Gen Z’s Wallets Are on Strike 💸

Biz Analyst Club Newsletter

by The Business Model Analyst

Hello, Biz Enthusiasts!
Retailers are begging Gen Z to shop (they’re not), robots are scaring China (again), and HP is cutting thousands of jobs in the name of AI “efficiency” . Meanwhile, data centers are about to start eating electricity like it’s popcorn at a Marvel marathon. But don’t worry — there’s still hope, and it comes in the form of $13 lunch bowls and K-beauty lip tints your teenager sent you via TikTok. Let’s dive in before Netflix takes away your remote too. 👀

Hot Takes 🚀

1. Gen Z Is Ghosting Retailers This Holiday Season 👻🛍️
While Boomers are decking the halls, Gen Z is slashing budgets. Deloitte says they're planning to spend 34% less this holiday, thanks to rent, loans, and vibes that scream “broke but stylish.” Retailers banking on Gen Z to lift sales? They might want to pivot to dupe handbags and handmade ornaments.
👉 See why Gen Z is skipping Santa this year

2. HP to Lay Off Up to 6,000 Workers in AI Pivot ⚙️🤖
HP says it’s “embracing AI” by… firing people. Up to 6,000 employees will be let go by 2028 in an effort to boost productivity and save $1B. Join the growing club: Amazon, Microsoft, and Intel have already sent out their layoff RSVPs.
👉 Read HP’s full AI-powered restructuring plan

3. America Loves Its $13 Lunch Bowls Too Much to Quit 🥗💸
Despite economic pressure, Cava and Chipotle’s bowls are still a staple. Why? Because they hit the sweet spot: fresher than fast food, cheaper than sit-down. Even broke millennials will risk student loans for tahini and pickled cabbage.
👉 Why lunch bowls might be recession-proof

4. The IP Land Grab You Didn’t Know Was Happening 🌍🔌
One man in China hoarded 10M+ IP addresses — mostly from Africa — and leased them to big tech firms. Now African ISPs are furious, lawsuits are flying, and suddenly IP addresses are the new real estate bubble.
👉 Inside the global turf war for IP real estate

5. China Tells Humanoid Robot Startups to Chill 🧍🚫
The Chinese government just told dozens of robot makers to “do something useful or GTFO.” Too many startups are building humanoid bots that look cool but do... nothing. The real question: When will robots start paying rent?
👉 Why China's robot hype might burst

Strategy Deep Dive

Quick Hits 📰

• Netflix Kills Phone Casting: Want to cast shows from your phone? Not anymore (unless you're legacy Chromecast royalty).
  👉 Netflix quietly removes casting — again

• K-Beauty Is Crushing It in the U.S.: Fueled by TikTok and teens, Korean cosmetics are going mainstream faster than you can say "glass skin."
  👉 Why Ulta and Sephora are all in on K-beauty

• Target’s Black Friday Swag Backfires: Waited in the cold for… gummy clusters and shampoo samples? Social media was not amused.
  👉 The giveaway that got roasted

• Microsoft CEO: EQ > IQ in the AI Era: Satya Nadella says empathy is the real power move in business — and no, AI can’t fake it.
  👉 Why emotional intelligence is your new superpower

• Pizza Prices Got Out of Hand 🍕: Customers are now downgrading from large to medium, and skipping toppings. Peak pizza inflation is real.
  👉 The $30 pizza that made everyone rethink dinner

• Black Friday is Officially Mid: With deals spread across months and foot traffic flat, the once-iconic retail day has lost its magic.
  👉 How Black Friday became just... Friday

• Warehouse Market Finally Stabilizing: After a pandemic boom, the industrial space race is cooling down — but logistics demand still looms large.
  👉 What to watch for in warehouses

• AI May Wreck — or Rescue — Your Retirement Plan: Automation is messing with career arcs, but also helping savers plan better.
  👉 Can AI help you retire early — or ruin it?

• China’s Fast-Food Chains Are Coming for America: Think bubble tea with cheese foam. Wallace and Luckin Coffee are making their U.S. debut.
  👉 Why Chinese brands are setting up shop in NYC

• Data Centers Will Triple Power Use by 2035: Thanks to AI, electricity demand from data centers is expected to soar 300%. Hope your grid is ready.
  👉 How AI is changing the power game

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