Amazon launches a Prime-free marketplace in South Africa, its first on the continent at TechCrunch. “Amazon is launching in South Africa without its famous Prime membership program…initially it plans to sell international brands and local products spanning some 20 product categories…” Read more

 

Target treks off the beaten path – by selling its own-brand products at other retailers at Fortune/Yahoo. “…plans to expand its Cat & Jack children’s clothing line across 85 Hudson’s Bay Co. Canadian department stores, adding outerwear and shoes to the brand’s 1,400 items…Since the partnership launched in March, the brand has been incredibly popular in Canada, Target reported, resulting in a 15% increase in basket size at Hudson’s Bay. Target has no plans to replicate its own-brand expansion in the U.S…” Read more

 

Life Time fitness leans into pickleball with Lululemon partnership at CNBC. “…relationship includes selling Lululemon apparel online at Life Time clubs, in addition to collaborating on key pickleball events…Saturday, Life Time unveiled Manhattan’s largest indoor pickleball destination, just blocks from Penn Station. The 54,000-square-foot club has seven street-level pickleball courts…” Read more

 

Gen Z Sinks Deeper Into Debt at WSJ. “The average credit-card balance for 22- to 24-year-olds was $2,834 in the last quarter of 2023, compared with an average inflation-adjusted balance of $2,248 in the same period in 2013, according to new data from credit-reporting agency TransUnion.” WSJ subs.

 

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon to Speak at University of Arkansas’ Spring Commencement “McMillon will speak at the university commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11, at 8:30 a.m. in Bud Walton Arena.” Read more

 

Lowe’s upgrades to digital security camera network at Chain Store Age. “Lowe’s…has shifted more than 80,000 analog in-store analog security cameras to a streamlined digital system…more than 35,000 associates across a wide variety of functions have access…the merchandising department may also use the camera system to gauge foot traffic around seasonal displays…” Read more

 

Uber Eats to Power Restaurant Delivery on Instacart Press release

 

Cash-Stretched New Homebuyers Are Drawing a Line at Fixer-Uppers at Bloomberg/Yahoo. “When agents identified the repairs and updates needed to make listed homes ready to live in, we were shocked by the scope,” according to a report from Jody Kahn and Dillan Krieg at John Burns. “Buyers want homes that are move-in ready.” Read more

 

Walgreens is now a candy destination, thanks to TikTok at CBS News. “…ramping up production of Walgreen’s Nice! Gummy Mango peelable candy, and limiting online sales to one bag per customer due to high demand for the squishy treats, fed by social media.” Read more

 

CANADA – Competition Bureau launches inquiry into Lululemon over ’greenwashing’ allegations at Financial Post. “Stand.earth…issued a statement early this year saying Lululemon has been using the slogan “Be Planet” as part of its “impact agenda” released in 2020, but the company’s own reports reveal a doubling of greenhouse-gas emissions since then.” Read more

 

In China, Costco, Sam’s Club make play for thrifty shoppers at Nikkei Asia. “Alibaba Group Holding’s Freshippo, widely known as Hema in Chinese…has nine warehouse stores in China…Also growing fast is Fudi, operated by a Chinese agricultural products seller, with four stores in Beijing. Its membership information emphasizes that its stores are “member stores for the people themselves,” appealing to patriotic sentiment.” Read more

 

Bloomingdale’s Men’s Fashion Director Justin Berkowitz Joins NN.07 as Strategic Partner WWD Subs.

 

Amazon to Close Grocery Fulfillment Center in San Francisco at Progressive Grocer. “As it closes one facility, the e-commerce giant is looking to build a 650,000-square-foot logistics center in San Francisco’s Showplace Square neighborhood, which is being vetted by city planners.” Read more