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For most of its 27 years as a public company, Amazon investors have been asked to sacrifice profit for growth. In its first-quarter earnings report on Tuesday, Amazon's operating margin reached double digits for the first time on record. Operating income more than tripled in the quarter to $15.3 billion, while net income also jumped more than 200% to $10.4 billion. Almost two-thirds of operating income for all of Amazon came from AWS, which is now generating over $100 billion in annualized revenue. Operating income will be $10 billion to $14 billion, up from $7.7 billion a year earlier.

Persons: Andy Jassy, Andy, Andy Jassy's, Tom Forte, CNBC's, Brian Olsavsky, Olsavsky, That's, Jassy, he's Organizations: Amazon, Seattle, Maxim Group, Revenue, Amazon Web Services, AWS, Technology, Microsoft, Google Locations: Seattle

☆ I couldn't deal with Costco when my kids were little, but I love it now that we're empty nesters
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Beth Harpaz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I'd often do the weekly grocery shopping at a 24-hour supermarket on Fridays at midnight after the kids and their father fell asleep. Even though we may have saved money shopping at Costco — and most Costco shoppers have kids — going there felt out of the question in those early days of parenthood. Related storiesSo, as empty nesters, we figured we'd try Costco — and we fell in love. We store some bulk Costco buys at the bottom of our pantry. And I don't regret not going to Costco when our kids were small.

Persons: —, I'd, Costco's, Beth Harpaz, It's, we've Organizations: Service, Business, Costco Locations: New York City

☆ Amazon says more packages are arriving in a day or less after hefty investment in speedy fulfillment
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Products are seen at an Amazon fulfillment center where they are being sorted and shipped out as same-day orders during Cyber Monday at the Same-Day Delivery Facility Fulfillment Center in Tampa, Florida, on Nov. 27, 2023. The company has said it wants to make same- and next-day delivery the standard, and it plans to double the number of same-day delivery facilities in the U.S. within the next few years. Amazon has already stood up more than 55 same-day delivery sites in the U.S., primarily clustered around major metro areas. Same-day sites also condense the fulfillment process, typically spread across multiple Amazon facilities under one roof. Amazon has bolstered investment in fast shipping as traditional retail rivals Walmart and Target have stepped up their delivery game.

Persons: Andy Jassy Organizations: U.S, Amazon, Amazon's, RBC Capital, Walmart, Target Locations: Tampa , Florida, U.S

☆ Australia’s problem with male violence is getting worse. So, what’s the solution?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Late Monday, new figures showed a 28% jump in intimate partner homicide in 2022-23, compared to the previous year – ending what had been a decades-long trend of decline. Around 4,000 people marched through the streets of Brisbane on April 28 to call for action on gendered violence. The deaths took the toll to 27 women allegedly killed by a partner or former partner so far this year, according to the Counting Dead Women project. “We don’t have good programs for men with mental illness and personality disorders who use these types of violence. We don’t have a lot of really accessible drug and alcohol treatment programs for men who use violence.

Persons: Daniel McCormack, Daniel Sloss, “, ”, McCormack, Samantha Bricknell, we’ve, Anthony Albanese, –, Hilary Whiteman, wasn’t, Lukas Coch, Hayley Boxall, Albanese, ’, ” Albanese, ” Boxall, ” Bricknell, Emily Garnett, there’ll, ” McCormack, he’s, “ I’ve, ‘ That’s Organizations: Australia CNN, Australian, of Criminology, ”, Australia, CNN, New South, Australian National University, Wales, Nations, First Nations, Brisbane Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Scottish, Bondi, Sydney, New South Wales, Canberra, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Australian, Melbourne, England

☆ Secondhand Birkins are grabbing Gen Z's attention
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Hermès, a luxury Italian brand that's existed for decades, is getting Gen Z's attention, a new poll says. The company is known for its highly-coveted Birkin bag that's dominating the resale market. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . The luxury Italian brand is known for its exclusive and highly-coveted handbags like the Birkin and Kelly bags. Despite the attention from Gen Z, Hermès doesn't have an official TikTok account.

Persons: Birkin, —, Kelly, TheRealReal, Gen Organizations: Service, Ad

☆ Embattled grocery startup Getir exits the U.S. and Europe, will refocus on Turkey
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Companies such as Getir and Gorillas promise to deliver items to shoppers' doors in as little as 10 minutes. Grocery delivery startup Getir announced on Monday that it is quitting international markets including the U.K., Germany, the Netherlands and the U.S., marking a major setback for the once hyped online grocery industry. The Istanbul, Turkey-based firm said in a statement that it was withdrawing from its U.S. and European markets and would now refocus its financial resources on Turkey. The company said it raised a new investment round led by Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala and venture capital firm G Squared "to bolster its competitive position in its core food and grocery delivery businesses in Turkey." Getir said it generates 7% of its revenues from the U.K., Germany, the Netherlands and the U.S."Getir expresses its sincere appreciation for the dedication and hard work of all its employees in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and the U.S.," the company said.

Persons: Abu, Getir Locations: Germany, Netherlands, U.S, Istanbul, Turkey, Abu Dhabi

☆ My husband and I have a Costco executive membership. Here are 10 things we buy for our family of 4.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Ellen Ranta Olson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

My husband and I use our Costco executive membership to buy food for our family of four. The Kirkland Signature chicken street-taco kit is a yummy, filling meal my kids and husband love. AdvertisementMuch like over half of Costco's shoppers, we have children to feed and like to buy our family's favorite foods in bulk. My husband is a Costco general manager, so he gets a free executive membership as an employee. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: rotini, — Organizations: Costco, Kirkland, BBQ Company, Service, Business

☆ Young parents with more than $5,000 in disposable income are the future of luxury shopping, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

YouGov published a report about Americans' desire for luxury goods despite concerns over inflation. Future luxury shoppers are young parents with disposable income and an optimistic outlook. Respondents said they're more likely to pay for luxury goods in 2024 compared to 2021. A report published this month by YouGov, a market research company, explored Americans' hunger for luxury goods and brands. "As more Americans purchase or consider purchasing luxury goods, luxury brands need a holistic understanding of their evolving and broadening customer segments."

Persons: YouGov, they're, —, Chris Melchiorre Organizations: Service, YouGov America, Business Locations: America

☆ Say goodbye to Ruby Tuesday and Chili’s. These are the hot new restaurants at the mall
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

As anchor department stores left malls, so did some name-brand chains like Ruby Tuesday, Chili’s, Applebee’s and others. What’s taking their place illustrates a large shift in US tastes: There’s a boom in smaller and regional restaurant chains with a local following. At the same time, many national chains are prioritizing drive-thru locations over their sit-down restaurants in malls. Chick-fil-A restaurants were only located in mall food courts for the company’s first 20 years. “Traditional mall restaurants were casual dining chains like Chili’s, TGI Fridays, and quick-service restaurants in food courts.

Persons: Ruby, What’s, Paul Hennessy, ”, Chris Simms, Simms, Gabby Jones, Mark Hunter, CBRE, RJ Hottovy, ” Hottovy, David Kim, ” Kim, It’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Anadolu Agency, Getty, “, Food, JCPenney, Nordstrom, Green, Westfield Garden, Bloomberg, Deloitte, NV Locations: New York, Applebee’s, Orlando , Florida, Paramus , New Jersey, United States, Greenbriar, Atlanta, Korean, Henderson

☆ 3 things Costco shoppers should know before buying gold bars
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Costco sells an estimated $200 million worth of gold and silver bars per month. Gold expert Taylor Huff says with the popularity, some buyers might not know what to expect. Huff recommended three things Costco shoppers should keep in mind when buying gold. Each new batch of gold bars sells out "within a few hours" of being released for a small mark-up over its spot price. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Taylor Huff, Huff, — Organizations: Costco, Service, Street Journal, Business

☆ Williams-Sonoma to pay $3.1 million after FTC sued it, saying it falsely labeled products as 'Made in USA'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Williams-Sonoma must pay $3.1 million after the FTC sued it over a violation. AdvertisementWilliams-Sonoma will pay $3.1 million after settling with the US government over accusations of falsely labeling products manufactured in foreign countries as "Made in USA." A July 2021 FTC press release notes that the order was implemented to discourage fraud. AdvertisementCourt documents attached to the press release showed that Williams-Sonoma admitted the allegations brought forward in the complaint were true. AdvertisementWilliams-Sonoma has also agreed to stop using "deceptive claims and follow Made in USA requirements," the press release said.

Persons: Williams, Lina M, Khan, —, Sean Zanni, Scott Olson Organizations: FTC, Service, Federal Trade Commission, US Department of Justice, DOJ, Williams, Sonoma, Business Locations: Sonoma, United States, USA, Williams, America, China

☆ Walgreens has a cult ‘peelable’ candy, courtesy of a Tik Tok craze
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

For the beleaguered drugstore chain, the odd “Gummy Mango” candy is a much-needed win. Walgreens said it didn’t work with any paid influencer to hype up its mango gummies but that it took off organically. Walgreens is quickly following up on the success of its mango gummy with a new peelable banana gummy candy. As Esarte and his team rushed to restock the mango gummies last last year, a bigger challenge emerged. After weeks of scrambling and rushing, Walgreens is better prepared to make a bigger splash with the mango gummies.

Persons: It’s, Keonhee Kim, TikToker @Trinhdoesthings, ”, Marty Esarte, Esarte, we’ve, ” Esarte, Anthony Behar, Gen Z, China grinds, “ We’ve, Kim, Tim Wentworth, Tim, ” Kim Organizations: New, New York CNN, Walgreens, CNN, National Confectioners Association, Food Institute, Millennial, Morningstar Locations: New York, Asia, China

☆ It's already hard to get your Fisker fixed. Bankruptcy could make it impossible.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Grace Kay | Nora Naughton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementBusiness Insider spoke with seven Fisker Ocean owners who shared their anxieties about what will happen to their cars if Fisker is no more. AdvertisementSome Fisker owners said they are already struggling to get service and parts. Three Fisker ocean owners described instances where the vehicle was bricked for days after their 12-volt battery died. What Fisker's failure would mean for its competitorsIf Fisker files for bankruptcy, there are likely to be ripple effects for other EV startups, Fiorani said. "If Fiskers start falling off the side of the road in the next few months because there's no one to update them, that's going to put fear into a lot of electric vehicle owners — not just Fisker owners," Fiorani said.

Persons: —, Henrik Fisker teeters, Sam Fiorani, Kurt Mechling, Mechling, Fisker, Chris Salvo, Salvo, Henrik Fisker, Mario Anzuoni, Fiorani, Patrick Burrell, Tesla Organizations: Service, Business, AutoForecast Solutions, BI, Reuters, EV Locations: California

☆ All the data so far is showing inflation isn't going away, and is making things tough on the Fed
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Finally, consumers are dipping into savings to fund those purchases, creating a precarious scenario, if not now then down the road. With unemployment under 4%, it shouldn't be that surprising that prices aren't" going down, said Joseph LaVorgna, chief economist at SMBC Nikko Securities. So you might have a sticky inflation scenario." "If inflation remains higher, the Fed will be faced with the difficult choice of pushing the economy into a recession, abandoning its soft-landing scenario, or tolerating inflation higher than 2%," Sanders said. "To us, accepting higher inflation is the more prudent option."

Persons: Justin Sullivan, Joseph LaVorgna, LaVorgna, Donald Trump, Biden, Mike Sanders, Sanders Organizations: Getty, Federal Reserve, Commerce Department, Nikko Securities, National Economic Council, Madison Investments Locations: San Rafael , California, U.S

☆ Why Emily Blunt’s turnip dress is part of a fashion tradition
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Turnips, radishes, potatoes… This is not the beginning of Emily Blunt’s shopping list, but rather the items that appeared all over her latest red carpet outfit. And while radishes rarely get a turn on the red carpet, fashion has been committed to making sure we get our greens lately. “Luxury fashion houses are including more and more food/ grocery adjacent items this season because food is a luxury category,” wrote master’s student @kfesteryga. And while we may be seeing more food-themed fashion on runways and in retail stores, the reality is edible patterns are far from new. The turnip, potato and radish two piece is just one of Anderson's many food-themed fashion creations.

Persons: Emily Blunt’s, Guy, ”, Blunt, Ganni, Loewe, Jonathon Anderson didn’t, Jess Cartner, Morley, piquantés, Gabbana's, Chris Moore, Hubert de Givenchy, Cynthia Rowley, Phoebe Philo, Marc Piasecki, JW Anderson —, “ Organizations: CNN, Northwestern University, Gabbana, Milan Fashion, Getty, Vogue Locations: Paris, Danish, New York, ”, artichoke, Gabbana's Milan, TikTok

☆ You can get a crazy good deal on a used Tesla from Hertz right now — but know these risks
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Nora Naughton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Screenshot of used Tesla listing from Hertz Car Sales website. Hertz Car SalesIt's a screaming deal for shoppers in the market for a used Tesla or any budget-minded EV shopper, a demographic slowly making up most of the electric car market. AdvertisementMileage and battery usageA used Tesla that has been in a rental fleet is likely to used much more frequently than one that's been personally owned. You can see that in the difference in mileage when you look on Kelley Blue Book for a used Model 3. Screenshot of a used Tesla Model 3 listing on KBB Business InsiderAnother $20,125 Model 3 we found on the Hertz website in January, a 2021 model, was listed with 92,789 miles.

Persons: —, Hertz, Kelley, Tesla, iSeeCars Organizations: Service, Hertz, Business, Tesla, KBB, EV, quicken Locations: Southeast Michigan

☆ A key deadline for student loan forgiveness consolidation is just days away. Here's what to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Guido Mieth | DigitalVision | Getty ImagesBorrowers hoping for student loan forgiveness have just a few more days to act before an April 30 deadline. Those payments are typically lower than under the standard repayment plan, and can be zero in some cases. Usually, a student loan consolidation restarts a borrowers' forgiveness timeline, making it a terrible move for those working toward cancellation. What to know about consolidating your student loansAll federal student loans are eligible for consolidation, including Federal Family Education Loans, Parent Plus loans and Perkins Loans, Kantrowitz said. You can apply for a Direct Consolidation Loan at StudentAid.gov or with your loan servicer.

Persons: Guido Mieth, Mark Kantrowitz, Kantrowitz, Biden Organizations: DigitalVision, Getty, CNBC, Finance, Federal Family, Parent, Perkins Loans

☆ Buick, GM’s low-key pseudo-luxury brand, is suddenly hot
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In the 21st Century, though, Buick, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, has been a quiet spot in GM’s North American brand strategy. Last year, Buick sales rose more than 60% in the US compared to 2022. The Buick Envista introduced last summer is, essentially, a modified version of the well-received Chevrolet Trax, GM’s cheapest crossover SUV. The 1938 Buick Y Job is generally considered the auto industry's first "concept car." Last year, Avenir models, which get some fancier interior materials, more features, and distinctive paint colors, made up almost a third of Buick sales, the highest levels yet, Aldred said.

Persons: Louis Chevrolet, “, it’s, ”, Ivan Drury, Jason Barlow, Envista, Bob Boniface ,, Duncan Aldred, Drury, It’s, Buick, that’s, Aldred Organizations: CNN, Buick, GM, Riviera, Chevrolet Trax, GMC, Chevy, Cox Automotive, Cadillac, General Motors, Liverpool Locations: GM’s, China, the, America, Europe

☆ The pre-owned luxury watch market is thriving
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Fawnia Soo Hoo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Granted, the pandemic-induced second hand luxury watch boom peaked back in March 2022, but the market is still going strong, and price levels remain higher than pre-Covid times. “(They’re) a crucial demographic for the growth and evolution of the pre-owned and vintage luxury watch industry,” added Paul Altieri, founder & CEO of multi-brand online luxury marketplace Bob’s Watches. Don't be shy," said Dimepiece's Brynn Wallner of new buyers' potential nerves when it comes to luxury watch stores. How can you tell if a luxury pre-owned watch is the real deal? “Luxury watches of this caliber will go from one generation to the next to the next to the next,” he explained.

☆ Tesla's earnings report was worse than expected, but Elon Musk has a plan
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In today's big story, we're looking at Tesla's earnings report and what comes next for the EV maker. The big storyTesla's turnaround planJADE GAO/AFP via Getty Images; Chelsea Jia Feng; BIBad news: Tesla's earnings report was worse than expected. AdvertisementPerhaps that's why Musk spent so much of the earnings call discussing autonomy and the progress made with Tesla's Full Self-Driving software . Musk told analysts on the earnings call that Tesla is the majority of his work . If investors vote against the package at Tesla's annual meeting in June, who knows where Musk — and his AI ambitions — will end up .

Persons: —, Chelsea Jia Feng, Elon Musk, Tesla, Musk, hasn't, Insider's Linette Lopez, Matt Anderson, Tyler Le, JPMorgan's Marko Kolanovic, Kolanovic, Cathie, Stocks, Goldman Sachs, Gerard Julien, Elon Musk's, Carl Godfrey, Joe Biden, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, George Glover Organizations: Business, Service, Getty Images, Tesla, Getty, EV, Musk's, Intel, Micron Technology, Microsoft, BI America, Amazon, Boeing, Meta, IBM, US Locations: Delaware, Outflows, United States, China, Idaho, New York, London

☆ I shopped at Trader Joe's daily until Aldi won me over. I finally understand why people love the chain so much.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Kate Collins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewBefore I shopped at Trader Joe's, I was never loyal to any one grocery store. That's why when I worked near Trader Joe's, I stopped there daily. I also began to notice how long the Aldi produce he bought lasted in our fridge. It didn't feel cramped like Trader Joe's, which made browsing easier. Just like the seasonal items that stoke Trader Joe's fandom, Aldi's Finds are ever-changing and quirky.

Persons: —, Joe's, I'd, Adam McCullough, Shutterstock, Aldi's, I've Organizations: Service, Business, Aldi, stoke Locations: Aldi

☆ High global food prices may finally see a bottom in 2024, says Oxford Economics
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Rising food prices around the world may finally be seeing a bottom this year. According to Oxford Economics, global food prices are expected to decline in 2024, offering some relief for shoppers. "Our baseline forecast is for world food commodity prices to register an annual decline this year, reducing pressure on food retail prices further downstream," the economic advisory firm wrote in a recent note. The key driving force behind the decline in food commodity prices is the "abundant supply" for many important crops, especially wheat and maize. Wheat harvests are also forecast to come in high, although slightly lower than the record level in marketing year 2022 to 2023, the Oxford report said.

Organizations: Hannaford, Oxford Economics, Farmers, Russia Locations: South Burlington , Vermont, Ukraine

☆ Amazon just turned up the heat in the grocery wars with Walmart and Target
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Amazon Prime members can now get unlimited grocery deliveries for $9.99 per month. Shoppers can get free delivery on orders over $35 from Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, and more. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementSummer is approaching, and the competition for same-day grocery delivery is heating up. Amazon is now the latest major retailer to enter the fray with a new subscription option for Prime members to get unlimited delivery on orders over $35 from stores, including Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, and other local shops.

Persons: — Organizations: Amazon, Foods, Walmart, Target, Service, Whole Foods, Business

☆ I've lost 73 pounds in 10 months. Here are 10 products from Costco that help me keep the weight off.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Myriam Estrella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I've dropped 73 pounds in 10 months, and a few items at Costco have helped me along the way. Protein-rich foods like the Kirkland Signature organic plain Greek yogurt are always in my fridge. For quick meals, I buy the Honey Smoked Fish Co. salmon stackers and the Kirkland Signature hummus. Like many typical Costco shoppers, I prioritize getting healthy meals and snacks when grocery shopping. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: I've, — Organizations: Costco, Kirkland, Service, Business

☆ Costco shoppers are finding it's harder to sell gold than to buy it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewWhenever Costco releases a batch of gold bars for sale, the supply sells out "within a few hours" as shoppers snap up the precious metal for a small markup over its spot price. The out-of-stock notices give the allure of a hard-to-get item, but the wholesale club is still moving a lot of gold bars and silver coins — to the estimated tune of $200 million a month. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Unlike cash or even gift cards, Costco classifies gold bars as collectibles, which may or may not retain their value over time. AdvertisementFor that matter, the Internal Revenue Service also considers gold bars as a collectible too, and demands as much as a 28% cut of any profits on gold held for more than one year.

Persons: —, Lark Mason, Adam Xi, it's Organizations: Service, Costco, Business, Street Journal, Internal Revenue Service Locations: New York

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