonis, executive chairman and CEO of Bed, Bath & Beyond Inc., wrote in a letter to the company's shoppers and shared with Chain Store Age. “It is a deliberate move to better align our prices with the value our customers deserve."

In April, The Container Store announced that its 98 stores nationwide would begin resetting selling floors to prepare for the "phased integration" of Bed Bath & Beyond products. In May, the two retailers opened their  first co-branded location, in Fort Worth, Texas. 

The new concept combines The Container Store’s organizing solutions, design services and expertise with Bed Bath & Beyond’s home essentials, resulting in a “more complete home destination” for consumers.

New York has become the third state in the nation, joining Maine and Connecticut, to pass legislation that limits companies from using consumer data to set prices.

Legislators in New York on June 4 passed the One Fair Price Act, which curbs personalized pricing, also known as surveillance pricing. The practice occurs when companies use artificial intelligence and algorithmic to review consumers’ personal data, such as their browsing history, real-time location, inferred family size or income to set prices or discounts for consumers, according to Consumer Reports.

The bill now heads to New York Governor Kathy Hochul for consideration.

“If signed, New York’s legislation will help protect consumers from personalized pricing,” said Grace Gedye, senior policy analyst at Consumer Reports. “It will put limits on how companies can use consumers’ data to profile them and charge them the most they are willing to to pay. Governor Hochul will no doubt be met with a lot of corporate lobbying to weaken this bill in the months to come. We urge her to stand with New Yorkers and push to strengthen protections, rather than diminish them.”  

The bill was also supported by the AARP, which addressed bill critics who said it would hurt customers from receiving discounts such as targeted coupons. (Colorado recently vetoed a similar surveillance pricing bill.) 

“Part of the bill allows for preserving bonafide discounts,” said Beth Finkel, state director of AARP New York. “That means of sales, coupons, loyalty programs. It’s what consumers expect and rely on.”

Other states, including California and New Jersey, are considering comparable acts.

[READ MORE: Walmart starts selling smart audio glasses]