BUSINESS

Now in testing, the platform aims to enable programmable payments and simplify blockchain adoption for financial institutions.

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealKate Spade is always at the top of our list for gorgeous, durable, and well-made items that last. While they can run a high price, finding a good deal on Kate Spade accessories is worth it, and luckily, we’ve found a great deal for you. If you want to update your wardrobe with a versatile, chic, and convenient new Kate Spade bag, Amazon has a huge 70% off sale during its Spring Sale event.The Kate Spade Hudson Pebbled Leather Tote is gorgeous, spacious, and ready for any occasion. Shoppers can save a whopping $280 on this Kate Spade Bag, paying just $118 for this originally priced $398 tote bag.Kate Spade Hudson Pebbled Leather Tote, $118 (was $398) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at AmazonWhy do shoppers love it?This large-sized tote bag measures 12 inches tall, 15 inches wide, and 9 inches deep, allowing room for everything from tablets, laptops, and books to snacks, diapers, and extra baby clothes. It features an interior zipper pocket that’s great for holding your wallet or phone, and it includes a detachable pouch that can also hold your essentials, which is extra useful combined with the snap-closure of the main compartment. You can easily reach in and grab your essentials, while also maintaining protection against theft due to the inner pockets. Related: Coach Outlet’s insanely popular shoulder bag is now available in 3 spring colorsThis bag has a beautiful floral Jacquard leather design that was created in combination with a centuries-old Italian textile mill near Como, Italy, offering a chic and timeless design. The trim is made of polyurethane, and the inner features a canvas lining with a foil-embossed logo. The shape of the bag, while opened, almost mimics the floral pattern, offering tons of space and a gorgeous design. The 12-inch handle allows room to throw the bag over your shoulder to keep both hands free, and makes it easy to grab and go while in a hurry. This bag would be perfect to hold your fresh produce at the Saturday morning market, or to carry extra sunscreen while on your next beach vacation. Details to knowSize: This bag measures 12 inches tall, 15 inches wide, and 9 inches deep.Color: Choose from black, white, or yellow. Design: This flower Jacquard design was created in Limonta, a centuries-old textile mill in Italy, to blend Italian and New York style.One reviewer said, “The tote is both stylish and functional. The black multi-design is chic, and the bag offers plenty of space for all your essentials. The quality is top-notch, and it’s perfect for everyday use or travel. I highly recommend it.” “I’m in love with this bag! It’s beautiful (of course, it’s Kate Spade!), and it has so much room,” said another shopper. “It is a beautifully made, top-quality bag. It even comes with its own protective bag to store it in.”Shop more dealsMichael Kors Quinn Large Tote, $156 (was $260) at AmazonKate Spade Do It All Large Tote, $138 (was $358) at AmazonKate Spade Canvas Tote Bag, $24 (was $28) at AmazonNo matter what you’re using it for, the Kate Spade Hudson Pebbled Leather Tote provides ample room, a chic look, and a durable design that’s ideal for any occasion. Add your laptop and books and take it to class, throw some snacks and sunscreen in it and take it to the beach, or just use it while grocery shopping. At 70% off, this is a deal you won’t want to miss for such a versatile Kate Spade tote. Shoppers can get this tote bag at Amazon for just $118.

The last few years have been challenging for the majority of retailers, but especially for Target Corporation (TGT). Compared to other retail giants, which struggled with the Covid lockdowns and overall economic conditions, Target’s story was more complicated. Target took another serious blow when its reputation was shaken by its Pride collection and the rollback of its DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives, leading to several boycotts. “Target might truly be one of the saddest retail stories in recent history,” recently highlighted TheStreet retail reporter Maurie Backman. Target’s foot traffic dropped year-over-year in every month (except October) in the second half of 2025, and Q4 visits dropped 2.0%, according to data from Placer.ai. Target’s full-year 2025 net sales also dropped 1.7% to $104.8 billion, reflecting a 2.6% decrease in comparable sales, according to its 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Target ranks 10th among supermarkets, based on the most recent American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Retail and Consumer Shipping Study. This places it below Trader Joe’s, Publix, Sam’s Club, and others. “For Target, the data suggest that a sustained recovery will depend on the effectiveness of Fiddelke’s turnaround strategy, which centers on sharper merchandising curation and improvements to the guest experience,” pointed out Lila Margalit for Placer.ai. Target tightens dress codes for store employees Target is now undergoing a massive transformation under the leadership of a new CEO, who is attempting to repair the retailer’s reputation and deploy workforce changes to improve the consumer experience. The retailer’s latest strategy concerns what its employees can wear while working. Starting this summer, Target is tightening its dress code to make sure all workers look the same across their 2,000 stores, reported Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter. For years, Target workers had more freedom, as red shirts could contain different designs or graphics, and they could wear pants that weren’t just blue or tan. Target’s new employee dress code rules: Employees must wear plain red shirts.Pants must be either blue jeans or khakis.If a worker doesn’t want to wear a plain red shirt, they can wear a red vest provided by Target over any shirt with sleeves.Store employees receive a free shirt and a one-time 50% discount on denim as part of the new dress code change, reported Axios. Why Target is tightening its employee dress code Employee dress code changes are common among retailers and usually signal some kind of larger transformation. As Bloomberg’s Jaewon Kang points out, businesses can change their dress code to signal their goals and values to customers. Target is working hard to win back customers’ trust and prove its value, explaining that the move is part of its plan to return to growth by improving the guest experience. “As part of that focus, we’re continuing to create a more consistent, recognizable in-store experience that delights our guests and helps them easily connect with our team,” a Target spokesperson told Bloomberg. 

Target introduces a stricter dress code and new employee perks to improve the shopping experience.Kenishirotie/Shutterstock.com

Why Target’s employee dress code change matters for customers For years, consumers had to make an effort to distinguish an actual Target employee from just another shopper wearing a red shirt. With stricter dress codes, Target eliminates one source of frustration for customers. Overall, the dress code change might seem small, but it’s actually part of a larger effort to refresh Target’s image and bring customers back.Regaining consumer trust is the key goal under the new CEO’s transformation strategy. In fact, for 81% of consumers, trusting a brand is necessary before buying, according to Dash. app: 2026 Branding Statistics. “Standardizing how store staff present themselves, while expanding exclusive ranges from partners like Keracolor, Chicco and Evenflo, points to a clearer in store identity and a more curated product mix that Target can control and promote across its 5,000 plus partner locations and nationwide footprint,” highlighted SimplyWallSt.Additionally, Target is making more changes and addressing other common customer  complaints. If employees are happy, shoppers will be happy: Target boosts workers’ benefits TheStreet’s retail expert Backman previously explained that launching special deals and generous discounts won’t be enough to win back shoppers’ trust. She argued that Target should focus on fixing the store experience first. Experts such as GlobalData Retail Managing Director Neil Saunders previously pointed out that the retailer’s in-store experience has noticeably deteriorated. More Retail:Walmart closes stores for weeks to test new perks for shoppersTarget launches another generous deal to win back shoppers’ trust91-year-old grocery chain closes another store in a key market “Visiting Target stores is less pleasurable and less fun than it used to be,” Saunders told CX Dive. “There is far too much friction, and the experience is sometimes unpleasant.”Even Target executives recently admitted that the stores had lost clarity and discipline, reported Modern Retail. I also previously reported that the company is investing $2 billion in AI, stores, and staffing, implementing four major changes under its transformation plan. More recently, the retail giant revealed it is expanding employee benefits while encouraging them to shop more at Target stores, reported Axios. Target new employee benefits: Additional 20% discount: Target is introducing an extra 20% discount for employees on its owned adult apparel brands.Private labels: This extra savings applies to Target’s popular private labels. 10% base discount: This is on top of the 10% base discount that employees already receive, making the total savings much higher for store-brand clothes.
Source: Axios
By boosting employee discounts Target is achieving several goals.Promoting employee happiness, which makes them more likely to be helpful to customers and more efficient at their jobsEngaging customers with better support from staffIncreasing sales and promoting private labelsThese assumptions are confirmed by several studies, including the one from 2008 published in the Journal of Operations Management. “Using structural equations modeling, we found that employee satisfaction is significantly related to service quality and to customer satisfaction, while the latter in turn influences firm profitability,” reads the study. Target stock is rising again It’s still too early to gauge the results of Target’s efforts to transform the company and win back shoppers’ trust, but the retailer is seeing positive action around its stock. Although its shares dropped 42.31% over the past five years, over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 9.98%. “Now, a new CEO has breathed new life into Target stock and investors see an opportunity for a turnaround. In a year when the S&P 500 is down, Target is up 18% year-to-date through March 23, largely because new CEO Michael Fiddelke has instilled a sense of confidence in the company’s turnaround potential, even after middling fourth-quarter results earlier this month,” reported The Motley Fool. Related: National cosmetics retailer closes three-quarters of its stores

Los Angeles Golf Club defeats Jupiter Links despite Tiger Woods comeback to take SoFi Cup and become 2026 TGL Champions

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealSpring has finally sprung, and after a long, bone-chilling winter, the idea of lounging outside on the patio set and relishing the warm weather sounds like heaven. If you’re anything like me and imagine this idyllic scene with a soundtrack, you’ll want a Bluetooth speaker to bring outside with you to listen to your favorite tunes — and Amazon happens to have an excellent deal on one for its Big Spring Sale.The Notabrick Bluetooth Speaker, which normally retails for $80, is marked down to just $20, saving shoppers 75% off the regular price. It’s waterproof, so it’s perfect to bring to the pool or the beach. With more than 400 five-star reviews, it’s easy to see why this speaker is such a crowd-pleaser.Notabrick Bluetooth Speaker, $20 (was $80) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at AmazonWhy do shoppers love it?This little one-pound speaker may only be 4.5 inches high and 3.5 inches wide, but it is quite capable of turning out top quality 15W sound with loud highs, crisp mids, and rich bass. The Bluetooth 5.0, which is slightly older (Bluetooth 6.0 is the most current version), still gets the job done just fine. And while you can’t submerge this speaker in water, the IPX67 rating does mean it can withstand being splashed on a lively afternoon at the pool.If you’re looking for a speaker that has a long battery life, this one is a great choice, because it can go for more than 15 hours when played at medium volume. It comes with a charging cord and also has an auxiliary jack, so you can plug in your nice headphones if you want. Another bonus is the built-in mic, so you can connect your phone and use it to take and receive phone calls, as well as use a voice assistant like Siri or Alexa.The speaker is available in five colors, including black, gray, purple, red, and Sapphire Blue, but only the black and gray are on sale for $20. The other colors only cost a few dollars more if you just can’t resist one that matches your personal aesthetic. If you want to increase the sound even more, the manufacturer recommends pairing two of these together for the ultimate immersive experience.Pros and cons of the $20 Notabrick Bluetooth SpeakerPros:An unbeatable price point: With $60 off, this is one of the best Bluetooth speaker deals we’ve found.It’s waterproof: It’s the perfect speaker to bring to the pool.It comes in five colors: While all five are on sale, you’ll get the best price on the black and gray options.Cons:Buttons blend in: One shopper mentions the buttons are not user-friendly.Sound quality: Some reviews say the sound quality is middling.Related: Walmart’s $30 waterproof Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $14, and it has ‘clear, deep’ soundShoppers really like this speaker, heaping on the praise for everything from its range to its low price tag. “This is an all-purpose portable speaker,” one wrote. “I bought it to bring out to our pool, and the sound is excellent! I also use it when I’m crafting in the garage. It has EXCELLENT range. It’s really the BEST all-around portable speaker on the market.”A second shopper wrote, “The sound quality is great, it’s really been crystal clear. No feedback sounds and the connection is strong. Charging is relatively quick.”Shop more deals Miatone Portable Bluetooth Speaker, $40 at AmazonDeeyaple Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker, $20 (was $25) at AmazonJlab Jbuds Portable Bluetooth Speaker, $37 (was $54) at AmazonWhether you want a Bluetooth speaker to take out to the pool or to the park for a picnic, the Notabrick Bluetooth Speaker is a great choice. Grab one for just $20 and save $60 off the original price during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale.

“Usually after I’ve covered all my expenses for the month (rent, groceries, etc.) I have $200 left.”

Passive income is one of the most talked-about goals in personal finance. And for good reason. Getting paid to hold a stock, without lifting a finger, is a concept that resonates with both new and seasoned investors.Coca-Cola is one of the most popular stocks for that exact purpose. Among the most recognizable brands globally, Coca-Cola (KO) is a Dividend King and part of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. It’s a household name with a track record of more than six decades of uninterrupted dividend growth. But how much would you need to invest to collect $1,000 a year in dividends from KO? The math is simpler than you might think.Coca-Cola has a growing dividend payoutLet’s get straight to it. Coca-Cola currently pays an annualized dividend of $2.12 per share. That works out to $0.53 per share each quarter.To hit $1,000 in annual dividend income, divide your target by the annual payout:$1,000 ÷ $2.12 = 472 sharesMore Dividend Stocks:109-year-old energy giant paying $4 billion in dividends as oil spikesThis Dow 30 dividend stock is up 100% in the past yearDown 23%, is this Warren Buffett dividend stock undervalued?With KO trading at $74.67, buying 472 shares would cost you roughly $35,244.That’s not a small number. But for income-focused investors, it’s a concrete target, backed by one of the steadiest dividend records on Wall Street.Key dividend data for Coca-Cola stock:Annual dividend per share: $2.12Quarterly dividend per share: $0.53Dividend yield: 2.84%Consecutive years of dividend increases: 64 (Dividend King status)Shares needed for $1,000/year in dividends: ~472 sharesEstimated investment required: ~$35,244The payout ratio of roughly 72% means Coca-Cola is returning a large portion of its earnings to shareholders, but not so much that it looks unsustainable.Coca-Cola is a cornerstone dividend stockCoca-Cola has raised its dividend every single year for 64 years straight. That puts it in an elite group known as Dividend Kings: companies with at least 50 consecutive years of dividend growth. 

Coca-Cola has raised its dividends for 64 years.Shutterstock

The company sells beverages in more than 200 countries. Its portfolio includes brands such as Sprite, Fanta, Dasani, Smartwater, BODYARMOR, Fairlife, Minute Maid, and Powerade, in addition to the core Coca-Cola trademark line.Coca-Cola CFO John Murphy recently told investors that the company sees a long runway ahead for both organic revenue growth and margin expansion. High single-digit earnings-per-share growth is expected for 2026, supported by tailwinds in key markets including North America, India, and parts of Latin America.The company is also doubling down on innovation. Brands like Fairlife, which sits under the Coca-Cola umbrella, have created capacity challenges, simply because demand has outpaced supply. That’s a good problem to have.Is KO a good dividend stock to own?Coca-Cola stock has returned 124% to shareholders over the past decade, after adjusting for dividends, which is lower than the 221% returns delivered by the Dow 30 index. At the time of writing, the blue-chip Dividend King trades at a 14% discount to consensus price targets. For income investors, Coca-Cola checks most of the boxes. The yield sits at 2.84%, which isn’t flashy compared to some high-yield names. But what KO lacks in yield, it more than compensates for in consistency and reliability.Currency headwinds are always a factor for a company with this kind of global footprint. And sugar taxes, like the one recently implemented in Mexico, can pressure volume in specific markets.The final takeaway on Coca-Cola stockCoca-Cola’s business model has a proven ability to adapt. The company has navigated tax increases, geopolitical disruptions, and macroeconomic pressure before. Its bottling network, which spans hundreds of partners globally, adds another layer of operational resilience.For an investor building a dividend income portfolio, KO offers something rare: predictability. You know roughly what you’re getting each quarter, and you have 64 years of history suggesting that number will keep growing.At roughly $35,244 to reach the $1,000 annual income threshold, Coca-Cola isn’t a cheap shortcut. But for long-term income investors, it may be one of the most dependable ways to get there.Related: 134-year-old beverage giant hikes dividend again in 2026

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As travelers continue to face hours-long airport security lines during the busy spring-break season, some airlines are making it easier and less expensive to change flights.

In this week’s Crypto Long & Short Newsletter, Ryan Kirkley writes on how crypto prediction markets can risk incentivizing manipulation and amplify misinformation at scale.