🛍️ Hey, Retailist Roundup readers! As we gear up for the weekend, let’s take a look at the latest happenings in the world of retail and e-commerce.

News from Retailist

Beyond the Hype: Ensuring Online Pharma Safety Amid the GLP-1 Gold Rush

The booming weight loss drug market presents opportunities for manufacturers and retailers but also risks exploitation, including counterfeit and dangerous products, reminiscent of past health trends.

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In the news: Top headlines this week

US consumer prices rise on food; Hurricane Helene muddies labor market picture. U.S. consumer prices rose slightly more than anticipated in September due to higher food costs, but the annual inflation increase was the smallest in over 3.5 years. This keeps the Federal Reserve on track for an interest rate cut next month. Additionally, first-time unemployment claims surged to their highest level in over a year, driven by Hurricane Helene and an ongoing strike at Boeing. [Reuters]

Value Meals and Hidden Fees Leave Franchisees Feeling Squeezed. Franchised restaurants like Denny's and McDonald's generate most of their revenue from franchise operations, but growing tensions between the companies and franchise operators are causing friction. At the same time, regulators are scrutinizing the franchise business model. [Wall Street Journal]

Nike remains the top brand among teens, but it’s losing share. Nike remains the top footwear and apparel brand among teens but lost some ground, especially with females, according to Piper Sandler's latest survey of 13,500 teens. In cosmetics, E.l.f. Beauty maintained its top spot for the sixth survey in a row, favored by 35% of female respondents, followed by Rare Beauty, Maybelline, and Charlotte Tilbury. Sephora continues to be the No. 1 beauty retailer for teens, but Ulta dropped in popularity, losing ground to Target and Amazon. [Retail Dive]

What’s the winning formula for a loyalty program? Sephora, Famous Footwear, and PetSmart have successful loyalty programs that cater to their customers' preferences, creating personalized and engaging experiences. Sephora's program rewards customers with points for free items, encouraging more purchases. Famous Footwear offers tiered rewards based on annual spending, with added perks for credit card users. PetSmart’s loyalty program is tailored to pet owners, featuring community engagement through adoption events and offering services like grooming. These programs highlight the importance of personalized, customer-focused strategies in building brand loyalty. [Retail Dive]

Apple TV+ To Launch on Prime Video in the US in Late October. Apple TV+ will soon be available as a subscription add-on to Prime Video for $9.99 per month, allowing Amazon Prime subscribers to access Apple TV+ content without needing a separate service. Starting in late October, this integration expands Prime Video's offerings, which already include Amazon MGM Studios Originals, live sports, and over 100 streaming subscriptions. Prime Video's Mike Hopkins emphasized that the move aims to enhance customer streaming experiences by centralizing premium content within one platform. [Retail Dive]

Amazon Pharmacy Will Reach Nearly Half of America Next Year. Amazon Pharmacy is set to expand its same-day medication delivery service to nearly 45% of U.S. customers by next year. The company plans to add 20 new pharmacies, doubling its current number, to its same-day delivery network. This will allow customers to receive prescriptions within 24 hours of ordering. John Love, vice president of Amazon Pharmacy, emphasized the importance of quick delivery, especially for urgent health needs. [Retail Dive]

Job Board: This week’s Top Openings in DTC, RetailTech, and more

Want to submit a role to our talent board? Email [email protected].

• Vice President, Data Analytics (Culver City, CA) Crunchyroll - more here

• Director, Investor Relations and Strategic Finance (Seattle, WA)

  Remitly - more here

• Senior Enterprise Account Executive (Hiring Remotely in United States)

  Instacart - more here

• Senior Director, Health Strategy & Insights (New York, NY) Dotdash Meredith - more here

• Customer Supply Chain Manager, Walmart (2 Locations) Harry's Inc. - more here

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