Tipsheet: Morgan Jokes About Wmart | Fortune Profiles Ann-Marie Campbell | Hinckley Jr. Shops @ Target | Lowe’s Challenges Taxes
How Home Depot’s Ann-Marie Campbell Rose From Cashier to the C-Suite by Ellen McGirt at Fortune. “Finding everything you need?” she asks. Her standard mode of engagement is rapid-fire conversation—without, somehow, ever losing a smile. She appears ready to coach him through the installation if need be. You see, Ann-Marie Campbell believes you can do anything. Even you, nervous plumber. Even you, eager badge-toting shelf stocker. Actually, especially you.” See the video / Read more
TRACY MORGAN JOKES THAT WALMART HAD TO “ROLL THEIR PRICES UP” TO COVER HIS SETTLEMENT by Alex Ungerman at ET. “The Saturday Night Live alum made a surprise return to stand-up at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles on Sunday, where he joked about his scary 2014 car accident, in which a Wal-Mart truck struck the limo bus Morgan was riding in on the New Jersey Turnpike.” Read more
Golfsmith on the verge of bankruptcy by Josh Kosman at NY Post. “Struggling under a pile of debt, (Golfsmith) appears to have failed in an attempt to sell itself and could be forced to file for bankruptcy within days, The Post has learned.” Read more
Son of H-E-B Founder Dies at Age 89 by Katie Burke at San Antonio Business Journal. “Howard E. Butt Jr., the older brother to H-E-B CEO Charles Butt, died Sunday at age 89 from complications related to Parkinson’s disease. As the eldest son to the San Antonio-based grocery founder Howard E. Butt Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Holdsworth Butt, Howard Jr. grew up in the food business, but he focused his life on spiritual and philanthropic work.” Read more
Man claims he was bitten by bed bugs while using Walmart motorized cart at Fox 10 Phoenix. “The video is hard to stomach — the bugs are clearly visible, crawling in and out of the motorized cart’s seat. “It was bite after bite after bite,” said Jose Avalos.” Read more / See the video
Han Joins Lowe’s As SVP, Business Development “Han is responsible for accelerating the company’s business development strategy focused on identifying and implementing growth opportunities through new and emerging businesses, exponential innovation and corporate ventures.” Press release
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State Fair-themed restaurant to open inside Walmart at WFAA 8 ABC. “It’s just the first of a big rollout for State Fair Treats. More North Texas locations are planned to open in Walmart locations in the coming year, and there are plans on the horizon to open locations nationwide, though no sites were specified.” Read more
Lowe’s challenges its tax bill – says its properties should all be valued as if they sat empty by Kate Cox at Consumerist. “Bexar County deputy chief appraiser Mary Kieki told the Dallas Morning News that if it becomes a trend, it “could be enormous.” “It wouldn’t stop with the big boxes like Sam’s, Lowe’s, and Home Depot,” Kieki added. “You could see it continue with Kohl’s and CVS. Where does it stop?” Read more
Aeropostale gets a new lease on life by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “…won court approval to sell its assets for $243 million to a joint venture comprised of mall operators, Simon Property Group and General Growth Properties…Meanwhile, 228 employees at the West 34th Street headquarters were told they’d be laid off.” Read more
John Hinckley Jr., Ronald Reagan’s would-be assassin, shops at Target & Kohl’s on first full day of freedom by Stephen Rex Brown at NY Daily News. “One day later — and 35 years after Hinckley shot Reagan in a deranged attempt to impress actress Jodie Foster — Hinckley was spotted wearing a cap and blue shirt while perusing belts, pants and other clothes at Target and Kohl’s.” Read more
How the sugar industry paid prestigious Harvard researchers to say fat (NOT sugar) caused heart disease by Mia De Graaf at Daily Mail. “I thought I had seen everything but this one floored me,’ said Marion Nestle of New York University, who wrote an editorial on the new findings. ‘It was so blatant. And the “bribe” was so big.'” Read more
Baltimore: New Whole Foods project in Harbor East breaks ground by Natalie Sherman at Baltimore Sun. “Majority owner Harbor East Management Group and the Bozzuto Group — are pitching as a top-of-the-market building. That’s reflected in the cost — about $170 million, well above the roughly $100 million estimate quoted when the 711 S. Central Ave. project was announced almost two years ago.” Read more
Walmart wants shoppers to be able to hail a cart by Jackie Wattles at CNN Money. “According to the patent request, the carts will be equipped with detachable motors that have sensors and video cameras. Customers will be able to request a cart using a “user interface device” — potentially a smartphone — and the roaming motors will be able to fetch a cart and bring it to a customer.” Read more
Under Armour Bets on High-End Clothing Line by Ray A. Smith & Sara Germano at Wall Street Journal. “The new line will be sold at Barneys New York and Mr Porter, the luxury men’s e-tailer, in addition to Under Armour’s stand-alone flagship stores. The clothes will also sell on a new website for the line. Consistent with an emerging trend at fashion week, the clothes will be made available for purchase starting Thursday.” Read more (subscription)
Tipsheet Extra Stories
Female tourist in Muslim clothing has her sleeve set alight outside Valentino store on New York’s Fifth Avenue
Target’s Joshua Dolan to head shipper-port-carrier coalition
Here’s where Safeway is opening new stores in the Bay Area
Retired Home Depot CEO new Grady Hospital Board Chairman
Olive Garden to Sell 10 Times as Many Unlimited Pasta Passes as Last Year
Leslie Patton
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