Thanksgiving shopping weekend sees record spending
The nation’s shoppers might feel gloomy about the economy but they certainly were in the mood to shop over the five-day Thanksgiving weekend that wrapped up on Cyber Monday.
Retailers
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IBJ Podcast: Buc-ee’s, Wally’s and Wawa converge on Indy as convenience stores become cultural forces
A national retailing expert explains what to expect from the three chains, how their business models work and why they see opportunity in central Indiana.
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IBJ’s 2025 Executive Gift Guide
Welcome to the IBJ newsroom’s second annual Executive Gift Guide, a list that we hope will help you find the perfect thing for someone important in your life.
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Q&A: After music career, Nate Olp finds second act in leather crafting
His studio and shop, which lists wallets from $40 to $160 and bags from $280 to $375 on its website, is now open on First Fridays and by appointment at the Factory Arts District.
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Kentucky-based retailer to open at former east-side RoomPlace store, warehouse
Big Sandy Superstore, which sells furniture, appliances, mattresses and electronics, opened its first area store last month in Plainfield.
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Articles
Companies push AI-assisted shopping tools for holiday season
Although AI-powered purchases are in early stages, techshopping assistants and agents rolled out by the likes of Walmart, Amazon and Google can do more than the chatbots of holidays past.
Retail, restaurant sales ticked up in September
Several retailers issued positive reports Tuesday, including electronics chair Best Buy, Kohl’s, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and Dick’s Sporting Goods
Struggling Kohl’s names 4th CEO in as many years in attempt to staunch sales slide
Kohl’s has more than 40 stores in Indiana, including 14 in the Indianapolis area.
‘Culture of chaos’: Indiana hemp industry on edge as federal lawmakers ban delta-8 products
Tied up in the bill that ended the 43-day shutdown was language that bans almost all hemp-derived products starting in November 2026.
Walmart raises profit expectations as more Americans hunt deals
While other retailers dial back projections, the nation’s largest retailer—and Indiana’s largest employer—raised its financial outlook Thursday after its strong third quarter, setting itself up for a strong holiday shopping season.
Broad Ripple stakeholders pursue plan to revitalize neighborhood
New nonprofit Friends of Broad Ripple Village hopes to end a stagnant commercial era for the neighborhood.
Indiana-based Shoe Carnival to rebrand under Shoe Station banner
The name change must be approved by the company’s shareholders at its annual meeting in June 2026.
Visa, Mastercard reach settlement in 20-year merchant legal feud
Total credit and debit card swipe fees hit a record $187.2 billion last year, according to the trade group the Merchant Payments Coalition.
National Retail Federation: Holiday spending expected to increase as much as 4.2%
The 2025 forecast from the National Retail Federation on Thursday estimates that shoppers will make $1.01 trillion to $1.02 trillion worth of purchases in November and December.
AI has the nation’s largest employers putting their workers on notice
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon warned at a company event in September that AI is set “to change literally every job” and that his workers would have to adapt.
UPDATE: Jack’s Donuts businesses file for bankruptcy protection
Three related businesses operated by Jack’s Donuts owner and CEO Jack “Lee” Marcum III have filed Chapter 11 petitions, listing total liabilities of more than $20 million and assets of less than $1.6 million.
Uncertainty over economy, tariffs causes some retailers to be cautious about holiday hiring
Retailers’ hiring plans mark the first clues to what’s in store for the U.S. holiday shopping season and come as the U.S. job market has lost momentum.
California company recalls nearly 245,000 pounds of pasta tied to listeria outbreak
The company recalled thousands of cases of heat-and-eat linguine, fettucine, penne and other pastas sold at grocery stores nationwide.
Treasury releases new proposals for ‘no tax on tips’
The agency on Friday submitted possible guidance that includes greater detail on the occupations covered by the rule and who will qualify and what counts as a “qualified tip.”
Uber Eats to launch drone meal delivery in partnership with Flytrex
The companies expect to begin deliveries in test markets by the end of this year.
Coming price cuts at McDonald’s might signal broader fast food price war
Fast food visits by lower-income consumers dropped by double-digit percentages industrywide in the second quarter, McDonald’s said.
Q&A: Attorney Fernanda Beraldi’s jewelry store passion project has roots in her native Brazil
Since acquiring Windsor Jewelry with a partner, Beraldi has dived headfirst into the business—meeting with designers, making many of the design decisions for the space and helping to choose the collections that will be featured.
TJ Maxx parent tops expectations as bargain goods still sell
The TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods and Sierra parent has been aggressively snapping up excess merchandise from brands looking to clear out piles of unsold goods.
Target to eliminate 201 jobs at Indianapolis distribution facility
Target is ending fulfillment operations at its massive distribution facility near Indianapolis International Airport, but most of the employees there will land new jobs with the company, the retailer said.