Executive Summary

• This week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” discusses the battle currently under way among retailers that are competing to lower the minimum required spend to qualify for free shipping.
• com wants to furnish your home. The online retail giant is making a major push into furniture and appliances, including building at least four massive warehouses focused on handling bulky items, according to people familiar with Amazon’s plans.
• German supermarket chain Aldi could grow its UK store numbers to around 2,600. It currently has 700 stores in the UK, but is now looking to challenge the dominance of Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
• Xiaomi has been increasing its office retail presence in China, as it bids to gain ground stolen by rivals in its homeland. Now, it is making that same push in its second-largest market, India, where it will introduce its Mi Home stores in just over a week.