?? Retail Daily Minute | The Picklr Expands, Target Revives Champion, and DoorDash Grows Grocery Delivery

Hello Omni Talk Fans!

I am just going to put it out there. Target bringing Champion back is quite odd. Either its new line of athleisure isn’t working as well as Target claims or Target appears really desperate to recapture old glory.

Or am I missing something?

In today’s Retail Daily Minute:

• The Picklr Expands into Canada and Beyond – Indoor pickleball franchise The Picklr is on a rapid expansion path, with 31 U.S. locations and nearly 500 leases in the pipeline.
• Target Brings Back Champion in Major Apparel Move –?Target is reviving its C9 by Champion collaboration with a 500-piece collection launching in August.
• DoorDash Accelerates Grocery Delivery Expansion – DoorDash is strengthening its grocery business with new partnerships, including Caputo’s, Festival Foods, and Woodman’s.

PLUS, a movie quote inspired by Walmart’s Wally announcement this week.

?? Listen now

Today’s Top Headlines

1. The Picklr’s Rapid Rise in Pickleball Industry

Two friends transformed their passion for pickleball into a rapidly expanding franchise called The Picklr, which currently operates 31 indoor facilities across seven states with plans for global expansion. Unlike competitors that blend entertainment and dining, The Picklr maintains a focused approach on the sport itself, offering league play and training programs while securing nearly 500 franchise leases representing 2.8 million square feet of commercial space. (Read More)

2. Target’s Strategic Champion Partnership Unveiled

Target's multiyear partnership with Champion aims to boost its struggling apparel sales by leveraging performance athletic wear, which has been a growth category for the retailer. The collaboration will feature exclusive designs and dedicated store sections, forming part of Target's broader strategy to provide value and newness to consumers while strengthening Champion's market position following its $1.2 billion acquisition by Authentic. (Read More)

3. Instacart’s Strategic Growth Hinges On Innovation

Instacart is focusing on innovation-driven growth through smart cart technology, affordability initiatives, and expanded retail partnerships to become indispensable to customers, retailers, and brands. The company's strategy has yielded impressive financial results, with significant increases in revenue, orders, and a dramatic improvement in net income for fiscal 2024. (Read More)

4. Walmart’s Bold Leap Into Gaming Commerce

Walmart is expanding its digital retail strategy by launching "Walmart Unlimited," a gamified miniseries on Spatial that allows players to purchase physical products within virtual environments. This initiative builds upon three years of metaverse commerce development, including partnerships with platforms like Roblox, Zepeto, and Emperia, as Walmart continues to pioneer new ways to connect virtual experiences with real-world shopping. (Read More)

5. E-Commerce Brands Find New Path To Retail

Simon Property Group is partnering with Shopify and Leap to provide e-commerce brands with comprehensive solutions for expanding into brick-and-mortar locations across Simon's shopping centers. Ring Concierge, a New York-based fine jewelry company, has already successfully utilized this partnership to rapidly open new physical stores in Houston and Boca Raton, demonstrating the effectiveness of this omnichannel expansion strategy. (Read More)

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Be careful out there,

-- Chris, Anne, and the entire Omni Talk team