Today’s Top Retail News: Nike CEO Touts Digital; KKR Purchases 1-800 Contacts

In today’s top retail news: Nike’s CEO touts digital commerce as the “new normal,” KKR will acquire 1-800 Contacts, and Amazon is launching its Climate Pledge Friendly program to call out sustainable products.

Nike CEO: Digital Is the New Normal

Nike lapped the field in its Q1, as it reported revenues were $10.6 billion, down only 1 percent vs. 2019 numbers. The real star was Nike’s digital sales, which increased 82 percent, while women’s apparel digital sales spiked 200 percent.

KKR Agrees to Purchase 1-800 Contacts from AEA Investors

1-800 Contacts unveiled a deal through which investment firm KKR will buy the company from AEA Investors, according to a Wednesday (Sept. 23) announcement. The deal comes after a number of years of formidable expansion and innovation for the vision company that AEA Investors bought in 2016.

Amazon Rolls Out ‘Climate Pledge Friendly’ Program

To help make it simple for consumers to find and buy more sustainable items, Amazon has unveiled its new Climate Pledge Friendly program. Shoppers will now see the Climate Pledge Friendly label on more than 25,000 items, showing that the products have at least one of 19 sustainability certifications.

Google Touts Services for Local Brick-and-Mortar Businesses

Google is touting offerings to help brick-and-mortar small businesses, including local inventory ads, automated bidding systems and its existing My Business suite of services.

Amazon Prime Day Reportedly Set for Oct. 13-14

Several credible sources have reported that long-postponed Amazon Prime Day 2020 will be now be held Oct. 13 through 14. Many of the sources have quoted an internal Amazon email that sets the date. Amazon normally holds its big Prime Day of special sales in July, but has been postponing this year’s date since the pandemic began.