"Target’s Canadian problem: empty shelves" by Marina Strauss at The Globe and Mail via @RetailProphet.  "Target Corp. is struggling with a problem that few retailers face: too much demand for too little inventory, risking dampening customers’ enthusiasm as the U.S. discounter gets ready to open a new wave of stores...“We definitely were slammed,” said John Morioka, senior vice-president of merchandising at Target Canada. “We thought there would be an initial bump. The bump has not levelled off to the degree that we thought.”  Read more:  https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/targets-canadian-problem-empty-shelves/article9936379/   "Target Set to Open Additional 21 Stores in Ontario"  "Target is pleased [...]

  "Even Wal-Mart Thinks 'Made In The USA' Can Be Competitive Again" by Sam Ro at Business Insider.  "As rising overseas labor costs and higher shipping costs are forcing U.S. companies to bring manufacturing back to the states. This is being touted as the American manufacturing renaissance...WMT U.S. kicked off the initiative this week with Georgia state sourced towels, priced at $8.97 for bath size. They are offered in 600 stores and will be in an additional 600 stores by Sept., supported by local marketing."  Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/wal-mart-selling-made-in-the-usa-2013-3#ixzz2Nq3ccJUl   "Amazon's sellers unhappy about fee hikes, eye rivals" at Reuters.  "A brewing [...]

  "Does Wal-Mart's New 'Empowering Women' Program Signal a Turning Point in Socially Conscious Retailing?" by Barbara Thau at Forbes."Wal-Mart has launched a shop on Walmart.com that will offer more than 20 items from 19 small, women-owned businesses – including nine in the U.S. — from nine countries.  It’s all for sale on Wal-Mart’s “Store For Good.” These include apparel and accessories such as a $20 woven dress from Gahaya Links, a Rwandan company that helps economically-challenged women who are still rebounding from that country’s1994 genocide; jewelry like an $18 sliver necklace from Colorado-based Women’s Bean Project, an organization devoted [...]

  "Lowe's Presents at UBS Global Consumer Conference (3/13/13)" at Seeking Alpha.   Robert Niblock's (Lowe's Chairman and CEO) comments on the new line review process: *  I think it is obviously a more rigorous process than what our vendors have gone through before. *  If you think about in the past, if a vendor had a line review with one merchant versus a different one, there might've been some differences in the process. Much greater consistency in the processes now. *  So it has been -- well, actually, it is a rigorous process that they go through. We are [...]

  Walmart's Charles Holley Jr., Executive VP & CFO, Presents at 2013 Consumer & Retail Conference (3/12/13).  Highlights from Bank of America / Merrill Lynch conference: *  Believes delayed tax returns impacted Jan. sales slowdown much more than the new payroll tax. *  Recent partnership with Nielsen allows Walmart to work more "surgically" with vendors to find market gaps and track market share. *  Continued focus on "Back to Basics" -- when Walmart gets away from it they lose their consumer. *  Have brought back the skus needed to regain consumer trust. *  Current macro economic headwinds that impact Walmart [...]

  "NASCAR Sees Growth In Fan Involvement From Partnership With Walmart" by Alicia Jessop at Forbes.  "The birth of the Walmart partnership was predicated upon an internal business decision made by NASCAR. ”Before forming NASCAR Team Properties to consolidate a lot of the merchandising rights in the business, all of our rights from a retail standpoint for our teams were handled individually. If a company wanted to come in and make products with NASCAR and a driver, they would have to do individual deals with the teams and NASCAR. NASCAR Team Properties has allowed us to go to the retailers [...]

  "Target Letting Its Geek Flag Fly" by Rick Moss at Forbes.  "Target’s test partnership offering Geek Squad services to its customers began last year in Denver. Given that both companies agreed to extend the trial to more markets is an early indication that the arrangement is working out.  On Target’s fourth quarter earnings call, company chairman, chief executive and president Gregg Steinhafel said that the retailer had received “positive feedback from our guests” in Denver. The retailer rolled out the service to 20 stores in Kansas City beginning on Feb.17. If the next phase goes well, it is assumed, [...]

  "Walmart Launches Online Site That Connects Shoppers with Products Supporting Small Women-Owned Businesses Around the World"  "As merchants, we're always looking for new products to share with our customers that are quality, on-trend and priced right," said Kelly Thompson, senior vice president of merchandising, Walmart.com. "The products from the Empowering Women Together collection deliver all of that while also giving our customers the chance to do good with their dollars – it's a positive and powerful proposition for everyone."  Empowering Women Together will be part of Store for Good, a developing Walmart.com program dedicated to connecting consumers with products [...]