SmileDirectClub and Walmart announced a distribution partnership today, sending shares of the startup up almost 20 percent Monday.
The oral-care company, which calls itself the first direct-to-consumer medtech platform for teeth straightening, announced a series of products available only at the big box retailer Monday morning. However, its signature teeth aligner won't be found in Walmart's aisles.
Some products Walmart ($WMT) shoppers can pick up instead are SmileDirectClub's electric toothbrush and teeth whitening system, plus planned new products like toothpaste and a UV cleaner to sanitize products like toothbrush heads.
SmileDirectClub ($SDC) hopes Walmart's size brings more customer awareness to the startup. The product line at Walmart, the biggest retailer in the U.S., is a "billboard about smiles," company Chief Global Brand Officer Josh Chapman told Cheddar.
Chapman said the company made a "simple-to-use, affordable, premium" toothbrush for Walmart and hopes to turn those new Walmart customers into users of its popular teeth aligners.
Starbucks’ decision to restrict its restrooms to paying customers has flushed out a wider problem: a patchwork of restroom use policies that varies by state and city. Starbucks announced last week a new code of conduct that says people need to make a purchase if they want to hang out or use the restroom. The coffee chain's policy change for bathroom privileges has left Americans confused and divided over who gets to go and when. The American Restroom Association, a public toilet advocacy group, was among the critics. Rules about restroom access in restaurants vary by state, city and county. The National Retail Federation says private businesses have a right to limit restroom use.
President Donald Trump is talking up a joint venture investing up to $500 billion for infrastructure tied to artificial intelligence by a new partnership formed by OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank. The new entity, Stargate, will start building out data centers and the electricity generation needed for the further development of the fast-evolving AI in Texas, according to the White House. The initial investment is expected to be $100 billion and could reach five times that sum. While Trump has seized on similar announcements to show that his presidency is boosting the economy, there were already expectations of a massive buildout of data centers and electricity plants needed for the development of AI.
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