Executive Summary

• This week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” looks at the promise of 5G smart phone technology for the retail industry.
• In the US, Sears, which emerged from bankruptcy in February, has announced it will open three new “Sears Home & Life” stores in May.
• A late Easter and Brexit uncertainty caused UK retail sales to fall 0.5% year over year in March, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor.
• Japanese retailer Aeon will convert 80 of its 480 retail outlets in China into self-serve smart stores.