👖Supply chains = trendy

… and why Gen Z loves Nike. [Disclosures](   That new-jeans feeling [Flashpop via Getty Images]   Yesterday’s Market Moves   Dow Jones 34,755 (0.98%) S&P 500 4,400 (0.83%) Nasdaq 14,654 (1.05%) Bitcoin $53,981 (-2.46%) Dow Jones 34,755 (0.98%) S&P 500 4,400 (0.83%) Nasdaq 14,654 (1.05%) Bitcoin $53,981 (-2.46%) Hey Snackers, To boost its economy, Spain may [offer]( young Spaniards $290/month to move out of their parents’ houses, plus another $462/year to spend on “cultural activities” — except bullfights (for real). Stocks rose yesterday after lawmakers set aside differences to raise the debt-ceiling through early December and prevent a default. Now all eyes are on the September jobs report, which comes out today. Hip Levi’s stock surged thanks to “casualization” and an always-fashionable supply chain Cotton comeback… High-waisted jeans are in at [Levi’s](. Levi’s [lifted]( its annual forecasts after last quarter’s sales blew past pre-pandemic levels for the first time. Rising cotton costs have caused shares of retailers like H&M and [Gap]( to fall over the past six months. But Levi’s stock surged 9% yesterday thanks to the denim powerhouse’s strong sales and proactive supply chain. Casual clothes, serious supply chain… Levi’s is cashing in on denim demand. The overall apparel market has outgrown its pre-pandemic size, and denim sales have grown even faster. Levi’s leaned into the jean-aissance by investing in Levi’s-branded stores and embracing the post-pandemic “casualization” trend (think: baggier fits and yoga-wear). But there’s another secret to Levi’s success: smart supply-chain management. Here’s the skinny: - Splitting at the seams: The spread of Delta has caused widespread factory shutdowns in Vietnam, where [Nike]( makes half its shoes, Everlane produces 40% of its clothes, and Adidas gets 28% of its kicks. Retailers’ plans unraveled. - Spread the threads: Levi’s makes only 4% of its products in Vietnam. The rest are made in 24 other countries. - Never miss a stitch: The supply shortage cost Levi’s just $10M last quarter — out of its $1.5B in sales. Adidas, on the other hand, could lose $600M from supply shortages in the second half of this year alone. THE TAKEAWAY Reliable supply chains never go out of style… but fashion trends come and go. Levi’s sales are booming today because it diversified its supply chain years ago. Levi’s de-risked system ensures no more than 20% of products come from any one country, preventing pipeline wrinkles. In the wake of pandemic factory closures, more companies making everything from shoes to furniture are trying on Levi’s strategy and [diversifying]( their supply chains too. Swoosh From Snapchat to StockX: Nike still reigns supreme with Gen Z King of the sneaks... Nike is officially the No. 1 footwear and apparel brand among [teens]( according to Piper Sandler’s Gen Z survey. It’s held the top spot in both categories for the past decade. The competition: - Runner-up: [American Eagle]( took second — the same spot as the past two years. Converse, owned by Nike, came in fourth. - Big spender: Gen Z makes up [nearly half]( of shoppers in the US and has a whopping $140B in spending power. Nike’s taken note. Slam-dunk strategy… Thanks to social media (Nike is IG’s most followed brand with 177M fans) and the rise of “[sneakerheads]( Nike has shown it's not just the sponsor of your favorite NFL team. For years, it’s been tailoring its products and reach to Gen Z: - Virtual fits: Since 2019, Fortnite fans have been able to [purchase]( Nike skins and branded clothes for their avatars. - Resale: 60% of Gen Z males use StockX, a sneaker-bidding marketplace where a rare pair of Jordans can cost $500 or more. - AR Yoga: Nike’s augmented-reality [feature allowed Snapchat and TikTok users to experience]( everything from yoga to dancing. ([Snapchat]( was teens’ No. 1 social-media app.) - Gen J’s: This year, NBA player Zion Williamson became the first [Gen Z]( player to design a shoe for Nike’s popular Air Jordan line. THE TAKEAWAY Nike is like the Beyoncé of retail brands… and Gen Z is the music industry. Similar to how Queen B has resonated for decades and across generations, Nike has stayed relevant by reaching young customers where they are and leaning into styles that click. While Fortnite and Snapchat are in today, Nike will need to keep refocusing its strategy as social hubs shift. What else we're Snackin' - [Vax]( [Pfizer]( asked the FDA to approve its Covid vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11. Approval, which could protect 28M more people, could come by Halloween. - [Pricey]( Packaged-food giants like [PepsiCo]( and [Conagra]( are raising the prices of grocery-store staples to keep up with rising labor and transportation costs. - [Toothy]( Shares of [Smile Direct Club]( soared 33% over three days this week as retail investors rallied around the stock on Reddit. - [Glossy]( [Meredith Corp.]( which publishes magazines like People and Better Homes and Gardens, sold for $2.7B to the NY media giant [IAC](. - [Gas]( Prices of natural gas keep hitting record highs. US prices hit their highest levels in a decade, setting the stage for a pricey winter heating season. 🍪 Thanks for Snacking with us! Want to share the Snacks? Invite your friends to sign up [here](. The Snacks Daily Podcast Perfect Day hit a $1.5B valuation as early investors work up a big alt-dairy appetite. [Tune in]( to hear what that means for its potential IPO plans. Snack Fact Of the Day [When a car makes a cameo in a Bond film, sales of that model spike by 1,000%]( Friday - September unemployment rate released ID: 1868094 Robinhood Snacks newsletters and podcasts reflect the opinions of only the authors who are associated persons of Robinhood Financial LLC and do not reflect the views of Robinhood Markets, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. They are meant for informational purposes only, are not intended to serve as a recommendation to buy or sell any security in a self-directed Robinhood account or any other account, and are not an offer or sale of a security. They are also not research reports and are not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision. Any third-party information provided therein does not reflect the views of Robinhood Markets, Inc., Robinhood Financial LLC, or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates. 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