Who doesn’t like a good deal? And we’re not talking about Dollar General good. We’re talking Temu good. If you’ve found yourself addicted to scrolling for $20 smart watches or “Switch” controllers, you’re not alone. The US has seen a surge in cheap goods in recent years, and here’s how it started… Rise of cheap…
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From Warehouse to Criminal Hands: Organized Crime Moves up the Retail Supply Chain
Those Jordans you bought might not be fake — but they could’ve been re-sold to you after being stolen by organized crime groups. Product theft has risen tremendously and is picking up traction beyond retail stores — moving across the supply chain from warehouses to distribution centers, per WSJ. In recent years, shipping and transport…
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Goliath vs. Goliath: Walmart Takes Inspiration From Amazon To Go After Amazon
This company is beefing up its membership service, pushing further into e-commerce while expanding its fulfillment centers — and if you thought we were talking about Amazon, you’re mistaken. It’s Walmart. Over the years, Walmart has taken some inspiration from Amazon: 1/ E-commerce: With Amazon’s market share expected to rise to 47.9%, it’s crushing the…
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Chipotle: America’s Love for Burritos Brings All-Time Highs
Americans love burritos. So much so that it took the number one spot on Grubhub’s most-ordered items last year. The avocado-hungry Chipotle — which buys nearly 5% of the global supply — broke new highs after crushing their earnings report: Sales grew 17% in the first quarter — with help from a 10% menu price…
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Bed Bath & Beyond Joins Blockbuster in the “Failed to Innovate” Graveyard
Moment of silence for the meme-stock legend and one of America’s most popular home goods retailers. On Sunday, Bed Bath & Beyond filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy — just months after warning it was in trouble. That’s putting nearly 14K BBBY employees’ jobs and retirement plans on the line. What went wrong? Almost everything that…
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China’s Reopening Could Benefit Apple With Increased Demand and Ease Their iPhone Supply Problem
China’s reopening is well underway. And that has major implications for Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) — which heavily relies on China for two main reasons: China made up 20% of Apple’s sales last quarter. It’s estimated that Apple manufactures ~95% of its products in China. Apple’s been struggling with manufacturing issues over China’s lockdown protocols, leading to…
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Boot Barn Soars Over America’s Cowboy Fever
Americans haven’t Yee’d their last Haw to their cowboy dreams just yet. Western fashion has shown up everywhere in our modern-day culture — and its popularity continues to grow: 1/ Music. Lil Nas X’s Old Town Road, released in 2019, may have inspired celebrities like A$AP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar and Harry Styles to don the…
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Communities Fight Back Against Dollar Stores’ Rampant Growth
Are you one of many shoppers turning to dollar stores in recent years? Rising inflation has led to rapid growth in dollar store chains — with nearly half of new US stores opened in 2021 being dollar store chains. The biggest of them all — Dollar General (NYSE:DG) — whose sales and profits have steadily…
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Discount and fast-fashion apps Shein and Temu duke it out in the west
2023 shoppers want two things: Cheap prices and speedy delivery. Fast-fashion and discount platforms provide both. With consumers strapped for cash, these apps have grown in popularity. Two competitors — Temu and Shein — have forced their way into American households. 1/ Temu is a discount shopping app owned by Chinese e-commerce giant PDD Holdings…
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Profits or customer service? Here’s what Amazon investors are choosing
Since its founding, Jeff Bezos has drilled the idea of customer obsession into Amazon’s culture. But Bezos is no longer at the company and with earnings declining, Amazon has a decision to make: more profits or better service? Not what it used to be Per Evercore ISI’s survey, Amazon’s satisfaction score has fallen to 79%…
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