Period poverty and the pink tax continue to be not only a global issue, but also a huge problem here in the US. A 2023 study by NCBI found that “16.9 million menstruating women in the United States live in poverty.” For Nadya Okamoto, social entrepreneur and co-founder of August, a sustainable menstrual care brand, it is somewhat her life’s mission.

Not only is Okamoto dedicated to eliminating the “tampon tax,” aka the sales tax on tampons, but also the stigma around periods. Formerly the founder of nonprofit PERIOD., which works to promote increased access to menstrual hygiene products, the 26-year-old is also known for her judgment-free TikTok videos that educate young people through the process of menstruation.

In an exclusive chat with Retail Brew, Okamoto discussed the challenges of running a mission-based retail business and her advice to young women of color in the retail industry.

Keep reading here.—JS

How can organizations stay on the ball while staying mindful of the intricacies of the supply chain and B2B purchasing—and the expenses associated with all of the above? It’s a tall order for any biz. Alex Lieberman, co-founder and executive chairman of Morning Brew, sits down with Ashley Hubka, SVP and general manager of Walmart Business, to discuss potential ways forward for businesses of all sizes looking to make an impact while juggling these dynamic elements.

Procter & Gamble, the maker of brands like Tide, Head & Shoulders, and Crest toothpaste, reported an uptick in sales on the back of price increases in its third quarter, while its performances across categories varied.

Net sales were up 1% year over year to $20.2 billion, falling below analysts’ expectations, though organic sales rose 3%. While the company saw stagnant volume overall, in North America its volume rose 3%, in line with a trend of volume increases over the past several quarters, CFO Andre Schulten noted on the earnings call.

Pricing was up 3% year over year, though Schulten said the company didn’t implement any price increases in the US in the quarter, CNBC reported.

Keep reading here.—EC

It’s no wonder that retailers tend to be obsessed with customer acquisition, because new customers are like new friends—validation that, in a world filled with strife and chaos, you’ve managed to connect with someone; a cause for hope, a harbinger of good times to come.

Until they ghost you.

A new report from Bluecore, which provides retailers with technological solutions for shopper identification and customer movement, identifies which retail segments are better at not just acquiring customers, but also keeping them around.

The report tracked 2023 data for more than 100 retailers over multiple categories, from apparel and toys to beauty and sporting goods, and urged retailers to strategize to convert the one-time-only customers into loyal repeat customers.

“Our data shows that 74% of a retailer’s customers are one-and-done,” according to Bluecore, which dubbed them “fickle shoppers.”

Keep reading here.—AAN

’Fit check. How has AI impacted apparel sizing? Has it really made retail more personalized and sustainable? If you’re one of the (many) retail pros asking this question, check out Bold Metrics’ Future of Fit Report. It addresses how AI tackles sizing complexities, and which tech solutions can drive sales with AI’s help.