Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet 3/29/13: Costco & cheap prescriptions, Walmart closing 3 China stores

 

“Wal-Mart closing three China stores” by Zhang Ye at Global Times.  “Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world’s largest retailer by revenue, is planning to shut down three superstores in China in April, a move analysts said Wednesday is designed to cope with increasing labor costs and high rents in China.  The retailer has scheduled two store closings for April 8 in Shanghai and Wuxi, East China’s Jiangsu Province and one on April 20 in Shenzhen, South China’s Guangdong Province, said Wal-Mart China in a statement e-mailed to the Global Times Wednesday.”  Read more:  https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/771253.shtml#.UVQ_s5M4SSo?source=email_rt_mc_body

 

“Prescription drugs cost least at Costco and most at CVS” at Reuters. “Failing to comparison shop for drugs – such as generic Lipitor to lower cholesterol or generic Plavix to thin the blood – could result in overpaying by $100 a month or even more, depending on the drug, the report said. The article will be available in the May issue of Consumer Reports.” Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/28/drugs-costs-idUSL2N0CJ19020130328?source=email_rt_mc_body

 

“About Walmart’s Idea to Crowdsource Its Same-Day Delivery Service” by Erika Morphy at Forbes.  “Follow me on this, because like the crowdsourced delivery system this idea (in-store lockers) has traces of genius too. There is a certain element of the population that doesn’t want to deal with Walmart despite its low, prices. They find the stores too crowded, the lines too long, the shelves too cluttered, the ambiance too low rent—whatever. “You know there are people like that out there,” Harvey said. These people wouldn’t mind scoring a low-priced DVD or crockpot though – they just don’t want to actually have to walk into the store to retrieve it. Hence, the lockers. They can pay for the item, go to Walmart and pick it up without the hassle of actually dealing with Walmart.”  Read more:  https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikamorphy/2013/03/28/about-walmarts-idea-to-crowdsource-its-same-day-delivery-service/

 

“The secret life of Target’s mascot, Bullseye” by Susan Krashinsky at Globe and Mail.  “Bullseye eats dog food; Target will not divulge what kind. She enjoys many types of treats—no elaboration. She travels first-class; the type of carrier and all other travel arrangements are secret. She even has a rider, rock-star-style, that specifies her working conditions at events across the continent. These include a private space where she can retreat, Garbo-style, and a mandated number of breaks per hour. Target will not say how many.  She is used to proximity with celebrities, including, over the years, Cameron Diaz, Salma Hayek and Michael Bublé. But she is a star in her own right and is enshrined at Madame Tussauds wax museum in New York.”  Read more:  https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/the-secret-life-of-targets-mascot-bullseye/article9966869/

 

“Target store bar-code scammer sent to prison” by Margaret Gibbons at Philly Burbs.  “Under the scam, Gasdaska and his two accomplices would identify costly items and cheaper products by the same manufacturer. Gasdaska then would create a UPC label on a home computer for the cheaper product, which then would be affixed over the real bar code of the more costly item.  For example, the group would select a Bose computer speaker, having a real value of $249.99, for purchase. However, before taking that item to the cashier, a UPC label of another, cheaper Bose product, would be placed on the box. The cashier would then scan the fake bar code, charging the lesser price.”  Read more:  https://www.phillyburbs.com/news/crime/target-store-bar-code-scammer-sent-to-prison/article_54bfbe34-9d10-5065-8f43-8d523d1e229e.html

 

“Google Testing Same-Day Shopping With Target, Walgreens” by Brian Womack at Bloomberg.  “The pilot project, called Google Shopping Express, lets local residents order items from participating retailers, which also include Toys “R” Us Inc., Staples Inc. and American Eagle Outfitters Inc., Google said on its website. Customers can get items from multiple stores.”  Read more:  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-28/google-testing-same-day-shopping-with-target-walgreen.html

 

“Brookstone Reports Net Sales increased 4.6% to $519.6 million for Fiscal Year 2012”  “Innovative product development company and multi-channel lifestyle retailer Brookstone, Inc. announced today that, for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2012, net sales increased 4.6% to $519.6 million and comp sales increased 4.5% while Adjusted EBITDA decreased 25.7% to $18.4 million as compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. For the fourth quarter ended December 29, 2012, net sales decreased 8.0% to $232.8 million, comp sales decreased 3.5%.”  Read more:  https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6561345&access=EH

 

“Google Picks 8,000 Winners of ‘Glass’ Contest” by Michael Liedtke at Time.  “Prevailing in this contest might not seem like much of a victory if you aren’t a technology fan. The winners will have to pay $1,500 apiece if they want a test version of the product, which is called “Google Glass.” They also will have to travel to New York, Los Angeles or the San Francisco Bay area to pick up the device, which isn’t expected to be available on the mass market until late this year or early next year.But getting a chance to be among the first to experience Google Glass is being treated like a hallowed privilege among the tech set. Some contestants even likened it to winning one of the five golden tickets that entitled children to a lifetime supply of candy and a visit at Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory in the popular movie based on a book by Roald Dahl.”  Read more:  https://techland.time.com/2013/03/27/google-picks-8000-winners-of-glass-contest/

 

“Publix breaks ground, downplaying idea of buying Harris Teeter” by Ely Portillo at Charlotte Observer.  “Publix President Todd Jones, on hand for the ceremonial dirt-turning, emphasized the company’s promote-from-within culture. He said many top executives at Publix have been there since they were teenagers.  “When you acquire, you can’t do that,” Jones said. He said the company hasn’t made a large purchase of a competitor since it bought a meatpacking company the 1930s. Publix stock is all held by employees.  Read more:   https://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/03/29/3946087/publix-breaks-ground-downplaying.html#storylink=cpy

 

“Lowe’s Hit With $400M Suit Over Tracking Website Visitors” by Kathryn Brenzel at Law 360 (subscription required).  “Lowe’s Home Centers Inc. invaded the privacy of certain Missouri consumers by using tracking technology on its website, and owes them more than $400 million in computer repair and software costs, according to a class action removed Thursday to Missouri federal court.”  Read more:  https://www.law360.com/classaction/articles/428264/lowe-s-hit-with-400m-suit-over-tracking-website-visitors

 

“Kroger To Participate In Morgan Stanley Retail & Restaurant Conference”  “The Kroger Co. will participate in the Morgan Stanley 2013 Retail & Restaurant Conference & Field Trip on Thursday, April 4, 2013. Mike Schlotman, Kroger senior vice president and chief financial officer, will address investors.  The presentation will be broadcast live over the Internet beginning at 10:40 a.m. (ET) at https://ir.kroger.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=106409&p=irol-presentations.  Read more:  https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6565475&access=EH

 

Thanks for reading…

 

Follow @retaileyeretail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet 3/28/13: Walmart considers radical delivery plan; Home Depot’s new Mktg Exec.

 

“Wal-Mart may get customers to deliver packages to online buyers” at Reuters.  “Wal-Mart Stores Inc is considering a radical plan to have store customers deliver packages to online buyers, a new twist on speedier delivery services that the company hopes will enable it to better compete with Amazon.com Inc.  Tapping customers to deliver goods would put the world’s largest retailer squarely in middle of a new phenomenon sometimes known as “crowd-sourcing,” or the “sharing economy.”  Read more:  https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/28/us-retail-walmart-delivery-idUSBRE92R03820130328?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews

 

“Home Depot Lands Marketing Executive From Struggling JCPenney” by Michael Flannelly at Dividend Daily.  “It was reported on Tuesday that The Home Depot, Inc. has a new vice president of marketing and brand management, a former executive from the struggling retailer, JCPenney.  Lisa DeStefano-Orebaugh will be joining Home Depot’s team. It was not reported when she will start at the Atlanta-based company, but when she does she will report to Chief Marketing Officer Trish Mueller.”  Read more:  https://www.dividend.com/news/2013/home-depot-lands-executive-from-struggling-jc-penny-hd-jcp/

 

“Why Walmart Wishes It Were a Startup” by Marcus Wohlsen at Wired.  “Over the past year and a half or so, Walmart has gone on a tech hiring frenzy. Its e-commerce operation now employs about 1,500 people, and the company expects to hire hundreds more in the near future, most of them in Northern California. These days, Walmart battles the Googles and Facebooks of Silicon Valley for engineering talent and sometimes wins.  Though these workers are a tiny fraction of Walmart’s more than 2 million employees, they represent the core of the company’s effort to stay relevant in the 21st century. And the way they plan to do it, at least according to the people in charge, is to act more like the startups that surround this California outpost of the global symbol of brick-and-mortar business success.”  Read more:  https://www.wired.com/business/2013/03/why-walmart-wants-to-be-a-startup/

 

“Blake Lively & Sarah Jessica Parker: Target Canada Launch!” at Just Jared.  “Blake Lively and Sarah Jessica Parker hit the red carpet at the launch of Target Canada on Wednesday (March 27) at the Shoppers World Danforth location in Toronto, Canada.  The grand opening of 24 new Target stores in the Ontario area will be celebrated on April 5.”  Read more:  https://www.justjared.com/2013/03/27/blake-lively-sarah-jessica-parker-target-canada-launch/

 

“Sears push into e-commerce pits it against Amazon” by Karen Talley at MarketWatch.  “Sears Holdings Corp., already one of the largest online retailers in North America, is aiming even higher, this week rolling out a new program where it will ship merchandise supplied by other online retailers.  The fulfillment service is meant to build fees and draw more sellers to Sears.com Marketplace, which already provides a forum for online merchants to connect with buyers. It also shows Sears wants to better compete against bigger online guns like Amazon.com Inc., which already offers a similar service.”  Read more:  https://www.marketwatch.com/story/sears-push-into-e-commerce-pits-it-against-amazon-2013-03-27

 

“Survey Ranks ALDI USA Fifth on List of Companies with the Most Loyal Fans”  “Discount grocer ALDI USA ranked fifth on a list of the top 20 companies with the most loyal fans. No other grocery retailer was included on the list, which tracks every major brand on Facebook and how likely those brands’ fans are to recommend them to friends or colleagues.”  Read more:  https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6554038&access=EH

 

“The Trader Joe’s Lesson: How to Pay a Living Wage and Still Make Money in Retail” by Sophie Quinton at The Atlantic.  “QuikTrip, Trader Joe’s, and Costco operate on a different model, Ton says. “They start with the mentality of seeing employees as assets to be maximized,” she says. As a result, their stores boast better operational efficiency and customer service, and those result in better sales. QuikTrip sales per labor hour are two-thirds higher than the average convenience-store chain, Ton found, and sales per square foot are over 50 percent higher.”  Read more:  https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/03/the-trader-joes-lesson-how-to-pay-a-living-wage-and-still-make-money-in-retail/274322/

 

“Here’s Why Nobody In Social Media Marketing Is Making Big Money — Yet” by Jim Edwards at Business Insider via Yahoo.  “Buddy Media’s owner, Salesforce.com, disclosed that Buddy saw a $29 million loss on revenues of $20 million in the period of August 2012 through January 2013; that followed a loss of $20.5 million on revenues of $18 million in the first half of 2012. (Salesforce paid $735.8 million for Buddy, of which $640 million was intangible “goodwill.”)  That’s a lot of investment money chasing a much smaller amount of revenues.  To give you an idea of how fierce the competition is in social media marketing, consider that there are more than 260 “Preferred Marketing Developers” who serve Facebook alone. That doesn’t include those who also serve clients on Twitter, Pinterest or in the blogosphere. (Sources have told us the total number of Facebook PMDs may actually exceed 300.)”  Read more:  https://finance.yahoo.com/news/heres-why-nobody-social-media-121429419.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

“Walmart on Campus concept store to open at Arizona State University in May”  “Walmart on Campus is a small-format test store that allows us to bring our low prices to students in a convenient location. With a full-service pharmacy, basic grocery, financial services and Site-to-Store, Arizona State will be able to enjoy many of the great services they would at our larger formats without leaving campus,” said store manager Mario Espino.”  Read more:  https://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/03/27/walmart-on-campus-concept-store-to-open-at-arizona-state-university-in-may

 

“Big Y Promotes Two” at Supermarket News.  “Big Y Foods here said Wednesday it has promoted Michael J. Galat to vice president of employee services and Jason Corriveau to director of frozen foods and dairy.”  Read more:  https://supermarketnews.com/executive-changes/big-y-promotes-two#ixzz2OqByDWng

 

“Walmart’s “Empowering Women Together” web link”  “Help us improve the lives of women and their families worldwide.  Shop this Store For Good for distinctive products from women-owned businesses in the U.S. and around the world.”  See at:  https://www.walmart.com/cp/Empowering-Women-Together/1094926

 

Thanks for reading…

 

Follow @retaileyeretail

 

 

Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet 3/27/13: Walmart tests in-store lockers, doubles online sku’s

 

 

“Wal-Mart tests in-store lockers for online orders” by Anne D’Innocenzio at AP via Seattle-Times.  “Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will be testing this summer an option for consumers to be able to order product on its website and then have it kept in a physical locker at the store so they can pick it up without having to wait in line or talk to a store clerk.  The test, which will be conducted in about a dozen stories in an undisclosed market, is part of the world’s largest retailer’s overall strategy to offer increasingly demanding web-savvy shoppers the ability to shop any way they want. The company is also expanding its offerings online and improving a new “scan and go” shopping app so customers can immediately download coupons personalized to them.”  Read more:  https://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020643437_apuswalmartlockers.html

 

BRIEF-Wal Mart Stores-e-Commerce exec says has 2 million items on Walmart website, plans to double that this year (Reuters)

 

“A Quarter of Patents This Year Will Be Mobile Related” by Ina Fried at All Things D.  “A new report shows that a quarter of U.S. patents issued this year are likely to be related to mobile technology. That’s up from just 5 percent of all patents in 2001, according to analyst Chetan Sharma.  In Europe, mobile is somewhat less of a focus, accounting roughly 10 percent of all patents.”  Read more:  https://allthingsd.com/20130327/a-quarter-of-patents-this-year-will-be-mobile-related/

 

“What’s A Mobile Ad Worth? Google Would Love To Show You” by Robert Hof at Forbes.  “Google is launching an initiative it calls Full Value of Mobile. It includes a calculator for determining how much revenue, value per click, and return on investment marketers get from various kinds of mobile ad actions, such as clicks to call a business or even in-store visits.  A recent study Google conducted with Nielsen showed that about a third of mobile searches prompted a visit to a store, a call to a business, or an online purchase.”  Read more:  https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthof/2013/03/26/whats-a-mobile-ad-worth-google-would-love-to-show-you/

 

“American Express and Walmart Announce the Addition of FDIC Insurance and Worry-Free Check Writing to Bluebird®”  “Bluebird Accountsi will now be eligible for FDIC insurance, providing an extra layer of security. As a result, permanent Bluebird Accounts will now have the ability to receive direct deposit of government payments, such as social security payments, military pay, and tax refunds. Customers can also balance their Bluebird checkbook in real-time with pre-authorized check writing, add checks to their Bluebird Account by mail and add funds up to $100,000 annually.”  Read more:  https://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsLang=en&newsId=20130326005989&div=-1245645151

 

“‘Quite different’ markets: Target Canada president addresses price gap with U.S.” by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post.  ““There has been a lot of widely publicized discussion around why the retail prices are not on parity,” Mr. Fisher said, which revealed multiple labyrinthine industry factors. Last year, a BMO study estimated Canadian retail prices are roughly 14% higher than in the U.S.  “Transportation costs are higher, distribution costs are higher, fuel costs are higher, wage rates vary across the country, the tax rates are different, cost of goods are different, the duties — I think the scale we have here in Canada is quite different from the incredibly different, densely populated U.S. marketplace,” he said.”  Read more:  https://business.financialpost.com/2013/03/26/quite-different-markets-target-canada-president-addresses-price-gap-with-u-s/

 

“Top 6 Highest Rated Retail CEOs” by Joe Skorupa at RIS.  “This question is answered by Glassdoor, the online jobs and career community, in its recently released report, “50 Highest Rated CEOs.  Here are the top retail CEOs in order of their ranking on the list:

Jeff Bezos, Amazon

Blake Nordstrom, Nordstrom

Glenn Murphy, The Gap

Frank Blake, The Home Depot

Sharon Turney, Victoria’s Secret

Ed Crenshaw, Publix

Read more:  https://risnews.edgl.com/retail-insight-blog/Top-6-Highest-Rated-Retail-CEOs85493

 

“SUPERVALU Announces Companywide Workforce Reduction”  “SUPERVALU Inc. today announced plans to reduce its national workforce by an estimated 1,100 positions. The final working dates for impacted employees vary, based on the needs of the business and the areas they support. The reductions include both current positions and open jobs that will not be filled.”  Read more:  https://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsLang=en&newsId=20130326005770&div=-1245645151

 

“Walmart’s Award Winning ‘Green Room’ Blog Creates Online Platform for Global Sustainability Conversation”  “In an effort to further promote global sustainability best practices, Walmart has developed The Walmart Green Room, an online platform with the mission of creating a more sustainable world to help people live better. The site, designed and developed by Rain, a NYC/Utah-based digital content creation company, has facilitated a conversation on green living with hundreds of thousands of companies and consumers all over the world.”  Read more:  https://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsLang=en&newsId=20130326006058&div=-1245645151

 

“Apple to Triple their Retail Footprint in India by 2015” at Patently Apple.  “Buoyed by the success of the iPhone in India, Apple has decided to scale up its presence in the country and plans to triple its exclusive stores to around 200 by 2015.”  Read more:  https://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2013/03/apple-to-triple-their-retail-footprint-in-india-by-2015.html

 

Thanks for reading…

 

Follow on Twitter @retaileyeretail

Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet 3/26/13: Retail’s New Industrial Revolution; Pinterest & Pingage

 

“Retail’s New Industrial Revolution” by Doug Stephens at Retail Prophet.  “Soon there won’t be any cashiers – and not just cashiers – greeters, merchandisers, inventory counters and store cleaners too. Technology is poised to replace all of them for two reasons. First, because it can. And second because it must. Digital, mobile, virtual and robotic technologies are quickly progressing to the point where they now pose a legitimate threat to anyone whose work is largely repetitive and non-dynamic in nature. And because retailers are increasingly challenged in growing top-line revenue, there’s little alternative but to substantially slash operating costs – and people are the easy place to start…It’s a new industrial revolution and the era of the clerk is over. The age of the Brand Ambassador has just begun.”  Read more:  https://www.retailprophet.com/blog/retails-new-industrial-revolution/

 

“Cincinatti Startup Pingage Signs With P&G to Bring Business to Pinterest” by Jack Neff at Ad Age.  “Pinterest hit 10 million unique monthly visitors last year faster than any website ever and now tops 30 million, per comScore. Yet many big brands still have no presence there, and even ones that do, such as Walmart and L’Oreal’s Maybelline, attract only low-five-figure followings.  Sensing a void, Cincinnati-based start-up Pingage hopes to become to Pinterest what Buddy Media was to Facebook — offering marketers a simple way to manage content and build followings. Thanks to a demo day in January at Procter & Gamble Co. arranged by the Brandery seed-stage accelerator, the startup recently signed two P&G brands for pilot projects to do just that.”  Read more:  https://adage.com/article/startup-watch/pingage-buddy-media-pinterest-p-g-a-client/240513/

 

“CVS/pharmacy Launches Innovative New iPad App Featuring a 3D Virtual Store and Digital Pharmacy Experience”  “CVS/pharmacy today launched a first-of-its-kind interactive app, delivering a unique digital drugstore experience for customers using Apple iPads. With the new CVS iPad app customers can explore a virtual 3D CVS/pharmacy and quickly access services from the Pharmacy, ExtraCare, Photo Center and MinuteClinic, as well as browse their favorite departments to shop.”  Read more:  https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6540834&access=EH

 

“Wal-Mart: Adapting To The New Consumer Market” at Seeking Alpha.  “In the US market, it seems that Wal-Mart is reaching saturation point for opening new stores. If the new stores are not opened strategically, the stores may end up generating revenues by attracting customers from other Wal-Mart stores. The company will do well to strategically re-organize the current stores before thinking on expanding on a large scale any further within the US…Wal-Mart’s revenue is more than double the combined revenue of Costco and Target.”  Read more:  https://seekingalpha.com/article/1298161-wal-mart-adapting-to-the-new-consumer-market?source=google_news

 

“Family Dollar Names Scott T. Zucker Senior Vice President – Merchandise Operations”  “Mr. Zucker will be responsible for driving the strategy and execution of merchandise initiatives, category management, merchandise planning and replenishment. In his new role, he will report to Michael Bloom, President and Chief Operating Officer.”  Read more:  https://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsLang=en&newsId=20130325005339&div=-1245645151

 

“100+ employees laid off because of BI-LO and Winn-Dixie merger” at WYFF (South Carolina).  “In March, BI-LO announced its merger with Winn-Dixie Stores.  The company will be headquartered in Jacksonville, which is centrally located within its eight-state operating area.  BI-LO is currently based in Mauldin.  Wright said approximately 130 associates will be laid off.”  Read more:  https://www.wyff4.com/news/local-news/greenville-news/100-employees-laid-off-because-of-BI-LO-and-Winn-Dixie-merger/-/9654794/19458696/-/jt7uhl/-/index.html

 

“Customers Flee Wal-Mart Empty Shelves for Target, Costco” by Renee Dudley at Bloomberg.  “Margaret Hancock has long considered the local Wal-Mart Stores Inc. superstore her one- stop shopping destination. No longer.  During recent visits, the retired accountant from Newark, Delaware, says she failed to find more than a dozen basic items, including certain types of face cream, cold medicine, bandages, mouthwash, hangers, lamps and fabrics.  The cosmetics section “looked like someone raided it,” said Hancock, 63.   Wal-Mart’s loss was a gain for Kohl’s Corp. Safeway Inc.,  Target Corp. and Walgreen Co. — the chains Hancock hit for the items she couldn’t find at Wal-Mart.”  Read more:  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-26/customers-flee-wal-mart-empty-shelves-for-target-costco.html

 

“Walmart Sues Grocery Workers Union, Others Who Have Protested At Florida Stores” at HuffPo via Reuters.  “The lawsuit filed on Friday in Orange County, Florida state court seeks “to help protect our customers and associates from further disruptive tactics associated with their continued, illegal trespassing,” Walmart spokesman Dan Fogleman said.  Defendants, however, charged that the world’s biggest retailer is trying to muzzle its critics.  “This is another attempt on Wal-Mart’s behalf of … silencing their employees and also the communities that support them,” Denise Diaz, executive director of Central Florida Jobs With Justice Corp and a defendant named in the suit, said before reviewing the documents.”  Read more:  https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/25/walmart-sues-protesters-florida-stores_n_2950992.html

 

“Google Universal Analytics Now Open to Everyone” by Thom Craver at Search Engine Watch.  “Directly from their announcement, Google describes the following benefits to using Universal Analytics: 1)  Understanding how customers interact with your businesses across many devices and touch-points.  2)  Insights into the performance of your mobile apps.  3)  Improvements of lead generation and ROI by incorporating offline and online interactions so you can understand which channels drive the best results.  4)  Improved latency on your site by reducing client-side demands.”  Read more:  https://searchenginewatch.com/article/2257342/Google-Universal-Analytics-Now-Open-to-Everyone

 

“Food Lion Names Charles Inman 2012 Store Manager of the Year”  “In addition to Inman being selected as Food Lion’s Store Manager of the year, 11 other leaders were also recognized for exceptional leadership. The regional and division winners include…”  Read more: https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6540194&access=EH 

 

Thanks for reading…

 

Follow on Twitter @retaileyeretail

 

 

Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet 3/25/13: Lunch with Home Depot’s CMO; Dollar General Profit Up

 

“Lunch with Trish Mueller, CMO of Home Depot” at Marketing Technology Insights.  “One thing that Trish said that surprised a few marketers was that “[she didn’t] believe in segmentation.” She elaborates, “I don’t think it’s appropriate to slap labels on people. We look at the behavior. We look at what you did…Trish was also asked what advice she could give to female marketers and businesswomen. She says, “Screw ‘leaning’ in – step in.”  Read more:  https://www.marketingtechnologyinsights.com/2013/03/lunch-with-trish-mueller-cmo-of-home.html

 

“Dollar General Profit Up on Food Sales” at CNBC.  “Dollar General said on Monday that its sales growth this year could surpass the strength it saw in 2012, as selling more food and other basics helps drive gains despite consumers’ concerns about the economy…Sales at stores open at least a year, or same-store sales, rose 3 percent.  The same-store sales surpassed a 1 percent rise in such sales at Walmart U.S. in its fourth quarter, yet came in at the low end of Dollar General’s forecast of 3 to 4 percent growth.”  Read more:  https://www.cnbc.com/id/100587156

 

“Publix fights back against Walmart’s price-comparison campaign”  by Susan Thurston at Tampa Bay Times.  “Nearly a year after Walmart began its price-comparison ad campaign against smaller grocers, the Lakeland-based supermarket chain is battling back.  Publix has launched what amounts to a “bring it on” campaign to reassure customers that the store has affordable prices — if you shop the sales and buy-one-get-one deals. The no-frills message is clear: “Walmart doesn’t always have the lowest price.”  The ads started popping up a few weeks ago on area billboards and radio. Signs posted in Publix stores compare items in their weekly fliers to Walmart’s, much like Walmart does in its ad campaign.”  Read more:  https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/retail/publix-fights-back-against-walmarts-price-comparison-campaign/2110684

 

“Walmart ad chops Stop & Shop” by Donna Goodison at Boston Herald.  “Walmart takes aim at competing local grocery stores in a new price-comparison advertising campaign, but a Somerville consumer advocate warns such ads are “inherently deceptive.”  The Bentonville, Ark.-based retail giant specifically targets Quincy-based Stop & Shop, showing how a shopper saved 14 percent at its Walpole store on items that she had purchased at a Stop & Shop in the same town.  Walmart launched the price-comparison campaign more than a year ago in Charlotte, N.C., and now is shooting commercials in some 50 markets across the country.”  Read more:  https://bostonherald.com/business/business_markets/2013/03/walmart_ad_chops_stop_shop

 

“Home Depot Manager’s Walk Recap” from Not Just a Housewife blog.  “So as the day was wrapping up, I still had not had a chance to talk with my buddy Frank. I had met him at a previous event and was excited to see him again. He is seriously the NICEST guy ever. He had taken off after the interview with CNBC and was walking around like everyone else. We had the event planners with their walkie talkies trying to spot him for me. Finally right before I was about to leave Kelly and I spotted him.  Insert random fact……. I am a hugger. I like to squeeze the crap out of people when I am excited to see them or meet them. I didn’t hug Frank Blake the first time because no one else was and I was so shocked to be actually meeting him. But I figured that since it was our second meeting, a hug was warranted. And really, I think he went in for the hug first.  I think.”  Read more:  https://www.notjustahousewife.net/2013/03/the-day-i-met-martha-stewart.html

 

“Amazon’s Head of Mobile Speaks” by Rachel Metz at MIT Technology Review.  “What are the most surprising things you’ve learned about people’s shopping behavior on mobile devices?  I think people tend to assume there are certain categories that do better on mobile than others, but the reality is, customers are buying everything on their mobile phones. We’ve sold, believe it or not, engagement rings, bicycles, razor blades, jeans, dresses. People buy the whole variety of what Amazon has. Another recent observation that’s been interesting is that one of our busiest days happens to be on Christmas Day, for mobile phones and tablets in particular. My theory, at least, is you open up all your presents, you didn’t get what you want, and you’re able to quickly buy what you really wanted for Christmas.”  Read more:  https://www.technologyreview.com/news/511821/amazons-head-of-mobile-interfaces/

 

“Northeast Solar Sales Surge Through Home Depot” by Stephen Lacey at Green Tech Solar.  “A year and a half ago, Roof Diagnostics participated in a Home Depot pilot program with one other company in fourteen New Jersey stores. It set out a kiosk with a laptop, 40-inch television, and a solar specialist who could do a simple assessment of a home from the store.  The immediate reaction was “explosive,” said Pegler Jr., with 68 sales coming in the first 60 days. A couple weeks later, they were given twenty-one stores. And the company will be offering solar in 100 locations by the end of the year in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts — with most of those kiosks located in the first aisle of the stores.  “Home Depot brings a lot of foot traffic,” he said. “They could put anything in the front of the store, but they’re choosing solar. We had to do it store by store and earn their respect.”  Read more:  https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Northeast-Solar-Sales-Surge-through-Home-Depot

 

“Google Spreads Its Superspeed Internet Into New Playground” by Klint Finley at Wired.  “This week, the company announced that it will expand Fiber beyond Kansas City, Missouri, and into Olathe, Kansas, one of the state’s fastest-growing cities. Olathe is about a 30-minute drive away from Kansas City, so it’s not a big geographic leap from Google’s existing service.  But Olathe citizens shouldn’t get too excited yet. There’s no word on exactly when the service will be available. “We still have a lot of planning and engineering work to do before we’re ready to bring Fiber to Olathe,” reads Google’s announcement. “Once we get those processes underway, we’ll be able to announce more about pre-registration and construction timing.”  Read more:  https://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2013/03/google-fiber/

 

“Wegmans allegedly loaned David Bouley $7M to keep restaurant empire afloat” by Kathianne Boniello at NY Post.  “A national supermarket chain allegedly loaned celebrity chef David Bouley a lot of lettuce to keep his restaurant empire afloat.  Bouley was so hard up for cash at one point that his friends at Wegmans supermarkets covered millions in payroll at his Manhattan restaurants, a former employee claims in a lawsuit.  New Jersey resident Mark Stiel alleges Bouley’s money issues sprang in part because he used cash from his businesses “to cover his personal expenses,” according to the Manhattan federal lawsuit filed last week.”  Read more:  https://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/bouley_got_wegmans_bread_suit_07QAswm4tPHGmmEw2cPkII

 

“New Kroger Executive Started as Bagger in ’80s” by Jonathan Cribbs at Patch.  “Ruben Fernandez started as a bagger in the Toco Hill Kroger in 1982. It was the start of a 30-year journey up the supermarket’s chain that continues today.  Kroger announced Thursday the promotion of Fernandez to vice president of merchandising for the grocery store chain’s Atlanta Division. In this new role, Fernandez will oversee merchandising efforts for all 213 stores in Georgia, Eastern Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina.”  Read more:  https://northdruidhills.patch.com/articles/new-kroger-executive-started-as-toco-hill-bagger-in-80s

 

Thanks for reading…

 

Follow on Twitter @retaileyeretail

Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet 3/22/13: Tesco’s US Disaster; Mixing Bricks with Clicks

 

“Five years in, Fresh & Easy markets are a flop” by Shan Li at LA Times.  “British supermarket giant Tesco thought it had the Yanks all figured out.  Determined to crack the U.S. market, it dispatched executives to live with American families, peek into their refrigerators and trail them on trips to the grocery store. It boasted of revolutionizing how Americans shopped.  But slightly more than five years after it opened its first Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market in California, Tesco is considering selling the money-losing chain and leaving the United States altogether.”  Read more:  https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fresh-easy-woes-20130321,0,197757.story

 

“Target Taps MillerCoors Alum to Lead Brand, Category Marketing” by Natalie Zmuda at Ad Age.  “Target has tapped Rick Gomez, an alum of MillerCoors and PepsiCo, as its senior VP-brand and category marketing.  Mr. Gomez will lead marketing for all merchandise categories and brand initiatives, such as exclusive artists and licensing, as well as creative collaborations. He will also oversee multicultural marketing and Target’s owned brands, which include Archer Farms and Up & Up. He fills the role vacated by Will Setliff last year.”  Read more:  https://adage.com/article/news/target-taps-millercoors-alum-lead-brand-marketing/240470/

 

“Mixing bricks with clicks” at The Economist via @RetailProphet.  “Pure online retailers do not pay rent but their variable costs eat up much of that advantage, says Sophie Albizua of eNova Partnership, a consultancy. Without storefronts to lure in customers they shell out to buy ads linked to Google search results. Delivery, especially of bulky goods, is a headache. Couriers show up at empty houses, and fees often fail to cover the full cost. Shoppers return a quarter or more of clothing they buy, another big expense.  All this looks easier if you have real shops. With “click and collect” customers can order with, say, a smartphone but pick up the item at a convenient outlet. Often, they linger to shop more. Britons pick up something extra about 40% of the time, says Ms Albizua.”  Read more:  https://www.economist.com/news/business/21574018-some-online-retailers-are-venturing-high-street-mixing-bricks-clicks

 

“To Beat Amazon, Walmart Is Treating Its Stores Like Apps” by Marcus Wohlsen.  “Walmart is a technology company. Let’s just put that out there right now. The company has crushed all competitors through its mastery of supply-chain logistics and inventory management, which above all are engineering problems.  But until recently, most of Walmart’s tech has lived behind the scenes. That’s changed because of smartphones. As Walmart pushes mobile as an integral part of shopping at its stores, the company has started to treat changes at those stores much like app makers handle the rollout of new features.”  Read more:  https://www.wired.com/business/2013/03/walmart-treats-stores-like-apps/

 

“Canadian Tire to launch digital hub, roll out in-store tablets for smoother shopping” by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post.  “It is part of a broad leap into the digital realm this year for the veteran retailer, which famously killed its online shopping website in 2009 because of low productivity. Since then it has been trying to find a modern way to broaden its loyalty program — beyond folksy paper Canadian Tire money — to track its customers’ buying habits, and has no uniform system to track inventory in its stores without a confirmed visual check.”  Read more:  https://business.financialpost.com/2013/03/21/canadian-tire-digital-hub/

 

“When Walmart Gets Mad” by Burt Helm at Inc.  “So-called chargebacks such as Akasha’s are common in retail, says Curtis Greve, a retail consultant based in Wexford, Penn., who spent twelve years working in Walmart’s supply chain department. Big box stores’ vendor agreements hold suppliers financially responsible for shortfalls. Technically, that means they can sue for damages. In reality, deals are often worked out informally. “Everything’s negotiable,” says Vanessa Ting, a consultant at Los Angeles-based Retail Path, who previously worked in merchandising for Target. “There were a lot of times when I was justified in getting all of the lost profits back, but I would either waive it or just split the difference.”  Read more:  https://www.inc.com/burt-helm/when-walmart-gets-mad.html

 

“Supervalu Completes Sale of Chains to Cerberus” by Elliot Zwiebach & Mark Hamstra at Supermarket News.  “Supervalu said it would transfer operations overnight and would “open for business on Friday as a more efficient wholesale and retail company with annual sales of approximately $17 billion.” It will continue to operate and license the Save-A-Lot limited assortment banner and five regional supermarket chains: Cub, Farm Fresh, Shoppers, Shop ‘n Save and Hornbacher’s.”  Read more: https://supermarketnews.com/retail-amp-financial/supervalu-completes-sale-chains-cerberus#ixzz2OCaSGy6G

 

“Target Canada’s Grand Opening Disappoints Loyal Border Shoppers” by Renee Alexander at Brand Channel.  “It’s not that Target Canada’s prices aren’t competitive against other Canadian retailers—they’re on par with what Walmart Canada, Canadian Tire and the Loblaw’s grocery store chain charge—but in many cases they’re more expensive than Target locations in the U.S…The company defended its pricing strategy in Canada by noting transportation and labor costs—two factors driving higher Canadian prices. Higher rental rates are another.”  Read more:  https://www.brandchannel.com/home/post/2013/03/21/Target-Canada-Launch-Flop-032113.aspx

 

“JC Penney Says Turnaround Could Take Longer” at Reuters via CNBC.  “J.C. Penney said in an annual report filed that fixing its performance could take more time than initially expected, and it suggested that any change in strategy could be expensive.”  Read more:  https://www.cnbc.com/id/100576620

 

“Over half of luxury fashion brands lack Chinese e-commerce” at CPP-Luxury.  ““Due to continued counterfeits, cannibalization and issues with logistics, most major luxury brands have been reluctant to invest in ecommerce,” said Emma Li, research lead at L2 Think Tank, New York. “Over the past year, retail investment slowed down in China as brands took a more wait-and-see attitude due to the country’s slower economic growth and crackdown on public spending on luxury goods,” she said.”  Read more:  https://www.cpp-luxury.com/over-half-of-luxury-fashion-brands-lack-chinese-e-commerce/

 

“National Retail Federation Applauds Introduction of the JOLT Act”  ““By expanding the Visa Waiver Program to cover more citizens from emerging economies and markets like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Israel, and Poland, and reforming our antiquated visa review and approval processes, the JOLT Act will work to entice more foreign travelers and shoppers to our shores.”  Read more:  https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130321006162/en/NRF-Applauds-Introduction-JOLT-Act?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

Thanks for reading…

 

Follow on Twitter @retaileyeretail

Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet 3/21/13: Home Depot Div. President Speaks; Walmart Expands iPhone Checkout

 

“Home Depot’s Joe McFarland, President Western Division, presents at ISI Retail Summit”  Highlights:

Pro

*  Pro business continues to grow.  For the first time Pro business grew at same rate as consumer in Q4 ’12

*  Home Depot to launch a Pro app in late Q2

*  Continued focus on growing the Pro business

Path to 60/40

*  Goal is to delegate labor hours to 60% service / 40% tasks.  Plan to hit goal in ’13.

*  ’08 — 45/55;  ’12 — 57/43

Emotional Selling 

*  We’re not a product retailer, we’re a project retailer

*  We’ve asked associates to engage in emotional connections

*  Define emotional connections as doing the unexpected

*  Gave example of a store associate who helped an elderly couple find a vacuum, then took it out of the box and showed them how to use it

2013 Targets

*  Sales growth — 2%

*  Comp sales — 3%

*  New store openings — 9 (2 in US, 7 in Mexico)

*  Gross margin expansion — moderate

*  Op margin expansion — 65 bps

Scorecard

*  Continue to take complexity out of the business

*  For 2013, Home Depot reduced the metrics on their scorecard by 40%

*  Metrics on scorecard are:  Sales, Comp Sales, Store Markdowns and Shrink.  Additionally, six key product categories are tracked each quarter and measured every week.

Saturation

*  Have reached a point of store saturation in US

*  Focused on productivity within the four walls

*  No plans to expand Expo Format or any other store format

*  11% of business is private label.  Continued focus on being a brand house.  Will continue to look for categories where brand isn’t key to expand private label program (example given as plastic bins).

Hear webcast and view PowerPoint:  https://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?p=irol-eventDetails&c=63646&eventID=4929444

 

“Wal-Mart expands iPhone-based checkout” at Reuters via Chicago Tribune.  “Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it is tripling the number of U.S. stores in a pilot program that lets shoppers scan items with their iPhones and pay at self-checkout counters.  Walmart’s “Scan & Go” program will soon be in more than 200 stores, up from about 70. The pilot began near its home office in Bentonville, Ark., in late 2012, then expanded to Atlanta.”  Read more:  https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-walmart-expands-iphonebased-checkout-20130320,0,2847772.story

 

“2013 Harris Poll EquiTrend® Study Ranks Costco, Walmart and Home Depot #1”  See the full list:  https://www.harrisinteractive.com/Insights/EquiTrendRankings.aspx

 

“Amazon CEO recovers sunken Apollo engines” at KOMO News.  “Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos says his private expedition team has successfully recovered two Apollo program rocket engines from the ocean floor.  Writing on the Bezos Expeditions website, Bezos said the team is headed back to Cape Canaveral after recovering the engines from nearly 3 miles below the surface.  “We’ve seen an underwater wonderland – an incredible sculpture garden of twisted F-1 engines that tells the story of a fiery and violent end, one that serves testament to the Apollo program,” he wrote.”  Read more:  https://www.komonews.com/news/local/Amazon-CEO-Jeff-Bezos-recovers-sunken-Apollo-Saturvn-V-F-1-engines-199179081.html

 

“Wal-Mart to focus more on Hispanic shoppers” by Kim Souza at City Wire.  “56% of Hispanics shop with their mobile devices, versus 33% of Non-Hispanics. Some 43% of Hispanics shop with a tablet compared to 25% Non-Hispanics.  Research conducted last year by LatinoShop found several differences in Latino consumer behaviors compared to other consumers.  Hispanics shop with their senses.  55% Hispanics vs. 38% Non-Hispanics – like to touch and feel a product.  49% Hispanics vs. 19% Non-Hispanics – judge product quality by product packaging.”  Read more:  https://www.thecitywire.com/node/26976#.UUrRwxyG3X4

 

“Target Canada: ‘It is like a renovated Zellers'” by Dianne Nice at Globe and Mail.  “Of the 42 per cent of survey respondents who had been to a Canadian Target store, 27 per cent said they were satisfied with the prices compared to other Canadian retailers; 41 per cent said they were satisfied with the level of service; and 37 per cent said they were satisfied with the product selections.  The new Target stores, readers say, are a lot like the old Zellers stores they replaced. Some shoppers expressed disappointment that the stores did not carry the same products or prices as their U.S. counterparts.”  Read more:  https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/target-canada-it-is-like-a-renovated-zellers/article9983413/

 

“Feds battle Walgreens in painkiller distribution case” by Michael Doyle at McClatchy.  “A federal crackdown on the Florida pain pill market will pit Walgreens against the Drug Enforcement Administration in a high-level and multi-front legal battle that comes to a capital courtroom this week.  Represented in part by the former U.S. solicitor general, the nation’s largest retail pharmacy company is challenging the DEA’s effort to stop a major South Florida distribution center from shipping controlled substances like oxycodone, a powerful painkiller.  Read more: https://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/19/186341/feds-battle-walgreens-in-painkiller.html#storylink=cpy

 

“Google’s Keep Could Take On Both Pinterest And Evernote, If It Gets The Google+ Social Plumbing” by Drew Olanoff at TechCrunch.  “Google finally released its personal note-taking app Keep today…One of the things that jumped out at me after giving it a quick try is that you can switch to a layout that’s very similar to Pinterest, another app that wants you to hoard a bunch of things. The only difference between Keep and Pinterest is that Pinterest is social. While Pinterest isn’t the only social bookmarking site in the world, it’s the one that has the most consumer appeal. That can’t be lost on Google.”  Read more:  https://techcrunch.com/2013/03/20/googles-keep-could-take-on-both-pinterest-and-evernote-if-it-gets-the-google-social-plumbing/

 

“Walmart pushes Senate to move against eBay-led sales tax exemption” by Richard Rubin at Bloomberg via Anchorage Daily News.  “Brick-and-mortar retailers like Walmart see an opportunity to claim victory in a lobbying duel against online companies that don’t collect sales tax from their customers.  Retailers are urging U.S. senators to take a non-binding vote this week to demonstrate support for allowing states to impose sales taxes on out-of-state online sellers. Opponents including EBay have prevented House or Senate action so far in a decade-long dispute.”  Read more: https://www.adn.com/2013/03/20/2832774/walmart-pushes-senate-to-move.html#storylink=cpy

 

Thanks for reading…

 

Follow on Twitter @retaileyeretail

 

 

Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet 3/20/13: 2013 Best Retail Brands; Lowe’s Online Sales +50%

 

“Interbrand Releases the 2013 Best Retail Brands Report”  “Walmart maintains its #1 position by a huge margin with a brand value over $141 billion, up 1% from last year. Target is in the #2 position with a value of $25 billion, up 7% from 2012. The Home Depot is solid at #3 with a brand value of nearly $23 billion. Amazon makes a big jump to #4 from last year’s #9.”  Read the full list of 50:  https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6502235&access=EH

 

“Sam’s Club and Amazon Earn Top Honors in Retail Industry for Customer Experience, According to New Temkin Group Research”  “Based on a study of 10,000 U.S consumers, Sam’s Club and Amazon earned the top spots in the retail sector of the 2013 Temkin Experience Ratings. At the other end of the spectrum, RadioShack was the lowest-rated retailer for the third consecutive year.”  Read more:  https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6503028&access=EH

 

“Lowe’s boosts online sales more than 50% in 2012” by Stefany Moore at Internet Retailer.  “Internet Retailer estimates the web accounted for around 1.5% of the home improvement retailer’s total sales in 2012, or $757.5 million. That would represent a 51.5% increase from $500.0 million in 2011, which was also an Internet Retailer estimate. Much of that growth was driven by an increased availability of products online, as well as an increase in conversion, he said.  “Conversion rate was up, and we also dramatically expanded the number of items that we have out there Niblock said. “We’re over 600,000 now, I think. So tremendous opportunity there.” Last year, Lowe’s had 250,000 SKUs available online, according to data in the Top 500 Guide.”  Read more:  https://www.internetretailer.com/2013/03/19/lowes-boosts-online-sales-more-50-2012

 

Walmart’s Green Student Challenge:  “Green thinking gets students the green” by Jason Miller at The Intelligencer.  “The top five finish earned the aspiring businessmen $8,000 in prize money to invest in their Canada Green Lawn Care business launching this summer in the Kitchener, Waterloo and Guelph area where they are pursuing post-secondary studies.  “We won over the judges with our zero emissions lawn care services,” Coady said. “We put the money won towards starting the business.”  Read more:  https://www.intelligencer.ca/2013/03/17/green-thinking-gets-students-the-green

 

“Nearly half of online shoppers give up for lack of personal interaction” by Shukti Sharma at Retail Digital.  “The research survey, which sampled the views of 1,000 online shoppers, found that 43% of respondents have abandoned their online shopping baskets in the last 12 months, with almost half (44%) citing lack of customer interaction as the primary reason…Dylan Fuller, UK Country Manager at Whisbi, says, “The research results demonstrate that the average retailer is surprisingly blasé about their checkout system and as a consequence is suffering from a poor conversation rate.”  Read more: https://www.retail-digital.com/online_retailing/nearly-half-of-online-shoppers-give-up-for-lack-of-personal-interaction

 

“Walmart in Africa – Unpacking the Monolithic Market” by Matt Mossman at All Africa.  “Walmart has sent some suppliers to its US headquarters to learn about the company’s buying methods, and South African businesses have already reported closer scrutiny of their existing practices in order to boost efficiency and logistics. One example is night deliveries. They save time and money, but were uncommon previously in South Africa due to nighttime carjackings.  In August 2012, the company announced a $313mn expansion plan in Africa that will add 40 stores on the continent by the end of 2013.”  Read more:  https://allafrica.com/stories/201303200169.html

 

“Lowe’s VP to utilities: Stop building and start partnering” by Kathleen Wolf Davis at Intelligent Utility.  “As utilities look more to empowering the consumer, they’re growing a number of in-house building efforts from smart thermostat initiatives to efficiency programs. Kevin Meagher, vice president of smart homes for Lowe’s (yes, the place where you buy your gardening tools) says utilities are making all of this consumer engagement just too darn hard.  He suggests, instead of working to make all these programs happen with websites and door hangers and extra employee time, that utilities think about strategic partnerships with businesses like his to increase energy efficiency and drive consumer adoption.”  Read more:  https://www.intelligentutility.com/article/13/03/retail-vp-utilities-stop-building-and-start-partnering

 

“Supreme Court textbook copyright ruling bodes well for Costco” by Mark Sherman at AP via The Seattle Times.  “The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that textbooks and other goods made and sold abroad can be resold online and in discount stores without violating U.S. copyright law. The outcome was a huge relief to eBay, Costco Wholesale and other businesses that trade in products made outside the U.S.”  Read more:  https://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020595859_scotustextbookxml.html

 

“EBay goes after Amazon with fee changes for sellers” at Reuters.  “Many sellers will pay lower fees after the changes, especially those who are not volume sellers and list fewer than 12,250 times per month, according to Scot Wingo, chief executive of ChannelAdvisor, which helps merchants sell on online marketplaces including eBay and Amazon.  “These fee changes definitely make eBay more competitive,” said Wingo.  EBay’s move comes as sellers on Amazon’s marketplace become increasingly upset with fee increases.”  Read more:  https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/19/us-ebay-fees-idUSBRE92I0UH20130319

 

“We Asked, Marketing Execs Answered: If You Could Solve One Challenge in the Advertising Business, What Would It Be?” by Maureen Hoch at Harvard Business Review.  “To shed a little light on what it takes to manage this process, we asked a group of top CMOs and advertising executives — from Xerox, Leo Burnett USA, Cleveland Clinic, Adobe, and Nike — a question: If you could solve one challenge in the advertising business, what would it be?”  Read more:  https://blogs.hbr.org/hbr/hbreditors/2013/03/we_asked_marketing_execs_answe.html?utm_source=Socialflow&utm_medium=Tweet&utm_campaign=Socialflow

 

Thanks for reading…

 

Follow on Twitter @retaileyeretail