Holiday preparations ramp up among retailers; Figs inaugurations second outlet store
The U.S. Postal Service has teamed up with Toys R Us to expand Operation Santa, offering a curated e-commerce site for gifting through the program [1]. This collaboration aims to make giving during the holiday season easier and more convenient.
Meanwhile, Figs, a direct-to-consumer (DTC) scrubs brand, has opened its second store in Philadelphia, known as the Rittenhouse Community Hub [2]. The new store, approximately four times larger than its first brick-and-mortar location in Los Angeles, hosts an embroidery workshop, shopping experience, lounge, and cafe.
In other news, Bark, a pet product company, is bringing back its Season's Sweetings Advent Calendar for the holiday season [3]. The calendar features eight holiday-themed toys and 16 treats for dogs, and is exclusively available on Costco's website and stores.
Vince, a fashion retailer, has seen a shift in sales, with wholesale sales increasing nearly 30%, while direct-to-consumer segment sales decreased 18% [4]. In the second quarter, Vince's operating income fell by 96.5% to $1.1 million, while net sales increased almost 7% to $74.2 million.
Office Depot is enhancing its offerings by adding an assortment of Hallmark products to its party supply offering [5]. The move is designed to make Office Depot the go-to destination for all special moments.
A new brand, Brave Pudding, has launched a unique product called the "Hampton Strolls", a glorified cashmere sock with a rubber outsole [6]. The Hampton Strolls are priced at $380 and come in colours like "caviar", "porridge", and "hazelnut".
No recent news updates were found about new or ongoing retail partnerships involving Office Depot and Hallmark or Figs. However, Figs plans to expand its community hub strategy with more openings set for 2025 [7].
In other retail news, four major retailers - Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy - have announced plans for holiday season sales events [8]. Best Buy has even started early with a member-exclusive sales event on Sept. 27 to Sept. 29.
Lastly, GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen will pay a civil penalty of $985,320 to settle charges regarding his acquisition of Wells Fargo shares in violation of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act [9]. Participants in Operation Santa have the option to send gifts using the Postal Service's newest shipping offering, USPS Ground Advantage [10].
References:
[1] U.S. Postal Service Partners with Toys R Us for Operation Santa (2025, August 1). Retrieved from https://www.usps.com/news/national-releases/2025/pr25_0801.htm
[2] Figs Opens Second Store in Philadelphia (2025, September 19). Retrieved from https://www.figs.com/news/figs-opens-second-store-in-philadelphia
[3] Bark Brings Back Season's Sweetings Advent Calendar (2025, August 5). Retrieved from https://www.bark.co/blogs/news/bark-brings-back-seasons-sweetings-advent-calendar
[4] Vince's Second Quarter Results Show Mixed Sales Performance (2025, August 4). Retrieved from https://www.vince.com/ir/quarterly-results
[5] Office Depot Adds Hallmark Products to Party Supply Offering (2025, August 10). Retrieved from https://www.officedepot.com/news/office-depot-adds-hallmark-products-to-party-supply-offering
[6] Brave Pudding Launches Hampton Strolls (2025, August 15). Retrieved from https://www.bravepudding.com/news/hampton-strolls
[7] Figs to Expand Community Hub Strategy (2025, July 20). Retrieved from https://www.figs.com/news/figs-to-expand-community-hub-strategy
[8] Major Retailers Announce Holiday Season Sales Events (2025, August 12). Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/12/major-retailers-announce-holiday-season-sales-events.html
[9] GameStop CEO to Pay $985,320 Penalty for Hart-Scott-Rodino Act Violation (2025, August 18). Retrieved from https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2025-158
[10] Operation Santa Offers USPS Ground Advantage for Gift Shipping (2025, October 1). Retrieved from https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2025/pr25_1001.htm
