Facing shorter holiday season, U.S. retailers rev up faster delivery, deals
U.S. retailers are rushing in with faster-than-ever delivery deals and earlier Christmas promotions in hopes of easing the impact of this year’s shorter holiday selling season, a period that can be make-or-break for retailers. Thanksgiving, the traditional kick-off of the U.S. holiday shopping period, falls on Nov. 28 this year, a week later than last year’s Nov. 22, leaving retailers with six fewer days to drive sales between Thanksgiving and Christmas day. – ReutersÂ
Alabama Global Supply Chain & Logistic Summit in Mobile next week
Alabama’s Port City will play host to the Alabama Global Supply Chain & Logistic Summit, which explores key supply chain topics such as the changing international trade environment, workforce training and cybersecurity. The 8th annual summit will take place Tuesday, Nov. 12, and Wednesday, Nov. 13, at The Battle House Hotel in Mobile, sponsored by the Alabama Department of Commerce and hosted by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. – Made In Alabama
Sources say Jeff Sessions may yet run for old Senate seat
Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions is expected to run for his old Senate seat in Alabama, a source familiar with his plans said. He has yet to file with the state Republican Party, according to a party spokeswoman. The deadline is Friday. Multiple GOP sources have said recently that Sessions was considering a run. First elected to the Senate in 1996, he left in 2017 to become President Donald Trump’s attorney general. But he soon drew the president’s ire for recusing himself from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. – Roll Call/TNS
U.S. business sees dwindling prospects in Cuba
The Havana International Trade Fair is where Cuba puts the best face on its struggling economy. There are state-run restaurants stocked with fresh food; shiny displays of electric motorcycles from traders in Panama; dozens of Cuban government companies offering goods from cigars to farmed shrimp. One dark spot this year was the American section, where the U.S. presence has shrunk from dozens of companies during the Obama administration to a handful today. – AP
INFLCR hires new COO, opens LA office
Birmingham-based INFLCR has hired a new chief operating officer and opened a Southern California office. Neeta Sreekanth is the COO and will operate out of a newly-opened Los Angeles office. She will direct the social media company’s marketing, sales, client success, operations and athlete engagement departments. In addition, Sreekanth will also build the company’s brand as a social media content delivery platform for collegiate sports. – AL.com
Ray Jenkins, newspaperman who covered Civil Rights Era, dies at 89
Ray Jenkins, the city editor of The Alabama Journal, was eating a bologna sandwich at his desk on April 5, 1960, and thumbing through a week-old copy of The New York Times when a full-page ad caught his eye. Prominent liberals, including Eleanor Roosevelt and Jackie Robinson, were appealing for money for a legal-defense fund for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, who was facing a trial in Alabama on perjury charges — a good local angle for The Journal. – New York Times
Alabama tourism honored for civil rights promotion
Alabama’s state tourism agency is being honored for its work promoting civil rights travel in 14 U.S. states. The office was presented with an award recognizing its marketing campaign for the U.S. Civil Rights Trail during an industry trade show in London on Tuesday. The trail promotes museums, churches and other African American landmarks across the South. – AP
Toyota announces $1.8 billion share buyback after strong second-quarter
Toyota Motor Corp. plans a $1.8 billion share buyback, Japan’s biggest automaker said on Thursday, after beating quarterly forecasts on higher global vehicle sales and an improved performance in North America. Operating profit rose 14% to 662.3 billion yen ($6.1 billion) for the three months to September 30 as Toyota enjoyed its strongest second quarter since 2015. – Reuters
