News Briefs

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is partnering with USPS Operation Santa and Toys"R"Us  for the 2024 holiday season to make it easier than ever for individuals to participate in the gift-giving program.

USPS Operation Santa allows people from across the U.S. to help fulfill the holiday wishes of families in need by adopting their letters to Santa Claus. Since its inception more than a century ago, USPS Operation Santa has helped answer the thousands of letters addressed to Santa Claus through the USPS each year. Through the collaboration with Toys"R"Us, letter adopters can now easily select and purchase gifts from a specially curated e-commerce site.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with USPS Operation Santa to empower more letter adopters this holiday season,” said Gary Haas, VP, Toys"R"Us e-commerce. “By simplifying the adoption process and offering a curated selection of gifts, we are making it easier for individuals and families to spread joy to children in need and make their holiday dreams come true. Together, we're creating magical moments that will resonate for years to come."

Through USPS Operation Santa, children write their holiday wishes to Santa Claus and send their letters to his official address. The letters are then anonymized and made available for adoption on the program's website. Individuals, families and organizations can browse the letters, adopt one or more of them and fulfill the child's holiday wishes.

That was quick.

Michael Conway, CEO of Starbucks North America, will retire on Nov. 30, according to a Securities & Exchange Commission filing. The company veteran was appointed to the newly created role in April. 

Prior to his new position, Conway, who joined Starbucks in 2013, served as group president, international and channel development. 

“His deep experience in strategic planning and operational excellence, as well as his efforts to support building our brand and culture around the world make him well positioned for this new role,” Starbucks stated in announcing Conway's appointment. 

HIs departure comes after Brian Niccol took the reins of Starbucks on Sept. 9. Niccol, the former CEO and chairman of Chipotle Mexican Grill, succeeded Laxman Narasimha, who had served as Starbucks since March 2023.

Starbucks will not fill the role of North America CEO upon Conway’s departure, reported Yahoo Finance, citing a Bloomberg report. Sara Trilling, who currently reports to Conway in her role overseeing North America store development and strategy, among other areas, will retain her role and will report to Niccol, according to the report.

The report also said that Starbucks is creating a new global chief brand officer position to oversee product, marketing, digital, customer insights, creative and store concepts.

Big-box retailers are the most popular choice for Halloween shopping this year, but other retailers are closing the gap.

According to a new survey of 1,000 American consumers from Suzy and Vibenomics, the vast majority of Halloween shoppers (76%) plan to stock up on their holiday needs at big-box retailers this year, such as Walmart and Target. Grocery stores (38%), dollar/discount chains (34%) and online retailers (34%) are also popular choices for Halloween shopping. 

The retailer preferences in this year’s data from Suzy and Vibenomics have shifted since last year, when 82% of respondents said they planned to visit big-box stores for their needs, with online retailers next in line at 45%.

Price was the most important factor for choosing a Halloween retailer when asked, followed closely by variety and promotion/sale. When asked what influences them the most to buy a specific Halloween item, most consumers are focused on value, with in-store promotions (70%) and coupons (69%) ranking as the top factors, followed by family/friend recommendations (27%) and seeing the item in social media ads (18%) and TV ads (14%).

[READ MORE: Here’s how Walmart customers are shopping for Halloween]

More than half (57%) of Halloween shoppers surveyed by Suzy said they planned on shopping in-store this year, with 26% opting for a combination of both in-store and online shopping. These figures are roughly in line with last year’s data (53% in-store, 30% omnichannel shopping). Fifteen percent of respondents plan to shop online and have items delivered to their home, while only 3% plan to shop online for Halloween supplies and pick up the items curbside.

Halloween candy will be the most commonly purchased item at 73%, followed by Halloween-themed snacks/foods (42%), seasonally-themed decorations (42%), seasonally-themed beverages (33%) and Halloween costumes (29%).

Footwear and apparel retailer The Athlete’s Foot (TAF) has opened a new facility in Atlanta that will serve multiple functions.

The retailer has opened its new corporate headquarters, flagship location and community center in the heart of Midtown Atlanta, which aims to serve as a “cornerstone for retail excellence and community engagement.” TAF plans to implement community enrichment, sponsorship events and educational programming at the new facility.

The retailer partnered with Black-owned businesses to develop the flagship location, enlisting T. Dallas Smith & Co., the largest Black-owned commercial real estate firm in the country, to continue its standing collaboration with TAF on finding locations for new stores focused on underserved communities. J.M. Lee Construction Co., founded by Morehouse graduate Justin Lee, served as the general contractor, while Atlanta artist Aysha Pennerman will be contributing murals to the new facility that celebrate local culture. TAF says these partnerships speak to the brand’s commitment to diversity, community and supporting Black entrepreneurship.

"We are thrilled to unveil our new U.S. headquarters, flagship store, and community center in the heart of Midtown Atlanta," said Matt Lafone, president and general manager of Americas at The Athlete's Foot. "This location is the first of its kind on Atlanta's iconic Beltline and will serve as a cultural hub for community engagement and deeper connectivity. We look forward to welcoming everyone to experience what The Athlete's Foot has to offer, from the neighborhood, for the neighborhood."

Grand opening events and ribbon-cutting festivities took place from Sept. 12-14.

[READ MORE: The Athlete’s Foot launches neighborhood store concept]

With global headquarters in Atlanta and Stans, Switzerland, TAF operates 550 stores and e-commerce shops in more than 30 countries.

Walgreens has revealed its store opening and closing plans for the upcoming holiday season.

The retail pharmacy giant plans to close most of its nearly 9,000 locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico on Thanksgiving Day, which falls on Nov. 28 this year. Remaining open will be the 500 Walgreens stores that are open 24 hours, including the 300 pharmacies within those locations. Walgreens noted this is the second year in a row it has chosen to close its doors on Thanksgiving to allow employees to spend more time with loved ones.

A small number of Walgreens distribution centers and other sites will also continue to operate on Thanksgiving, including supply chain and centralized teams. The employees in these facilities  play an essential role in the company’s readiness to deliver healthcare and convenience for customers and patients leading up to Thanksgiving and through the holiday weekend, Walgreens said.

“This is just one of the ways we’re acknowledging the dedication of our store team members, pharmacists and pharmacy techs who tirelessly deliver incredible service and patient care every single day,” said Tracey D. Brown, executive VP and president, Walgreens retail & chief customer officer. “We heard incredible feedback from team members about their Thanksgiving holiday last year, so we are excited to extend that tradition once again for them to take a much-deserved break.”

Walgreens will be open on Christmas Day (Dec. 25) and New Year’s Day (Jan. 1).

Target Corp.’s holiday hiring plans remain consistent with the past few years.

The discounter said it plans to add approximately 100,000 seasonal employees across its stores and supply chain facilities, which is the same number that it hired for the past three holiday seasons. For its stores, Target will be hiring for roles that include guest advocate, front-of-store attendant, fulfillment expert, general merchandising expert, food and beverage expert and style consultants. 

As it has in past years, the retailer is first offering its current employees opportunities to work extra hours throughout the holiday season. Target said it also continues to leverage its “On Demand” team, a flexible workforce that includes more than 45,000 store associates, in its stores. The team is made up of employees  who have the option to pick up shifts on an as-desired basis to fit their schedule.

To hire for stores positions, Target will once again use pre-recorded video and online interviews. For supply chain positions, candidates will submit applications and online assessments.

The company noted that seasonal roles often are a gateway to a more permanent career with Target. More than half of last year's seasonal team members were offered a position to stay with Target.