Even Amazon
Has Free Delivery Problems – Amazon revealed
disappointing earnings this week and at least part of the reason is the cost of
free delivery on many of their items.
Amazon conducts a Prime membership system that
guarantees free delivery in return for a $99 annual subscription fee, but according
to retail
Shipping expenses for Amazon jumped 43% last quarter
as users took increasing advantage of the two-day unlimited shipping service.
The good news for Amazon is that their turnover is up
dramatically but they just need to reign in operating costs. Amazon shares fell
6% on the news.
15 Main
Street Shops Are Closing Every Day In Britain – The retail scene is changing in Britain as tobacconists, estate
agents, and jewellers take over main streets previously populated by a variety
of retailers. Fashion stores showed the biggest fall as the category continues
to show across the board decline.
In-store
Farms At Target – we wrote about the
concept of in-house vertical farms back in August (http://www.victraders.com/2016/08/creating-farm-at-qvm.html)
and Target in the US have decided to test the concept with farms being
introduced early 2017. Leafy greens are considered the most likely staple
although potatoes, beetroot and zucchini could also be on the menu.
Some commentators have questioned the ROI from such a
venture but the returns in PR and marketing are seen as huge.
McDonalds
Shows Revenue Growth – McDonald’s
global sales were up by 3.5% in the third quarter buoyed by all day breakfast
menus and healthier chicken. Weak performances in the past by companies like
McDonalds have weighed heavily on consumer sentiment so this news was warmly
greeted globally.
New Jewellery Chain To Open 9 Stores In
Australia By Christmas - US Jewellery retailer, Alex and Ani, will
shortly open its first Australian “studio” at Chatswood with 8 more stores
scheduled by Christmas.
The chain
started in 2014 in the US and has shown huge
growth with an emphasis on innovative design, re-cycled materials, and a
business culture that fosters charity support. An app introduced in 2015 was
adopted widely and not only introduced consumers to the product range but
expanded on the background to different jewellery designs.