News Briefs

LGBTQ+ consumers want brands to support them during Pride Month (June), but some have reservations about the motives for doing so.

That’s according to a new survey from "cultural intelligence engine” Collage Group, which revealed that more than half (53%) of LGBTQ+ Americans say it’s more important now for brands to celebrate cultural holidays and Pride Month compared to two years ago. Forty-five percent of those surveyed say they would reduce or stop purchasing from a company that stopped celebrating a diversity holiday or month.

When a given company includes a cultural holiday in its advertising, 39% of LGBTQ+ consumers are skeptical of the brand’s sincerity and motives. However, 63% said if LGBTQ+-focused advertising only happens during or around Pride Month, it makes the campaign insincere. Fifty-seven percent say that a company only promoting the LGBTQ+ community in advertising during Pride Month feeds into stereotypes, and 55% say it is not representative of the “real” community experience.

Almost half (44%) of those surveyed believe it is important for all brands to celebrate Pride Month, while 22% say only certain brands should celebrate.

[READ MORE: Minority consumers more likely to support companies with DEI programs]

More than half (55%) of those surveyed say that of the brands that have Pride Month marketing/ads, their focus should be on teaching about the community. The same amount (55%) say those brands should focus on celebrating the impact of LGBTQ+ Americans, and 51% say the focus should be on celebrating diversity within the LGBTQ+ community.

[READ MORE: Tailored Brands in CEO transition]

Tailored Brands operates more than 1,000 stores across banners including Men’s Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, Moores and K&G Fashion Superstore.

A major South Florida neighborhood center is welcoming new tenants following its completed renovation.

MMG Equity Partners, in partnership with Mouhalis Capital Management, has announced the completion of its redevelopment of Strada Coconut Creek, a 7.11-acre neighborhood center located in Coconut Creek, part of the Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area. Acquired by the two firms in October 2022 for $7 million, a $25 million redevelopment program was then launched, aimed at modernizing the site and enhancing its long-term value.

The newly constructed buildings include the following tenants: Sprouts Farmers Market (23,000 sq. ft.), Sentry Self-Storage (125,000 sq. ft.), Conviva Care Center (10,000 sq. ft.), and Cali Coffee (1,500 sq. ft. drive-thru). Atlantic Retail oversaw the leasing on behalf of both firms.

Strategically positioned at a signalized corner on the southwest corner of Coconut Creek Parkway and Lyons Road, Strada Coconut Creek benefits from significant visibility and accessibility, with a traffic count of 33,200 cars per day, according to MMG Equity Partners.

[READ MORE: The Shops at Brickell City Centre to welcome nine new tenants as visits increase]

“This center reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality retail environments, with a mix of uses that meet the evolving needs of today’s consumers,” said Marcos Puente, principal of acquisitions and development at MMG Equity Partners. “We’re especially excited to welcome Sprouts and Cali Coffee – two brands that share our vision for community-driven retail. Their presence will help anchor a vibrant tenant mix that caters to both daily essentials and lifestyle-oriented offerings.”

MMG Equity Partners currently has a portfolio of 2.5 million sq. ft. of commercial space.

A growing Michigan-based coffee chain is launching its first brand refresh.

After three decades in business, Biggby Coffee is introducing updated visual elements across marketing materials and in-store signage, including a new orange color scheme and a new font, designed to unify the brand’s identity as it continues to expand. Anchored by the new tagline, “Biggby Makes it Better,” the company says the refresh emphasizes the brand’s commitment to creating “positive experiences and meaningful connections.”

“Our 30th birthday felt like the perfect springboard for the next chapter,” said Rita Bettino, chief marketing officer at Biggby Coffee. “It was an opportunity to reestablish our roots, reinforce who we are and clearly differentiate ourselves in a crowded category. Biggby has always been about creating positive energy, and this refresh brings that to life visually and emotionally in a bigger, bolder way.”

Founded in 1995, Biggby operates more than 430 locations in 13 states. Earlier this year, newly-named president Erin Kaylor told Chain Store Age that the company plans to expand “down and out,” bringing future Biggby locations to more southern and coastal regions.

[READ MORE: Q&A: New Biggby Coffee president talks expansion plans]

“This refresh is not about reinventing ourselves, it’s about staying true to what’s always made us special and evolving how we express it,” said Mike McFall, co-founder and co-CEO of Biggby. “For us, Biggby has always been more than just coffee. It’s about optimism, connection and making life a little better – for our customers, our employees and the world around us.”

Pairing a smooth shopping experience with low fraud risk is a top priority among e-commerce professionals.

That’s according to a live survey of more than 130 business leaders conducted by e-commerce fraud management platform Riskified at the recent Ascend 2025 IT conference. When asked to identify their biggest challenge in optimizing customer experience while preventing fraud, 85% of e-commerce professionals cited the need to reduce friction for good customers without increasing fraud risk.

More than half (54%) of respondents selected “initial checkout and/or purchase flow” as the area that offers the greatest opportunity for improvement in fraud prevention, which Riskified says signals a focus on reducing friction and risk at a critical point in the customer journey.

Nearly half (47%) of respondents estimate that up to 5% of legitimate customer orders are falsely declined. For the respondents, a 5% false decline rate equates to approximately $50 billion in lost revenue.

According to a survey of risk and fraud executives by LexisNexis Risk Solutions released earlier this year, U.S. merchants incur an average cost of $4.61 for every $1 of fraud, compared to $4.52 in Canada.

“Fraud isn’t a back-office problem anymore – it’s a front-line business decision,” said Jeff Otto, chief marketing officer at Riskified. “This survey confirms that the most successful companies are those that treat fraud strategy as a key enabler for growth, conversion, and customer trust.”

[READ MORE: Survey: Majority of businesses increasing fraud budget, prevention teams]

Amazon Prime Day has its first major competitor – and it isn’t the retailer you might initially expect.

Warehouse club retailer Sam’s Club, a division of Walmart, is locking value prices on more than 1,000 items it calls "summer favorites" – such as grilling gear, coolers, pool floats and fresh-cut fruit trays – through Tuesday, July 22. 

Following this savings period, Sam’s Club will launch its “July Instant Savings Event” on Wednesday, July 23. According to the retailer, that promotion will offer deals on summer items as well as back-to-school essentials.

"This is what we do at Sam’s Club — every day, every hour, every minute," said Diana Marshall, executive VP and chief experience officer, Sam’s Club. "We create effortless, personal experiences and deliver unmatched value, helping our members focus on what matters most. Our members count on us to help them live better, without compromising. And we take that responsibility seriously."

Sam’s Club is launching its summer discount promotion shortly after Amazon announced its Prime Day 2025 promotion will take place from Tuesday, July 8 – Friday, July 11, marking the first time Prime Day will last four days.

[READ MORE: Amazon sets dates for 96-hour Prime Day event]

Prime Day also offers a number of early deals, some of which have already begun. While the July Instant Savings Event doesn’t precisely overlap with Prime Day, Sam’s Club’s overall July sales strategy seems to be the first of what should be many initiatives by other retailers to compete with what has become an annual promotional tradition only eclipsed by Cyber Week.

Bentonville, Ark.-based Sam’s Club, a division of Walmart Inc., operates nearly 600 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.