Monday Tipsheet: Costco’s Sinegal on CNBC | Icahn’s Wrench | Tesco Pleads

 

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

 

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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

 

 

 

Friday Tipsheet: LEED for Target Can. | Costco Opens (Barely) in NY | Kroger’s 3 New Brands

 

“Kroger rolls out three new store brands” by Steve Watkins at Cincinnati Bus. Courier.  “Customers are seeing the brands – Psst, Check This Out and Heritage Farm – on hundreds of Kroger’s private-label products.  “These brands all are designed to reflect the good quality and excellent value customers expect from Kroger,” McMullen told the audience. He told me after the meeting that the new brands cover the lower price point of Kroger’s private-label brands.” Read more

 

“Target Announces LEED Certification for all 124 Canada Store Locations” at Nassau News Live.  Previously, Target announced certification of the first 68 stores and with today’s announcement the remaining 56 stores that opened in 2013 are now LEED certified.” Read the release

 

“Costco opens 150,000 sq. ft. store  in Long Island (Permit issued day before opening)” at Riverhead Local.  “It’s been a bumpy road to opening day…The Town of Riverhead didn’t issue a certificate of occupancy for the new store until yesterday…The store’s gasoline facility was not operational pending clearance from the Riverhead fire marshal’s office…Riverhead Councilman John Dunleavy was the only town official on hand for today’s 7:45 a.m. ribbon cutting. ” Read more

 

“Former Walmart China Employees Prepare to File Suit” by John Ruwitch at Reuters.  “Labour activists, scholars and lawyers have closely followed the case because the store’s branch of the state-run All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) has taken the unusual step of leading the protest. Critics say the ACFTU – the only legal union in China – has long prioritised stability over worker’s rights and interests, and has a history of sitting out disputes or siding with management.” Read more

 

“Michaels IPO Prices at Low End, but Bain & Blackstone Get Big Payday” by Phil Wahba & Dan Primack at Fortune.  “Michaels priced shares in its initial public offering for $17 on Thursday, according to a report by CNBC. While the pricing is at the low end of the $17-$19 range Michaels had estimated last week, the deal values Michaels at $3.45 billion.” Read more

 

LA Times Hits CVS: “At CVS, only the very rich get much richer” by David Lazarus.  “The top workers at CVS stores — those earning the highest hourly wage for their job classification — are “red lined” by the company and receive no raises at all.I can say that because I have my hands on an internal CVS document — the company’s 2014 Wage Management Guidelines — spelling out the pay ranges for different positions and caps on raises.” Read more

 

“Wal-Mart works to reduce higher inventory levels” by Kim Souza at The City Wire.  “A veteran Walmart employee who manages the back room of a Walmart Supercenter told the City Wire recently during Wal-Mart shareholder week that consumables rarely stack up, but apparel, home and seasonal merchandise are often carried over from year to year. “My store is sitting on three years of school supplies.” Read more

 

“Seattle: First ‘marijuana-infused-food truck’ hits the streets” by Ashley Stewart at Puget Sound Bus. Journal.  “It will be a while before recreational marijuana retailers can sell edibles, state leaders announced this week. But those rules don’t apply to medical marijuana dispensers, and a Seattle-based company called Magic Butter Studios is taking advantage of that.” Read more

 

“Walmart Cuts iPhone Prices” by Katie Lobosco at CNN Money.  “Walmart said it is cutting the price for both the iPhone 5s and 5c beginning 9 a.m. Friday.  With a two-year contract, a 16-gigabyte iPhone 5S will cost $99, coming down from $149. The 16-gigabyte iPhone 5c will be $29, down from $49.  The deal is only for purchases made at Walmart stores, not online.” Read more

 

“Report: Amazon to launch new local takeout service” at CNBC.  “Amazon is rolling out a new takeout food service to rival industry leaders GrubHub, Seamless and DeliveryHero, TechCrunch reported Thursday…The delivery service was quietly launched on Tuesday in Seattle, Washington, via Apple’s iOS, but was taken down. It’s expected to go live again soon.” 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

Thursday Tipsheet: BJ’s & H.Depot Like Bees | Costco/Apple Make Up | Kroger #1 in Gas

 

“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 designSee 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

 

Wednesday Tipsheet: CA Hits W.Foods | Wmart Likes MN | Target ‘Infringes’

 

“Whole Foods paying $800,000 for overcharging in California” by Shan Li at LA Times.  Problems included failing to deduct the weight of containers when ringing up fresh food, putting smaller amounts into packages than the weight stated on the label, and selling items by the piece instead of by the pound, as required by law, the statement said.”  Read more

 

“Latest Minnesota push strengthens Walmart where it’s weakest” by Nick Halter at Minneapolis/St.Paul Bus. Journal.  “The 420,000-square-foot Mankato distribution center, when it opens in spring 2015, will employ 300 and supply groceries to Wal-Mart stores in the upper Midwest…Wal-Mart has surpassed Target’s store count in Minnesota, boasting 82 stores — at least if you include the company’s 13 Sam’s Clubs…Target has 75 Minnesota stores.”  Read more

 

“5 stores where you should never pay full price (Sears #1, Macy’s #2)” at MarketWatch via NY Post.  “Some stores release coupons so frequently that their customers would almost be crazy to pay full price. According to data that deal site DealScience.com ran for MarketWatch, covering between 3,000 and 4,000 brands, the average major retailer releases just over one new coupon each week.”  See the Top 5 List

 

“Target Accused of Infringing on Priceline Founder’s Patent” by Jake Anderson at Twin Cities Business.  “Target declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing the fact that it is still pending litigation. But media reports indicate that Walker has an extensive track record of suing big companies in a variety of industries.”  Read more

 

“FAA bans delivery by drone” by Julie Balise at SF Gate.  “The third bullet relates to Amazon…’If an individual offers free shipping in association with a purchase or other offer, FAA would construe the shipping to be in furtherance of a business purpose, and thus, the operation would not fall within the statutory requirement of recreation or hobby purpose.’  Read more

 

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“Will soaring Family Dollar stock prices stave off a takeover?” by Jennifer Thomas at Charlotte Bus. Journal.  “Family Dollar has sales per square foot of $170, compared with $220 per square foot for Dollar General. Storms notes that Family Dollar’s operating margin is 5.5 percent. That’s well below Dollar General’s 9.9 percent.”  Read more

 

“Walgreen withdraws earnings goals” by Peter Frost at Chicago Tribune.  “Walgreen Co. on Tuesday withdrew its profit goals for its 2016 fiscal year, citing unforeseen pressure in its pharmacy operations and a lack of clarity on the final structure it will take following its expected purchase of European drug giant Alliance Boots GmbH.”  Read more

 

Boston:  “Survey finds problems with supermarkets’ scanners” by Megal Woolhouse at Boston Globe.  “A review of nearly three dozen supermarkets in Greater Boston by the online journal ConsumerWorld.org found nearly half the scanners did not work or otherwise comply with state rules aimed at guaranteeing pricing accuracy. The rules went into effect 18 months ago.” Read more

 

“September 17th: Target CMO Jeff Jones Presents at Ad Age CMO Summit”  Read more

 

Today: Home Depot Presents at Oppenheimer Consumer Conference at 9:05 a.m. ET  Webcast

 

“The Barcode Turns 40” by Jeff Gray at The Globe & Mail.  “Forty years ago Thursday, the purchase of a 67-cent (U.S.) package of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum at a supermarket in Troy, Ohio, received what may have seemed like an undue amount of attention. With reporters and photographers looking on, a flat cellophane bag of 10 smaller gum packages, now enshrined in the Smithsonian Institution, was the subject of the first-ever transaction in the world to involve scanning a bar code. ”  Read more

 

“Delhaize names Kevin Holt its North American CEO” by Jennifer Thomas at Charlotte Bus. Journal.  “Holt was formerly president of retail operations at SuperValu Inc. He also will become a member of Delhaize Group’s executive committee.”  Read more

 

“How Amazon’s Product Design Is Governed by the Whims of Jeff Bezos” by Joshua Brustein at Businessweek.  “I think that Amazon is a challenging place to work as a designer, because there’s only one product manager,” says Goss. “That’s Jeff, and he’s not a design guy.”  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

Tuesday Tipsheet: H.Depot Ditches Nascar | Wgreen Q3 Profit +16% | Target: Next CEO, Silent Treatment, Free Shipping

 

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

 

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“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

 

Monday Tipsheet: Target’s ‘Secret’ Test Store | H.Depot Likes Quirky | Wmart Edits NY Times

 

“Home Depot Expands Quirky Alliance in Smart-Home Products” by Steve Lohr at NY Times.  “The Quirky and Wink approach impressed Home Depot enough that it chose Wink as its technology partner. Home Depot now sells 600 smart-home products, six times as many as it did two years ago. “We wanted a partner who could take all these products and make them work together,” said Jeff Epstein, its vice president in charge of home automation products. “Frankly, Quirky and Wink were the only ones who could do that — at least so far.” Read more

 

Family Dollar:  “I just don’t know who the buyer is here.” by Ely Portillo at Charlotte Observer.  “(Carl Icahn’s) good at ruffling feathers,” Edward Jones analyst Brian Yarbrough said of Icahn. “I just don’t know who the buyer is here.”  Although rival Dollar General has been named as a possible buyer, Yarbrough said he expects that chain to focus on organic growth…Wal-Mart, which is developing its own small-store format to compete with Family Dollar and Dollar General, has also been mentioned as a possible buyer. Yarbrough called that a “pie in the sky” proposition.”  Read more

 

“Walmart’s Response To The New York Times Is Great” by Chuck Ross at Daily Caller.  “Walmart recently decided to go into the newspaper editing business.  The Arkansas-based company responded to an article from New York Times columnist Timothy Egan, titled “The Corporate Daddy” by doing the work that it felt Egan’s Times editors should have done. “Thanks for sharing your first draft,” reads a red-inked note from Walmart, which is known more for its low prices than its snark.”  Read more

 

…See Walmart’s red-inked note

 

“Target’s test store in Northeast Minneapolis mining ideas for engaging consumers” by Kavita Kumar at Star-Tribune.  “The Quarry store is where the company is tinkering with a lot of new innovations as it looks to move faster than it has in the recent past…The company used to try new initiatives at the bi-level store next to its corporate headquarters on Nicollet Mall. But that store isn’t representative of a typical store since it’s an urban store where many of its own employees shop. 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.

 

“Academy Sports in San Antonio:  600 Line-up Overnight to Get Spurs Tony Parker’s Autograph” by Zeke Maccormack at My San Antonio.  “Cries of “We love you!” signaled Tony Parker’s arrival Sunday at Academy Sports & Outdoors, where hundreds of die-hard Spurs fans camped out the prior night to get an autograph from the NBA champs’ point guard. “It was chaotic overnight,” said Gerrad Leal, 22. “Everybody was complaining.” He arrived at 10:30 a.m. Saturday to secure the coveted lead spot in the line that topped 600.”  Read more

 

“Tomorrow:  Walgreens Q3 Earnings Call”  Webcast at 8:30 AM EST

 

“Walmart Canada Names Ex-Delhaize Exec New CEO” at The City Wire.  “Walmart Canada hired Dirk Van den Berghe as president and CEO, replacing Shelley Broader who was recently promoted by the retail giant to a CEO role that oversees retail operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Canada.
”  Read more

 

“Neiman Marcus Logo Painted on Roof After Employee Email to CEO” by Maria Halkias at Dallas Star.  ““Karen [Katz, Neiman’s CEO] is always telling us to email her with ideas, so I did,” Louden said. “I was with my family for Easter brunch in the Tower Club, and we were having trouble figuring out for sure which building was the store.” Until Katz sent out an email last week saying that the logo was Louden’s idea, Louden had forgotten about her suggestion. “I wasn’t even sure they’d read my email,” Louden said. “I started getting all these thank-you emails.”  Read more

 

“Start-up wants to be Airbnb — for online retailers” by Uptin Saiidi at CNBC. “Storefront is a platform for retail spaces to pair with merchants looking to find and rent short-term space. For anywhere from $50 to $1,000 a day, designers and brands rent spaces like showrooms, boutiques, art galleries and even hotel lobbies or street fair booths. This year, Storefront said it raised $7.3 million in a Series A round of venture funding.”  Read more / See the video

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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

Friday Tipsheet: Wmart: Scorpions & Christmas Creep | Costco: Boston Bombing Victim Returns to Work

 

“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

 

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“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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday Tipsheet: Rite-Aid Q1 Comp Flat | Lowe’s Sniffing NYC for Urban Stores

 

“Rite-Aid: Q1 Front-End Comp Sales Flat”  “The company reported revenues of $6.5 billion, net income of $41.4 million or $0.04 per diluted share, and Adjusted EBITDA of $282.6 million…Same store sales for the quarter increased 3.1 percent over the prior year. Front-end same store sales were flat compared to the prior-year period while pharmacy same store sales increased 4.6 percent.”  Read the release

 

“Kroger expected to post $543M profit in Q1” by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati.com.  “Wall Street analysts also forecast that newly added Harris Teeter stores will also power revenues to jump 8.5 percent to $32.6 billion, according to Bloomberg.” Read more

 

“Report: Lowe’s Sniffing Around NYC for Urban Concept Stores” by Lauren Elkies Schram.  “Lowe’s is looking to break into the New York City market with an urban concept a la the upscale Manhattan home furnishings chain Gracious Home, Commercial Observer has learned…Lowe’s is considering space in a condominium occupied by a Food Emporium until May 2013 at 2000 Broadway at the northeast corner of 68th Street, a source with knowledge of the search said.”  Read more

 

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“Amazon’s Fire phone designed to sear e-commerce rivals” by Phil Wahba at Fortune.  “Amazon shares shot up 3% when Bezos demonstrated the simplicity of the “scan-to-buy” feature. “If you’re a mediocre retailer, then this makes you extremely vulnerable,” said Doug Stephens, president of Retail Prophet Consultants in Toronto. “It’s shortening the distance between seeing an item you like and ordering it on Amazon—Firefly is like a trigger.”  Read more

 

“Contractor Gets Surprise Call to Appear in Home Depot Ads” by Ron Newberry at Whidbey News-Times.  “The crew had rubbed him down with dirt and sawdust to make him look like he’d been working hard on a construction site. “I told them I could have brought clothes from home and been just fine,” Linson said. The beads of sweat weren’t artificial, so a director listened to Linson’s advice and made an adjustment. “I was holding a 60-pound bag of concrete for about two and a half hours,” Linson said. “I said, ‘Can we take a little out of this?’ He said, ‘Good idea.”  Read more

 

“Family Dollar Names New Sr. VP of Merchandise Operations”  “Jeffrey Thomas joined Family Dollar in 2003 as a Director of Vendor Performance with responsibility for item data integrity and vendor relationships. Between 2005 and 2013, Mr. Thomas assumed greater roles with increased responsibilities, and in 2013, he was named Vice President – Merchant Services. Mr. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from The University of Tennessee.”  Read the release

 

“U.K. Retail Sales Drop .5% in May” by Fergal O’Brien at Bloomberg.  “Food sales slid 2.4 percent after surging the previous month during the Easter holiday. Sales at other retailers jumped 2.2 percent, helped by demand for replica football jerseys before the World Cup tournament.”  Read more

 

“Office Depot CEO:  Turnaround to Bear Fruit by 2017” by Joann S. Lublin at WSJ (tiered subscription).  “(Roland Smith) is moving fast to fix the merged company, cutting more than 50% of middle and senior managers, and aiming to close at least 21% of Office Depot’s 1,900 U.S. stores by the end of 2016. Those and other consolidation efforts are expected to reap savings of $180 million this year.”  Read more

 

“How Retail Upstarts are Beating Amazon” by Joel Dreyfus at CNBC.  “An Amazon works for commodity products,” said Stephanie Palmieri, a principal at SoftTech Venture Capital in Palo Alto, California. “But there are giant niches out there.” The niches are big because the Internet is increasingly where America shops.”  Read more

 

“Kroger Pulling Out of Big Pension Plans” by Steve Watkins at Cincinnati Business Courier.  “The Cincinnati-based company that is the nation’s largest operator of traditional supermarkets said Wednesday that the move will give it more cost certainty and cut its potential liability.”  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