What I wrote last week
It’s not all doom and gloom for PayPal
Business
‘Do I take a hit in sales?’: Merchants wonder how they’re going to pay for Amazon’s new Seller Fulfilled Prime fee. “Masiello said most of the sellers that have opted out of FBA did so to avoid extra fees charged by Amazon. FBA merchants end up a paying 15% FBA fee, warehouse charges and long-term storage fees, and sometimes short-term storage fees depending on the category of product they’re selling. He said his clients that used SFP typically saved 3% to 4% on every order. “Now you’re cutting that in half,” said Masiello.” Merchants that opt out of Fulfillment by Amazon tend to save more than if they opt in. However, the gap will be smaller after Oct 1%. 2% at scale is not insignificant, but Amazon is trying to nudge merchants back to FBA. Think about it this way. Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP) sellers will have to be on Amazon anyway. Is 2% worth the time and effort merchants have to spend on logistics? This way, Amazon can maximize revenue, but they can also optimize the utilization of its infrastructure, get packages delivered fast and make sure shoppers are happy.
Trader Joe’s confirms its stores will never include self-checkout. There are two ways to look at this issue. Self-checkout can reduce hiring expense and expedite the checkout experience. However, the downside is that there is less interaction between trained staff and consumers. Relying completely on self-checkout can affect the culture significantly. On the other, maintaining a trained workforce is a big expense line item. In this environment, many retailers can’t afford that.
How Kroger Became the Biggest Sushi Seller in America. I never thought that an American grocer or retailer relied on sushi, a Japanese dish, to lure shoppers.
Huy Fong Foods’ sriracha shortage has been ongoing for three years. Here’s why it could have been prevented. It’s unfortunate that consumers still suffer from Sriracha shortage, but I understand where the owner of the iconic sauce comes from. They wanted to diversify the supply pool and reduce risks of over-relying on one supplier. However, the move came at a terrible timing as new japalenos farms have to go through drought and undesirable climate.
Google executive turnover and role changes come as the company searches for new identity. Giant organizations are likely to have bureaucracy, but the way those who left described the company is concerning. As a technology firm, you don’t want to hear “too stifling to get things done”.
Other stuff I find interesting
America’s Fight Over Tipping at Restaurants Comes to Its Biggest Battleground Yet. I don’t know a solution to this issue because any proposal will have downstream consequences. But what I do know is that many people, including my wife and I, are very fed up with this tip-flation thing
Seven Grip-Strength Exercises That Can Boost Your Longevity. Multiple studies show that grip strength is correlated to longevity. In case you need some exercises to increase grip strength. I certainly do
The Albanian town that TikTok emptied. It’s interesting to learn that the UK is a popular escape destination for Albanians and how they struggle to legitimately find a better life in the country while avoiding criminal gangs.
Havana Comes to Kentucky. “In a landlocked state with cold, gray winters, Louisville may seem an unlikely destination for refugees from a tropical island. But its plentiful jobs, relatively low cost of living and nonprofit agencies that support newcomers are powerful magnets. Not to mention word of mouth from longtime Cuban residents. According to independent estimates, at least 30,000 Cubans call Louisville’s Jefferson County home, with much of the influx having arrived in the last two years as conditions deteriorated in their country. They now represent the largest single immigrant group in Louisville, and their numbers, which continue to swell, have helped offset population decline in the county of 770,000, according to the Census, as young Americans decamp to bigger cities“
Stats
More than one out of four Sam Club’s customers uses Scan & Go
28% of remote workers feel connected to their companies’ mission
Foot traffic in top-tier malls was up by 12% in 2022 compared to 2019
Minh Quang Duong 
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