Executive Summary

• This week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” discusses which retailers might benefit if Sears were to close completely following its bankruptcy filing this week.
• Walmart lowered its earnings predictions for fiscal year 2019, adjusting for the financial impact of its biggest-ever, hard-fought acquisition: Flipkart, an Indian online retailer. But the company’s outlook for 2020 is optimistic.
• Amazon’s first European pop-up store will open in London’s Baker Street for five days, until October 27. The 3,000-square-foot space will showcase Amazon Fashion’s Find, Truth & Fable and Meraki private labels, in addition to international brands.
• Alibaba has merged its Ele.me food delivery business and its Koubei food and lifestyle unit in order to ward off competition from Meituan Dianping, a group-buying site. The new entity will be a “local service company” and will expand beyond the food market.