This Changes Things hosts Baker Machado and Hope King break down the biggest stories in business, technology, and retail. Macy's reported stronger than expected earnings, capitalizing on its real estate assets. Plus, why Amazon's Alexa may be in the doghouse for some brands.
Macy's earnings beat analysts' expectations signaling its turnaround may be gaining traction. Same-store sales were up 3% in January and the company sees that momentum continuing through 2018.
Plus, big consumer brands are not very happy with Amazon's Alexa. The growing popularity of voice search assistants is posing a threat to the biggest makers of household items...already dealing with the rise of e-commerce. Unlike in stores and on online, where brands get plenty of exposure, voice search assistants often direct shoppers to a single product...usually selected by an algorithm without any input from the sellers.
As inflation-weary consumers cut back on dining out, brands like McDonald’s are relying more heavily on celebrity and influencer endorsements to move the needle
Plus, Starbucks reported its first quarter of declining sales and earnings since the pandemic, Biden tries to tackle the national debt and Warren Buffett is set to host the annual meeting of his investment firm Berkshire Hathaway.
