Back to School? Back to Spending.

The NRF expects back-to-school spending to be at an all time high. The Ford Bronco is back. Amazon keeps trying to make Dash "a thing." [Alternate text] [J U L Y 17, 2020]( Hi again. Life over here in "The Big Apple" is finally simmering down. 🍎 We're settling into a fresh, extra-cautious take on old New York ways (i.e. socially-distant picnics in the park, rooftop bars and masked cook-outs.) What can we say? After months of shelter-in-place, we'll take what we can get. 🗽 Our in-house experts, weigh in on the biz headlines that'll carry you into next week, below. 🛍️ R E T A I L & E C O M M E R C E Back to School? Back to Spending. Meaghan Brophy, [@meaghanbrophy]( The National Retail Federation expects [back to school sales to reach $33.9 billion](, a more than $7 billion increase from last year, that would break the record of $30.3 billion set in 2012. 📈 We’ll believe it when we see it. Supply chains and consumer demand* continue to be unstable and unpredictable. Product import levels are at an [all-time low.]( There’s debate between in-person and online learning. That uncertainty, coupled with [a delayed Amazon Prime Day]( have postponed the start of back-to-school shopping. And, many shoppers simply don’t have the money to spend. Our take: It’s a tough year all-around for retailers and their customers. Back to school shopping will still be a significant Q4-kickoff for brands, but, we’re not expecting record-breaking sales. *Unpredictable consumer demand has led to interesting product shortages (throwback to the great TP shortage of April). 🧻 Most recently?[A s]([hortage of soft drinks like Fresca]( due to a can shortage; a result of increased demand for six packs of beer. 💰 E C O N O M Y Bullish on Vaccines and Broncos Dennis Shirshikov, [@dennistheprof]( Between new vaccine findings and the return of the Bronco, it's safe to say we're feeling good about this week. Vaccine Trials Show Promise: In conjunction with the government, the biotech company Moderna saw early positive results in its first vaccine trials on humans. Moderna stock soared 27% since last Friday. The next step will come on July 27th, when [30,000 people will be part of a phase 3 test](. Return of the Bronco: Ford [reintroduces the Ford Bronco](, an SUV made famous by OJ Simpson’s police chase back in 1994. With a starting price south of $30,000, this is Ford’s attempt to win back the hearts of all off-roaders. What We Haven't Stopped Sharing: Charts showing the connection between economics, lifestyle, and coronavirus. Check out our personal favorite from [CNBC]( below. 📈 Until next week, Dennis [Alternate text]( 📚 Free eBook: Improve your output! Download this [FREE eBook]( from our friends at [Salesforce]( to discover how to reach peak productivity. You'll learn about automating administrative tasks, getting more customer insights from every email, making your teamwork almost automatic, plus, how to access untapped efficiency on mobile! Click [here]( to snag yours! 🌟 W H A T S N E W O N F I T? - [19 Easy Ways to Market a Website & Boost Traffic & Sales]( - [Restaurant Loans: Costs, Terms & Requirements]( - [How to Open a Business Bank Account in 6 Steps]( 🛍️ R E T A I L & E C O M M E R C E More Masks, Fewer Problems Meaghan Brophy, [@meaghanbrophy]( More brands are hopping on the bandwagon. Walmart mandates shoppers wear a mask. The National Retail Federation calls for nationwide mask policy. Starbucks will require customers to wear a mask. With these big players taking a lead, it’s inevitable other retailers will follow. ✅ Bottom line: Even without any federal guidelines, more stores will be requiring (and enforcing) shoppers to wear a mask before entering. 🛍️ R E T A I L & E C O M M E R C E Amazon Keeps Trying to Make Dash Happen Meaghan Brophy, [@meaghanbrophy]( Remember the original Amazon Dash Buttons? Stick-on physical buttons shoppers could press to re-order toilet paper and other household basics *right* at the moment of depletion? The failed project was discontinued in 2019, and support for its predecessor, the Dash Wand, will [end July 21st.]( Despite these initial failed projects, Amazon is going even bigger with a Dash Cart. The physical shopping cart utilizes Amazon Go’s Just Walk Out technology to create a mobile self checkout so shoppers can scan items as they shop and quickly checkout. 🛒 Although carrying on the Dash name, Dash Cart doesn’t seem to have the same clunkiness of the Button and Wand. Our takeaway: The third time's the charm. We’re betting on Amazon finally making Dash happen. What we’re watching: Amazon has signed several contracts with other retailers (and airports!) to implement the Just Walk Out technology… we can’t wait to see who bites. Have a restful weekend, Meaghan 🏅 F I T F R E E B I E S As retailers and restaurants open back up across parts of the country, you can smooth the transition for you and your employees by using a free and flexible scheduling plus time tracking platform like Homebase. [Click here to learn more.](go.performi.com/goto/homebase-email-only/news) Enjoy access to a free CRM from our friends at Hubspot; get all of your leads in one place, close sales with ease and enjoy complete visibility across your team. No credit card required. [Sign up here](go.performi.com/goto/hubspot-email-only/news). *This is sponsored advertising content. Was this week's biz news interesting to you? Or helpful for your business? Reply back and let us know what you enjoyed. We're here and listening. 📭 Have a nice weekend! The Fit Small Business Team We spend hours researching and writing our articles and strive to provide accurate, up-to-date content. However, our research is meant to aid your own, and we are not acting as licensed professionals. We recommend that you consult with your own lawyer, accountant, or other licensed professional for relevant business decisions. Our business model allows us to bring you the best answers to your questions, without editorial biases or cluttering the site with banner ads that everyone hates. The solutions we recommend to business owners often include products and services. Our expert team of writers make recommendations in our buyer’s guides and reviews based on independent quantitative and qualitative assessments. 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