4 h. ago Are Trader Joe’s tote bags the last vestige of American soft power? | Dave Schilling

No one wants to visit us any more – but they might pay $50,000 for a bag you could get here for $3There aren’t many escapes from the grim onslaught of terrible news these days. You can stare at a blank wall, obsessively count the hairs on your arm, or, in a true moment of desperation, ponder the state of global fashion. I prefer the last one. I love being on the cutting edge of style, peacocking out in the decaying slopfest that is our planet. A crisp, well-made suit is a cure for all manner of emotionally trying times. I relish being hyper-aware of the goings-on of fashion, so I was one of the first sorry souls to learn of the current global obsession with flimsy canvas Trader Joe’s shopping bags.For those unaware, Trader Joe’s is an American grocery store chain known primarily for its affordable prices, whimsical tropical branding, and heart-attack-inducing parking lots – apparently designed to be small because the stores themselves are so tiny that they can’t justify more spaces....

Politics

47 h. ago Guinness 'hell bent' on becoming Britain's first £10 pint after prices soar

Brewer Diageo announced it is putting up a pint of draught by 5.2% following a 4.2% hike last year. Experts now say the firm seems determined to reach the hefty price

Economics

6 d. ago Simple bag, big payday: Trader Joe’s totes are so popular they are selling for up to $50K

The tote bags originally sell for under $5 at the popular grocery store chain

Economics

8 d. ago Recycled toilet paper is growing in popularity and the best brands are easy to find

Prices are expected to drop if consumers continue buying it and manufacturers expand production

Politics

1 week ago UK's top 10 property hotspots, including 'best place to live', as house prices soar by up to 13%

The UK’s property hotspots, where house prices are rising fastest, have been revealed.

Society

1 week ago Brits cash in on 'Luke Littler effect' as fans go nuts for darts souvenirs

EXCLUSIVE: Hard-up folk are rooting through the attic for darts souvenirs to flog to pay off festive bills as memorabilia prices soar due to Luke Littler's oche antics

Politics

1 week ago I’m not sure a bakery needs a branded condom – can any business resist selling merch now? | Elle Hunt

From Trader Joe’s totes to Greggs jewellery, swag mania reveals how small businesses can promote their ‘brands’ – and how we use stuff to signal our tribeFor all its many charms, Norwich tends to lag behind London on internet-buzzy trends (personally, I count that as among its charms), but it’s not always easy to pinpoint by exactly how long. So I was interested to spot, on a recent trip into the fine city, a woman carrying a Trader Joe’s-branded tote bag.Trader Joe’s is a US supermarket; it does not operate in the UK, let alone East Anglia. And yet its merchandise – specifically this black-strapped, red-stamped but otherwise unremarkable tote bag – has been increasingly ubiquitous in London this year, as noted by the New York Times in July. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago Travel expert shares top tips to save hundreds when booking 2026 holidays

This Saturday is the UK's busiest day for holiday bookings and prices will soar. Gavin Lapidus, eShores company director, shares his top tips for cutting costs.

Politics

3 w. ago Quality Street tub size shrinks AGAIN to just 60 sweets and fans aren't happy

The latest 'shrinkflation' cutback comes as manufacturer Nestlé sees chocolate prices soar due to a record-high surge in the cost of cocoa beans

Politics

3 w. ago What stores are open and closed on Christmas Eve and Day for last

Popular grocery stores like Target and Trader Joe’s are closed on Christmas Day

Politics

4 w. ago Beer and cider prices set to soar as blame is aimed at Rachel Reeves

Asahi warned its flagship lager and other popular brands it brews in the UK, including Peroni, Fuller’s London Pride, Grolsch, Meantime pale ale and Cornish Orchards cider, would jump in cost

Politics

last month Trader Joe’s limits number of eggs you can buy as prices soar ahead of Christmas

Avian flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month

Economics