Tipsheet: Target CEO: “We’re not a Grocer” | Wmart Ups Fight w/Visa | Ellen/First Lady @ CVS | Amazon Opens 21 Pop-Ups

Walmart Canada to extend Visa ban to more stores at Reuters. “Walmart Canada will stop accepting Visa Inc (V.N) cards at its 16 stores in the province of Manitoba starting on Oct. 24, a spokesman said on Wednesday, raising the stakes in a high-profile fee dispute. Manitoba was “most ready” for not accepting Visa cards, he said, without elaborating on why the province was chosen.” Read more

“WE’RE NOT A GROCER” – Target CEO Says Retailer Won’t Become Full-Service Grocer by Khadeeja Safdar at Wall Street Journal via Pioneer Press. “Mr. Cornell said shoppers come to Target for apparel and home goods, and might pick up dinner on their way out, which is why the company is sprucing up how it displays craft beer and wine. “We provide a convenient selection of foods,” said Mr. Cornell. Just not fresh sashimi.” Read more

…Happening Today – Target’s Fall National Meeting by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “This week, some of those speakers have included Alan Mulally…Gopi Kallayil, chief evangelist of brand marketing for Google…Actress Jessica Alba stopped in to speak about her Honest Company baby brand and Beth Comstock, General Electric’s first female vice chair, also gave a talk…(today) about 14,000 employees will pile into the Target Center decked out in red and khaki for a pep rally of sorts to get them fired up for the holidays.” Read more

…Get Ready for Hundreds of Small Target Stores, CEO Says by Shannon Pettypiece at Bloomberg. Read more

“CVS STAND FOR COTTON, VASELINE & STUFF” – Ellen DeGeneres Wreaks Havoc on First Lady Michelle Obama’s Trip to CVS by Samantha Schnur at E News. “After testing out the CoinStar machine, Michelle headed to the electronics aisle to pick up a pair of headphones for her younger daughter, Sasha Obama. In the process, Ellen managed to get her hands on a backscratcher and began scratching one of the store’s employees. “Can you chill out on the itching,” Obama begged. “This is not how you behave!” See the in-store video / Read more

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Amazon opens 21 pop-up stores by Maria Halkias at Dallas Morning News. “So far, two are in Texas: The Parks at Arlington and North Star Mall in San Antonio. Nineteen other locations are now open in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington.” Read more

…Amazon Books opens in San Diego by Jennifer Van Grove at San Diego Union-Tribune. “The bookstore marks the company’s second formal foray into offline retail. The San Diego shop premiered with little fanfare on Sept. 7, and is now open daily during regular mall hours. The 3,500 square-foot venue is located in the Sears wing of the upscale mall, next to the Tesla store and across from the Apple store.” Read more

Golfsmith Files Bankruptcy With Sport’s Popularity Fading by Steven Church & Lauren Coleman-Lochner at Bloomberg. “Golfsmith listed debt and assets of as much as $500 million each in Delaware court, and said it would try to sell part of the chain as a going concern while shutting some stores. If that fails, the Austin, Texas-based company will liquidate.” Read more

Instacart CEO denies sale to Whole Foods, says company will turn a profit in 12 months by Annie Gaus at San Francisco Business Times. “CEO: “We work with lots of different grocery stores, so it doesn’t make sense to think about us selling to a grocery store. The best path for us is to continue to be an independent company.” Read more

Kohl’s CEO Mansell uses croquet to raise funds for Penfield at Milwaukee Business Journal. See the pics / Read more

P&G creates global media director job by Barrett J. Brunsman at Cincinnati Business Courier. “Gerry D’Angelo, who is a high-level media executive with snack and candy company Mondelez International, will join P&G in January and be based in Geneva, Switzerland.” Read more

A $400,000 Bloomingdale’s credit card scam was an inside job by Shayna Jacobs at NY Daily News. Read more

Etsy’s First Global Campaign Is an Expression of Individuality, Just Like the Stuff It Sells by Robert Klara at Adweek. “Etsy is unveiling a colorful assemblage of animated GIFs, stills and video ads that’ll fan out across the web…with the unifying slogan, “Difference Makes Us.” “For the past 11 years, this is something we’ve wanted to do,” said senior director of global marketing Andre Rickerby. “It’s the next step forward.” See the spots / Read more

Walmart has been named a finalist for 2016 U.S. Chamber Citizens Awards List of Finalists

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Two Atlanta grocery store operators get jail time for food stamp fraud

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Disney Lays Off 250 Employees in Consumer Products and Interactive Media

This Southern California Mall Just Started Using Tesla Batteries

Topgolf lands $275 million in new financing

Petco Survey Finds Majority of Pets will Participate in Halloween this Year

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