In early 2024, retail executives signaled that consumers were becoming more particular about their purchases. They even minted a new word to describe this state of mind: Shoppers were more “choiceful,” as Walmart US CEO John Furner put it in an earnings call.

• For a while, this pickiness applied mostly to discretionary purchases, but then it became clear that shoppers were being more selective even when shopping for essentials.

This left retailers in a lurch, and how they responded became one of the defining features of the industry in 2024, which encompassed widespread price cuts, heavy promotional activity, and efforts to make their assortment more affordable.

Keep reading here.—AV

How many $1.50 hot dogs would Costco have to sell to get by on frankfurters alone?

That’s a question we’ll (probably) never get answered. But in Costco’s latest earnings call, CFO Gary Millerchip was talking very specifically about meat.

First, the basics: For Q1 2025, Costco’s net income climbed to $1.8 billion, up from $1.6 billion in Q1 last year. Revenue also jumped to $62.2 billion, a fair leap from $57.8 billion a year ago.

Now, the beef: Costco customers are finally spending a bit more as inflation eases, the Wall Street Journal reported, though they’re selective about it—and they’re congregating at the lower and upper ends of the pricing spectrum.

Keep reading here on CFO Brew.—NP

On Wednesdays, we wear pink spotlight Retail Brew’s readers. Want to be featured in an upcoming edition? Click here to introduce yourself.

Lisa Mastela is founder and CEO of smoothie cube brand Bumpin Blends, sold at retailers like Target and Walmart.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? Imagine being a conductor of a symphony where the instruments are everything from sourcing ingredients to shipping boxes, and the musicians range from truck drivers to retail buyers. My role as CEO is all-encompassing—I’m not just steering the ship, I’m also scrubbing the decks. One day I might be crafting our next year's strategic roadmap, and the next, I’m on a video shoot, mixing up our latest smoothie for a fun social media post. It's the kind of role where you wear all the hats, sometimes simultaneously. But at the core, what I really do is make wellness accessible. I turn the often overwhelming idea of healthy living into something easy, quick, and delicious.

One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? Despite founding a company centered on smoothies, I have a confession—I can hardly drink them anymore! After countless hours of product testing and flavor refinement, I’ve hit my smoothie threshold. These days, after a few sips, I’m done. It’s a classic case of loving what you do so much that you’ve had your fill, literally. But it's also what pushes me to keep innovating. If I can still get excited about a new flavor, I know it’s a winner.

Keep reading here.—EC

Shoppers are often captivated by immersive experiences, entertainment, and AI technology. Publicis Groupe’s Chief Commerce Strategy Officer, Jason Goldberg, shares insight into how to create memorable shopping experiences for your customers.