šŸ›ļøAmericans are obsessed with Amazon Prime

And it shows

April 19, 2024

Hello Retailist family! šŸŒŸ As we approach the much-anticipated weekend, the world of e-commerce, retail, and Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) is pulsating with excitement. This past week has been filled with news, groundbreaking trends, and innovative developments in our beloved industry. With so much valuable information at our disposal, are you ready to dive into the most engaging stories that have surfaced? Let's explore these intriguing developments together and discover what they have in store for us!


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In the news: Top headlines this week

Americans are obsessed with Amazon Prime, and it shows. As of March, Amazon Prime membership in the U.S. has reached approximately 180 million people, an 8% increase from the previous year, with 75% of U.S. consumers now subscribed to Prime, according to Bloomberg citing Consumer Intelligence Research Partners data. This significant penetration rate underscores the growing obsession among Americans with Amazon Prime's services. Amazon has yet to comment on these findings. [Business Insider]

Wegmans Confirms New Store in Charlotte, North Carolina. Wegmans Food Markets has confirmed it will open a new store in south Charlotte, North Carolina, set to launch in the third quarter of 2026. The store will be situated on North Community Road in the Ballantyne area, a decision fueled by years of local demand and careful location selection, according to Dan Aken, Wegmans' VP of real estate and store planning. This expansion into Charlotte will intensify the already competitive grocery market there, which features over 760 stores including major chains like Publix and Walmart. [Retail Wire]

Little Caesars plans growth in seven states. Little Caesars is set to expand its presence by opening over 30 new restaurants in several U.S. cities including San Diego, Memphis, Tampa, Raleigh, Minneapolis-St. Paul, San Antonio, and Eugene, Oregon, through new franchise agreements. The expansion is being spearheaded by veteran franchisees, notably Leo Gonzalez, who plans to open nine new locations in San Diego over the next four years. This move is part of a broader effort to grow Little Caesars' footprint, which is already the third-largest pizza chain globally. [CSA]

Google Announces More Layoffs and Roles Moving Overseas. Google is undergoing a significant restructuring that includes layoffs and relocating certain jobs to "growth hubs" in India, Mexico, and Ireland. This reorganization focuses on streamlining operations and aligning with Google's strategic priorities, primarily affecting its finance department's teams like treasury and revenue cash operations. Although the exact number of affected employees has not been disclosed, this move is part of Google's ongoing efforts to optimize operations and cut bureaucracy. [Retail Wire]

Dickā€™s Sporting Goods, SidelineSwap expand resale partnership. Dickā€™s Sporting Goods is expanding its resale partnership with SidelineSwap, planning to hold over 300 used sports gear trade-in events at selected locations this year, marking their third consecutive year of collaboration. The partnership aims to leverage the spring sports season for families to exchange old for new equipment, with last year's participants receiving an average of $120 for their traded items. SidelineSwap has facilitated the resale of over $250 million worth of secondhand sports equipment to more than 2 million customers. [Retail Dive]

5 things that are hard to get even if you're pretty rich. Despite substantial wealth, some things remain elusive due to their exclusive nature, limited availability, or reliance on timing and connections rather than just financial capacity. These coveted items and privileges, which can sometimes cost up to seven figures, are often gated by limited memberships, strict voting panels, or sheer scarcity. As a result, acquiring them typically requires more than just being wealthy; connections and specific circumstances play a crucial role. [Business Insider]

Golf fashion moves into the mainstream. Golf fashion is transitioning from performance wear to mainstream streetwear, influenced by new offerings from prominent figures like Tiger Woods and collaborations such as LVMH with Tyler, the Creator. This shift is supported by a growing and increasingly diverse golfing demographic, with the National Golf Foundation reporting about 45 million active participants in 2024, including a significant representation of Asian, Black, and Hispanic golfers making up 23% of the total. The sport's rising popularity is partly attributed to a cultural shift during the pandemic that drew a younger, more varied audience to view golf not just as a sport but as a lifestyle. [Retail Dive]

Peloton quietly drops unlimited free app membership because it failed to bring in paid subscribers. Peloton has discontinued the unlimited free membership tier on its fitness app, which was part of its rebranding strategy to market itself as a fitness company for all. This decision was made after less than a year because the free tier did not successfully convert users into paid subscribers. Now, new users only have the option of two paid subscription tiers at $12.99 or $24 per month, following a seven-day free trial, moving away from a model that once aimed to broadly enhance user acquisition. [CNBC]

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