News Briefs

A leading office supplies retailer is launching a new brand platform to celebrate 40 years in business.

Staples Inc.’s new Hard vs. Easy platform is designed to eliminate the “unnecessary friction businesses encounter,” including managing dozens of vendors and disconnected processes to last-minute supply runs, inconsistent quality and unreliable delivery. The platform pairs specific workplace pain points with tangible Staples solutions and proof points, using the Hard and Easy Buttons as an immediate visual shorthand for the choice. 

This year marks 40 years since the company opened its first store. Staples supports businesses of all size with workplace essentials like janitorial/sanitation supplies, break room snacks and beverages, furniture consultation and installation, customized print and marketing solutions and more.

“For 40 years, Staples has upheld a simple promise: Make work Easy and help people and businesses succeed,” said Rachel Huckle, CEO of Staples. “The world of work has changed dramatically, but our promise has not. What has grown is the breadth and scale of how we deliver it. This campaign brings that story to life in a way that is unmistakably Staples: Show the Hard, then present the Easy way forward.”

[READ MORE: Staples partners to open in-store eyewear shops in four locations]

Headquartered near Boston, Staples serves customers throughout North America through direct B2B sales, e-commerce and more than 900 retail stores. 

A youth-oriented specialty fashion retailer is looking to its core customer base for inspiration as it enters a new product category.

Pacsun is introducing “PS Goodnight,” a new sleep and loungewear brand designed for Gen Z. The debut collection features 41 pieces, with apparel ranging from $25 to $55 and eye masks available for $20. The assortment spans pajama separates and coordinated sleep sets, including button-up sets in jersey knit, woven sets, and a satin set, alongside pointelle, lace and brushed flannel pieces and soft shorts. 

According to Pacsun, the launch builds on insights from newly released “2026 Youth Report,” a survey of roughly 6,100 Gen Z and Gen Alpha respondents ages 11 to 24 across the U.S. In addition, the retailer gathered input throughout the development process from the Pacsun Community Hub, a platform integrating social connection, creator monetization, and co-creation opportunities, aiming to help “shape the next generation of youth culture and style alongside Pacsun.”

Pacsun also consulted its Pacsun Youth Advisory Council, a group of 14 people aged 12 through 26 who give their opinions on new product drops and collaborations, as well strategies for the retailer’s marketing approach and technology innovations.

[READ MORE:  Pacsun connects with consumers for cultural relevance]

“As we explored what this brand could be, we looked beyond the data and stayed close to the young people we serve, using their perspectives to help us build something that feels relevant to their lives,” said Richard Cox, chief merchandising officer at Pacsun. “That combination of insight and ongoing dialogue is central to how we build at Pacsun."

PS Goodnight is now available at select Pacsun stores and online.

Founded in 1980 in Newport Beach, Calif., Pacsun is now co-headquartered in Los Angeles. 

Walmart’s retail media network has added a new leader to its team.

Kate Hamill is joining Walmart Connect as senior VP and head of U.S. sales. She will lead the network’s U.S. commercial organization, with responsibility across sales, partnerships, sales operations and client services.

Hamill joins the retail giant from Pinterest, where she spent over a year as VP of North America enterprise sales. In the role, she led the company’s North America enterprise sales organization and, for a period, also oversaw its international enterprise sales organization.

Prior to Pinterest, Hamill spent 13 years at Meta (formerly Facebook Inc.) holding leadership roles across retail and e-commerce, emerging businesses, travel and more. She most recently served as managing director and head of industry, e-commerce at retail.

[READ MORE: Walmart extending Scintilla to Sam’s Club]

“Walmart Connect continues to grow and become an increasingly important part of Walmart’s broader business,” said Ryan Mayward, senior VP and general manager of Walmart Connect. “As we look ahead, our focus is on raising the bar for how we serve advertisers and drive lasting growth for their businesses. Kate’s deep advertising experience, customer focus, and proven ability to lead at scale will be incredibly valuable as we pursue that opportunity.”

Walmart Connect was launched in 2021 as a revamped version of the Walmart Media Group.

Based in Bentonville, Ark., Walmart Inc. operates more than 10,900 stores and numerous e-commerce websites in 19 countries.

Returned merchandise is seldom re-sold at full price, presenting a challenge for retailers.

That’s according to a new survey of retailers in the United Kingdom and Europe from ReBound Returns and Advanced Supply Chain (ASC), which found that while 86% of retailers have an established approach to circularity in returns, only 9% of retailers resell more than half of their returned products at full price. On average, 12% of returned items generate no value.

A large majority (82%) of retailers believe that up to half of their returned stock could generate additional value through enhanced recommerce strategies, while nearly two-thirds (62%) said they already make regular efforts to recover value from goods that cannot be resold.

More than a quarter (27%) of those surveyed said that circularity is a “core part: of how returns are managed.

“Retailers have made clear progress in building circularity into their returns strategies, but the data shows that having a circular process in place does not necessarily mean retailers are maximizing the value of every returned product,” said Stuart Greenfield, U.K. and European sales director at ASC. “The opportunity now is to look at what comes back as inventory with potential value, and determine the best route for each item, whether that is resale, refurbishment, repair, donation or recycling.”

[READ MORE: Returns affect online purchase behavior – here’s how]

The Circularity Index is based on research conducted by Opinium on behalf of ReBound Returns and ASC. Opinium surveyed 150 senior leaders in mid-to-large retailers with annual revenues above £/€100 million between July 13-29.

The full report can be found here.

Walmart’s paid membership offering is providing members a discount at more gas stations.

Members of the Walmart+ program is adding fuel brand Citgo to its gas savings benefit, expanding from 13,000 to more than 17,000 participating stations across the U.S. giving members savings of 10 cents per gallon. The discount had already been available at participating Exxon, Mobil, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Murphy gas stations.

Members can find participating fuel stations through the Walmart app. To use the benefit, Walmart+ members can sign into their Walmart account in the discounter’s app, select “Gas Savings” in their member hub and choose Citgo to launch the welcome page and then create or link a Club Citgo account.

At the gas station, members enter the Alt ID (phone number) associated with their Club Citgo account on the pump screen or members paying with cash can enter the Alt ID on the pin pad inside the station. The Walmart+ discount will automatically be applied to the transaction and members could also receive additional Club Citgo rewards.

“A membership has to earn its place in a household budget,” said Deepak Maini, senior VP and GM, Walmart+. “That’s why we’re focused on delivering real value members can use again and again. Expanding our gas savings benefit by adding Citgo stations gives members even more places to save, with convenient locations that fit into their rhythm of daily life.”

Walmart has bulked up Walmart+, initially launched in September 2020, with numerous additional benefits over the years. As part of the annual $98 fee, Walmart+ now offers benefits including auto care perks, upgraded video streaming, free same-day delivery on grocery and Rx, free shipping with no order minimum, and 5% unlimited cashback through the OnePay CashRewards Credit Card.

[READ MORE: Walmart-backed fintech and Synchrony to launch Walmart credit card]

Chapman Market, a 41,000-sq.-ft. market that opened in 1928 has won a refinancing that will take it into its second century in business in Los Angeles’s Koreatown neighborhood.

Northmarq’s Newport Beach and Los Angeles Debt + Equity teams secured the refinancing with a life insurance company within Northmarq’s correspondent network.

“This property sits at the epicenter of Koreatown’s vibrant nightlife,” said Joe Giordani, managing director at Northmarq. “Given the trophy nature of the asset and the institutional quality of the sponsor, we were able to generate significant interest across a broad range of capital sources. Ultimately, Voya Investment Management emerged as the ideal partner.”

Situated along West 6th Street, one of Koreatown’s primary commercial corridors, the property benefits from a dense surrounding population, strong foot traffic and access to one of Los Angeles’ most active dining and entertainment districts. 

Tenants include Quarters Korean BBQ, Starbucks, Shibuyala, BHC Chicken, Escala Ktown and The Original Handroll.