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TECH TODAY

Intently intent on intentionally asking reasons why you want to open your phone. Android app to help you keep you on track with

Judge rocket docket to decide Google ads fate. Google already facing antitrust woes with its Chrome browser may soon find its ad platform in jeopardy.

Gifts for golfers. The 10 best gifts for any kind of golfer from Wired.

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HEADLINE NEWS 👀

Blockbuster Black Friday 2024 Retail Sales Anticipated

With Black Friday upon us we did a little digging to see what analysts have anticipated for Black Friday 2024. Bain & Co in their Retail Holiday Newsletter estimate “Black Friday to Cyber Monday U.S. retail sales could reach a record breaking $75 billion”.

The Bain estimate would not just be record breaking but also put growth at 5% yoy 📈 Their analysis estimates 8% of all retail holiday sales will occur between Black Friday and Cyber Monday (take a look at the Roku TV advertising opportunity directly above to learn more about capturing a greater share of retail sales this holiday season). This represents the highest share for the segmented holiday shopping period since 2019.

Bain’s analysis uses credit card data to 🆔 consumer shopping trends. This analysis places Black Monday as the top shopping day of the retail holiday shopping period.

Cyber Monday on the other hand is losing importance with consumers “falling out of the top sales days after 2019”.

As Cyber Monday wanes other shopping days are competing to replace it. Bain reports the day before Thanksgiving (yes I was tortured to endure shopping on this day) has emerged as a new consumer favorite. Whatever holiday you and those close to you celebrate, remember the days above to capture the highest buying power aka discounts.

Small Business Saturday 🎁

Black Friday is but one of several important days for retail holiday sales. One less talked about but important holiday sales day for small businesses is Small Business Saturday.

Small Business Saturday is a day for small businesses to encourage local customers to holiday shop at small businesses in their communities. This year Small Business Saturday is November 30th.

The event was created by American Express in 2010 to encourage consumers to shop local and small during the holidays and year round. Since inception Small Business Saturday has generated $200 billion in sales for local small businesses.

The annual event every year lands the day following Black Friday to remind holiday shoppers of the importance to shop small and local.

American Express has expanded their support resources to help local businesses and communities learn important ways to promote Small Business Saturday in their communities. American Express also has a dedicated page for this day’s event.

Trump Tariffs To Bring Higher Prices For Consumers

The 25% tariffs the President elect has vowed to impose on Mexico, Canada, and China, with an extra 10% for China, posted to his Truth Social on Monday will put a sting in the wallets of Americans.

The tariffs could raise prices on everything from fruits in the grocery store to consumer products like electronics and appliances. Construction could feel the impact from higher lumber to concrete and infrastructure metal prices. Vehicle prices could soar as can replacement parts for older vehicles.

Farmers could potentially see a double wamy with the absorption of import tariff costs, which they would mostly pass on to consumers, but also confront unaccounted for export tariffs should governments impose import tariffs of their own.

Trump has said he will impose these trade tariffs on his first day in office by executive order. Economists have been assuming the import duties Trump would impose would be significantly less than what his rhetoric on the campaign trail suggested. Trump’s Monday post upends economic forecasts leading into Trump’s second Administration.

Chipotle Efficiency

Taking a page from Chipotle’s operations philosophy, improving operations through efficiency measures can help offset macroeconomic inflationary pressures small businesses experience.

Chipotle, like much smaller businesses, has not been immune to the effects of inflation. Raising prices six times between 2021 and earlier this year which was a direct result of rising cost of ingredients.

A part of the Chipotle attraction is that their customer, atypically an affluent consumer, perceives receiving a value, and their customers tend to remain loyal. Loyalty is a subject all unto itself but how you garner loyalty from a customer base is to deliver on value.

value can have a wide spectrum of meanings but to be clear we’re talking about a value received by the customer e.g., quality of ingredients, quality of service (looking at you Inn N Out) or workmanship quality.

Chipotle is incorporating technology into its operations to increase efficiencies in restaurants. These efficiencies are being sought to help offset inflation while simultaneously to reduce price hikes because of rising ingredient and labor costs.

Small businesses can use this same operational approach by delivering a product or service their customer base perceives to be a value, and creating brand loyalty. The business can use this value perception to analyze when prices need to rise to protect margins.

Chipotle raises prices to protect margins. Importantly they do not raise prices to increase margins. Instead they use other measures to increase operating margins like speeding up delivery times and boosting traffic into their restaurants.

Small businesses can protect margins by offering customers a value buy, and then offset inflationary pressure by using that perceived value to build customer loyalty. This loyalty will help keep customers returning after necessary price rises.

Trump Vows 25% Tariff By Executive Order

The President elect said on Monday he would impose a 25% tariff on imports into the United States from Canada and Mexico, and would impose a separate tariff on China.

In a post on his Truth Social Trump said he would impose the tariff by executive order his first day in office, mentioning a caravan of migrants making its way to the United States.

“This tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our Country”, the President elect wrote. He continued “Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it’s time for them to pay a very big price!”.

MSNBC And Musk?

The richest man on the planet, Elon Musk, got that way starting and buying businesses so its no surprise when he mentions a new venture. Musk’s newest jab about adding to his business empire came last week when Comcast Media announced it was planning to divest some of its media assets.

The Comcast Media assets mentioned are part of their NBCUniversal’s media assets and include, MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Oxygen, and E. Some on social media suggested Musk buy MSNBC to which Musk replied “How much does it cost?”.

While no one, including Musk has unlimited resources, it appears if truly intent on buying the NBCUniversal assets he very well could write a check for the unit. With his net worth exceeding $321.7 billion as of Friday the check would likely clear.

In response to posts on his social media platform X Musk bantered on about buying the NBCUniversal unit and adding it to his X media company. With MSNBC’s viewership plunging 38% after election day Musk could find expanding his media holdings for a bargain price.

ECONOMY

China Tariffs

On China, the President elect accused China of not doing enough to stop drugs flowing into the U.S. through the Mexican boarders. “Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% tariff, above any additional tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America,” Trump said.

The Chinese embassy hit back.

“China believes that China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature. No one will win a trade war or a tariff war.”

Economists say Trump’s overall tariff plans, likely his most consequential economic policy, would push U.S. import duty rates back up to 1930-era levels, stoke inflation, collapse U.S.-China trade, draw retaliation and drastically reorder supply chains.

They say tariff’s are typically paid by the importing company, and they either pass the tariff on to the consumer or absorb the tariff accepting lower profits.

Protecting Against Inflation

Protecting the economy against inflation is a known commodity. Limit supply shocks, and buy commodities. But with a new Administration entering the Whitehouse and threatening to cut taxes and issue widespread tariffs on imported goods it might be difficult to default to the known inflation fighters to keep inflation at bay.

Problems are already appearing post election as commodity prices are depressed leaving a looming question if the old tried and true inflation fighters have lost their edge?

FINANCE

Selling Masculine To Females For Growth

“The opportunity there is massive”, said Joe Alkire, CFO of Kontoor parent of Wrangler and Lee Jeans. Alkire was talking about the opportunity Kontoor saw to shift into an unforeseen market when Kontoor was spun off as a free standing publicly traded company from VF Corp in 2019.

Kontoor’s denim brands are best known as denim for the masculine appeal, and for low cost denim through discount stores. Though the company has seen an increased demand from female customers. Women’s clothing accounts for 20% of sales compared to 10% in 2019 at the time of the spinoff according to Stifel Financial.

The company generated $2.61 billion in revenue in 2023 with a gross margin of 44.7% on quarterly revenues of $670.2 million. Wrangler Jeans accounts for 70% of revenues with the remaining Lee Jeans.

POLITICS

Trump Selects Trade Representative

The President elect selected Jamieson Greer to serve as his trade representative. The position is of increasing importance with Trump planning to reset trade worldwide.

Greer, a former Air Force attorney, and veteran who served in Iraq, subsequently served as chief of staff for the trade representative during Trump’s first administration. During that stint he was instrumental in negotiating with China.

The position of trade representative has traditionally been low profile but took on greater significance during Trump’s first term in the Whitehouse.

THE GRIND FACTORY ⚙️

UNIQUELY INTERESTING

💡 Epiphany Moments

Target 🎯opened the first Target store, a discount retailer offering high quality goods in 1962. Target was the predecessor of Dayton Hudson a retailer started by George Dayton in 1902 a full 70 years before the first Target. Expanding rapidly during the 60’s and 70’s opening new Target stores from coast to coast. In 2000 Dayton Hudson Corporation rebranded to Target Corporation. Target continued to grow afterwards. Target is known for its trendy products and its commitment to sustainability and community.

 🍎 One Smart Apple

Sam Walton built the largest retail company in the United States in less than 30 years. A feet unbelievable for any entrepreneur in any industry. After growing up during the depression Walton had a sense of frugality which he honed while learning the retail business. First having a stint at JC Penney in their retail training program followed by opening his first Ben Franklin variety store in 1945. Sam opened his first Walmart store in 1962. Through a variety of expansion and acquisitions Walton grew Walmart quickly. In 1983 Walton opened his first Sam’s Club. And by 1990 Walmart was the largest retail company in the United States 🍏 

 HEALTH & LONGEVITY

Blue Fin Tuna High Protein

Between 2014 and 2022 the population of Pacific Blue Tuna has soared 1,000% according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The fish was not expected to return to a sustainable level of this magnitude until 2034 and came as a surprise to scientists who track sea life.

In response to these findings the aquarium upgraded the Pacific blue fin tuna from red to yellow which means it went from avoid to a good alternative.

Eating fish as a source of protein intake is an important part of a balanced diet to remain lean and adds to personal efforts in diets designed to capture longevity benefits. The blue fin tuna is especially coveted because of its rich nutritional profile:

• Omega 3’s (EPA and DHA) - reduces blood pressure, lowers tryglycerides, prevents plaque buildup. Supports cognitive function. Anti-inflammatory which helps to reduces disease and is joint and immune system friendly.

• Vitamin B - supports energy production, cognitive function and red blood cell production.

• Vitamin D - Supports immune health and bone health.

• Selenium - Antioxidant that protects cells from damage and supports thyroid health.

Now you can add a consciously eat a healthy fish protein to meet dietary longevity goals.

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