Today’s Tipsheet: Target’s Latest Security Flaw | McMillon Backs Roz | H.Depot Eyes 100K sf in Marietta
Tech security firm says it’s easy to hack Target gift registry apps by Mary Lynn Smith at Star Tribune. “Target took Avast’s assertions seriously, issuing a statement late Tuesday that said, “Earlier this evening, it was brought to our attention that there may be a potential issue with our guest registry platforms. Out of an abundance of caution, we have disabled elements of our wish list app and gift registry while we assess. We apologize for any challenges guests may be facing while trying to access their registry. Our teams are working diligently overnight to resume full functionality.” Read more
…Avast: The prize for the most unnecessary permissions requested by a retail app goes to Walgreens, Home Depot a close #2. “The Walgreens app not only requests permissions that are completely unnecessary for its app to function, but also requests more permissions than any of the other retail apps we looked at – see screenshot below. The Home Depot app came in close second in terms of unnecessary permissions requested.” Read more
Doug McMillon Statement on Rosalind Brewer CNN Comments “For years, we’ve asked our suppliers to prioritize the talent and diversity of their sales teams calling on our company. Roz was simply trying to reiterate that we believe diverse and inclusive teams make for a stronger business. That’s all there is to it and I support that important ideal.”
…Fortune: Sam’s Club CEO Supports Diversity, Gets Called a Racist by Jennifer Reingold. “Could Walmart, Sam’s Club, and the world do a better job with diversity? Sure. Does talking about it make Roz Brewer a racist? Nope.” Read more
Home Depot wants to expand in Marietta; could add hundreds more jobs by Carla Caldwell at Atlanta Business Chronicle. “Officials with The Home Depot told the Marietta Development Authority on Tuesday the Atlanta-based company plans to buy a 98,900-square-foot building on about 6.5 acres off New Market Parkway adjacent to the four-building campus Franklin Road campus, reports Marietta Daily Journal.” Read more
Whole Foods chief quashes buyout rumors by Will Anderson at Austin Business Journal. “I don’t want to say point-blank that Whole Foods would never go private, because that could be used against us if we ever changed our mind,” Mackey told the Statesman.” Read more
What’s behind Kohl’s 170-hour pre-Christmas shopping marathon by Sarah Halzack at Washington Post. “The department store plans to stay open for 170 hours straight, starting Thursday at 7 a.m. and wrapping up at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve.” Read more
Millions of ‘organic’ eggs come from industrial scale chicken operations, group says by Peter Whoriskey at Washington Post. “Isn’t it a coincidence that there was not one bird outdoors on any of the facilities?” Kastel said. He noted that the space around barns is inadequate for the numbers of birds within – at any moment of time.” Read more
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Home Depot Bags Highest Ratings for Best Mobile Shopping Experience “22% of respondents claim that if a mobile site doesn’t work they will go straight to a competitor to find an alternative.” Read the release
Charlotte: Cam Newton Rides Around Dick’s Sporting Goods on Scooter to Spread Christmas Cheer by Caroline Sikes at Sporting News. See the video & pics / Read more
Pittsburgh: Steeler’s running back goes undercover as employee at Dick’s Sporting Goods at WPXI 11 News. “Thankfully, I’m better at carrying the football than working at Dick’s,” (DeAngelo) Williams joked in the video supplied by the company.” See the video / Read more
Toys R Us Domestic Comp Sales Down 0.9% Read the release
Schnucks names new chief merchant at Supermarket News. “Before joining Schnucks, (Mark) Doiron was president of Sure Winner Foods, a frozen food distribution company. Prior to that, he was chief supply chain officer for Belgium-based Delhaize, where he oversaw the company’s U.S. operations.” Read more
Walgreen strikes a deal on drugs with Valeant at Bloomberg via Chicago Crain’s. Read more
Amazon leads North America’s top e-retailers in sending email to new customers by Sandra Guy at Internet Retailer. “An Internet Retailer survey shows Amazon sent 128 emails in November to someone who had just signed up to receive them.” Read more
A woman named ‘Flaming Lee’ is a classic example of double-dealing in China’s murky, anti-counterfeiting industry by Erika Kinetz at AP via Business Insider. “A lot of times the counterfeiter will turn into the investigator’s informant: ‘Don’t get me. I know these other guys down the road.’ It’s a protection racket.” Read more
Tipsheet Extra Stories
From Seahawks to Costco, Demitrius Bronson tries to stay on NFL radar
Jury awards ex-BJ’s employee $780K amid claims of corporate retaliation
Here are Google’s ‘top trending searches’ for 2015
NY Times: Square Merchants Bought Shares During Its I.P.O., With a Start-Up’s Help
U.K. Shoppers at Risk of Higher Grocery Bills If Nation Quits EU
Amazon boasts average wait of 39 minutes as it keeps bringing restaurant delivery to new cities
Contact Jason Long at jlong@eyeonretail.net