E-commerce growth pace expected to quicken because of COVID-19
A FedEx Ground employee (in a file photo) delivers a package to a residential customer. An increase in ecommerce due to the coronavirus pandemic could raise profits if the company can reduce the cost of residential delivery. (Daily Memphian file)
Online shopping could take a quantum leap forward because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But whether FedEx profits from the increase depends, as it did before COVID-19, on the success of company efforts to reduce the cost of residential delivery.
Residential shipments have spiked as consumers turn to the internet to buy essential supplies amid sheltering-in-place measures.
FedEx’s business-to-consumer (B2C) deliveries are up 35%-40% during the pandemic, while business-to-business (B2B) shipments are down 25%-30%, said shipping industry consultant Satish Jindel.
The shift is important, because B2B shipments have traditionally been the largest and most profitable part of FedEx’s business, while the company is still working on reducing delivery costs for lower-yielding B2C shipments.
E-commerce, which had been growing at about 14% annually before coronavirus, will likely grow at 20% annually for the next couple years, Jindel believes.
“It will speed up growth of e-commerce, absolutely,” Jindel said. “I already can see it in my data for ShipMatrix. It’s up by a huge percent, it’s not just for food and essentials, even for the other items.”
ShipMatrix is Jindel’s service that tracks the package delivery industry.
Brie Carere, FedEx Corp. executive vice president and chief marketing and communications officer, recently told eMarketer she sees pharmacy and groceries leading the e-commerce surge. She said brick-and-mortar stores are increasingly fulfilling online orders, which some had been slow to do before the crisis.
“The No. 1 thing that we have seen is an explosion in e-commerce due to the physical store closures,” Carere said. “If we thought e-commerce was growing faster before, we’re going to see even greater acceleration.
“My guess is that — and I don’t have the data yet to substantiate this — e-commerce growth is going to be led by pharmacy and grocery,” Carere said. “We’re also seeing a lot of retailers use their physical stores as fulfillment locations. Those that had been slow adopters to ship from store, they are innovating very quickly to use their in-store inventory,” Carere said.
Bradley Jacobs, president and chief executive officer of XPO Logistics, said in a letter to shareholders Thursday, April 16, “...e-commerce growth, which was already at a double-digit rate, could accelerate in the post-pandemic world.”
“Millions of consumers have become more accustomed to online shopping for food, household goods, pet supplies, health and beauty products, furniture and appliances without leaving their homes. If this proves to be secular, it will drive even more demand for e-fulfillment, omnichannel retail, reverse logistics and last mile logistics,” Jacobs said.
One measure of the extreme pressure put on the shipping industry by COVID-19 is Amazon’s recent decision, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, to pause a wider launch of Amazon Shipping, which would compete with FedEx, XPO, UPS and others for third-party shipping business.
Amazon had been testing the service in a select markets since 2016, but said it was halting the rollout because staff, facilities and vehicles were needed to handle Amazon’s core business.
“FedEx and UPS continue to experience strong volumes in their B2C business while seeing declines in volume in their B2B business,” Cowen analyst Helane Becker wrote in research note April 9. “Earlier this week, Amazon indicated it would stop handling third party packages as their network was too busy handling its own.”
Bank of America analyst Justin Post said it appeared to be a temporary move, driven by the pandemic, although Amazon Shipping remains a long-term growth opportunity.
“In our view, the suspension of Amazon Shipping is likely a temporary move in unusual times when capacity limits are stretched,” Post wrote.
“In the future, Amazon Shipping should position (Amazon) to increase utilization of its existing logistics network by shipping non-Amazon packages,” Post wrote. “The eCommerce shipping opportunity is vast, with eCommerce penetration expected to increase from 15% today to over 30% long-term.”
Bank of America estimates Amazon has close to 40% share of U.S. e-commerce.
Amazon’s decision to pause Amazon Shipping was cited in an April 13 ratings upgrade for FedEx stock by Bank of America analyst Ken Hoexter.
It was part of the rationale for upgrading to “buy” from “neutral” and increasing the target price for FedEx shares to $140 from $117.
“We believe the recent decision by Amazon to pause its Shipping with Amazon (SWA) third-party delivery business highlights the difficulty to efficiently enter the business,” Hoexter wrote.
Hoexter also highlighted moves by FedEx to reduce costs for residential deliveries, including moving some FedEx Express packages into the lower-cost FedEx Ground network and increasing volume in the Ground network by taking back SmartPost packages previously delivered by the U.S. Postal Service.
FedEx began putting some Express packages into Ground in Greensboro, North Carolina, in March and expanded it to Cincinnati, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Newark and Salt Lake City in April. Integration of about 2 million a day SmartPost packages into Ground is scheduled to be completed before the next holiday peak season.
FedEx investor relations officials told analysts recently the company didn’t plan to accelerate the Express-to-Ground shift, but anticipated it would be nationwide by this time next year.
Jindel, president of SJ Consulting and founder of ShipMatrix, agreed the suspension of Amazon Shipping was only a temporary response to COVID-19.
“It’s only until they get back to the routine business,” Jindel said. “Right now their own business is growing so fast that they need to use the capacity for their own network and their own fulfillment, so it is dropping ... for several months and then I’m sure they will resume it. It just makes sense of them to do that also.”
FedEx, which canceled contracts with Amazon last year to provide delivery services, believes its future as an e-commerce shipper lies with Amazon’s competitors such as Walmart and Target.
However, business-to-business shipments are still the company’s bread and butter, amounting to about 80% of total business and about 84% of FedEx Express shipments.
“Logistics is bigger than e-commerce, and e-commerce is bigger than any one player. Our goal is to provide solutions for the rest of the e-commerce players,” Carere told eMarketer.
It doesn’t help FedEx’s bottom line to gain more volume in e-commerce if it cannot profitably deliver it.
The surge in e-commerce because of coronavirus means moves to lower delivery costs are “starting at a faster pace than they were planning,” Jindel said.
“They are challenged in making profits on B2C volume, so that challenge remains. They just need to speed up dealing with that challenge faster now,” Jindel said.
COVID-19 in Memphis and Shelby County: April
Jonathan Magallanes (left), Argentina Uceda and Eleida Gallegos prepare take-out orders as the popular Germantown eatery Las Tortugas reopens on April 28, 2020, with curbside service. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Nate Franklin stretches out during a short break close to the midway point of his solo marathon in East Memphis on April 25, 2020, where family and friends gathered to cheer him on his way. Franklin was supposed to run a marathon when coronavirus got in the way, but the undaunted runner decided to run his own route. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
National Guard medics collect nasal swabs as hundreds of Memphians line up for COVID-19 testing at the Christ Community testing site in Frayser on April 25, 2020. For the first time, testing is being made available to residents not showing symptoms of the disease. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Architect Jason Jackson of brg3s works on his laptop backyard while entertaining his son Oliver in his East Memphis April 24, 2020. Jackson is but one of many people now working from home. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Andy B's bowling and entertainment center general manager Traci Sanchez disinfects bowling balls on April 24, 2020 as part of a strict cleaning regimen. Sanchez says her staff has been cleaning since they closed, and that they are mostly ready to reopen when official word comes down. They expect big crowds upon reopening, and plan to temperature check all patrons. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
George Gattas of Gattas Home Innovations sets up the sound system to accompany a 4k projector he’s installing in an East Memphis home on April 23, 2020. The coronavirus pandemic has forced George Gattas’ new business into hyperdrive, the workload increasing during the crisis as more people are working from home. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
A lone passenger checks the flight information display system at Memphis International Airport on Thursday, April 23. The display showed roughly two dozen canceled flights. Memphis International Airport officials are exploring moving all passenger airlines to a single concourse to save money during the air travel shutdown caused by coronavirus. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Memphis Little League President Kerry Cobb pulls a pitching machine from a storage container on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, at Will Carruthers Park. The league has had a tough fight to keep baseball going in an urban environment. Now, league founder Cobb, a former University of Memphis football player, worries that kids new to the game will fall away as the season is put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Blind Bear Speakeasy owner Jeannette Comans stands outside her club in downtown Memphis on April 19, 2020, with Jared Dover (back left), Abraham Washington (doorway) and Aaron Kruszyinsky (far right), members of her staff who have come back to work. She was able to get a loan to help her business to stay afloat during the coronavirus outbreak, however she has not been able to get all of her employees to come back. (Karen Pulfer Focht/Special to The Daily Memphian)
Students from St. George's Institute for Citizenship adhere to social distancing guidelines while handing off homemade sandwiches on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at The Shops of Saddle Creek. Every week the students make sandwiches that are delivered to St. Vincent de Paul's Food Mission. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Christ Community Health Services staff members Blake Chastain (left) and Derico Miller (right) set up a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site on April 17, 2020, in the Mendenhall Square Shopping Center. Christ Community will be opening virus testing sites in low-income areas of Memphis starting the weekend of April 18. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Memphis Housing Authority resident Roscoe Wells puts on a donated face mask on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at Dr. R.Q. Venson Center Apartments. On Wednesday, Ronald and Carolyn Kent, (left) co-owners of the Chow Time and China Inn restaurants, with partners King and Jasmine Chow, (right) donated 10,000 masks to the MHA. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Medical technicians and nurses collect samples as staff from Cherokee Health and Kroger team up to offer a limited 3-day run of free drive-thru COVID-19 testing for people with symptoms, healthcare workers and first responders in the parking lot at the Memphis Business Academy in Frayser on April 22, 2020. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
A Memphis Police officer directs traffic as staff from Cherokee Health and Kroger team up to offer a limited 3-day run of free drive-thru COVID-19 testing for people with symptoms, healthcare workers and first responders in the parking lot at the Memphis Business Academy in Frayser on April 22, 2020. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Michale Kruckman (center) hits from the fairway while playing a game of Texas skins as golfers return to the Links at Whitehaven golf course on April 18, 2020, on a trial basis to test whether golfers would adhere to social distancing requirements during play. Only one person was permitted per cart and golfers were not allowed to handle the flag. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Lou Albonetti (right) reacts to a missed putt while Bill Sheppard (left) and Ray Duncan watch on from the edge of the green as golfers return to the Links at Whitehaven golf course on April 18, 2020, on a trial basis to test whether golfers would adhere to social distancing requirements during play. Only one person was permitted per cart and golfers were not allowed to handle the flag. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
On April 17, Britton DeWeese drops of dozens of boxes of Gibson’s doughnuts at chef Kelly English’s Second Line restaurant to be added to the care packages English is putting together for workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.(Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Christ Community Health Services staff members set up a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site on April 17, 2020, in the Mendenhall Square Shopping Center. Christ Community will be opening virus testing sites in low-income areas of Memphis starting the weekend of April 18. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Amy Lovinelli loads up a yard sign in the trunk of a St. Benedict Academy class of 2020 parent while picking up their child’s cap and gown April 17, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Sondra Morris hands out the cap and gown to a class of 2020 senior's parents at St. Benedict at Auburndale High School April 17, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Savannah Sauceda tries on a mask as inmates at the Shelby County Correctional Center learn how to make fabric masks on April, 17, 2020, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. They have one sewing machine now, but Corrections Division Director Anthony Alexander said they hope to have 10 machines up and running soon to produce several hundred masks a week for staff, inmates and community partners like the YWCA. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Corrections program specialist Gloria Phillips shows a finished product as inmates at the Shelby County Correctional Center learn how to make fabric masks on April, 17, 2020, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Jesus Limones cleans and sanitizes the office of Michael Morgan at Indigo Plaza April 16, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Burke’s Bookstore owners Corey and Cheryl Mesler stand among their books on Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Cooper-Young. The bookstore has been open since 1875, and is now hand-delivering books to customers. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Realtor Donnie Chambliss with Crye-Leike starts his Facebook Live open house tour Sunday, April 19, 2020 in Olive Branch, Mississippi. The corona virus has forced virtual open houses for real estate agents to show and sell homes. (Greg Campbell/Special for The Daily Memphian)
Buster’s owner Josh Hammond delivers an order of beer for pickup on Thursday, April 16, 2020. Buster’s has taken its business totally online since the implementation social distancing guidelines after coronavirus outbreak. Costumers now pay online and can pick up their order curbside. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Memphians (some masked) go about their business on the Main Street mall on April 16, 2020. New numbers by Unicast, a company that uses cell phone data to track human mobility, suggest that Shelby County residents aren’t doing enough social distancing. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Buster’s employee Chris Miller fills online alcohol orders on Thursday, April 16, 2020. Buster’s has taken its business totally online since the implementation social distancing guidelines after the coronavirus outbreak. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
A normally crowded Beale Street sits empty April 15, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Beverly Robinson (right, pink shirt) works on the hair of her daughter Kensley Robinson, 10, as her other daughter Kentara Robinson, 17, (middle) and granddaughters Krystal Cole, 8 (second left), and Kelsey Robinson, 5, play on their phones or dance in their Hickory Hill apartment on Wednesday, April 15, 2020. In Shelby County, 71% of those who test positive for COVID-19 are African Americans. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
The Shelby County Health Department is working with seven long-term care facilities with coronavirus outbreaks, including Parkway Health and Rehabilitation (shown here) in South Memphis, which has reported 8 residents and 2 staff members infected with the virus. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
John Kavach, (left) Director of Fig Tree Emergency Services, and Shannon Privett (right), a case manager with Catholic Charities of West Tennessee, load up frozen meats on Wednesday, April 15, 2020. Privett will help deliverer the meals and supplies to 160 formerly homeless families. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Catholic Charities of West Tennessee Executive Director Kelley Henderson (middle) helps case manager Shannon Privett (left) load a car with spaghetti diners donated from Pete and Sam’s restaurant on Wednesday, April 15, 2020. Pete and Sam’s donated 560 meals to be part of care packages delivered to 160 formerly homeless families. Some of the donated meals will also be handed out to several area churches, which also help feed needy and homeless families. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Heights CDC director Jared Meyers (right) helps with maintenance at Treadwell Park on April 15, 2020. The Heights CDC is struggling to maintain a full workforce even as it launches a COVID-19 response fund to help neighborhood residents struggling to pay bills. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Sheldon Green of the Heights CDC cleans weeds out of the walking path while performing maintenance at Treadwell Park on April 15, 2020. The Heights CDC is struggling to maintain a full workforce even as it launches a COVID-19 response fund to help neighborhood residents struggling to pay bills. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Hans Guenther sits on his back porch in Germantown on April 14, 2020. Despite living an active lifestyle, the 62-year-old contracted COVID-19 and had to be hospitalized. Now, home and fully recovered, Guenther hopes to donate his plasma with the hopes of saving lives. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Crystal Brown (left), who screens all patients at the Cherokee Healthcare clinic in Frayser, takes David Stokes' temperature on April, 14, 2020. The clinic is providing COVID-19 testing in the neighborhood for current and new patients. The Cherokee clinic has set aside a designated space and PPE for healthcare workers to cope with patients who are showing virus symptoms. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Tangie Jones helps patients with their prescriptions and health concerns on the telehealth desk at the Cherokee Healthcare clinic in Frayser on April, 14, 2020. The clinic is providing COVID-19 testing in the neighborhood for current and new patients. The Cherokee clinic has set aside a designated space and PPE for healthcare workers to cope with patients who are showing virus symptoms. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Fresh Market customers were asked to wear face masks when entering the store starting Tuesday, April 14, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
A doctor prepares to swab a patient at Christ Community Health's drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in Whitehaven on April 13, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
A doctor pulls out a fresh testing swab before administering a COVID-19 test at Christ Community Health's drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in Whitehaven on April 13, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
A doctor jokes with a patent at Christ Community Health's drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in Whitehaven on April 13, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
A health care worker reminds patients to blow their noses before getting tested at Christ Community Health's drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in Whitehaven on April 13, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Health care workers get creative with an oversized vehicle at Christ Community Health's drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in Whitehaven on April 13, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
The Village of Germantown front entrance on Monday, April 13, 2020. Five facility residents and two employees have tested positive for COVID-19. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Oak Hall seamstress Susan Nguyen stitches face mask from new shirts and donated materials on Monday, April 13, 2020. Oak Hall sold 1,200 mask in the first 12 hours of the sale. For every mask they sell, they are donating one to Church Health. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Oak Hall employee Priscilla Willis steams face masks made from new shirts and donated materials on Monday, April 13, 2020. Oak Hall sold 1,200 mask in the first 12 hours of the sale. For every mask they sell, they are donating one to Church Health. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Oak Hall employee Sophie Williamson cuts mask patterns from a new shirts and donated materials on Monday, April 13, 2020. Oak Hall sold 1,200 mask in the first 12 hours of the sale. For every mask they sell, they are donating one to Church Health. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
The Reverend Wayne Gillard II preaches to empty pews Sunday morning during a Facebook Live Easter sermon at Monument of Love Church in Orange Mound on April 12, 2020. (Ziggy Mack/Special to Daily Memphian)
Pastor Derrick Joyce enjoys the music during Facebook Live Easter sermon amidst empty church pews inside Monument of Love Church in Orange Mound on Sunday, April 12, 2020. (Ziggy Mack/Special to Daily Memphian)
Sharon Green operates the camera during a Facebook Live Easter sermon amidst empty church pews inside Monument of Love Church in Orange Mound on Sunday, April 12, 2020. (Ziggy Mack/Special to Daily Memphian)
Scott Briggs shovels mulch out of the back of his borrowed truck while planting hydrangeas at a client's home in East Memphis on April 11, 2020. Briggs is a laid off bartender who, rather than pulling unemployment, decided to start a lawn care business called Laid Off Lawncare, which has exploded with business during its first two weeks. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Volunteer bunny J.D. McMillian checks out an Easter greeting in sidewalk chalk as Germantown Parks and Recreation helps local kids get their their big-bunny-fix in an era of social distancing. The parks depatment drives the Easter Bunny around several Germantown neighborhoods on April 11, 2020, to visit over 200 families who signed up on Facebook. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Ned Stroup, 4, dances his way down the driveway as Germantown Parks and Recreation helps local kids get their big-bunny-fix in an era of social distancing by driving the Easter Bunny, played by volunteer J.D. McMillian, around several Germantown neighborhoods on April 11, 2020, to visit over 200 families who signed up on Facebook. As part of the event, kids were encouraged to show their best dance moves while the rabbit played a mix of music including (but not limited to) hip-hop. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Volunteer bunny J.D. McMillian hydrates before a long truck ride as Germantown Parks and Recreation helps local kids get their big-bunny-fix in an era of social distancing by driving the Easter Bunny, played by volunteer J.D. McMillan, around several Germantown neighborhoods on April 11, 2020, to visit over 200 families who signed up for a visit on Facebook. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
A worker at the Memphis Botanic Gardens looks over an order for Jimmie Quick Saturday, April 11, 2020. This year's Spring Plant Sale at the Garden was changed to online order and drive-up pick-up. (Greg Campbell/Special for The Daily Memphian)
Matthew Davis picks up his order from this year's Annual Plant at the Garden at the Memphis Botanic Gardens Saturday, April 11, 2020. This year's sale was done online with pickup at the Garden. (Greg Campbell/Special for The Daily Memphian)
A doctor prepares to test a patient for COVID-19 at the drive-thru testing facility at Tiger Lane April 10, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
St. Francis Hospital-Memphis nurses, including Deonta Buck (middle), raise their hands in praise while attending a prayer vigil in the hospital parking lot for patients and staff on Monday, April 6, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Nancy Dawson (right) raisers her hand in praise with family members while attending a prayer vigil in the hospital parking lot for patients and staff on Monday, April 6, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
While St. Francis Hospital-Memphis staff member Dayrl Moore (middle left) preaches, Julie Abell, (left) Bill Wilson (middle right) and Vicki Wilson wave their hands in praise during a prayer vigil in the hospital parking lot for patients and staff on Monday, April 6, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Stephanie Lepone takes a box of N95 masks from Jill Stockburger outside her East Memphis home April 6, 2020. Lepone, along with roughly 400 other volunteers, agreed to help fix some 20,000 masks Baptist Hospital found that were in need of new elastic straps. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Rachel Robb struggles to get her son Psyler Robb, 3, into proper piggy-back riding position while walking the dog Drama with her husband Matthew Robb (left) at Shelby Farms as Memphians practice social distancing during workouts, dog walks and bike rides either alone or in small groups on April 4, 2020 after concerns over reports of people congregating in city parks, caused Mayor Jim Strickland to issue new restrictions this week. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
William Reynolds of Bartlett protects himself while walking at Shelby Farms as Memphians practice social distancing during workouts, dog walks and bike rides either alone or in small groups on April 4, 2020 after concerns over reports of people congregating in city parks, caused Mayor Jim Strickland to issue new restrictions this week. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Laurie Moorhead works on one of the hundreds of homemade masks she has sewn inside her Collierville home while her dog Auggie watches from the window. Moorhead, a retired school teacher who loves to sew, has made nearly 500 masks so far. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
A Memphis Police officer directs traffic at a University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Shelby County Health Department drive-thru testing site for COVID-19 on Monday, April 6, 2020, at the Memphis Fairgrounds. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
A PST officer keeps an eye on the barricaded entrance to Overton Park as Memphians practice social distancing during workouts, dog walks and bike rides either alone or in small groups on April 4, 2020 after concerns over reports of people congregating in city parks, caused Mayor Jim Strickland to issue new restrictions this week. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
KIPP Memphis Collegiate High maintenance man Antoine Shotwell cleans floors at the school on Friday, April 3, 2020. Cleaning crews have worked to disinfect the school in anticipation that students will return to school at the end of the month. Due to the need for social distancing created by the coronavirus outbreak students have been competing the studies from home. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
KIPP Memphis Collegiate High teachers (left to right) Caitlyn Kennedy, James Aycock and Will Redmond disinfect several hundred laptops on Friday, April 3, 2020. The laptops will be distributed to students, as they continue their education from home, after the need for social distancing due to the coronavirus outbreak shut down school. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
KIPP Memphis Collegiate High teachers Caitlyn Kennedy (right) and Will Redmond disinfect several hundred laptops on Friday, April 3, 2020. The laptops will be distributed to students, as they continue their education from home, after the need for social distancing due to the coronavirus outbreak shut down school. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Keith Norman, Baptist’s vice president of Government Affairs takes pictures of a vacant rental property in Gateway Shopping Center on Thursday, April 2, 2020. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will build a temporary hospital of non-acute beds at the shopping center to help deal with the expected coming surge in COVID-19 cases (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
KIPP Memphis Collegiate High teachers (left to right) James Aycock, Will Redmond and Caitlyn Kennedy disinfect several hundred laptops on Friday, April 3, 2020. The laptops will be distributed to students, as they continue their education from home, after the need for social distancing due to the coronavirus outbreak shut down school. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Rebecca Fava applies a logo to one of the cloth masks she has been decorating with Memphis themes and selling in her Southaven home office on April 3, 2020. Fava says she has a backlog of 50 masks, but has a shipment coming in from California to be adorned. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Peabody Hotel Spa Manager Katie Williams performs double duty as she sanitizes the common areas inside Peabody Hotel in Downtown Memphis on April 3, 2020. (Ziggy Tucker/Special to the Daily Memphian)
Traveling FedEx pilot Scott Thorpe returns to Peabody Hotel lobby after a run in Downtown Memphis on April 3, 2020. (Ziggy Tucker/Special to the Daily Memphian)
Mid-South Food Bank volunteer Ann Rhodes grabs an arm full of baby supplies during a food distribution event Wednesday, April 1, 2020 on E. Georgia Ave. The mobile pantry provided household goods, food and baby supplies to nearly 300 families. (Mark Weber/ The Daily Memphian)
Carol Webb covers her face with a mask while attending the Mid-South Food Bank mobile pantry event Wednesday, April 1, 2020 on E. Georgia Ave. (Mark Weber/ The Daily Memphian)
Roofers Larry Dennis (left) and Glenn Janes (right) descend a latter after checking the roof of a vacant rental property in Gateway Shopping Center on Thursday, April 2, 2020. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will build a temporary hospital of non-acute beds at the shopping center to help deal with the expected coming surge in COVID-19 cases (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Mid-South Food Bank volunteer Anne Mark (middle) directs traffic during a food distribution event Wednesday, April 1, 2020 on E. Georgia Ave. The mobile pantry provided household goods, food and baby supplies to nearly 300 families. (Mark Weber/ The Daily Memphian)
Mid-South Food Bank volunteer Paulita Edmonson (middle) places supplies in a car during a food distribution event Wednesday, April 1, 2020 on E. Georgia Ave. The mobile pantry provided household goods, food and baby supplies to nearly 300 families. (Mark Weber/ The Daily Memphian)
Staff and students from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center work with the Shelby County Health Department on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, to continue drive-thru testing for COVID-19 at the Memphis Fairgrounds. (Mark Weber/ The Daily Memphian)
Mid-South Food Bank volunteers had out supplies to need families during a food distribution event Wednesday, April 1, 2020 on E. Georgia Ave. The mobile pantry provided household goods, food and baby supplies to nearly 300 families. (Mark Weber/ The Daily Memphian)
Staff and students from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center work with the Shelby County Health Department on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, to continue drive-thru testing for COVID-19 at the Memphis Fairgrounds. (Mark Weber/ The Daily Memphian)
A women covers her face with a scarf while attending the Mid-South Food Bank mobile pantry event Wednesday, April 1, 2020 on E. Georgia Ave. (Mark Weber/ The Daily Memphian)
Staff and students from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center work with the Shelby County Health Department on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, to continue drive-thru testing for COVID-19 at the Memphis Fairgrounds. (Mark Weber/ The Daily Memphian)
An elderly resident returns home with help from a relative on April 1, 2020, at the Carriage Court assisted living facility in East Memphis where five residents and an employee tested positive for COVID-19. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
At the Carriage Court assisted living facility in East Memphis five residents and an employee tested positive for COVID-19. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter (right) attends a press conference on the coronavirus outbreak on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian) (Mark Weber/ The Daily Memphian)
Jordan Badgett (left), Kat Gordon and Bridget Carratt joke around in the kitchen as the staff at Muddy's bake their way through the remainder of their supplies during a big temporarily-closing, April Fool's Day sale and costume party all rolled into one at the Muddy's Bakery on Broad Avenue on April 1, 2020.(Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Muddy's Bakery owner Kat Gordon greets customers as the staff at Muddy's bake their way through the remainder of their supplies during a big temporarily-closing, April Fool's Day sale and costume party all rolled into one at the Muddy's Bakery on Broad Avenue on April 1, 2020.(Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Roommates Jessye Heyrana (left) and Abbey Plantz joke around in line while waiting to stock up on chicken pot pies and cookies as the staff at Muddy's bake their way through the remainder of their supplies during a big temporarily-closing, April Fool's Day sale and costume party all rolled into one at the Muddy's Bakery on Broad Avenue on April 1, 2020.(Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Constance Abbey community member Chris Murray (right) discourages his dog Constance from barking during the evening Bible service while Shamont Coon (left) reads scripture on April 2, 2020 at Constance Abbey where the Memphis homeless community comes for food, laundry, showers and other services. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Constance Abbey co-founder Roger Wolcott runs between the two houses helping folks from the Memphis homeless community to get set up with food, laundry, showers and other services during a busy morning on April 2, 2020. Since COVID-19 social distancing,the Wolcotts have seen an uptick in traffic at Constance Abbey as many churches close their doors for social distancing and other homeless facilities cut back to minimize spreading the virus. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Constance Abbey community member Michael Smith tries to get the last out of the jam jar while making PP&J sandwiches for hungry homeless at the Downtown charity on April2, 2020. Since COVID-19 social distancing, Roger and Margery Wolcott are seeing an uptick in traffic at Constance Abbey where the Memphis homeless community comes for food, laundry, showers and other services. The increase is due to churches closing doors for social distancing and also other homeless facilities cutting back to minimize spreading the virus. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
A lone passenger checks the flight information display system with roughly two dozen canceled flights at the Memphis International Airport April 23, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Memphis homeless stop by at Constance Abbey for a morning cup of coffee on April, 2, 2020. Since COVID-19 social distancing, Roger and Margery Wolcott, who run the charity, are seeing an uptick in traffic. The increase is due to churches closing doors for social distancing and also other homeless facilities cutting back to minimize spreading the virus. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Constance Abbey co-founder Margery Wolcott greets one of her 'neighbors' in as safe a fashion as possible since the advent of COVID-19 social distancing on April, 2, 2020. Constance Abbey is seeing an uptick in traffic as many churches close their doors for social distancing and other homeless facilities cut back to minimize spreading the virus. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Constance Abbey co-founder Margery Wolcott (left) checks in with fellow Constance Abbey community member Shamont Coon while he folds laundry at the front door on April 2, 2020. Since COVID-19 social distancing, Roger and Margery Wolcott are seeing an uptick in traffic at Constance Abbey where the Memphis homeless community comes for food, laundry, showers and other services. The increase is due to churches closing doors for social distancing and also other homeless facilities cutting back to minimize spreading the virus. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Shelby County Health Department health officer Dr. Bruce Randolph strongly states, that any business not adhering to social distancing guidelines will be shut down during coronavirus outbreak press conference on Friday, April 3, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Brad Perkins works out at Beale Street Landing with his wife, Hayley (not pictured), as Memphians practice social distancing walking, working out and relaxing either alone or in small groups on April 4, 2020 after concerns over reports of people congregating in city parks, caused Mayor Jim Strickland to issue new restrictions this week. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Ranger Kelsey Price swaps out signs at the Farm Road entrance to Shelby Farms as Memphians practice social distancing during workouts, dog walks and bike rides either alone or in small groups on April 4, 2020 after concerns over reports of people congregating in city parks, caused Mayor Jim Strickland to issue new restrictions this week. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Tammie Echols and her son Torrence Echols, 8, pass by the barricaded entrance to Overton Park during a walk as Memphians practice social distancing during workouts, dog walks and bike rides either alone or in small groups on April 4, 2020 after concerns over reports of people congregating in city parks, caused Mayor Jim Strickland to issue new restrictions this week. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Ian Hill relaxes with his daughters Abigail (left) and Lucy at Shelby Farms as Memphians practice social distancing during workouts, dog walks and bike rides either alone or in small groups on April 4, 2020 after concerns over reports of people congregating in city parks, caused Mayor Jim Strickland to issue new restrictions this week. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Rachel Dawson, 17, (left) prays in the back seat with her family while attending a prayer vigil in the hospital parking lot for patients and staff on Monday, April 6, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Event organizer Julie Abell (middle) waves at patients' windows while attending a prayer vigil in the hospital parking lot for patients and staff on Monday, April 6, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Kelley Brown (top) attends a prayer vigil for patients and staff in the St. Francis Hospital-Memphis parking lot on Monday, April 6, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Inez Todd waves her hands in praise while attending a prayer vigil in the hospital parking lot for patients and staff on Monday, April 6, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
St. Francis Hospital-Memphis nurses and staff attend a prayer vigil in the parking lot for patients on Monday, April 6, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
An Old Dominick Distillery employee pours a fresh batch of hand sanitizer into six-ounce bottles April 7, 2020. The sanitizer is being produced at the Downtown distillery thanks to an emergency resolution from the Shelby County Commission. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
An Old Dominick employee packages bottles of hand sanitizer for the city's low-income and homeless population April 7,2020. The sanitizer is being produced at the Downtown distillery thanks to an emergency resolution from the Shelby County Commission. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Two doctors work to take a sample from a possible COVID-19 patient at UTHSC’s Tiger Lane¬ testing site April 10, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
A UTHSC doctor swabs a patient during a drive-thru COVID-19 test at Tiger Lane April 10, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
A member of the Cathedral of Praise church lowers his mask to receive communion during the church's Good Friday Drive-Thru Communion service April 10, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Individual communion packets were handed out to parishioners of the Cathedral of Praise during the church's Good Friday Drive-Thru Communion service April 10, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Stephanie Scoot hands out individual communion packets to parishioners of the Cathedral of Praise's Good Friday Drive-Thru Communion April 10, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
A doctor waves a possible COVID-19 patient in for testing at UTHSC’s Tiger Lane¬ testing site April 10, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
A doctor holds a walkie talkie wrapped in a surgical glove up to a Spanish-speaking patient so one of his collogues can translate at UTHSC’s Tiger Lane testing site April 10, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Bianca Stitts runs down the hill at Beale Street Landing carting her sister Jameka Barr during a workout as Memphians practice social distancing while walking the dog, working out and relaxing either alone or in small groups on April 4, 2020 after concerns over reports of people congregating in city parks, caused Mayor Jim Strickland to issue new restrictions this week. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Chris Foster, lead pastor of the Cathedral of Praise church, blesses a parishoners car during his church's Good Friday Drive-Thru Communion service April 10, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Shelby County Health Department health officer Dr. Bruce Randolph speaks during a press conference on the coronavirus outbreak on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee thanks Memphians sitting in line to be tested for COVID-19 by National Guard Medics during a visit to the Christ Community testing site in Frayser on April 25, 2020. For the first time, local testing is being made available to residents not showing symptoms of the disease. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Christ Community staff, medical technicians and National Guard medics prepare to start a long day of COVID-19 testing as hundreds of Memphians line up at the Christ Community testing site in Frayser on April 25, 2020. For the first time, testing is being made available to residents not showing symptoms of the disease. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
National Guard medics collect nasal swabs as hundreds of Memphians line up for COVID-19 testing at the Christ Community testing site in Frayser on April 25, 2020. For the first time, testing is being made available to residents not showing symptoms of the disease. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
National Guard medics collect nasal swabs as hundreds of Memphians line up for COVID-19 testing at the Christ Community testing site in Frayser on April 25, 2020. For the first time, testing is being made available to residents not showing symptoms of the disease. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
National Guard medics collect nasal swabs as hundreds of Memphians line up for COVID-19 testing at the Christ Community testing site in Frayser on April 25, 2020. For the first time, testing is being made available to residents not showing symptoms of the disease. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Memphis Housing Authority resident Constance Lloyd (middle) sings paperwork while receiving a donated face mask on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at Dr. R.Q. Venson Center Apartments. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
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FedEx Corp. e-commerce Amazon logistics industryWayne Risher
Business news reporter, 43-year veteran of print journalism, 35-year resident of Memphis, University of Georgia alumnus and proud father and spouse of University of Memphis graduates.
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