In just a few short years, Jet.com went from a bootstrapping start-up to the rapidly-scaling online arm of one of the world's biggest retailers. Cheddar is live at the company's New Jersey headquarters with VP of Analytics Jack Hanlon and Senior Director of Research Ben Babcock. They take us inside the company's research and analytics strategy.
We learn all about the e-commerce site's internal consumer-insights department. Called the "Jet X Lab," the facility is not your typical cold and sterile research department. Our guests explain how they leverage the company's proprietary technology to gain valuable information about how their customers think, act, and buy.
Finally, Hanlon and Babcock give an update on how Jet's acquisition by Walmart influenced its data, research, and analytics strategy. the big-box retailer bought the e-commerce site for $3.3 billion in 2016. We learn how the two companies are learning from one another, and where things are headed from here.
Umbilical cord blood banking platform Anja Health raised $4.5 million dollars in a seed round led by Seven Seven Six, a venture capital firm founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Anja Health offers a personalized, doctor-backed cord blood bank, which lets new parents freeze stem cells from their child's umbilical cord so they can be used to treat diseases in the future. It's a process Anja has called 'Hollywood's best-kept secret,' as celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Serena Williams, and more have all banked their umbilical cord blood. Kathryn Cross, the founder of Anja Health, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Catching you up on what you missed in today's news. Elon Musk has increased his commitment to purchase Twitter to $33.5 billion, Apple is raising its hourly wages for retail stores to compete for talent, and Roblox has announced that it will be partnering with the medically prescribed video game ‘Endeavor’ to help treat patients with ADHD.
Actor Jimmy O. Yang is partnering with Chinese food chain Panda Express for his YouTube series "Jimmy's Kitchen." The comedian joined Cheddar News to talk about the partnership as well as upcoming ventures. "Panda Express could not be more perfect like even before this deal, I was just wearing a Panda Express hat for fun when I go outside," he said.
The number of births in the U.S. increased last year for the first time in seven years. According to a new federal report, about 3.6 million babies were born in 2021, only about a 1% increase from 2020. Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst for creditcards.com, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss why the pandemic baby boom was more like a baby bust, and how to raise kids while on a tight budget.
