Packaging

Walmart is about to debut a new initiative to bolster its defenses against its biggest rival.   The discounter's Jet.com site is launching a higher-end private-label brand of household and grocery essentials. The new brand, called Uniquely J, will launch in the coming months with a curated selection of products that include such essentials as coffee, olive oil, laundry detergent, paper towels, and more. Additional items will be added.    

What happens when a fast-fashion giant crosses a leading fast-food company? For two companies, it spurred a new fashion collection.    Forever 21 and Taco Bell are teaming up to launch an apparel line called The Forever 21 x Taco Bell collection. The line features tops, bodysuits and cropped hoodies for women; a sweatshirt, hoodie and anorak jacket for men, and graphic tees, a pullover and hoodie for girls. All merchandise features each brand’s iconic graphics highlighted by a mix of vibrant prints and colors.  

There is good news for retailers in a just-released survey on Halloween spending.   Americans will splurge on costumes, candy and pumpkins for a record $9.1 billion in Halloween spending this year, according to the annual survey released by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. That's up 8.3% from last year’s previous record of $8.4 billion.  

The maker of what it calls "the world's most comfortable shoes" has set up shop in New York City.   Allbirds, the eco-friendly online brand with a fast-growing and devoted following (especially in the Silicon Valley), has opened its second brick-and-mortar location, in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood. The company opened its first store, on the ground floor of its San Francisco headquarters, in April.  

Target Corp. is launching a new brand with HGTV's 'Fixer Upper' stars Chip and Joanna Gaines, and it's doing it just in time for the holidays.   The retailer announced an exclusive multi-year partnership with Magnolia, the home and lifestyle brand founded by the Gaines, to launch a home and lifestyle goods line called Hearth & Hand. It is Magnolia’s first collaboration with a retailer.   

Facebook is helping retailers bring their catalogs to life.   The social media giant introduced a new ad format that enables brands to distribute catalogs through mobile devices. Called "lifestyle templates,” the new format replicates the look of a print catalog, and also allows customers to make a purchase items directly through the Facebook ad, according to Business Insider.   

Target Corp. is launching an array of private brands and the discounter is giving them a big kickoff.   The discounter will launch an aggressive marketing campaign for the new labels, AdAge reported, including everything from print and television spots to in-store events and visual merchandising.      

David Yurman has opened his first boutique on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.    Conceived by the Yurmans, the 3,250-sq.-ft. space reflects the brand's aesthetic and the family's unique artistic expression, and has a two-story historical façade that was maintained and restored to its original condition. The entrance lobby features a heritage wall that visually narrates the Yurmans' journey from art to jewelry with examples of David's early sculptures and wearable art pieces alongside more current designs.