Today in the Connected Economy: Adidas Seeks Do-Over With New CEO

Today in the connected economy, Adidas looks for a new chief executive weeks after dialing its yearly outlook downward.

Also, Walmart hopes to boost book sales by launching a book club, and DoorDash unveils new features to help restaurants get more insights into their customers.

Seeking a ‘Restart’ Adidas Looks for New CEO

Saying it’s time for a restart, footwear maker Adidas said CEO Kasper Rorsted will step down next year.

“After three challenging years that were marked by the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and geo-political tensions, it is now the right time to initiate a CEO transition and pave the way for a restart,” Adidas AG Supervisory Board Chairman Thomas Rabe said in a statement.

The announcement came weeks after Adidas adjusted its outlook for this year downward due to a slower-than-expected recovery in China and a looming recession.

DoorDash Offers Restaurants Customer Insights to Combat Direct Ordering Shift

In order to give its restaurant partners better access to consumer data, DoorDash has unveiled a customer insights tab for its Merchant Portal and Business Manager App.

The company said the tab provides information on the types of customers ordering from that merchant, their locations and the best way to market to them.

“Our goal is to give restaurants more opportunities to grow, be more profitable, and operate efficiently in today’s online convenience economy,” said Tom Pickett, the aggregator’s chief revenue officer. “We’re only successful when our partners are successful — we hope this new framework gives them the guidance and tools they need to grow.”

Walmart Book Club Launches New Chapter for Retail Giant’s Book Dept

Walmart has launched the Walmart Book Club in an effort to boost sales at the giant retailer’s book department.

“Our team of book merchants will select titles based on reading trends, relevancy, and industry market data — helping to identify exciting titles Walmart customers are sure to love,” the announcement said.

The club is geared toward adult readers, with titles available both in-store and online. To get involved, interested participants should seek out the Walmart Book Club sticker on the cover of the book or the online product page.

Klarna Brings BNPL to StyleSeat for Flexible Beauty Care

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) company Klarna is offering its installment payments program to the online salon booking platform StyleSeat to give people an interest-free Pay in 4 option for their beauty and haircare needs.

Kristina Elkhazin, head of Klarna’s North American business, said that there is a rising demand for self-care services and by joining forces with StyleSeat, Klarna can help it “provide important resources” for customers and small businesses.

“By integrating Klarna’s payment options, StyleSeat can offer an even more enhanced experience for consumers to help them save time and money and be in control of their finances, while also driving new revenue streams for professionals,” she said.