Costco’s Jim Sinegal on Amazon: “They probably did get the idea (for Amazon Prime) from us” at CNBC.  “I think what will stop them is if, No. 1, the pressure of becoming profitable becomes so great that they’ve got to change their game plan,” he said. “I think that eventually they have to figure out how to become a little more profitable in their business.”  See the interview / Read more

 

“Dollar General CEO departure likely throws wrench into Icahn’s plans” by Phil Wahba at Fortune.  “There is no way he or she [Dollar General’s future CEO] is going, at least early on, to bet their entire career on a large, transformative acquisition of a perennially underperforming retailer,” said Anthony Chukumba, an analyst with BB&T Capital Markets. “It’s completely off the table.” Read more

 

“Wal-Mart Holds Supplier Diversity Forum in D.C.” at the Washington Informer.  “The event, held at the Washington, DC Economic Partnership offices in Northwest, was attended by more than 30 businesses owned by women, Hispanic-Americans, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Native-Americans, veterans, disabled veterans and individuals with disabilities.” Read more

 

“Even Big Lots is going to sell toys from the movie ‘Frozen’ “ by Dan Eaton at Columbus Bus. First.  “This is a shift in approach for Big Lots. It isn’t a closeout product snatched up by the retailer after it couldn’t be sold elsewhere. It’s a negotiated deal with a vendor to capitalize on a popular trend.” Read more

 

“We’re Crushing It!”  How Three Total Bros and Their Mom Created Costco’s New Favorite Salad Dressing” by David Zax at Fast Company.  “I called Whole Foods and told them I was a food manufacturer, which wasn’t true. I got a meeting with one of the grocery buyers, and I walked in with a Tupperware container of salad. The guy’s like, “Where’s the packaging?” I’m like, “Dude, you’re busy, it’s lunch, I brought you a salad.” He looks at me like I’m on something, but soon he’s taking these pieces of wet lettuce and licking the dressing off. He says, “You have something special.” Read more

 

***A message from Dig It® Handwear.  Revolutionary garden glove protection for manicured female hands!  Patented line of high-quality gardening gloves provides unique “pillow-top” protection for female gardeners.  Nationally distributed in Canada…Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary is an investor…now being offered to US Retailers for the first time.  View the line at www.digithandwear.com.  Peggable gloves merchandise easily–see the off-shelf display. Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net  for more information.

 

Study:  90% of Walmart’s women customers in the U.S. said they’d go out of their way to buy merchandise made by women  Read more

 

“Tesco Management Under-Fire, Pleads for Patience” at Reuters via CNBC.  “With shares trading at close to six-year lows, Chairman Richard Broadbent accepted that the company was not doing well enough but said it was investing for the long-term. Chief Executive Philip Clarke described the changes he was making as the “most radical for a generation”. Read more

 

“Lowe’s employee charged with illegally selling 17 lawnmowers” by Carter Watkins at WHNT 19 News Alabama.  “A former Lowe’s employee is accused of pocketing nearly $40,000 after selling 17 lawnmowers…Investigators say while Dobes worked at Lowe’s, he would sell mowers to family and friends and never ring up the purchase.” Read more

 

“Gwyneth Paltrow buys toilet paper at Costco like the rest of us” by Arienne Thompson at USA Today.  “Guys, she shops at Costco just like the rest of us — and even took a normal-girl photo to prove it! How cool of her to get on our level and make us feel better.” See the pic / Read more

 

“Partnering with Amazon?  Think twice fashion retailers” by Sharmila C. Chatterjee at Fortune.  “If J.Crew and Neiman Marcus strike a deal with the online giant, the retailers risk losing control of their brand…by placing their products on Amazon’s site, they are helping to legitimize Amazon as a shopping channel in this upscale market.” Read more

 

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About Eye-on-Retail

Eye-on-Retail is a daily tipsheet that is must-read material for thousands of Retail Merchants/Executives every weekday morning. Eye-on-Retail is unique because it’s timely, smart and fun. It’s created bright and early every morning and delivered around 7 am CST. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s really happening in the world of retail. Enjoy!

Send story tips, news releases, comments & questions to: info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

 

 

 

“Home Depot and BJ’s Wholesale look to help honeybee population” by Carey Gillam at Reuters via Globe & Mail.  “Home Depot is requiring its suppliers to start such labeling by the fourth quarter of this year, said Ron Jarvis, the company’s vice president of merchandising/sustainability. Home Depot is also running tests in several states to see if suppliers can eliminate neonics in their plant production without hurting plant health…BJ’s Wholesale Club said it was asking all of its vendors to provide plants free of neonics by the end of 2014 or to label such products as requiring “caution around pollinators” like bees.” Read more

 

“How Rodney McMullen took Kroger to the top” by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati.com.  “The company, by the way, is kicking its Arkansas-based competitor’s ass – something Wall Street has noticed…”You would never know what a talent he was if you just knew him casually, he’s not the type to brag, he’s not aggressive,” said Bill Sinkula, a mentor and Kroger’s former chief financial officer. “He was a key player on every major decision after 1987 when he was just a kid.” Read more

 

“Costco Makes Up With Apple” by Mike Beasley at 9 to 5 Mac.  “It seems Costco has once again started selling specific Apple products several years after it dropped the company’s wares over Apple’s decision to not let the retailer carry the iPad. Not every model, carrier, capacity, or color are represented in Coscto’s stock, and all of the devices are only available online.” Read more

 

“Ikea Raises Hourly Pay 17% for US Retail Workers” by Anne D’Innocenzio at AP via ABC.  “The 17 percent average raise, expected to be announced Thursday, is the Swedish ready-to-assemble furniture chain’s biggest in 10 years in the U.S. The pay increase will take effect Jan. 1. It will translate to an average wage of $10.76 an hour, a $1.59 increase from the previous $9.17.” Read more

 

“Consumers may have to wait for more secure credit cards” by Jack Newsham at Boston Globe.  “A report by a Boston-based consultancy, Aite Group, estimates 30 percent of credit cards and nearly 60 percent of debit cards will not have the new technology (chip cards) by October 2015.” Read more

 

***A message from Orchard Road Canning Co. – Energize Home Canning Sales with Millennials and Young Canners.  Where’s the next growth spurt in the home canning category?  Young female canners are the future of the category and there is untapped potential within this segment.  Orchard Road targets young females with a simple and elegant glass jar design and unique package graphics that feature authentic food-filled jars.  See the package design. See the sell sheet. www.orchardroadcanning.com.  Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net for more information.

 

“Canada: Sobeys to close stores, chop jobs” by Marina Strauss at Globe & Mail.  “The closings could involve as many as 50 to 60 stores, said one industry source, but company officials wouldn’t confirm the numbers. Mr. Walker said the retailer was in the process of communicating the plans to its employees. On Thursday, the company will provide more “context” when it releases its fourth-quarter results, he said.” Read more

 

“Report: Best Buy may sell its China business” by Nick Halter at Minn./St. Paul Bus. Journal.  “Best Buy Co. Inc. is considering selling or finding a partner for its Chinese business, which includes 190 stores across the country, according to a recent report…A sale of the business could fetch around $300 million, the paper reported.” Read more

 

“Home Depot’s Marvin Ellison Presents at Oppenheimer Consumer Conference”  Presentation Slides & Webcast

 

“8 vending machines you didn’t know you needed” by Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey at CNN.  “Japan has embraced the concept wholeheartedly, selling eggs, bras, live lobsters, salad, cold and hot coffee, ties and, reportedly, even used underwear from machines.”  See the List

 

“aisle411 Delivers In-Store 3D Mapping on Google’s Project Tango”  “It allows users to search and navigate to specific products in a 3D augmented reality experience inside the store. Users of aisle411’s in-store mobile marketing platform can also simultaneously discover personalized coupons, offers and rewards that “pop out” of the shelf along their in-store route, along with collecting loyalty rewards just for walking down aisles.”  See the video / Read the release

 

“Study:  Consumers’ Favorite Gas Stations Are Grocery Stores and Wholesale Clubs”  “Kroger ranked No. 1 with 79%, Costco and QuikTrip tied for second with 78%, Sam’s Club ranked third with 76% and Murphy USA, which operates standalone stations and on-site stations at Walmart Supercenters, was fourth with 68%…Even so, consumers more often than not end up frequenting traditional gas stations because of convenience.” Read the release

 

“The Back Story on Walmart’s Decision to Take a Red Pen to NY Times Article” by Diana Bradley at PR Week.  “In this case, the reporter didn’t contact us or let us know he was working on that particular column,” says Tovar. “Had he reached out to us, we would have had an open and transparent dialogue with him…after reading Egan’s column, Walmart’s comms team tried to determine the best way to respond. As it read through the op-ed and marked it up, Tovar says a colleague suggested posting the edited draft on Walmart’s blog.” Read more

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About Eye-on-Retail

Eye-on-Retail is a daily tipsheet that is must-read material for thousands of Retail Merchants/Executives every weekday morning. Eye-on-Retail is unique because it’s timely, smart and fun. It’s created bright and early every morning and delivered around 7 am CST. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s really happening in the world of retail. Enjoy!

Send story tips, news releases, comments & questions to: info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

 

WSJ:  Target CEO Steinhafel’s Final Days – Sr. Execs Huddled on May 2nd – Key Lieutenant Stopped Talking to CEO Entirely by Paul Ziobro and Serena Ng.  “Managers were expected to host regular happy hours or take their teams out for ice cream, one former merchandising employee recalls. At annual performance reviews, some staffers were told they weren’t “fast, fun and friendly” enough…Not long after he took the top job, Mr. Steinhafel severed ties with (former CEO Robert) Ulrich, who had liked to keep retired executives around as advisers. The two have barely spoken since Mr. Ulrich stepped down as Target’s chairman in 2009, according to people familiar with the men’s relationship.”  Read more

 

“Walgreens Q3 Profit Rises 16%” at CNBC.  “Prescription sales, which make up for nearly 65 percent of the company’s total sales, rose 8.4 percent in the third quarter.”  Read more

 

“Report:  Home Depot Ending Nascar Sponsorship” at Atlanta Bus. Chronicle.  “Home Depot, which has been a primary NASCAR sponsor since 1999, will leave the sport after its contract with Joe Gibbs Racing ends this season, said sources familiar with the plans…Sources said Joe Gibbs Racing is in talks with Dollar General about filling the void left by Home Depot.”  Read more

 

“Target Sweetens Free Shipping to Nearly All Purchases Over $50” by Kavita Kumar at Star-Tribune.  “Jason Goldberger, senior vice president of Target.com and mobile, said in a blog post on A Bullseye View that the retailer has “doubled down” on digital in the last year…“But the reality is, our guests continued to tell us that our shipping policy was frustrating and confusing to them, and holding us back,” he wrote. “In fact, our internal research told us that more than half of Target.com shoppers who abandoned their shopping carts said their decision was related to shipping costs.”  Read more

 

“Wal-Mart Appoints 13 Merchandising Executives in Shake-Up” by Renee Dudley at Businessweek.  “Scott Huff will be promoted to executive vice president overseeing merchandising operations for the U.S., according to a company memo sent by U.S. Chief Merchandising Officer Duncan Mac Naughton…In the merchandising changes, Michelle Gloeckler will become executive vice president of consumables and U.S. manufacturing. She has worked at Wal-Mart for five years.”  Read more

 

***A message from Lock-it Block-it – Keep the Bad Guys Out and the Good Guys In. Adjustable window security bar blocks criminals from entering a home through open windows & helps prevent children from falling out. Windows can be open AND homes remain secured. Easy installation! Patented and unique in the home safety and security category.  Watch the video. www.lockitblockit.com Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net for more information.

 

“Could HSN’s Mindy Grossman be the next CEO of Target?” by Susan Thurston at Tampa Bay Times.  “Other names cycling through the rumor mill: Bon-Ton Stores’ Brendan Hoffman; Gap’s Glenn Murphy; Victoria’s Secret’s Sharencq Turney; Sam’s Club’s Rosalind Brewer; Foot Locker’s Ken Hicks; Roger Farah, former president of Ralph Lauren; Matt Rubel, a senior adviser at TPG Capital; Sharon McCollam, chief financial officer of Best Buy; and Angela Ahrendts, senior vice president of retail at Apple.”  Read more

 

“Family Dollar ranked 9th worst place to work for” by Jennifer Thomas at Charlotte Bus. Journal.  “Family Dollar Stores  is one of the 11 worst companies to work for nationwide, according to 24/7 Wall St. The financial news publication compiled its list of companies after analyzing reviews from jobs and career website glassdoor.com.”  Read more

 

“California’s top court: Target not required to carry in-store defibrillators” by Maura Dolan at LA Times.  “In a unanimous ruling Monday, the state’s highest court said California law requires only that fitness centers have such potentially life-saving devices and encourages most public buildings to keep them…Monday’s ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by the family of Mary Ann Verdugo, 49, who suffered a fatal heart attack in 2008 while shopping at a Target store in Pico Rivera.”  Read more

 

“Fortune’s 50 Best Green Global Brands for 2014 (Ikea #19, H&M #39)”  “Deloitte: “This is the year of the supply chain. The companies that made the list are moving beyond greenhouse gas emissions in the supply chain to focus on waste and water use up and down the value chain.”  See the Top 50 List

 

“Walmart Won’t Find Luck with India’s New Gov’t” by Kenneth Rapoza at Forbes.  “Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the Economic Times on Tuesday that foreign direct investment in retail will not be allowed. “There are people in the sector self-employed for generations. What authority do we have to take their jobs?”  Read more

 

“Brookstone Will Continue Operating  Nearly All of Its 242 Stores, Closing 2 at Most” by Michael Bathon at Bloomberg via Mercury News.  “Brookstone, the luxury-gadget retailer, won bankruptcy court approval of its plan to sell the chain to a group of Chinese buyers for about $174 million that will be used to pay creditors.”  Read more 

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About Eye-on-Retail

Eye-on-Retail is a daily tipsheet that is must-read material for thousands of Retail Merchants/Executives every weekday morning. Eye-on-Retail is unique because it’s timely, smart and fun. It’s created bright and early every morning and delivered around 7 am CST. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s really happening in the world of retail. Enjoy!

Send story tips, news releases, comments & questions to: info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

 

“Get Ready for Christmas Creep:  Walmart Starts Highlighting Hot Holiday Gifts” by Ashley Rodriguez at Ad Age.  “Walmart held an event for more than 100 long-lead magazine and gift guide editors on Wednesday to showcase what it expects to be top sellers this holiday season…In the past, Walmart pitched media outlets to make it in to their holiday gift guides, which usually close in July. This year, the retailer stepped up its game by gathering the media for a private event…it’s still holding its Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals close to the vest. “We have to keep some secrets,” said Jaeme Laczkowski, director of media relations.”  Read more

 

“What’s better for grocery delivery: Google, Instacart or Postmates?” by Joseph Pisani at AP via San Jose Mercury News.  “Google Shopping Express: The biggest downside is that the company doesn’t deliver meats, fish, fruits and other perishable groceries yet, even though it delivers from stores that sell them, including Target, Fairway and Costco. (You need to have a membership to order from Costco.)…Instacart: You can order from Costco even if you don’t have a membership for the warehouse club.”  Read more

 

“Wal-Mart not concerned about cannibalization with small-store expansion” by Kim Souza at The City Wire.  “How close is too close for Wal-Mart to put a Neighborhood Market to its cash cow supercenters? The retail giant said Thursday (June 19) that one to two miles outside a supercenter is the minimal distance guideline for placing Neighborhood Markets.”  Read more

 

“Jeff Bauman returns to work at Costco a year after losing both legs in Boston bombings” by Lydia Warren at Daily Mail.  “In a post on his Facebook page, the 28-year-old is pictured wearing a name tag and smiling alongside two colleagues as he stands behind a cash register while lightly holding his crutches. A caption on the photo, which was posted on Wednesday evening, reads: ‘Jeffrey back at work today! W/Mike & Maya @#Costco!’ ”  See the pics / Read more

 

***A message from Orchard Road Canning Co. – Energize Home Canning Sales with Millennials and Young Canners.  The home canning category continues to grow, but where will the next growth spurt come from?  Young female canners are the future of the category and there is untapped potential within this segment.  Orchard Road targets young females with a simple and elegant glass jar design and unique package graphics that feature authentic food-filled jars.  See the package design. See the sell sheet.  www.orchardroadcanning.com.  Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net for more information.

 

“Dinner meeting gone sour:  Carl Icahn calls for immediate sale of Family Dollar” by Jen Wilson at Charlotte Bus. Journal.  “Referencing a dinner discussion with Levine on Wednesday, Icahn noted “a strong difference of opinion as to the future of our company” and said that “it is imperative that Family Dollar be put up for sale immediately.”  Read more

 

“Family Dollar’s Carefully Worded Response”  “Members of Family Dollar’s Board and management team recently met with Mr. Icahn, and, as we expressed in the meeting, we are always open to constructively communicating with our shareholders with the shared goal of enhancing value.”  Read the release

 

“Here’s the story behind Kroger’s big Q1 earnings gain” by Steve Watkins at Cincinnati Bus. Courier.  “The company expects 12 percent to 15 percent profit growth this year, and same-store sales should rise 3 percent to 4 percent. That’s up from its prior guidance of 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent.”  Read more

 

“Man Pinched By Scorpion In Box Of Bananas At Pittsburgh-Area Wal-Mart” by Christine D’antonio at KDKA 2 CBS. “I yanked my arm out and flung it, and this scorpion flopped to the ground,” he said. “I was standing there in disbelief looking and there was another shopper there and people started to converge, and sure enough it was a scorpion.”…The man says Wal-Mart did offer to pay for his medical bills.”  See the video / See the critter / Read more

 

“Pier 1 posts a 26% drop in profits”, comp sales +6.3%” by Maria Halkias at Dallas News.  “Store sales and profits were “disappointingly soft” and the company discounted more than anticipated, CEO Alex Smith said….It’s not clear whether this is a “sea change of customer behavior or a temporary phenomenon,” he said.”  Read more

 

“Top Five Things Heard in Walmart Management Presentation at Jefferies Global Consumer Conference” at Seeking Alpha.

* Previously we had a number of algorithmic exercises we were asking our associates to go through in order to make sure we have the right product in the right place. We just quite honestly, we got down to the basics and basically went back to simplifying it.

* Walmart2Walmart money transfer program:  We’ve only been out now for about a month and a half and we’ve been able to drive about $7 million worth of savings to those customers already, so as we call it, it’s saving money on money.

* What’s really important here is that Savings Catcher is really an opportunity for us to build a deeper level of trust with our customers

* How close small format stores should be to Supercenters:  “What we’ve determined is that it’s important to be outside of that one to two miles of a Supercenter.”

* Drive – Grocery Pickup:  Within this depot it will have access to about 10,000 items. Many of those items are driving the majority of the volume in the neighborhood market…but also it includes anything in our overall the counter market also. The beautiful thing about this is it’s the same everyday low pricing.

Read the full transcript

 

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About Eye-on-Retail

Eye-on-Retail is a daily tipsheet that is must-read material for thousands of Retail Merchants/Executives every weekday morning. Eye-on-Retail is unique because it’s timely, smart and fun. It’s created bright and early every morning and delivered around 7 am CST. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s really happening in the world of retail. Enjoy!

Send story tips, news releases, comments & questions to: info@shiftmarketinggroup.net