JCPenney's brand CEO says she wears its fashions from 'head to toe' and hands out gift cards to surprised shoppers

Tech Insider : Business, Style
Models wear JCPenney outfits at a fashion show in Paris, Texas.
JCPenney brand CEO Michelle Wlazlo says she's focused on high style at low prices.

JCPenney

We compared Costco and Sam's Club prices on store brand products to see which is the better deal

Tech Insider : Economy, Business
Sam's Club and Costco

Dominick Reuter/BI (Sam's Club); Gene Puskar/AP (Costco)

I compared Costco shopping carts of Kirkland Signature products and brand names. The price differences surprised me.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business
Packages of Kirkland Signature AA-size alkaline batteries are displayed at a Costco Wholesale store on July 12, 2025 in San Diego, California.
Major retailers typically have several in-house brands. Costco just has one: Kirkland Signature.

Kevin Carter/Getty Images

Why brands from Lululemon to Smucker's are taking retailers to court over store-brand dupes

Tech Insider : Business
A shopper with her hands on her head in exasperation.
Recent trade dress lawsuits center on the question of whether shoppers are confused by similarities between competing products.

nicoletaionescu/Getty Images

Walmart is ditching synthetic dyes in its store-brand grocery products. Here are all the ingredients it's removing.

Tech Insider : Business
Walmart is removing certain dyes and artificial ingredients from its store brands.
The FDA in April pushed food makers to phase out petroleum-based dyes in favor of natural alternatives.

Walmart

Target offers 1 year to return items from store brands like Cat & Jack kids' clothes. Here's how the unusually generous policy works.

Tech Insider
Cat & Jack clothing for sale at Target
Launched in 2016, Cat & Jack rocketed up to $2 billion in sales and now brings in over $3 billion for Target.

Dominick Reuter/Business Insider

I tested Walmart's new Bettergoods brand against Target's more established Good & Gather. I couldn't pick a winner.

Tech Insider
Bettergoods croquettes on the left and Good and Gather lobster mac and cheese bites on the right.
The similarities between Walmart's Bettergoods brand and Target's Good & Gather brand were surprising.

Dominick Reuter/Business Insider

One potential reason Costco's Kirkland Signature products win over shoppers? The CEO signs off on every new item.

Tech Insider
Costco Kirkland Signature's Basil Pesto sells for $9.49.
Costco Kirkland Signature's basil pesto is a hit with foodies and sells for $9.50.

Maria Noyen/Business Insider

Target is lowering prices and boosting its budget brands as it battles Walmart for shoppers on the hunt for deals

Tech Insider
Shopping baskets at a Target store in Wisconsin.

Dominick Reuter/Business Insider

I visited Walmart and found over 25 products that show how the retail giant is trying to win over wealthier customers

Tech Insider
Dominick Reuter in front of a Walmart.
I visited my local Walmart Supercenter to find which premium items the retailer now carries.

Dominick Reuter/Business Insider

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