News Briefs

Global travel retailer WHSmith and CPG company Nestle are promoting a bottled water brand via an experiential retail media campaign.

The activation includes full-store takeovers at 10 WHSmith airport locations, as well as a complete terminal takeover and an interactive basketball arcade experience at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport. The three-week campaign kicked in May 2025 with WH Smith store takeovers by Nestle at 10 U.S. airports, including LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International, Palm Springs International, Orlando International, and Phoenix Sky Harbor. 

Shoppers at participating will engage with Nestlé Essentia branding through a variety of touchpoints, including the retailer’s WHS Media retail media network in-store digital screens and audio, front-of-store pop-up displays, floor decals, and other creative placements throughout the stores.

"At WHSmith, we’re passionate about bringing fun back to travel," said Stuart Michell, chief commercial officer at WHSmith North America. "That’s the driving force behind WHS Media. Whether travelers arrive early, face a layover, or experience delays, this activation adds levity and excitement to their journey."

The campaign also includes a full terminal takeover of LaGuardia’s Terminal E, beginning May 15. Travelers see Nestlé Essentia branding throughout the terminal, and can play a branded version of Pop-A-Shot, the basketball arcade game, fully wrapped in Nestlé Essentia creative.

"Travel can be exhausting and dehydrating, which makes it the perfect moment to connect with consumers and showcase the benefits of Essentia," said Robin Cook, national account manager at Nestlé. "We’re especially excited about the interactive Pop-A-Shot experience at LaGuardia, which brings a fun, memorable twist to hydration and ensures Essentia stands out among a sea of options during a high-dwell moment in the traveler journey."

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Consumers can expect discounts in the range of 7% to 10% off listed price across major e-commerce categories over Memorial Day weekend.

That’s according to Adobe Analytics, which said that deepest discounts are expected to be in electronics, apparel and sporting goods. In electronics for example, discounts are expected to peak at 10% off listed price on May 24 (Saturday). 

Adobe also anticipates this to be the first Memorial Day weekend where more than half (52%) of online sales will come through mobile devices, driven in part by notable discounts and impulse purchases. 

In other insights, Adobe anticipates bigger ticket items (such as large appliances and furniture) will be hot sellers over Memorial Day weekend. For example, online sales of air conditioners are expected to rise as much as 200% (compared to average sales levels in April 2025). During the most recent past weekend (May 17 to 18), early deals are already driving an uptick across categories. For air conditioners, online sales were up 119%. 

In apparel, Adobe expects a boost in children’s apparel, with online sales up as much as 130%. Online sales in this category were already up 56% this past weekend, as consumers took advantage of early deals to stock up on children’s socks, underwear, shorts, and t-shirts.  

In sporting goods, online sales of bicycles are expected to rise by as much as 140% (up 91% this past weekend). And for pool equipment, online sales are expected to rise by as much as 130% (up 85% this past weekend). 

Faced with economic uncertainty and looming tariff threats, U.S. consumers are taking a pragmatic approach to their finances in the face of economic uncertainty and tariff threats.

A majority (64%) of consumers have sped up planned purchases or stocked up on goods to get ahead of potential price increases, with the spending led by Gen Z and millennials (72), according to new data from Bread Financial. As to what they are spending on, groceries is out in front (36%), followed by electronics (24%), apparel (19%), beauty/personal care (17%) and cars/trucks (12%).

In other findings, 78% of consumers have already changed how they shop due to tariff concerns, with 46% making fewer purchases overall.

Other highlights from the Bread Financial data are below.

• Seven-in-10 consumers say that tariffs, inflation, or economic stress is causing tension in their households, led by grocery spending.
• Forty-four percent have either started or increased their savings this year, and 64% report having at least some savings on hand.
• More than half (58%) of respondents believe the economy will either stay the same (17%) or worsen (41%).
• Just over half (55%) feel confident they could handle a downturn financially.
• Most consumers still have one thing they won’t do without. Their top pick: coffee (20%). This was true for all generations, except Gen Z, who put beauty/personal care in their top spot (16%).

ShopRite is helping store employees communicate more easily and naturally with coworkers and customers.

Select ShopRite stores in the New York tri-state area are deploying VoCoVo all-in-one wireless headsets for their associates. The VoCoVo Series 5 Pro Headset is a fully integrated communication solution with telephony integration that allows associates to make, receive and transfer customer calls directly from their headsets. 

Other features include connectivity with curbside pick-up services and self-checkout systems. These integrations convert real-time notifications into instant voice alerts.

"Since successfully launching VoCoVo at our first stores late last year, we have continued to accelerate deployment of the technology across member store groups," said Chris McCrae, retail innovation lead at Wakefern Food Corp., the retailer-owned supermarket cooperative and distribution and merchandising arm of ShopRite. "ShopRite store teams report more seamless direct communication with the headsets."

[READ MORE: ShopRite rolls out inventory robots to more stores]

The headsets provide seamless, secure communications capabilities via DECT scalable voice connectivity technology. Full-duplex audio enables associates to talk and listen simultaneously through an environment noise-canceling microphone purpose-built for noisy retail settings. ShopRite plans roll out VoCoVo headsets to more locations this year.

"Over the past year, it has been a privilege to support Wakefern's family-owned ShopRite stores in enhancing communication, empowering retail workers to connect seamlessly with their colleagues and customers through VoCoVo," said Joe Szala, senior VP at VoCoVo. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration to bridge the final mile toward fully connected associates with integrated, automated communications."

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The nation’s second-largest bookstore chain is giving new titles to two internal real estate executives while also bringing a new real estate manager on board.

Books-A-Million has promoted Rick Franz to executive VP of real estate and Jack Fleming to VP of real estate at Books-A-Million. Since joining Books-A-Million in 2024 as a consultant, Franz has provided strategic insight and leadership to the real estate department. 

In his new role, Franz will continue to lead store positioning and growth. He previously served as VP of real estate at Ulta Beauty, Wild Oats Markets, and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Fleming, who has served as real estate manager in Books-A-Million’s Preferred Growth Properties real estate subsidiary for the past three years, will focus on managing Books-A-Million's existing assets while continuing to identify opportunities for new store openings. His previous experience includes serving in the financial services department of First Citizens Bank.

In addition, Books-A-Million hired Pete Turner as real estate manager in April 2025. Since graduating from Auburn University in 2020, Turner was a commercial underwriter at Regions Bank. 

These real estate appointments follow Books-A-Million’s appointment of Brandon Waters, a veteran technology executive with more than 15 years of experience at the retailer, as CIO in February 2025.

[READ MORE: Books-A-Million takes same-day delivery national with Walmart]

"Please join us in congratulating Rick and Jack, and welcoming Pete," Books-A-Million said in a statement. "As Books-A-Million continues to expand and innovate, we are confident that their leadership will play a pivotal role in our continued success."

Books-A-Million operates more than 200 stores in 32 states as well as its e-commerce site, Booksamillion.com.