Helen of Troy Rejects a $1.6 Billion Hostile Bid, Oner Active Opens Its First Store in a Tequila-Scented Flagship
2 min read · November 8, 2026 · Covering November 7 · 5 stories from 5 sources
Yesterday in ecommerce: Helen of Troy's board rejected a $1.6 billion hostile bid for its Hydro Flask and Osprey brands, and UK activewear label Oner Active opened its first store, a tequila-scented NYC flagship, after drawing over 5,000 sign-ups in a day. 5 stories, about 3 minutes.
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Helen of Troy rejects a $1.6 billion hostile bid for Hydro Flask's owner
Helen of Troy's board unanimously turned down an unsolicited $37-a-share takeover offer from Empower Brands, owner of Black & Decker and Remington, valuing the Hydro Flask, Osprey and OXO parent at about $1.6 billion. The board called the bid opportunistic, saying Empower timed it to exploit a stock price depressed by tariff pressure. Helen of Troy says it engaged privately with Empower, but the bidder refused a nondisclosure agreement that would have kept its interest confidential while letting it see more financial detail.
For your store:A depressed stock price can invite outside bidders; know your real value before you negotiate.
Oner Active opens its first store, a tequila-scented NYC flagship
UK activewear brand Oner Active opened its debut store on Bond Street in Manhattan, a 5,000-square-foot space with a custom tequila-scented fragrance and oversized mirrors angled so selfies still catch the logo. More than 5,000 people signed up to attend within 24 hours of the announcement. Founder Krissy Cela, a former fitness influencer, built the brand with no outside funding and expects it to top $250 million in revenue this year, entirely direct-to-consumer. A Los Angeles store is next.
For your store:A well-designed flagship can double as marketing; make every corner shareable.
Americans plan to spend $1,011 on holiday gifts, about the same as last year
Gallup's latest survey found US adults expect to spend an average of $1,011 on holiday gifts in 2026, matching 2024 and 2025. More people plan to spend less than more this year, 24% versus 18%, though that gap is similar to recent years. Gallup projects holiday retail sales will grow about 3.1%, calling it an ordinary season. The telephone survey of 1,200 adults ran October 1 through 19, before the November 3 midterm elections, so sentiment could still shift.
For your store:Budget for flat spending growth this year, not a surge, and compete on value instead.
Superdry secures a £70 million refinancing deal to fund 21 new stores
Superdry secured a £70 million refinancing package led by Barclays and Bank of America, replacing turnaround financing from Bantry Bay Capital and Hilco Capital arranged in 2023. The deal includes a £60 million asset-based lending facility and a £10 million trade finance facility backed by UK Export Finance, saving about £5 million a year in interest. Superdry plans to open 21 stores this financial year and expand brands like Bench and Stan Ray across Europe.
For your store:Refinancing on better terms after a turnaround frees up cash for growth, not survival.
Black Friday deals are starting weeks early this year
PYMNTS reports that Black Friday has stopped being a single day. Walmart's early deals run November 12-15 with a Walmart+ member head start, Target ran an early sale November 5-7, and Amazon is already promoting holiday deals ahead of its main event. Official Black Friday falls November 27 and Cyber Monday November 30, but Adobe data shows last year's online Black Friday sales hit $11.8 billion, up 9.1%, with Cyber Monday reaching $14.25 billion, the year's biggest online shopping day.
For your store:Start your own early-access window now; many shoppers have already set their budgets.
The Daily Checkout is a daily summary written by KonvertiQ. Every story links to its original source, where you will find full reporting and context. Covered today: Gallup, Glossy, PYMNTS, Retail Dive, Retail Gazette.