In the days before the internet, there were only a handful of places where consumers could scratch their arts-and-crafts itch. Fast forward to today, and the Etsys and Pinterests of the world have become a safe online haven for DIYers.

Michaels, which was founded in 1973 and has more than 1,000 locations across North America, is stepping more into that Etsy and Pinterest lane with a beta test of a handmade goods marketplace that allows people to sell custom-made pieces.

• The platform, called MakerPlace, is directly tied to a larger digital transformation that the company has undergone over the past few years and includes an expanded product assortment and a rebranding of the company’s vision.

Helping lead this effort is Heather Bennett, EVP of marketing and e-commerce at Michaels, who told Retail Brew that MakerPlace is an online extension of its physical stores. She said sellers largely are already Michaels customers and can further entrench themselves into the company’s ecosystem.

• “People who sell even on other platforms or who want to open up a business and sell, they’ve got to get their componentry from somewhere,” Bennett said. “We are going to have ways to incentivize them to purchase componentry from us, so that’s ultimately what they will sell from a finished goods standpoint on the marketplace.”

Bulking up: Bennett said MakerPlace will launch at full scale later this year. When the program is out of beta testing, she said, Michaels will use paid social marketing to bring more sellers into the fold.

Keep reading here.—KM

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When it comes to inventory management, discipline is the name of the game going into the holidays—and for one retailer, that means prioritizing one shopping season over another.

Jo-Ann pulled back on spring and seasonal buys to keep its inventory “cleaner” for Halloween-themed merchandise, EVP Chris DiTullio told investors during a Monday earnings call.

The craft and fabric chain said the strategy led to a 180 basis point dip in its non-Halloween seasonal products during the second quarter, but the upside was that customers were more willing to shell out for spooky, shelf-filling products like its popular 8-foot skeleton.

“Customers responded immediately to the shift and are making purchases with less promotional activity and at a variety of price points,” he added.

Jo-Ann wasn’t alone. Several major retailers tightened their inventories in the second quarter to avoid a potentially margin-squeezing supply/demand mismatch.

Keep reading here.—AV

“When envisioning a tech-enabled assistant, Gen X and elder millennials may picture Rosey from The Jetsons. Sadly, robotic housekeepers aren’t real—but Walmart’s new generative AI tool aims to help corporate associates do their jobs better,” writes HR Brew’s Kristen Parisi:

The tool, called My Assistant, officially launched August 30. Walmart’s EVP and Chief People Officer Donna Morris recently told HR Brew what it will mean for employees and, in the future, HR professionals.

Read the whole story here on HR Brew.

Today’s top retail reads.

More than crime: San Francisco’s downtown shopping district has seen better days, but higher crime rates aren’t the only culprit. An exodus of residents out of the city and a drop-off in tourism since the pandemic are also to blame. (CNN)

Shrink stopper: Best Buy is bucking the trend of retailers reporting higher levels of shrink, saying last week that theft has been fairly stable at its stores across the country. The company said more security professionals, more employees on the sales floor overall, and having just one exit and entrance have helped. (Insider)

Drug trade: The Food and Drug Administration is threatening legal action against Amazon for the alleged sale of “unapproved” drugs on its site, including one that’s supposed to treat a skin condition called molluscum contagiosum. (Financial Times)

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Retail marketing hits and misses from the past week.

Fashionably nostalgic: The Gap has struggled with declining sales lately, so now it’s trying something different, if somewhat familiar, with the launch of its fall collection. The lineup is based on the Gap’s vast archive of iconic ’fits, with some subtle updates to keep up with the fashion of the times. The self-consciously nostalgic marketing campaign hit social media last week. (Gap on Instagram)

Redesigned and reposted: DTC brand Rothy’s is promoting an updated design of its hit shoe, The Point, which has sold more than 2 million units since launching in 2016. The newer version is Rothy’s attempt to recapture some of its early glory, and now the brand is boosting the first wave of positive reviews. (Rothy’s on Instagram)

Walmart raps: Walmart is stepping outside of its wheelhouse to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. The retail giant is partnering with Web3 creative studio, People of Crypto Lab, to launch a gamified metaverse experience called the Cultureverse, paying tribute to the genre’s early visionaries. (Walmart on X, formerly known as Twitter)