Tipsheet: N.Marcus Eyes Buyer | Wmart Mex. Drug Shortage | Costco Visa Day | Amazon #5 Employer
JD.Com Rumored To Acquire Wal-Mart-Owned Yihaodian by Jillian Yue at China Money Network. “According to Chinese media reports, JD.com emerged as the final taker of Yihaodian, for a reported price tag of RMB40 billion (US$6 billion). Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd. was among other interested parties to buy the company. JD.com is to make formal announcements of the deal in a couple of days, says Chinese media reports.” Read more
…The strategy of teaming up with JD.com could give Wal-Mart a better chance of competing in the cutthroat retail industry in China and boost sales in its physical retail locations by Rick Carew & Alyssa Abkowitz at WSJ. Read more (subscription)
Neiman Marcus is looking for a buyer by Lisa Fickenscher & Josh Kosman at NY Post. “Struggling under a toxic combination of a staggering $5 billion debt load and flagging sales, Chief Executive Karen Katz traveled recently to China to meet with potential buyers, according to a source familiar with the situation. While in China, Katz met with executives of Anbang Insurance Group, who have exhibited an eye for US companies. But Anbang passed on an offer to buy all of Neiman, according to the source.” Read more
Sports Authority cutting another 373 employees at HQ, CEO has already worked his last day by Alicia Wallace at The Denver Post. “Workers in accounts payable, engineering and delivery supply will be among the last out the door include, the documents show.” Read more
Walmart puts emphasis on workplace violence prevention by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “…in 2015 the retailer worked with the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University to develop an active shooter awareness effort which included the production of a training video that covers a plan of action designed to empower and instill confidence in people of all ages and abilities and help them understand what to do in an active shooter event.” Read more
Millennials re-ignite long dead RV market by Richard Morgan at NY Post. “These are the same kids who stopped RVing with their parents as 16-year-olds,” said Stetler, a 54-year-old single mom who’s been selling and refurbishing RVs for 29 years. “Now they’re back.” Read more
Linkedin: The 40 most attractive employers in America (Amazon #5) by Katie Little & Denise Garcia at CNBC. See the list
**A message from Pirola Italy – Colorful, designer-inspired ironing boards add spice to any home. Exclusively made in Italy for 45 years, these high-quality boards bring design and excitement to the category. Featuring the Arco board from the Design Line and Luna from the Plus Line. Custom colors and designs available. Retailers request samples at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net. Italy-America new product connection
Family Dollar Ex-Chief Merchandising Officer Named Chief Operating Officer at Vitamin Shoppe by Eric Strauss at NJ Biz. “Jason Reiser has more than 30 years of experience in retail management and merchandising, and is a trained pharmacist. His retail executive experience also includes time at Walmart and Sam’s Club.” Read more
Monday marks the day you can use Visa at Costco by Coral Garnick at Puget Sound Business Journal. “With the switch in co-branded cards also comes the ability of any Visa holder to shop — and pay with their card — at Costco.” Read more
Secret Deal Squeezes Mexico’s Drug Sector by Juan Montes at WSJ. “Wal-Mart de Mexico, the country’s largest retailer, says it saw a range of drug prices start to rise noticeably—by more than 10%—toward the end of 2015…“We decided to not pass on those price increases to our clients, and that led us to stop buying medicines from 13 drugmakers,” said Mr. Ocaranza. The result for Wal-Mart has been a shortage of some medicines like Bayer’s Protect aspirin for heart patients.” Read more (subscription)
Terrified shoppers flee aisles as fireworks display erupts into flames at supermarket by Amita Joshi at Mirror. “Ardell Deliz from the fire services told ABC News : “A lot of people thought they were being shot at. This could have been deadly”. Read more / See the video
…Search continues for 3 accused of setting fireworks on fire at Phoenix Walmart by Nico Santos at NBC 12 KPNX. “Security footage from inside the store shows the three people of interest walking away as the flames started.” See the pics / Read more
Mattel hopes ‘Game Developer Barbie’ will get girls into tech by Lindsay Putman at NY Post. “As opposed to her usual frilly dresses and high-heeled shoes, Game Developer Barbie sports jeans, a jacket, sneakers, dyed hair, hipster glasses, laptop, table and headset — and shockingly none of it is in pink. See the pic
The Inside Story on J&J’s Revamped Marketing Mission Under Alison Lewis by Kristina Monllos at Adweek. “One could easily mistake this conference room for that of any other billion-dollar conglomerate—except the relentless branding won’t let you forget where you are….Alison Lewis, the first global chief marketing officer of the consumer packaged-goods giant’s consumer brands, would rather be interviewed here. Her office is messy, she insists, and meeting in the impersonal space allows us to briefly focus on the interior design—specifically, the pillows. “We market everywhere,” Lewis jokes.” Read more
Colorado boy, eight, dies after a ‘pharmacy accidentally increased his medication dosage’ to ‘more than one thousand times what he was prescribed’ via Daily Mail. “Doctors tested the amount of Clondine in Jake’s body and the results they found were starling. Jake had been given 30mg of the drug instead of his prescribed .03mg – a 1,000 times increase.” Read more
Eye on Retail on the web
QUICK-SUBSCRIBE to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here