Tipsheet: Tome Sells 97K Shares | Wgreen #2 in Radio (#1 Photo Tech) | Schnucks Bans Solicitors | Saks First in Hawaii

 

Reporter hunts for Amazon’s drone testing site in Britain, but drones aren’t at home by Alan Boyle at GeekWire. “Based on clues from the BBC, plus interviews with local sources, Business Insider’s Sam Shead went out to farm fields southeast of Cambridge, near a place called Worsted Lodge. In one of the fields, he found two bases that were located at each end of the acreage, about 400 meters (a quarter-mile) apart.” Read more

 

Carol Tome Sells 97,610 Shares of The Home Depot Stock by Doug Wharley at The Cerbat Gem. “The stock was sold at an average price of $135.35, for a total value of $13,211,513.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 644,831 shares in the company, valued at $87,277,875.” Read more | SEC filing

 

Saks Fifth Avenue to open first Hawaii store on Thursday by Tina Yuen at Pacific Business News. 29 pics

 

Best Buy turns to appliances when iPhones aren’t selling by Nick Halter at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. “As a percentage of total sales, appliances now account for 11 percent of Best Buy’s business, up from 4 percent in 2010.” Read more

 

Nordstrom expands its in-store boutiques as it tries to stay ‘current and relevant’ by Coral Garnick at Puget Sound Business Journal. “(SPACE boutiques) initially launched exclusively in the retailer’s flagship locations — Seattle, Chicago, Vancouver, B.C. and San Francisco…the four new locations will be in Nashville, Los Angeles and two stores in Toronto, opening between Aug. 24 and Oct. 21.” Read more

 

Giant Eagle investing $25M in robotics firm by Patty Tascarella at Pittsburgh Business Times. “Seegrid, the Pittsburgh-based robotics firm that develops automated industrial vehicles used by Whirlpool, Daimler and Jaguar Land Rover…” Read more

 

Hank Meijer Talks About Minding The Customer at The Shelby Report. “Meijer’s grandfather, Hendrik, who had been a barber for 20 years, opened that little grocery store in Greenville next to his barbershop…As the Great Depression was bottoming out, the bank wouldn’t even foreclose on it because it was basically worthless, Meijer said…Only chain grocers like Kroger and A&P were expanding then. Hendrik tried to get both of them to take over the location, and neither had any interest…” Read more

 

**A message from 2016 Sweets & Snacks Expo – The Most Innovative New Products winners have been announced! Winners were awarded in nine categories: chocolate, non-chocolate, sweet, salty, savory, novelty, seasonal, gourmet/premium and gum/mints. See the winners here. The 2017 Sweets & Snacks Expo is nearly 90% sold out and will take place May 23-25 at Chicago’s McCormick Place – Notify me when registration opens

 

Why Doug McMillon Is the First-Ever Walmart CEO to Star in a TV Commercial by Brian Sozzi at The Street. “The TV ads are mostly being run in Washington, D.C., and New York, two areas where Walmart for years has dealt with outcry from government officials and members of the public that the retailer pays workers too little and puts small businesses under with its low prices.” See the ad / Read more

 

Walgreens #2 in radio spot count – where is Home Depot? at Inside Radio. “(Home Depot) which wrapped an 18-week run as the No. 1 radio advertiser on August 7, plummets to No. 17 this week from No. 7 last week.” Top 10 radio advertisers

 

Marketing innovator to leave post at Hannaford supermarkets at Portland Press Herald. “Mary Wright, vice president of marketing and brand strategy for Hannaford supermarkets, is leaving the company…leaving in September to become vice president of New Leaf Community Markets. That company, which focuses on providing natural, sustainable foods, has seven stores and is based in Santa Cruz, California.” Read more

 

Schnucks bans solicitors including Girl Scouts, Salvation Army at stores by Lisa Brown at St.Louis Post Dispatch. “In May, the Teamsters filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board, arguing that if others including the Girl Scouts and Salvation Army are allowed to stand in front of Schnucks stores, its union members should also be allowed. Schnucks’ spokesman Simon declined to comment on whether the union dispute is connected to the new policy banning solicitors.” Read more

 

Claim: Soda consumption falls 21% in Berkeley after sugar tax by Mike Esterl via MarketWatch. “Consumption of bottled water or tap water rose 63% in Berkeley during the period but a more modest 19% in San Francisco and Oakland, according to the study…The American Beverage Association…said the Berkeley study has flaws…Street surveys relying on people’s recollections are “inherently unreliable,” said Brad Williams.” Read more

 

Ex-North Face employee sells $5,750 tents by Brandon Ancil at CNBC. “We are known for making the strongest tents for their weight in the world,” Zemitis said, adding that “on the mountain, our goal is to always be the last tent standing in the storm.” Read more

 

Walgreens photo tech’s gesture moves mother of soldier killed in Afghanistan by Howard Altman at Tampa Bay Times. “It turns out the store’s overnight photo technician was so moved by the photos, showing a young soldier and a grave site, that he paid for them out of his own pocket. It cost $5.50, but to Allison it was a priceless gesture….” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Why Nutella and Nike Have Hong Kong Shoppers Lining Up For Hours

Best Buy CEO’s Horrible Stock Trade – What was Hubert Joly thinking?

Lowe’s Launches Online Video, ‘House Love’

Gov. Rick Scott confirms locally transmitted Zika virus case in Tampa

Canadians now spend more on taxes than on food, clothing and shelter combined

Why Best Buy’s Sales Bump Is Especially Bad News for Target

Cameras in the dressing room? Walmart reassures shaken shopper

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

QUICK-SUBSCRIBE to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here