Here’s what’s happening at Warren Buffett’s shareholder shopping extravaganza
People at See’s Candies appear at the Berkshire Hathaway Shopping Day event on May 5, 2023.
David A Grogan | CNBC
Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting this weekend kicks off with a shopping extravaganza.
The shopping event, called the “Berkshire Bazaar of Bargains,” is a tradition at the annual convention. With over 20,000 square meters of showroom space and more than 50,000 fixtures, the showroom features items from a myriad of the conglomerate’s holdings.
This year, shareholders can pick up Warren Buffett plushies from Squishmallows for the first time. They can also purchase Buffett-themed apparel from Brooks Sports, as well as Berkshire chocolate coins from See’s Candies.
The event will be held in downtown Omaha at the CHI Health Center. Only shareholders can participate in the event and claim the discount.
CNBC and CNBC.com will exclusively cover the annual meeting starting on Saturday at 10 A.M.
A person visits the Squishmallows display at the Berkshire Hathaway Shopping Day event on May 5, 2023.
David A Grogan | CNBC
This is Squishmallows’ first ever appearance at the Berkshire shopping event, and the toy brand proved a huge hit. The plush toys attracted long queues at the till with many shareholders snapping up Warren Buffett cartoon dolls.
A photo of Warren Buffett at Berkshire Hathaway Shopping Day, May 5, 2023.
Yun Li | CNBC
Berkshire entered Squishmallows through its acquisition of Alleghany, which closed in the fourth quarter of 2022. While Alleghany’s main business is insurance, the company is also a conglomerate. It owns a few non-financial businesses, including Jazwares, which is an American toy manufacturer with brands such as Pokémon and Squishmallows.
See’s Candies
The See’s Candies will be featured at the Berkshire Hathaway Shopping Day event on May 5, 2023.
Yun Li | CNBC
The candies at See’s Candies again drew a large crowd at “Woodstock for Capitalists”. The “Berkshire Box” of chocolates with a dancing Buffett on the package was a popular item on the stand. So was chocolate walnut fudge, a favorite of the Oracle of Omaha. Buffett said See’s Candies sold 11 tons of peanut brittle and chocolate at last year’s event.
People line up at the Brooks exhibit at the Berkshire Hathaway Shopping Day event on May 5, 2023.
Yun Li | CNBC
Investors could purchase sneakers, socks and t-shirts with illustrations of Warren Buffett from the Brooks booth. They can also participate in the 5K run hosted by the sportswear company and Berkshire in downtown Omaha on Sunday morning.
The Pampered Chef features Warren Buffet at the Berkshire Hathaway Shopping Day event, May 5, 2023.
Yun Li | CNBC
A cardboard cutout of Warren Buffett in an apron greeted shoppers at the Pampered Chef booth, where investors could pick up kitchen tools — including a spatula with the Oracle of Omaha’s face on one side, and Charlie Munger’s on the other.
Jewelery display from Ruchi New York at Borsheim’s shopping evening for shareholders.
Yun Li | CNBC
Jewelery display from Ruchi New York at Borsheim’s shopping evening for shareholders
Yun Li | CNBC
There is a separate shareholder event at Borsheims, approx. 14 miles away from the main convention center. Berkshire shareholders browsed unique jewelry, engagement rings and watches available for purchase at a discount. This seven carat emerald ring from Ruchi New York sells for $400,000 with a 25% discount (pictured above, right).
