The Weekly Closeout: Foot Locker partners with the Chicago Bulls, H&M pops up in New York

It’s been another week with far more retail news than there is time in the day. Below, we break down some things you may have missed during the week, and what we’re still thinking about.

From Reynolds Wrap’s take on an espresso martini to Levi Strauss & Co.’s goals of being a net zero company, here’s our closeout for the week.

What you may have missed

Foot Locker gets deeper into basketball with Chicago Bulls partnership

About a year after signing a multiyear marketing deal with the NBA, Foot Locker has partnered with the Chicago Bulls for a series of community events, in-store activations and player content. The deal is aimed at “further cementing [Foot Locker’s] leadership position in basketball” and features in-store events at Foot Locker’s Chicago locations, a co-branded tunnel walk series on social media and other tie-ups.

The tunnel walk series aims to give customers a look into behind-the-scenes moments with players, and Foot Locker is also taking the partnership offline. A Bulls celebration at Foot Locker’s State Street location will include player meet-and-greets and live entertainment, and Foot Locker will also be a presenting partner for events like the Bulls Fest basketball tournament.

“Our partnership with the Chicago Bulls amplifies Foot Locker’s longstanding commitment to celebrating and nurturing basketball culture, both locally and globally,” Kim Waldmann, chief customer officer of Foot Locker, said in a statement. “By uniting community engagement, marketing activations, and fan entertainment, this collaboration allows us to deepen our connection to the sport and inspire new audiences as the game continues to expand its influence.”

The partnership comes as Foot Locker leans harder into basketball culture, including through a new “Home Court” concept it launched in partnership with Nike and Jordan at its New York City store this summer.

H&M readies New York pop-up

H&M is preparing to open a pop-up store in New York City’s Nolita neighborhood. The pop-up, which runs from Thursday to Dec. 29, will “offer a memorable and immersive experience” to customers.

Coinciding with its opening, the retailer is offering customers the opportunity to create customized bottles of essential oils that it says are inspired by New York. The pop-up will feature a curated selection of products spanning womenswear, beauty and home.

“This new pop-up is a celebration of the H&M brand and an opportunity for us to continue to show up for our customers in new ways,” Michael Beaumont, regional head of expansion for H&M Americas, said in a statement. “We’ve been experimenting with new store concepts and design in New York City, such as our recently opened H&M SoHo location, with the aim of building modern, engaging spaces for our customers.”

Brooks Running heads to ‘The Most Magical Place on Earth’ 

Brooks Running has signed a multi-year deal with runDisney, which includes the brand being named the official running shoe brand of runDisney’s race series. The pair has also created a Disney-themed running shoe, which features popular characters.

Through the partnership, Brooks will provide official race shirts and offer shoes during runDisney race weekends starting next year, according to a press release. The race series includes six weekends hosted in Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California, as well as virtual races.

Brooks will also design branded jackets in 2026 for Club runDisney members.

Retail therapy

Is it that sweet? I guess so 

In a move that no one asked for or wanted, Reynolds Wrap on Tuesday unveiled an espresso turkey-tini recipe. The concoction features “a Thanksgiving turkey with a richly spiced espresso rub incorporating sweet coffee liquor and a decadent dressing that blends oranges, espresso beans and fresh herbs.”

The popularity of espresso martinis was the company’s inspiration, according to Emanuel De Luca, senior brand manager for Reynolds Consumer Products. The recipe includes instructions on an espresso rub for the turkey, along with stuffing and dressing. Those who dare to make the recipe need to set aside 45 minutes for prep and between three and a half to four hours to bake the turkey.

Neiman Marcus reminds us all how poor we are 

It’s that time of year again, when the common folk consider crafting handmade gifts to save some cash and Neiman Marcus caters to the five total people that can afford not to think about money.

While the luxury department store’s famous “fantasy gifts” are out of reach for the average person, they are always enjoyable as a portal through which to view how the 1% live. And indeed, Neiman Marcus is leaning into transportive marketing as a whole this year, with a seasonal campaign called “A Neiman’s Fantasy” that imagines what it would be like to be rich and also get to go on a whimsical adventure.

The department store’s wildly priced gifts this year include something for every type of wealth, like a $28,000 pair of Miron Crosby celestial boots alongside an astrological reading, a $20,000 Judith Leiber Couture crystal mahjong set and — for the truly next-level history buff — a $1.9 million carriage once owned by the Spanish royal family. The 18th-century calèche was “intended for a princely child” and features gilded paneling and painted pastoral scenes.

This is what Christmas is all about.

What we’re still thinking about

2050

That’s the year that Levi Strauss & Co. wants to reach its goal of being a net zero company. To reach that goal, Levi’s said on Wednesday that it plans to focus on three areas. 

First, the company said it will improve operations through strategies like investing in energy efficient technology and renewable energy, and by integrating climate change considerations into procurement and partnership processes. Secondly, the company will work with global suppliers to mitigate emissions and invest in sustainable materials and innovation. And finally, Levi’s said it will ensure its climate transition plan is integrated across the entire business.

“Our climate transition plan embodies our commitment to doing our part, reaching our targets, and working with partners across our value chain to enable collective action to address climate change,” Jeffrey Hogue, chief sustainability officer, said in a statement. “These steps will not only move us toward our Net Zero climate ambition by 2050, but also strengthen our own business’s resilience to the effects of climate change.”

$40M

That’s how much Beyond Inc. plans to invest in The Container Store.

Announced Tuesday, the investment is part of a strategic partnership between the home decor retailers. Under the deal, The Container Store locations will showcase spaces that feature Bed Bath & Beyond’s kitchen, bath and bedroom assortment. 

Beyond will also offer a global loyalty program through The Container Store’s physical and online stores and integrate The Container Store’s custom spaces product lines across its e-commerce banners. 

However, the deal is contingent on The Container Store refinancing or amending its borrowing terms with lenders. The retailer plans to issue 40,000 shares of a new stock series at $17.25 to Beyond. Pending shareholder approval, the newly issued stock would convert to common stock, giving Beyond a 40% equity stake in The Container Store.

What we’re watching

The FTC does consumers with memberships a solid

The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday announced a final “click-to-cancel” rule that requires sellers to make it easy to cancel enrollment on subscriptions. 

“Too often, businesses make people jump through endless hoops just to cancel a subscription,” Commission Chair Lina Khan said in a statement. “The FTC’s rule will end these tricks and traps, saving Americans time and money. Nobody should be stuck paying for a service they no longer want.”

The final rule provides a legal framework prohibiting sellers from failing to provide a simple way for consumers to cancel a subscription to immediately halt charges, among other things.