News Briefs

The nation’s largest mattress specialty retailer is enhancing its supply chain operations with AI-based inventory optimization technology.

Mattress Firm Group Inc. is implementing artificial intelligence-driven inventory solutions for demand forecasting, store and distribution center replenishment, and merchandise financial planning from Invent.ai. 

"We were impressed with expected ROI modeling and accelerated time to value," said Deborah Weidemeyer, VP merchandising lifecycle management, Mattress Firm. "These two key factors along with leading science, a simplified approach to better business outcomes and continuous support and learning through the hub model, led Mattress Firm to select Invent.ai as our partner."

Mattress Firm gets new owner

Mattress Firm is rolling out its new omnichannel product protection plan following the recent completion of Tempur Sealy’s acquisition of Mattress Firm Group Inc. The total purchase price was approximately $5 billion, which is about $1 billion more than when the deal was first announced. 

[READ MORE: Tempur Sealy to change its name; completes acquisition of Mattress Firm]

Founded in 1986, Mattress Firm operates more than 2,300 stores in addition to an e-commerce site. Tempur Sealy’s brands include Tempur-Pedic, Sealy and Stearns & Foster, along with non-branded offerings consisting of private label and OEM products. The company’s products are sold through its 700-plus stores and e-commerce channels as well as third-party retailers.

Target Corp. is now selling wine in paper bottles.

The company is the first major U.S. food retailer to commission a range of sustainable wines in low carbon paper bottles that will save the equivalent of nearly 100 tons of carbon dioxide, according to U.K. packaging company Frugalpac. Target’s Collective Good brand wine assortment, which is bottled exclusively in Frugalpac’s paper "Frugal Bottle," is now on sale in nearly 1,200 of the company’s stores. 

The bottle is made from 94% recycled paperboard with a food-grade pouch to hold the liquid. The pouch is also certified recyclable and is a polyethylene

According to Frugalpac, the Frugal Bottle is five-times lighter than a glass bottle and uses six-times less carbon and energy to produce and dispose. The carbon footprint of a standard glass wine bottle is 15.52 ounces carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e), compared with a Frugal Bottle, at 3.23 ounces CO₂e. 

The Collective Good range is a collaboration between Danville, Calif.-based Latitude Wines, which sourced and imported the wines, and Monterey Wine Co., which filled the paper bottles. All of the wines sold in the paper bottles were grown on sustainable vineyards.

A new survey reveals the many factors that can affect a digital purchase decision.

The new E-commerce Pulse Report from product experience platform Salsify and the Digital Shelf Institute, which surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. and U.K. online shoppers, reveals that 59% of respondents shop via smartphone.

In addition, 70% of respondents say discounts lead to unplanned online purchases, while 62% say flash sales and limited-time promotions influence their buying decisions.

More than half (53%) of respondents plan to buy electronics during major sales events like Amazon Prime Day, Target Circle Week, and Walmart Deals, and 44% compare prices across at least three retailers before purchasing.

However, while discounts are a major driver of unplanned digital purchases, 48% of respondents prioritize free shipping and 41% value flexible payment options. One-in-four respondents say customer reviews influence their buying decisions, more than product images (22%) or price (19%).

Seven-in-10 (69%) respondents use marketplace apps like Amazon and eBay, and 54% regularly shop across multiple marketplaces. Forty-five percent utilize retailer apps like Target and Best Buy.

"Tariffs and economic uncertainty are making consumers more price-conscious than ever, influencing shopping behavior across every category," said Dom Scarlett, research director at Salsify. "To stay competitive, brands must optimize their digital presence across all major retailers, refine their pricing strategies, and deliver compelling product content that builds trust and drives conversions — no matter what they’re selling."

[READ MORE: Survey: Consumers to prioritize lowest prices in coming months]

Consumers are reining in their spending when it comes to apparel and accessories, with the sector the worst performing major category so far this year.

Consumer spending at clothing and accessories establishments fell 3.9% year-over-year between Jan. 1 and March 23, 2025, according to Earnest Analytics' debit and credit card data. The preliminary March growth represents a deceleration from February after accounting for Leap Day 2024, with the March 1-23 data reflecting the worst monthly trend since November 2024. 

The reduction is driven mostly by lower credit card spending growth. Debit card growth outperformed credit for most of the last 12 months, similar to total trends. This could suggest younger shoppers were bigger drivers in clothing and accessory spending growth, the report said.

On the positive side, although March represents a further reduction from February, it also marks an improvement from deeper declines in early 2024.

Other insights from the Earnest data are below.

• The average credit and debit card transaction size at clothing and accessories stores  was $122 in the first 23 days of March, 2025.
• Average basket size has mostly declined year over year since December 2024.
• Consumer spending at clothing and accessories stores grew the fastest in Hawaii, Louisiana and Ohio. It was slowest in Alaska, South Dakota and the District of Columbia. Nevertheless, clothing spending fell in most states.

A family-owned Midwest grocer is expanding its partnership with DoorDash.

Schnuck Markets, Inc. and the delivery platform have partnered to launch on-demand delivery of groceries and daily essentials. In addition, Schnucks will now accept SNAP/EBT payments on the DoorDash Marketplace, helping ease the burden on low-income families and supporting broader food access across the communities Schnucks and DoorDash serve.

“Consumers look to DoorDash to shop fresh, affordable groceries on-demand,” said Mike Goldblatt, VP of grocery & retail partnerships at DoorDash. “We’re thrilled to welcome this beloved, family-owned grocer with over 100 stores to DoorDash. Through online grocery delivery, we’re also proud to further food access to SNAP beneficiaries to stock up on meats, essentials, and produce to feed their families while discovering the best local businesses in their neighborhoods.”

DoorDash’s network of stores that accept SNAP/EBT online payments on its marketplace includes more than 35,000 stores.

All Schnucks stores are also available on DashPass, DoorDash’s membership program that offers $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees from thousands of restaurants, grocery, and convenience stores nationwide.

“Our new partnership with DoorDash helps us reach our customers where and when it’s most convenient for them,” said Chace MacMullan, Schnucks senior director of digital experience. “While being able to accept SNAP/EBT benefits as a part of DoorDash orders helps bring our shoppers fresh, affordable food on demand.”

[READ MORE: DoorDash brings delivery robots to U.S.]

Founded in St. Louis in 1939, Schnuck Markets, Inc. is a third and fourth generation, family-owned grocer that operates 114 stores in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

The largest furniture store retailer in North America is extending its longstanding consumer financing program.

Ashley has been offering consumer financing in partnership with Synchrony since 2010. Under a renewed agreement, Synchrony will continue to administer the Ashley Advantage credit card and will continue to offer a range of promotional terms including deferred interest, equal pay/no interest and reduced interest plans, as well as fixed monthly payments with terms ranging from six to 72 months.

"Synchrony’s relentless commitment to innovation and customer-centric experiences makes them the perfect partner to help our licensees grow their business and keep Ashley number one," said Chad Spencer, CEO of Ashley Global Retail. "We are committed to continuous improvement in the retail finance space, and we know Synchrony is the right partner to accomplish this."

More than 750 independent Ashley licensee locations participating in the Synchrony program, which includes features such as:

• Data and analytics to support strategic decisions around promotion offerings, consumer behaviors and program performance.
• A seamless credit application process across Ashley’s in-store and digital platforms.
• Synchrony’s credit decisioning model, risk tools, and financing options.

[READ MORE: Ashley to ‘refresh’ all stores with new design]

"For nearly 15 years, Synchrony and Ashley have worked together to offer seamless financing solutions that provide real value to customers," said Curtis Howse, CEO of home & auto at Synchrony. "This renewal strengthens our commitment to supporting Ashley’s customers and independent licensees with financing options that make home furnishing purchases more accessible and affordable."

Based in Arcadia, Wis., Ashley operates more than 1,100 store locations in 70 countries.