Executive Summary

• This week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” discusses recent efforts by startups and large retailers to take the pain out of returning purchases.
• Amazon will own about 44 cents out of every e-commerce dollar spent in the US this year, up from 38 cents last year, according to new estimates from research firm eMarketer.
• Hudson’s Bay Company said that it was selling off its flagship Lord & Taylor department store to WeWork, an office-sharing startup. Lord & Taylor will rent out about a quarter of the building, where it will operate a pared-down department store.
• UK retail sales grew by 4.6% year over year in September, comprising 1.6% real-terms growth and a 3.0% rise in prices. Grocery store sales grew by 1.3%, while sales at large clothing chains grew by 7.2% and Internet retail sales grew by 14.1%.