KHD Buzz – Amazon Offers 3rd Party Sellers Direct Access to Consumers, US Unemployment Still Falling and More
Amazon Offering Direct Access to Consumers to Some Third Party Sellers Amazon.com recently launched a new tool called “Manage Your Customer Engagement (MYCE),” which allows some third-party sellers to market directly to Amazon customers for the first time. Read More US Unemployment Claims Fall For Third Straight Week In good news for retailers, as well…
KHD Buzz – The (Faster) Rise of Retail Robots, Jeff Bezos Says Amazon Needs to Do Better By Employees and More
Report: Over Half of US Retailers Ramping Up Their Robotics Automation Plans The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have changed retailer thinking on the place of robots in the workforce. According to a new report, in 2021, 64 percent of retailers, including 77 percent of large retailers, believe it is critical to have a clear, executable,…
KHD Buzz – Retail Spending Up 9.8% in March, Amazon Workers Vote No to Unions and More
Vaccines, Stimulus Checks Helped Retail Sales Soar 9% in March Newly vaccinated against COVID-19 and with $1,400 stimulus checks in their bank accounts many Americans went on a shopping spree in March, boosting retail sales 9.8%. This was great news for the industry after a 3% drop in February had many concerned. Read More Walmart…
KHD Buzz – Amazon Workers Go to the Polls, Small Retailers Lobby for Tougher Anti-Trust Enforcement and More
Amazon Warehouse Workers Vote on Unionization In an election open to over 5,800 workers at Amazon’s warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) received over 3,200 mail ballots. The workers are voting on whether or not to join the RWDSU, making their warehouse the first Amazon facility in the United States…
KHD Buzz – Report Predicts Growth For Home Decor and Beauty, Retail Workers Fear Maskless Consumers and More
Wells Fargo Report: Home Decor, Beauty Niches Will Continue to See Increased Sales in 2021 The past year’s enthusiasm around home goods and athleisure apparel will linger according to a new report from Wells Fargo. Though they may be returning to the office and otherwise getting out, people don’t appear to be finished fixing up — or…
KHD Buzz – New Plans for Post Office, More Stores Opening Than Closing in 2021 and More
New Plan for Post Office Not Exciting Retailers Longer first-class mail delivery times and cuts to post office hours across the country are among the changes controversial Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced last Tuesday as part of a 10-year plan for the centuries old agency. Retailers – and politicians – are angered at idea that…
KHD Buzz – Card Companies Delay Fee Hikes, Future’s Not Bright for US Malls and More
Visa and Mastercard Delay Merchant Fee Hikes After receiving criticism from members of Congress, Visa and Mastercard announced that they would delay their plans to increase interchange fees on card transactions. Both companies have agreed to stall any increase in the fees retailers pay until at least April 2022. Read More Nordstrom Launching Live Shopping…
KHD Buzz – GameStop Goes to the Dogs, Consumers Are Complaining at Record Levels and More
Consumers Swapping Yoga Pants for Dresses As More Return to Work According to a new report women are changing their shopping habits again, swapping the casual clothing and accessories they have been favoring for the past year while working remotely for more formal office attire. Read More Chewy Cofounder to Head GameStop Digital Push Gamestop…
KHD Buzz- Target’s Big Growth, Disney Store Downsizing, Amazon’s Warehouse Shopping Spree and More
Target Reports Record Setting Quarter Target ended 2020 with a bang as the company reported that during the fourth quarter revenue increased by 21% while profits soared 66%. The company attributed the growth to increased customer traffic both in store and online. Read More Amazon Has Been on an NYC Warehouse Shopping Spree Since the…
KHD Buzz – NRF Predicts More Retail Growth, Swipe Fees Increasing and More
NRF Report: Expect Retail to Keep Growing in 2021 Thanks in part to the COVID-19 vaccines and the probability of a US economic rebound, the National Retail Federation expects retail sales to grow between 6.5 percent and 8.2 percent this year, according to a report it released last week. Read More Swipe Fees Increase Despite…