t’s officially the Day of Black Sun. Yes, today is the solar eclipse, and by all accounts, it’s supposed to be more of a spectacle than the one we got in 2017. So much so that dozens of Wegmans stores are temporarily closing up shop. So before you blindly stare right into the eclipse, use your intact eyesight to get a gander at what else is happening in retail this week.
In price increases: Starting today, UPS will be adding delivery surcharges for packages, a move FedEx will also implement next week. The surcharges will affect 82 zip codes in largely urban areas, including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
Delivery area surcharges (DAS) are determined by how a package is transported—by air or ground—and if it’s being sent to a commercial or residential address.
The DAS will range from $3.95 to $5.85 for both UPS and FedEx, but according to Supply Chain Dive, it can go higher in certain zip codes.
“These surcharges are huge profit centers for carriers,” Nicholas Fanelli, managing director of Shippingwise, told Supply Chain Dive. “It’s not surprising when volume is down that they’re trying to find new opportunities to increase profits and increase margins.”
In openings: Publix has been on a bit of a tear lately when it comes to opening new stores, and this Thursday’s grand opening of the company’s new location in Wellington, Florida, bears that out, just a week after the grocer delivered two locations in Homestead and Sarasota.
Later this month Publix will open four more stores in Florida and Alabama, further expanding the company’s 1,300+ store footprint.
Kentucky became Publix’s eighth state earlier this year, when it opened a 55,701-square-foot location in Louisville.
In events: The seventh annual Revolve Festival kicks off on Friday in Palm Springs, bringing together some big brands in the world of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. Some of this year’s sponsors include Raising Cane’s, 818 Tequila, and Supergoop.