Amazon Can’t Seem to Make Its Physical Stores Work at WSJ. “…with the Amazon Go store in Woodland Hills, Calif., closing this month, the retailer has shrunk its Go portfolio by about half since early 2023, to 16 stores in four states…It has closed dozens of its other branded retail stores in recent years, including bookstores, fashion outlets and its “4-star” locations stocked with bestselling items from its website.” WSJ subs.

 

China launches limited tariffs at AP. “John Gong, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, called the response a “measured” one. “I don’t think they want the trade war escalating,” he said.” Read more

 

Grubhub confirms data breach at TechCrunch. “…the intrusion allowed unnamed hackers to access the personal details of customers, merchants and drivers who interacted with its customer care service. The breach also affected users of Grubhub’s Campus Dining service, which allows university students to use their meal credits on the food delivery app.” Read more

 

Kroger Health introduces free nutrition coaching program Press release

 

JCPenney Launches B2B Website to Support Bulk Order Purchasing Press release

 

Buy-Canadian website flooded with thousands of new user submissions at National Post. “Over the last few weeks, as Trump’s threat of 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian imports became more deliberate, (22-year old owner) Lobo says he’s been flooded with over 5,000 submissions. “I’ve never had so many emails in my life.” Read more

 

Target is sued for defrauding shareholders about DEI at Reuters/Yahoo

 

Sam’s Club’s CEO is doubling down on the experiential side of retail at Business Insider/MSN. “With all of this data, (Chris) Nicholas says he decided to put one person in charge of turning it into a more effective flywheel for the business….Sam’s Club has appointed Diana Marshall, who was previously chief growth officer, as its new chief experience officer. Marshall will report directly to Nicholas.” Read more

 

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Tire recycling tech startup with link to Costco lands $40M from former CEO Jim Sinegal and others at GeekWire. “I did bottled water for Costco,” (CEO) Abramowitz said. “So we were making a billion-plus bottles a year. This is kind of my penance for doing that.” Read more

 

Waffle House is adding a 50-cent surcharge per egg at CNN

 

PayPal shares slip as growth slows in card processing “Venmo’s total payment volume rose 10% in the quarter from a year earlier…Monthly active accounts for the (Venmo) debit card grew more than 30% in 2024, and Pay with Venmo monthly actives increased more than 20%.” Read more

 

Ayesha Curry’s Sweet July store in Oakland to close due to safety concerns at KTVU

 

How Trump’s China Tariffs Will Hurt Temu and Shein at Newsweek. “Trump is ending the “de minimis exception,” which allows companies to avert paying duties on imports worth $800 or less when shipping packages to customers in the U.S.” Read more

 

Alice Walton to be inducted into Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame at Talk Business

 

Ollie’s appoints Eric van der Valk as President & CEO – He previously served as COO of Christmas Tree Shops. Read more

 

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