Hello, friends and Fortune readers.
It’s the second week in September and that means one thing – a huge Apple event. A number of new products are expected. The question is whether they’ll live up to all the hype. It’s also a big week for some big consumer brands like Barnes & Noble, Campbell Soup, and Lululemon, which will announce earnings. With that said, here’s what you need to know to prepare for the week ahead.
1. Once again, it’s all about Apple
The time has come for the unveiling of Apple’s new products on Tuesday including an expected iPhone 6 and an iWatch smartwatch. There’s been gallons of ink (real and digital) already spilled by the media speculating about what will be announced. Tune into Fortune for a live-blog of the event starting just before 1 pm EST). The wild card is Apple CEO Tim Cook will mention the latest wrinkle: The nude celebrity photo hackings into Apple’s iCloud service.
2. But don’t forget about TechCrunch
Amid all the attention on the Apple event, it’d be a mistake to forget about TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco running Monday through Wednesday. The annual conference features speakers including Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, who was featured in a JuneFortune cover story, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and the always irascible Mark Cuban.
3. Expect a reports round-up, too
It’s time once more for retail sales numbers – in this case for the month of August. The data will be available at 8:30am EST on Friday. Expect those numbers to be a mixed bag, with some stores reporting declines, but others getting a back-to-school lift. But retail sales and consumer spending overall have been suffering, according to Fortune. Other numbers to be released next week? The weekly jobless claims numbers on Thursday at 8:30am EST, while the NFIB’s small business survey comes out at 7:30am EST on Tuesday.
4. Prepare to read up on retail earnings galore
And speaking about retail, Barnes & Noble comes out with its earnings report on Tuesday before the market opens. It’ll be the bookseller’s first quarter results for the 2015 fiscal year. The book retailer is finishing up plans announced back in June to split its retail and Nook units into two public companies in a bid to bolster the e-reader business. That’s expected to be completed by March, according to The Wall Street Journal. Also important: Men’s Warehouse on Wednesday, and Lululemon Athletica on Thursday.
5. Food, glorious, food earnings
Retail aside, it’s a relatively tasty week for food earnings. Campbell Soup will announce its results on Monday before the market opens. Another earnings report to be served up: Krispy Kreme on Tuesday, after the close. The doughnut company made a mark last year for baking up a business turnaround. There’s also Darden Restaurants reporting of Friday in its first full quarter after selling off Red Lobster. And if you can’t get enough of your food biz news, check out Fortune’s round-up of “The Most Innovative Women in Food and Drink.”
