Christmas without cookies and other 2021 holiday predictions

INC. THIS MORNING Christmas without cookies and other 2021 holiday predictions Good morning, The first post-vaccine holiday season is right around the corner and many retailers are hoping for a big revenue boost. But first, they’ll need to shell out. Between freight, manufacturing, and labor, U.S. retailers will face an extra $223 billion in costs this year, according to Salesforce's Q2 Shopping Index, which analyzed the online shopping activity of more than one billion shoppers in 51 countries. Higher costs for suppliers and sellers also means higher prices for customers. Salesforce predicts that year-over-year consumer prices will continue to rise by 8 to 10 percent each quarter. The good news? Even with customers spending more on fewer items, retailers can expect strong demand in November and December, according to Rob Garf, Saleforce's vice president and general manager of retail. Read our story for [three more important retail predictions for this year’s holiday season]( how you can make the most of it. JOIN US: Sometimes family recipes or beauty regimens passed down from generation to generation need an upgrade. Join Inc. for a conversation with entrepreneurs who saw a direct need in the marketplace and are using their cultural backgrounds as inspiration to make change and create brands people love. - Wednesday, July 21, 2021, 3:00 pm Eastern Time - [Reserve your free spot.]( HERE'S WHAT ELSE I'M READING TODAY: Apple told its employees they should plan to return to their desks in the fall. Now, [they’re pushing back](. --Inc. Among the remote-work trends that companies are keeping when they reopen offices: “[core hours]( for meetings. --The Wall Street Journal Why the founder of Luminary, a women’s leadership group, thinks [the pandemic could ignite a boom]( in women-owned businesses. --Inc. Working parents are burned out--and “flexible” work policies aren’t cutting it, [according to a new survey](. --Inc. The rebound in hiring, especially in service industries, is prompting employers [to compete on pay](. --New York Times ONE MORE THING: One’s a NASA astronaut. One’s an entrepreneur. Here’s how two moms partnered to create [a science-inspired clothing line](. --Inc. --Sophie Downes Assistant editor, Inc. How are we doing? Send me ideas and feedback at [sdownes@inc.com](mailto:sdownes@inc.com?subject=Inc.%20This%20Morning%20Feedback), and follow me on [Twitter](. Join the visionaries who choose Inc. as their trusted source for the most accurate reporting on business. [Join Inc. Unlimited today.]( [Click here]( to forward to a friend. This email was sent by: Mansueto Ventures 7 World Trade Center, 29th Floor New York, NY, 10007, [Unsubscribe]( • [Update Profile]( • [View in Browser]( • [Privacy Policy](