Reasonably Interesting Week

Happy Monday! No news on how Amazon Prime Day 2 and all the other pluses and circle promotional events went this past week. Outside of the "biggest Prime Day ever", likely won't see anything concrete until Q4 earnings top of 2025. Works for us as we'll get an idea of post holiday shopping results. Here's what we have this week: 1. Retailers are aggressively planning for the future by continuing to shutter stores, investing in advertising capabilities, expanding in new categories and building out their own supply chain capabilities. 2. UPS announced price increases in line FedEx to kick in right before Christmas Day. This plus other changes to surcharge fees raising the complexity of negotiations in the middle of the holiday shopping season. 3. Pitney Bowes announces a new technology solution to more directly complete with ShipStation. 4. Consumers more concerned with retailers meeting promise days than speed. Slow week but that's to be expected. Maybe some thing new comes in this one. And now, the newsletter. . .

Interesting Retail

• Macy’s, Kohl’s, and Nordstrom are considering strategic store closures to navigate their ongoing financial challenges. These efforts aim to optimize retail operations while continuing investment in-store and digital experiences. Link Here
• Home Depot is expanding its retail media network by launching a self-service platform to allows advertisers to buy ads more easily. Link Here
• Urban Outfitters has benefited from its new fulfillment center in Missouri, which supports its rental service, Nuuly. The facility has optimized operations and improved shipping efficiencies for the company. Link Here
• Kroger is expanding its healthcare services by combining food and medicine offerings. The initiative aims to provide a holistic approach to health and wellness, boosting its competitive edge in the grocery industry. Link Here

Interesting Logistics

• UPS will raise its rates in 2025, with average shipping costs increasing by 5.9%. This general rate increase (GRI) aims to address inflationary pressures and operational costs. It’s expected to impact shippers and logistics providers across various industries. Link Here
• UPS’s healthcare division saw significant revenue growth, driven by its specialized logistics services for the healthcare industry. Link Here
• Pitney Bowes introduced ShipAccel, a new e-commerce solution designed to enhance delivery times and streamline the fulfillment process. Link Here
• A survey revealed that over half of shoppers are unlikely to return to a retailer that fails to meet promised delivery dates. This shows the critical importance of delivery reliability in maintaining customer loyalty. Link Here

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