Hey there!

I'm back with another round of non-breaking news, memes, quotes, and updates for you in the most inconsistently published newsletter you'll find.

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💬 Quote of the Week

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Who are we kidding, right? We should get it done now...

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Now let's see what we missed on the back pages of e-commerce news 👇

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What's the Matter?

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📰 Pick & Pack Perils

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Amazon's warehouse injury rates have declined for three consecutive years, but critics say improvements are too slow.

Critics argue that Amazon’s relentless focus on speed and productivity continues to put workers at risk, especially during peak periods when injuries spike.

Senate and OSHA investigations have also raised concerns about underreporting of injuries.

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Why it matters:

FBA sellers rely heavily on these fulfillment centers. We need both sides to be satisfied: be fast and safe.

High injury rates and operational disruptions could lead to slower processing times, more lost inventory, or stricter compliance checks during peak seasons.

Pressure to improve safety could trickle down to sellers in the form of new packaging requirements and increased requests for safety documentation.

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📰 All My Ex's Ship FedEx's

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Amazon has signed a new multi-year agreement with FedEx to handle residential deliveries of large packages, rekindling a partnership that ended in 2019.

You may remember not long ago that UPS announced it would significantly reduce its Amazon delivery volume.

The arrangement gives Amazon cost advantages for bulky shipments while providing FedEx with steady, high-volume business.

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Why it matters:

Hopefully, we can expect more stable delivery times and potentially lower shipping fees for oversized products.

Also, I think it's reasonable to expect expanded shipping options and less risk of disruption if one carrier faces constraints.

We covered this topic on Wednesday's live News and Q&A show. You can catch the replay here.

Join us live every Wednesday at 5:30 pm est and every Sunday at 3:00 pm est.

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📰 Walmart's Bot-tom Line

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Walmart is expanding its use of automation. Supply chain automation has cut costs by 20%. They expect that number to reach 30% by the end of the year.

The company says these high-tech fulfillment centers are speeding up operations, boosting accuracy, and improving inventory management.

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Why it matters

Faster, more reliable fulfillment improves customer satisfaction. Amazon is where they are now mainly because of speed. If Walmart can keep up, they could become a legitimate rival eventually.

Also, lower costs may keep fees attractive to third party sellers, extending (and possibly accelerating) the growth of the marketplace.

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📰 Sole Mates

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Dick’s Sporting Goods is buying Foot Locker for $2.4 billion.

The deal keeps Foot Locker’s brand and stores intact, giving Dick’s access to 2400 locations and a new demographic of sneaker-loving customers.

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Why it matters:

As the two companies merge operations, we may notice changes in sales cycles and inventory flows.

Short term, there may be some deals to be had on redundant merchandise. Release locations for limited edition items may change as well.

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🎧 What's the Latest on the Clear The Shelf with Chris & Chris Podcast?

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We have three new episodes recorded and in post-production, so be on the lookout in the near future.

Also, you know we're doing two live Q&A shows every week now, right?

• Wednesdays at 5:30 pm est
• Sundays at 3:00 pm est

Be sure to stop by with any questions or just hang out and talk shop with us.

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​ Listen to Clear the Shelf with Chris & Chris on your favorite podcast player: ​YouTube​ ​Apple​ ​Spotify​

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💰 Alpha Weekend Lead List

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I should have a spot opening up early next week.

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📚 The Most Successful People I Know Are Readers

I've been waiting for The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom to go on sale.

When we asked Nick Huber for a book recommendation on the podcast, this is the book he suggested. And it's only $2 for the Kindle version now. I'm really looking forward to reading this.

You might be surprised how much of a business education you can get through the story of Pixar.

​Creativity, Inc. was nominated for book awards, made so many best-of lists, and just dropped to its lowest price in over a year.

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🤣 Sometimes I Think I'm Funny

If I wanted to listen to someone dead wrong, I'd strike up a conversation with a flat earther.

Have a great week! Talk to you soon.

Chris