Goods linked to forced labor worth almost $1 billion have been confiscated by authorities since June.
April 17, 2023 : US federal authorities have seized $961m worth of goods that they suspect have ties to forced labour since late June 2022, according to Customs and Border Protection Executive Assistant Commissioner AnnMarie Highsmith. Officials said that many companies whose supply chains have been tainted by forced labour have no idea of the problem.
Downtown San Francisco’s Whole Foods, owned by Amazon, is closed down
April 14, 2023: The Whole Foods Market in Downtown San Francisco closed just 13 months after its opening. The store reduced operating hours due to high theft since last October, which may have contributed to its ultimate closure. A spokesperson for Whole Foods said that they would be closing their Trinity location for the time being and will only consider reopening if they can ensure the safety of their team members in the store.
UBS Forecasts 50,000 U.S. Stores to Close by 2027 due to Shifts in Spending and Tighter Credit
April 13, 2023: Investment bank UBS has predicted that up to 50,000 US stores could close by 2027 due to reduced consumer spending, tighter credit, and a continued shift to e-commerce. This figure could rise between 70,000 and 90,000 if retail sales fall short of expectations.
Four Walmart Stores in Chicago to Close Down
April 13, 2023: Walmart is closing four stores in Chicago, including a Supercenter and three neighbourhood markets, as part of its program to shutter 15 stores this year. The move comes after the retailer reported retail theft across the US earlier this week. Walmart had previously invested in the Chicago market, spending $70m on store upgrades and constructing a health centre and training centre in Chatham.
Sainsbury’s intensifies loyalty card competition as Tesco decreases Clubcard rewards
April 12, 2023: Sainsbury’s has launched a new pricing-saving loyalty initiative called ‘Nectar Prices’, which promises to provide large savings to all 18 million Nectar customers across a wide range of products. Customers shopping in Sainsbury’s supermarkets or online can initially avail discounts on over 300 items spanning household products, pet food, and candy, with Nectar Prices, when using the Nectar app or card at checkout.
Major PC Manufacturers Witness Significant Drop in Shipments, with Apple’s Mac Sales Falling 40.5% in the Last Quarter
April 11, 2023: The global PC market has witnessed a substantial decline in the first quarter of 2023, with an overall shipment drop of 29%, as per market intelligence firm IDC. The report stated that weak demand, excess inventory, and a deteriorating macroeconomic climate were some factors behind this slump
Amazon sellers eye Middle East for global expansion opportunity
April 11, 2023: Amazon sellers are eyeing opportunities to expand their business in the Middle East, a region that Amazon has not yet fully penetrated. Amazon first launched its Marketplace in the Middle East region, which includes the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, when it rebranded souq.com, a Dubai-based e-commerce company it had acquired in 2017 for $580 million. The company’s accelerator Pattern expects a 50% increase in its client base in 2023.
Dollar General found in violation of federal workplace safety standards once more due to hazardous fire risks and obstructed emergency exits.
April 10, 2023: Discount retailer Dollar General has been found to violating federal workplace safety regulations once again, with the Department of Labor stating that it “willfully exposed” staff to fire hazards at a store in Pennsylvania. An inspection was conducted following a complaint to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and discovered “dangerous safety hazards” at the Jersey Shore store, including blocked emergency exit routes and electrical panels. The hazards were similar to those found in other stores operated by the company, which has been investigated more than 180 times by OSHA for jeopardizing worker safety.
Sephora at Kohl’s: Localizing Retail for Optimal Market Reach
April 6, 2023: Kohl’s is set to open 250 new Sephora stores this year, increasing the total number of Sephora-enhanced locations to 850 by the end of the year. The move is part of the company’s plan to be present in every Kohl’s store.
Poshmark Launches Posh Shows, a Live Shopping Experience for Fashion Resale
April 6, 2023: Poshmark, the fashion resale marketplace, has launched Posh Shows, live shopping powered by a community and real-time social experiences. It is the first time that sellers can live stream on Poshmark, allowing them to leverage live video to sell items from their Poshmark closets and reach an established community of over 100 million users. The platform is designed to make selling simple and social, with an easy-to-use interface and unique suite of selling tools, making it accessible for anyone to get started and make sales.
