"If you don't like customer service, you're probably not going to like working at Starbucks. We're in that transition of getting people to understand that," Niccol said. "When I saw that in the Reddit thread, I was like, 'OK, we're making progress on what the standard of services that we want [are].'"
holiday season wasn't looking like a very joyful one for the tween- and teen-focused retailer. The Philadelphia-based company was on its way to posting its fourth-straight quarter with negative or flat comparable sales, and that was coming off several prior years of underwhelming performance. While Five Below was managing to grow overall sales through the addition of new stores, existing stores weren't resonating with shoppers. It was also dealing with industry-wide challenges, including shoplifting and the rise of low-priced e-commerce players like Shein and Temu.
For Starbucks, its rotating menus of festive flavors are a carefully crafted global strategy to define what the holidays taste like. Each November, the world's largest coffee chain rolls out limited-time menu offerings designed to spark both joy and revenue - from Latin America's Hazelnut Caramel Latte to gingerbread classics featured across the Asia Pacific region. Underneath the whipped cream this year is a clue to how the brand's turnaround effort is going, analysts told Business Insider.
Beginning with a beta launch next week, customers will be able to tag Target in ChatGPT and describe what they need. For instance, a request like "Help me plan a holiday movie night" will prompt ChatGPT to build a shopping cart with products from Target, such as snacks and blankets. Once the cart is ready, shoppers will be directed to the Target app to complete their purchase.
Target announced on Wednesday that its Chief Operating Officer (COO), Michael Fiddelke, will assume the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in February 2026. The company's current CEO, Brian Cornell, who has been in the role for 11 years, will retire that month. "There is no one better suited to move Target forward than Michael Fiddelke," Cornell stated in a news release. "He brings a remarkable level of resolve in the face of complex challenges, a deep passion for growth, and a natural ability to inspire those around him to define what's next."
