For a company with such a striking name, SharkNinja has kept a relatively low profile over the last two decades, mostly letting its robotic vacuums, steam mops, and—more recently—outdoor cooking equipment speak for themselves.

“I think consumers obviously know our products,” CEO Mark Barrocas told Retail Brew. “They know our Shark products. They know our Ninja products. What we’re trying to do is bring awareness to the company behind the products.”

The Massachusetts-based appliance maker took a big step toward that goal earlier this summer, when it spun off from its Hong Kong-based parent company, JS Global, and started trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

The IPO came after a 15-year stint of 20% year-over-year sales growth, and now Barrocas is pounding the pavement to convince investors and customers that SharkNinja’s winning formula of innovating household appliances through continual research and development will drive growth for years to come. “We really view ourselves as a consumer problem-solving engine,” he said.

Keep reading here.—AV

Retailers could use a li’l help when it comes to the checkout process. In fact, shoppers abandon carts at a 70% rate, and just under 50% complete a purchase when reaching checkout. Those are big numbers. Something needs fixing.

The trick to success? Jay Myers, co-founder of checkout platform Bold Commerce, has got the scoop. He’s created a 3-generation map of the checkout process that outlines how retailers typically approach generating online conversions.

For Myers, Generation 3 is where the money’s at—and it’s also where retailers should start heading. This is a more personalized level of the checkout experience tailored to customer loyalty and status.

Read the full article, sponsored by Adyen.

Some say that skipping that overpriced $8 cup of coffee every day could make you a millionaire. Others believe it’s worth the splurge.

If you’re somewhere in between, you might already own a coffee maker, and chances are it may be a Nespresso. The Swiss coffee company, which is one Nestlé’s key brands, generated over $7 billion in revenue in 2022, and continues to grow.

Last week, we told you all about how North American CEO Alfonso Gonzalez is reinventing the brand for Gen Z, but how else is the retailer expanding its presence in the US, and how exactly is it combining its business model with sustainability?

Gonzalez spills the beans in a conversation with Retail Brew.

Keep reading here.—JS

Shoppers are so put off by shrinkflation, manufacturers’ practice of making products smaller rather than raising prices, that almost half (48%) choose a different brand when they notice a product has been shrinkflated, according to a 2022 report by Morning Consult.

But that’s if they notice. What many find insidious about the practice is that it can be easy to miss that you’re paying the same (or more) for less when, say, a Fritos bag shrinks from 9.75 ounces to 9.25 ounces, or a Charmin mega roll from 264 sheets to 244.

But now Carrefour, a grocery chain in France, is drawing attention to shrinkflation by festooning shelves with signs warning shoppers that a product has been shrinkflated.

Keep reading here.—AAN

Today’s top retail reads.

What else is new?: Customers eager to give feedback are becoming an integral part of how some startups make product development decisions. (Modern Retail)

High and lows: In Rome, a luxury revolution of sorts is in the making with a plethora of high end hotels, restaurants, and stores—all while the city itself appears to degrade. (the New York Times)

New horizons: LVMH and Kering have their eyes set on India; the retailers plan several outlets across a new high-end mall by Reliance. (the Business of Fashion)

Three of the stories below are real...and one is most definitely not. Can you spot the fake?

1. Over 15,000 pounds of smoked sausage is being recalled for reportedly being contaminated by “extraneous materials,” including bone fragments.
2. In a small town in Portugal, 600,000 gallons of wine flowed like a river through the streets after two large distillery tanks gave out.
3. One wolf is a regular at an Australian candy store, entering every afternoon and stealing a couple of bags of its favorite mints.
4. A three-legged bear broke into a Florida family’s home, ate some fish food and drank three White Claws.

Keep reading for the answer.