Summer ranges lift H&M’s sales but at a price at Reuters. “H&M said sales before currency moves were up 8% in June-August, its third quarter, from a year ago. It was the fifth straight quarterly rise and the fastest pace recorded since the third quarter of 2016.” Read more

 

Amazon announces an expansion of its Chicago Tech Hub and plans to create 400 new tech jobs Press release

 

Vapes spiked with illegal drugs show dark side of CBD craze at AP. “The results of AP’s lab testing echo what authorities have found, according to a survey of law enforcement agencies in all 50 states. At least 128 samples out of more than 350 tested by government labs in nine states, nearly all in the South, had synthetic marijuana in products marketed as CBD.” Read more

 

…You can buy vapes illegally on eBay — and these senators want the practice to end by Makena Kelly at The Verge. “A group of senators is expected to demand that eBay, Alibaba, and Craiglist explain how they plan to counter the illegal sale of vaping products on their platforms in letters they will send to the companies on Monday.” Read more

 

Amazon tests a one-tap review system for product feedback by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “If you have access to the new experiment, you’ll be able to just tap once to leave your star rating on any item, without having to fill out additional fields like a review title and written review, as previously required.” Read more

 

Goldman Sachs says an extended Saudi outage could push Brent crude oil prices above $75 at CNBC. Read more

 

New York to ban sale of flavored e-cigarettes by emergency order at CNBC. “The ban would not include menthol and tobacco flavored products, which the governor said can help people to stop using regular cigarettes.” Read more

 

Academy Sports opens first next generation store in Richmond, TX today by Paul Takahashi at Houston Chronicle. Tiered subs.

 

San Diego city attorney sues Instacart alleging the tech giant has misclassified its employees as independent contractors by Brittany Meiling at San Diego Union-Tribune. Read more

 

Amazon’s Battle for Corner Pharmacy Is Fought Over Phone and Fax by Robert Langreth at Bloomberg. “Since being acquired by (Amazon), PillPack has run into stiff opposition, from chains like CVS with thousands of stores to family-owned operations with a single shop. Having seen their business of selling shampoo and razor blades chipped away by online sellers, the drugstores are trying to keep Amazon from wresting away their piece of the $333 billion U.S. prescription-drug industry.” Tiered subs.

 

Canadian home sales rise for sixth straight month in August at Reuters. Read more

 

How Sustainable Startup Rothy’s Found Success Turning Recycled Water Bottles into Fashionable Footwear by Shannon Fitzgerald at Fortune. “Rothy’s hasn’t just made use of innovative materials, it has designed a whole supply chain that has taken the industry’s traditional chain bogged down with scrapped material, overproduction of product and energy costs on transporting excess down to “virtually zero,” according to its founders.” Read more

 

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