Tipsheet: Secret Amazon Drone Filmed in UK | Costco Investigated (Again) | McMillon to Advise Trump | CES Room = $1,191/nt
Top-secret Amazon drone filmed zooming through the air above Cambridgeshire testing facility by Jasper Hamill & Brittany Vonow at The Sun.”Amazon’s top secret experimental delivery drone has been filmed in action for the first time. The Sun Online’s exclusive footage shows the flying machine zooming through the skies over Amazon’s testing facility in rural Cambridgeshire.” Video/Pics/Read more
Bruised sporting goods industry could make a comeback by Josh Kosman at NY Post. “KKR & Co., Bain Capital, and TPG Capital are among those doing homework on bankrupt Performance Sports Group, owner of Bauer hockey sticks and Easton bats, sources said. PSG will take offers Jan. 25, two sources close to the situation said. Former PSG Chair Graeme Roustan is bending the ears of PE execs — discussing the possibility of teaming with one firm and, perhaps, consolidating the sporting goods space, sources said.” Read more
SECOND ONTARIO REGULATOR LOOKS AT COSTCO – Costco investigated over allegations pharmacy directors accepted kickbacks for certain brands at The Canadian Press. “If the ministry were to conclude that a company paid or received rebates contrary to the legislation, the Executive Officer could issue a ‘rebate penalty order’ that requires the company to pay the amount of the illegal rebate to the government as a form of monetary penalty,” Jensen said.” Read more
Wal-Mart CEO picked to advise Trump administration by Matthew Nussbaum at Politico. List of 16 / Read more
Amazon won’t resume work with one of its airlines until it’s sure the pilots won’t strike again by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “The cargo airline in question, ABX Air, is one of several Amazon has contracted in the last year to operate a total of 40 planes on Amazon’s behalf.” Read more
Incoming Treasury Sec. Mnuchin steps down from Sears Board – was the Yale roommate of Sears Chairman and CEO Eddie Lampert at ABC News. Read more
Wal-Mart asking customers for product reviews as part of effort to boost online sales by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “Wal-Mart is actively emailing customers who use its Savings Catcher application asking them to review certain items from their recent grocery receipt as part of an effort to boost its e-commerce business…” Read more
Ex-NFL star Marshawn Lynch teams up with Amazon to drive the Treasure Truck, autograph ‘Beast Mode’ Echo devices by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. “Lynch was in a jovial mood, dancing and bobbing to his beats, signing Skittles packages for little kids and even getting in the face of one adult fan who tried to swipe some Skittles.” Pics/ Video/Read more
**A message from the 2017 Philadelphia Gift Show – See emerging artists and gift, home décor, and color trends! Get a sneak peak in our Product Spotlight, and see our list of unique exhibitors. Sweetening the pot, this all-category gift show runs concurrently with the Philadelphia National Candy, Gift & Gourmet Show. See it all January 6-9, 2017, at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, in Oaks, PA. Register now | Website
ThinkGeek opens new location at Seattle – met by a long line of dedicated “dweebs” by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. Pics / Read more
Want Groceries in Venezuela? First Stop at Six ATMs at Bloomberg.”Banks have set it up so people have to retrieve their money in as many as seven transactions — maybe the hope is they’ll get tired and give up — and everyone who can see what’s going on at the window counts. At seven, there’s a sigh of relief that deliverance is a step closer.” Read more
Wal-Mart Joining Corporate Surge to Protect LGBT Employees by Shannon Pettypiece & Jeff Green at Bloomberg. Read more
…Walmart, CVS, Walgreens & more score 100% on LGBT Equality rankings Corporate Equality Index 2017 Report
Consumer Electronics Show attendees gripe about hiked hotel rates by Claire Atkinson at NY Post. “We tried The Venetian Hotel to check rates and were quoted $1,191.68 (that’s per night) — and only if you check in on Wednesday, Jan. 4.” Read more
Is this the final burn for Florida’s ‘Cigar City’? by Abha Bhattarai at Washington Post. “What we’re dealing with right now is the worst it’s ever been,” said Newman…“On the one hand, the government is saying, ‘smoking is bad’ and making us jump through all these new hoops. On the other, they’re welcoming Cuban cigars — which haven’t been tested, which aren’t taxed — into the country. They’ve got this backwards.” Read more
Millennials Hit the Road in a Sleek New Generation of RVs by Kyle Stock at Bloomberg. “The aerodynamic, riveted pod comes with one massive panoramic window, solar power, Italian cabinetry, and a Bose Bluetooth speaker system. It’s an RV made for Instagram, not cousin Eddie, and it’s been in high demand since hitting dealerships in September. “It’s really kind of an online phenomenon,” said Bob Martin, chief executive of Airstream parent Thor Industries.” Read more
Domino’s Rewards Loyal Patrons With Shares, Profits by Jessica Wohl at Ad Age. “Domino’s Pizza has come up with two ways to reward its Piece of the Pie Rewards members with a literal and figurative piece of the pie. Starting Monday, the millions of patrons signed up for the program are eligible for a chance to win Domino’s stock. The company said it would pick 25 members at random monthly through November 2017, and give each of them 10 shares.” Read more
Tipsheet Extra Stories
‘Tree Lady’ charges $1K for her finest fir
Hell of South Korean dog meat farms exposed
Arianna Huffington goes retail
Cam Newton explains dress code violation that led to benching
Bryant Park Holiday Market spices up shopping to lure customers offline
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