Thursday Tipsheet: Wmart ‘Tapers’ in Mex. | JCP Likes OMD | Target & 1 Yr Returns

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Target agrees to $10M fund to settle lawsuit over consumer data breach by Tad Vezner at Twin Cities/Pioneer Press. “The tentative settlement, which was filed in U.S. District Court of Minnesota, would allow each plaintiff to receive up to $10,000 from the fund.” Read more

 

As Sears stumbles, suppliers grow uneasy by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “Sears has offered to speed up payments to certain vendors to 15 days, asking in return for a discount between 3 percent and 5 percent. The department store typically pays suppliers within two months, MarketWatch said.” Read more

 

Target extends its return policy to one year on select items by John Ewoldt at Star Tribune. “The new policy applies to all of Target’s 32 private-label brands, such as Archer Farms, Liz Lange, Merona, Mossimo and Threshold…“It’s a bit reminiscent of Costco’s liberal return policy,” said Edgar Dworsky, founder of Consumerworld.org, which tracks retailers’ return policies. “It certainly is an unusual move.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart’s first year in D.C., by the numbers by Michael Neibauer at Washington Business Journal. “In a comparison of a basket of “off-brand items,” only Aldi came in with lower prices than Wal-Mart — $54 for Aldi and $75 for Wal-Mart. Target was third, followed by Shoppers Food Warehouse, Giant, Safeway and Harris Teeter.” Read more

 

Amazon expands Prime Now one-hour delivery service to Baltimore and Miami by Chris O’Brien at VentureBeat.  Read more

 

Wal-Mart de Mexico to Taper Investment Plans in 2015 by Anthony Harrup at WSJ. “Wal-Mart de Mexico said Wednesday that it plans to taper its expansion plans this year, making capital expenditures of 12.4 billion pesos ($813 million) this year, slightly less than in 2014, including 5.6 billion pesos to open stores.” Read more (Subscription)

 

***A Message from CLUG: The World’s Smallest Bike Rack is Now Available. The CLUG Bike Clip is targeted at the urban cyclist and the casual enthusiast who are short on storage space for their bikes.  CLUG is a patent pending, high quality product that made the list of 2014 Best Stuff by GQ Magazine in their December 2014 issue.  CLUG is now ready for retail with its 100% recyclable, high volume packaging.  See the video.  See the sell sheet. Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net to request a product sample.

 

Retailers urge Congress to boost consumer protections in data breaches by Shan Li at LA Times. “In testimony before a congressional subcommittee on technology, David French of the National Retail Federation on Wednesday said the government should expand liability protection for people using debit cards, pass a nationwide notification law that will inform all parties handling sensitive data in the event of a breach, and boost the prosecution of cybercriminals.” Read more

 

J.C. Penney Decides Against Media Review After All, Sticks With OMD by Alexandra Bruell at Ad Age. “OMD, which referred calls to the client, has worked with J.C. Penney for 10 years.” Read more

 

Texas: Costco joins Kroger and Wal-Mart in efforts to change liquor laws by Maria Halkias at Dallas Morning News. “Texas is the only state in the nation that allows private companies to own package liquor stores while prohibiting publicly traded companies from doing so, said Travis Thomas, a spokesman for the retailers.” Read more

 

Amazon Will Shut Down Amazon Webstore, Its Competitor to Shopify and Bigcommerce by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “Amazon has started telling online merchants that it plans to shut down its Amazon Webstore business, which helps small and midsize retailers create and run their own online shop, according to sources.” Read more

 

Walmart & P&G Win Top Shopper Marketing Awards by Sarah Mahoney at Media Post. “P&G won a total of six Shopper Marketing Effies, with Walmart winning five, including four in partnership with P&G, and one working with Coca-Cola.” Read more

 

Target will raise minimum wage to $9 per hour by Nick Halter at Minn./St.Paul Business Journal. “Target is stopping short of matching wages at Wal-Mart, which is raising its lowest rate to $9 an hour this year and $10 an hour in 2016.” Read more

 

Whole Foods Hosts First-Ever ‘Beauty Week’ in All Stores Read the release

 

’10 Bleakest Cities of 2015′ to Receive Lowe’s Makeovers Read the release

 

Meijer Announces the Opening of Its First SKECHERS Concept Shop Read the release

 

French retailer Carrefour returning to Algeria at Reuters. “Carrefour is preparing to return to Algeria after a six-year absence, as part of a drive to tap booming consumer demand in Africa.” Read more

 

Billionaire Hard Rock mogul’s Hamptons home goes up in flames by Ian Mohr & Emily Smith at NY Post.  See the pics/Read more

 

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Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet is created early every weekday morning and read by retail merchants and executives worldwide. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s happening in the world of retail. Contact us at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net.

Wednesday Tipsheet: Bed/Bath Limits Returns | IKEA Ends Hide & Seek | Target Limits CEO Air Time

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Macy’s, Rite Aid part of first U.S. multi-brand loyalty program by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “The program, called Plenti, will be operated by American Express…One study has found that the average American is a member of 29 loyalty programs but only uses eight actively.” Read more

 

Target claims $1.6B tax benefit from Canadian losses by Jim Hammerand at Minn./St. Paul Business Journal.  Read more

 

Target’s 10-K Annual Report  See it here

 

How Bed Bath & Beyond Will Punish Customers Making Returns Without Receipts by Nicole Pelletiere at ABC News. “Beginning April 20, all returns made without a receipt will be refunded in the form of store credit or exchange at the lowest current price, in addition to a 20 percent deduction.” Read more

 

Amazon is hiring so many people that interviews take up 30-40% of many engineers’ time by Jillian D’onfro at Business Insider. “Our hiring process is extremely intensive and we’re still growing at such a rapid pace that many of our engineers are spending 30 to 40% of their time on hiring,” (Amazon’s Werner Vogels) said.” Read more

 

Walmart Will Hold Annual Shareholders Meeting On June 5  Read the release

 

Target Planning to Install Solar Systems on 180 U.S. Buildings by Ehren Goossens at Bloomberg. “Target, based in Minneapolis, has pledged to have rooftop solar power on 500 of its buildings by 2020. The projects planned under this agreement will be completed by early 2017.” Read more

 

***A message from Orchard Road Canning – New designer inspired cap art for the home canning consumer. The decorative series of canning caps features three custom designs: Wild Daisy, Fruit and Gingham and is available in Regular Mouth size. Finally, something unique and differentiated to drive incremental sales in the home canning and storage categories!  See the decorative designs. Request product samples: info@shiftmarketinggroup.net.

 

Kroger Names Joe Grieshaber President of Columbus Division  Read the release

 

Target Caps CEO Personal Jet Travel at $175K by Tom Webb at Twin Cities/Pioneer Press. Read more

 

J.C. Penney’s chief marketing officer steps down by Maria Halkias at Dallas Morning News. “(Debra) Berman’s departure comes just before Penney’s first company-wide leadership meeting in five years. Next week, about 1,000 store managers will be in Dallas for several days of meetings with corporate…Penney president Marvin Ellison, who takes over as CEO in August, is still putting his team together…Berman’s departure was her decision, a Penney spokeswoman said.”  Read more

 

200 laid off Target workers get free head shots at KARE 11 – NBC. “The photographers said one couple came in for head shots were engaged and both were laid off. But they say everyone who came in seemed optimistic.” See the video / Read more

 

Publix is buying up property in Florida by John Hielscher at Herald-Tribune. “Publix Super Markets went on a buying spree over the past year, bagging six shopping centers in Southwest Florida for $86 million. But the state’s largest grocery-store chain is hardly finished — it has earmarked $1.3 billion this year to buy more centers, build new stores and remodel others.” Read more

 

IKEA: No more hide and seek at Dutch stores at Fox News. “The phenomenon has taken off online in the Netherlands where a whopping 19,000 people signed up to a Facebook group promoting a game at Ikea’s Amsterdam branch next month. Another 13,000 signed up for a game in the Ikea store in the city of Utrecht.” Read more

 

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Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet is read worldwide by Retail Merchants & Executives and created early every weekday morning. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s happening in the world of retail. Contact us at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net.

Tuesday Tipsheet: Temkin’s Trust Rankings | Canada Hits Costco | Dick’s Opens #610

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Canadian regulators suspend Costco’s fish importing license by Angel Gonzalez at Seattle Times. “Craig Wilson, Costco’s vice president for quality and food safety, said in an interview that it incurred the regulator’s wrath after its Canadian operations failed to file paperwork for two containers of tuna in olive oil that the company imported from Italy.” Read more

 

Amazon Expands in Canada With Move to Toronto Skyscraper by Katia Dmitrieva at Bloomberg. “Amazon is moving into one of Toronto’s newest skyscrapers, taking enough office space for 800 employees, as Canada’s largest city lures big technology firms. The company will occupy five floors near the top of 120 Bremner Blvd., a 31-story glass tower south of the financial core which opened last year, according to brokerage Jones Lang LaSalle Inc.” Read more

 

Temkin Customer Experience Rankings: Amazon & PetSmart Tie for #1 “Walgreens came in a close third with a rating of 81% and a ranking of 8th, while Bed Bath & Beyond, Lowe’s, and Costco all earned 79% and tied for 19th place overall.” Read the release

 

…Temkin Trust Rankings (Costco #9, Lowe’s #19, BJ’s #30, Sam’s #34, Home Depot #54, Walmart #120)  See the 268 ranked

 

Target moves money from stores to technology by Nick Halter at Minn./St. Paul Business Journal. “Target’s share of capital expenditures for opening new stores and store remodels declined from 58 percent in 2012 to 27 percent in 2014, according to its 10-K annual report. In actual dollars, spending on new stores fell from $673 million in 2012 to $381 million in 2014.” Read more

 

***A Message from CLUG: The World’s Smallest Bike Rack is Now Available. The CLUG Bike Clip is targeted at the urban cyclist and the casual enthusiast who are short on storage space for their bikes.  CLUG is a patent pending, high quality product that made the list of 2014 Best Stuff by GQ Magazine in their December 2014 issue.  CLUG is now ready for retail with its 100% recyclable, high volume packaging.  See the video.  See the sell sheet. Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net to request a product sample.

 

Target’s ‘Lumbersexual’ Collection Debuts Quietly by John Ewoldt at Star-Tribune. “It was given no “heads up” in Target’s Sunday circular. The dominant ad online on its release date Sunday was not the men’s collection but rather the “spring home sale.” “We kept it low-key,” Target’s (Jessica) Carlson said. “This program is a new twist on the traditional designer collaboration. It’s a test and learn.” Read more

 

...Target partners with Duluth, MN company by Peter Passi at Twin Cities/Pioneer Press. “We chose Duluth Pack for this initiative because they’re the oldest bag company in the U.S., and what they’re known for is the quality, fine-tuned craftsmanship of their products. As an added bonus of course, they’re also in Minnesota, which makes it really fun for us. We’re overall just thrilled to have them as a partner,” (Jamie Bastian) said.” Read more

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods Opens #610 on March 27th “…will be opening its 5th store in Idaho and 610th store nationwide on Friday, March 27th at Canyon Park West in Twin Falls, ID (1939 Fillmore Street).” Read the release

 

Target Canada considered winding down operations as early as September by Marina Strauss at Globe & Mail. “Even earlier – last September – the U.S.-owned retailer contacted its law firm, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, to consider “strategic options,” including quitting Canada, according to documents filed late Monday in Ontario Superior Court.” Read more

 

This is What You’ll be Eating in 2020 by Rebecca Greenfield at Fast Company. “Many of the most important advances in food will happen on the farm, from new sensors on equipment to smarter soil. “Understanding the composition of the soil is critical to developing insights and realizing better outcomes on the farm.” Read more

 

Apple’s TV service could be ready to launch by fall Geoffrey Smith at Fortune. “The Wall Street Journal reported that the company is aiming to provide a slimmed-down service covering around 25 channels for between $30-$40 a month. It would be available across all of the company’s iOS-driven devices” Read more

 

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Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet is read worldwide by Retail Merchants & Executives and created early every weekday morning. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s happening in the world of retail. Contact us at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net.

Monday Tipsheet: Wmart Grocery Shake-up | Target Layoff Hints? | Amazon = ‘Startup’

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Wal-Mart Shakes Up Grocery Management in Bid to Improve Food by Renee Dudley at Bloomberg. “Jack Sinclair, who has been executive vice president of the U.S. grocery division since 2007, will retire on March 20, according to a note that the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company sent to U.S. employees. Senior Vice President Tony Airoso, who runs the dairy and fresh-food strategy, will become a California-based senior vice president of global food sourcing.” More changes

 

Target hints at more layoffs to come by Tom Webb at Twin Cities/Pioneer Press. “Asked Friday whether the layoffs are finished, Target responded with a Zen-like statement: “We see Target’s transformation as not a moment in time, but an ongoing journey. As a part of that, we will continue to review opportunities to fuel our growth.” Read more

 

Amazon’s CTO got hilariously shut-down at SXSW panel when he tried to describe the company as a startup by Jillian D’Onfro at Business Insider. “When he started asking (Jordan) Krechmer about his hiring practices, the fun began:  “How much time do you spent time on hiring?” (Amazon’s Werner) Vogels asked. “At Amazon, of course, we’re a 20 year-old startup by now —” “Uh… startup?” Kretchmer interrupted. The crowd burst into laughter. Vogels stuck with his description: “Ehh, startup,” he said over the crowd, “We’re still a startup! “Awww, that’s really cute,” Kretchmer fired back in a faux-sweet voice.” Read more

 

As Whole Foods ventures to Englewood (Chicago), many eyes on Detroit store by Lolly Bowean at Chicago Tribune. “This has really never been done before, so our store will be a prototype. We’re about to be the model that allows Whole Foods to see how to come into an underserved community and help us help ourselves.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart will be Exclusive U.S. Seller of Premium-Priced German Laundry Soap Persil by Serena Ng at WSJ. “A war is bubbling up in the laundry aisles at Wal-Mart…it has stacked the brand, Persil, on store shelves right next to the reigning champion of high-end laundry detergent: Tide. Expanding its premium-priced offerings may seem a puzzler given Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s ultra-frugal customer base. But it makes more sense in the context of Tide maker Procter & Gamble Co.’s lock on the laundry business.” Read more (Subscription)

 

Feds move to stop fishing crimes by tracking seafood imports at LA Times. “U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Bruce Andrews announced the initiative at the Seafood Expo conference in Boston on Sunday, describing an action plan to stamp out imports of illegally caught fish.” Read more

 

Target Canada to permanently shut down 16 stores through 3/22/15 at Toronto Star. “Ontario is home to half of the stores that have been notified of closures between March 18 and 22. The remainder include three in Alberta, two in B.C., two in Quebec and one store in Manitoba.” Read more

 

…See the list/location of stores at Financial Post. Read more

 

Dollar Tree outlines risks, benefits to its pending purchase of Family Dollar by Jennifer Thomas at Charlotte Business Journal. “There’s a chance the transaction could close as soon as April, but the Federal Trade Commission has yet to approve the deal, according to the SEC filing.” Read more

 

Sears Hometown & Outlet Stores Q4 Comp -7.7%  Read the release

 

Wayfair Announces 2015 Trade Tastemaker Award Winners Read the release

 

Blue Bell products recalled, three deaths reported by Olivia Pulsinelli at Houston Business Journal. “Five adult patients at one hospital in Kansas were infected with similar strains of the bacteria, and four of them were served ice cream from Blue Bell’s prepackaged, single-serving products or milkshakes.” Read more

 

Meth lab found in Muncie Walmart restroom by Douglas Walker at The Star Press. “The ISP release said meth cooks “are now often leaving behind the deadly explosive chemicals in public places to return later to get the finished product,” rather than risk explosions and contamination of their own homes.” Read more

 

Dispute over prime Costco parking spot lands 80-year-old man in court by Steve Mayes at Oregon Live. “The push forced her back a step and caused pain in her neck and an ankle, Gabriel said. Kathleen Elesha, the woman driving the van, said Schricker took the parking spot before she had finished backing out. Elesha stopped. “I sat there because I was in shock,” she testified. “He had to have seen she was waiting.” Read more

 

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Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet is read worldwide by Retail Merchants & Executives and created early every weekday morning. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s happening in the world of retail. Contact us at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net.

Friday Tipsheet: Lowe’s @ SXSW | Feb Sales Disappoint | D.Gen Plans 730

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Lumber Liquidators to pay for safety testing of flooring by Michael Felberbaum at San Jose Mercury News. “Lumber Liquidators said the indoor air quality test kits that customers will receive are the same quality used by federal officials to test workplace exposure. So far, less than 1,000 customers have requested the testing kit. If tests show high levels of formaldehyde, the company said it will pay for further testing and may pay to reinstall flooring.” Read more

 

Iconic Target design partner Michael Graves dies by Jim Hammerand at Minn./St.Paul Business Journal. “Graves and Target started working together in 1998 with a line of housewares, but Graves said he had never stepped foot in a Target store before the partnership.” Read more

 

February Retail Sales Disappoint, As Winter Chill Cooled Shopper Spending by Barbara Thau at Forbes. “But there were some bright spots. February sales at sporting goods, hobby, and book and music stores rose 2.3% from January, and increased 3.3% year-over-year.” Read more

 

Tractor Supply Company CEO Greg Sandfort on creating the ‘Home Depot’ for farmers at Fox Business.  See the video

 

Shoppers complain Target Canada jacked prices ahead of sales by Jamie Sturgeon at Global News. “It’s not fair, you don’t raise prices then tell people it’s 10 to 30 per cent off, when it’s not,” Brzezinski said. “It’s probably a deceptive consumer practice.” Read more

 

Is Walgreens about to go shopping again? at Fortune. “The next big one will probably be in the U.S. because it is such a big market. It is a fascinating market,” (Stefano) Pessina, acting chief executive of Walgreens Boots, told the Retail Week Live conference.” Read more

 

Lowe’s: Kyle Nel, VP of Innovation Labs, Presents at SXSW Today  “Topic – How SciFi Drives Marketing In the Exponential Age.” See the schedule

 

Alibaba scoops up Seattle-area Amazon employees by Emily Parkhurst at Puget Sound Business Journal. Read more

 

Dollar General to Add 730 Stores this Year by Phil Wahba at Fortune.  Read more

 

Loblaw launches Naturally Imperfect program to sell undersized, blemished produce at Financial Post. “Bags of Naturally Imperfect apples and potatoes are already being sold in select grocery stores across Ontario and Quebec and cost up to 30% less than other fruits and vegetables.” Read more

 

Ontario: Large grocers will get wine, beer under Liberals’ plan by Martin Regg Cohn at Toronto Sun. “Grocery executives have been called in by a government-appointed panel to discuss “liberalizing the distribution of beer and wine in this province,” according to David Wilkes, a vice-present at the Retail Council of Canada. The discussions made it clear the government wants to “enhance choice and enhance convenience.” Read more

 

CVS says biotech drug copies may bring price cuts of 40-50 pct at CNBC. “The comments by CVS Health Chief Medical Officer Troyen Brennan suggest U.S. drug benefit managers will be pressing for much steeper discounts on new biosimilar drugs.” Read more

 

Hibbett Sports Q4 Comp +5.4%  Read more

 

Walt Disney announces ‘Frozen 2’ by Daniel Miller at LA Times. “No release date was revealed….Fans looking for a “Frozen” fix will have a chance to see their favorite characters on the big screen starting Friday. A new short film, “Frozen Fever,” will screen ahead of all showings of Disney’s live-action remake of “Cinderella.” Read more

 

…’Star Wars: Episode VIII’ snags a May 2017 release date at SF Gate. “Episode VIII” will take place after the events of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which opens Dec. 18.” Read more

 

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Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet is read worldwide by Retail Merchants & Executives and created early every weekday morning. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s happening in the world of retail. Contact us at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net.

Thursday Tipsheet: D.Gen Comp +4.9% | L.L. Bean Wants 100 | Target’s 7 Centers

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Dollar General Q4 Comp Sales +4.9% “As we look ahead, we have exciting operating plans that build on our competitive strengths. For 2015, we are forecasting a year of strong growth including a total sales increase of 8 to 9 percent, same-store sales growth of 3 to 3.5 percent.” Read the release

 

...Dollar General CFO Retires “Dollar General Corporation announced today that David Tehle, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will retire from Dollar General effective July 1, 2015.” Read the release

 

Target “Centers of Excellence” Restructuring by Kavita Kumar at Star-Tribune. “By the end of the week, many Target corporate workers will be assigned to one of seven new “centers of excellence” in an effort to streamline and centralize work. No one seems to understand yet exactly what that means and how the centers will play out. Katie Boylan, a Target spokeswoman, said conversations are underway this week to better explain to employees what these centers are and how they will operate. Not everyone will be assigned to a center. But those that do will work will work directly with employees from other departments — something that wasn’t always easy in the previous configuration of headquarters staff.” Read more

 

Amazon launches new ‘Shark Tank,’ Kickstarter marketplace – holds exclusive rights to products by Rachel Lerman at Puget Sound Business Journal. “Amazon Exclusives…will sell new products from “up-and-coming” companies, that have done well in pitch competitions or crowdfunding campaigns…Amazon will hold exclusive third-party rights to the products on the site, meaning the companies can sell the items on their own sites but not on any other outside site or in outside physical stores.” Read more

 

How do Target and Walmart stack up in the e-commerce wars? by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “In a research note on Wednesday by Cowen & Co, analyst Oliver Chen and his team gave Target a slight edge over Wal-Mart thanks to its lead in mobile commerce (shopping and purchasing done via a smartphone) though he warned Wal-Mart was a strong competitor.” Read more

 

Another shutdown at Port of Oakland by Thomas Lee at SF Gate. “The official reason behind the closure was a “staffing dispute” between workers and port operators, said Port of Oakland communications director Mike Zampa. He did not offer further details. The closure impacted the staging and gate areas at the facility, where truck drivers drop off and pick up cargo from container ships.” Read more

 

***A message from Eye Dig It Safety Sunglasses: Don’t Sacrifice your Safety for Style. Set your sights on this pair of chic sunglasses to find the best of both worlds. Maximum visual perception and shatter/scratch-resistant protection, Eye Dig It helps protect eyes from debris and provide UVA and UVB protection…and women love the stylish look and feel. Available in Black and Tortoise Shell. See the sell sheet. For merchandising information contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

Add this store to a mall and sales rise 10% by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “Citing data from Green Street Advisors, the Wall Street Journal reported that the draw of Apple stores not only allows the iPhone maker to negotiate low-rent deals for itself, but drives rents higher for neighboring stores. Whereas a typical mall tenant can pay rent up to 15 percent of its sales per square foot, Apple pays 2 percent of this metric, tops, industry executives told the paper.” Read more

 

L.L. Bean to triple stores by 2020 at Chicago Tribune. “(L.L. Bean) will open four stores this year before accelerating growth with a goal of “at least 100″ by 2020, President and CEO Chris McCormick told workers in a memo Wednesday.” Read more

 

…the new L.L.Bean stores will be between 15,000 and 20,000 square feet. A quarter of the space will be devoted to outdoors equipment. Active apparel will take up 15 percent, and the rest will be filled with footwear, boots, and casual apparel by Taryn Luna at Boston Globe. Read more

 

Powdered Alcohol Nearly Retail Ready by Tripp Mickle at WSJ. “Palcohol will come in several varieties—a vodka and a rum, and in three cocktails—Cosmopolitan, Lemon Drop and Powderita, which is designed to taste like a margarita. It has shown the powder in foil pouches that hold the equivalent of one shot of alcohol and can take six ounces of liquid.” Read more (Subscription)

 

Charlotte: Camping out for Cabela’s by Jennifer Thomas at Charlotte Business Journal. “Cabela’s says the first customers at its Charlotte-area store near Fort Mill started camping out in the parking lot on Tuesday. The store opens Thursday at 10 a.m.” Read more / See the in-store pics

 

….in-store video via Charlotte Observer.  See the video

 

Amazon exec tires of ‘helping ship brown boxes,’ joins Seattle Police as CIO by Rachel Lerman at Puget Sound Business Journal. “Russell will make $180,000 annually at the new job, a 65 percent pay cut from his Amazon position, according to King 5. But the former Amazon exec wanted to make a larger impact with his work.” Read more

 

Sears: Seattle Tech Office Scheduled to Open in May by Matt Day at Seattle Times. “The office, expected to open in May, would develop applications and analytic tools in an effort to make its appliance repair business more efficient and user-friendly for customers. Sears hired former Amazon.com employees Ian Clarkson and James Coyle to run the operation last year, (Arun) Arora said.” Read more

 

India’s ‘Amazon’ courts the mobile shopper by Jacob Pramuk at CNBC. “India is a very, very mobile-centric economy,” Punit Soni, chief product officer at online marketplace FlipKart, said Wednesday on CNBC’s “Squawk Alley.” See the video / Read more

 

Walmart Launches “Women Owned” Logo In-store & Online  Read the release

 

Amazon’s streaming-video service making gains on Netflix by Jay Greene at Seattle Times. “A new report suggests that Amazon’s streaming-video service, Prime Instant Video, is now twice as large as Hulu, and gaining ground on Netflix…Nielsen…found that 13 percent of all U.S. television households use Prime Instant Video, Amazon.com’s subscription video-on-demand business, compared with 36 percent for Netflix.” Read more

 

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Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet is read worldwide by Retail Merchants & Executives and created early every weekday morning. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s happening in the world of retail. Contact us at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net.

Wednesday Tipsheet: Can. Tire’s Testers | Target’s Tough Day | Costco Employee Surprise

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Target Workers Axed in Groups by Adam Belz at Star-Tribune. “The calendar invitations landed in inboxes across Target just after sunrise. Workers who’d arrived to find the offices stacked with white boxes were to report to conference rooms for simultaneous but separate 8:45 a.m. meetings…The job cuts — 1,700 people — came in one fell swoop, all at the same time, by department. In the words of one employee who kept her job, “at least the Band-Aid is going to rip fast and this won’t be drawn out.” Read more

 

…elevator was filled with co-workers crying by Tom Webb and Katie Kather at Twin Cities / Pioneer Press. “It’s crazy that this was my dream, and it was ripped away from me,” the woman, who did not give her name, said Tuesday morning through tears. “It’s such a great company. That’s the worst part”….There were layoffs in marketing, in merchandising, in technology, in financial services, in human resources, in design and in departments large and small throughout Target headquarters.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart officials descend on NC sock maker to celebrate reshoring initiative by Ken Elkins at Charlotte Business Journal. “Peds Legwear, will cut the ceremonial ribbon on a small sock-making operation in the Burke County town on Wednesday morning… Cindi Marsiglio, vice president of U.S. manufacturing at Wal-Mart, will be at the ribbon-cutting to talk about the retailer’s buy-American program.” Read more

 

Rite-Aid Announces First New Store Since 2010  Read the release

 

***A Message from CLUG.  The CLUG Bike Clip is the world’s smallest bike rack that is targeted at the urban cyclist and the casual enthusiast who are short on storage space for their bikes.  CLUG is a patent pending, high quality product that made the list of 2014 Best Stuff by GQ Magazine in their December 2014 issue.  CLUG is ready for retail with its 100% recyclable, high volume packaging.  See the video.  See the sell sheet. Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net to request a product sample.

 

Canadian Tire taps customer testers for a hands-on marketing tool by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “From a list of 75,000 who applied — Canadian Tire was bombarded with applicants and soon closed the portal, recalls chief operating officer Allan MacDonald …“We wanted to make sure [the panel] represented different interests, different demographics, different age groups, different parts of the country and so on,” Mr. MacDonald said. “Now we have 15,000 active product testers.” Read more

 

Massachusetts: Suit says grocers let minors buy lottery tickets by Jack Newsham at Boston Globe. “The Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation sued Star Market Tuesday…after a Cambridge city councilor, Craig Kelley, filmed his 14-year-old son buying lottery tickets…in September. The foundation said it filed suit after being unable to get Star to block access to the vending machines for minors…The group made a similar request of Stop & Shop after the same teenager bought a lottery ticket at a vending machine at the chain’s Arlington store Monday.” Read more

 

Robbins Geller Says SEC Sitting On Wal-Mart Bribery Docs by Jonathan Randles at Law 360. “The SEC has maintained that all the documents related to its Wal-Mart investigation are exempt from Robbins Geller’s Freedom of Information Act request because disclosure may interfere with the commission’s ongoing investigation.” Read more (Subscription)

 

Costco employee with terminal cancer gets surprise vacation from customers by John Sasaki at Fox 2 KTVU. “Arlie (Smith) is such a beloved figure that some customers heard about the cancer and decided to do something nice for him. At 1 p.m. on Tuesday, they invaded the store. “We’re all here today because we love you so much,” said customer Bridgette Loughnane to Arlie. They raised some $2,500 to send Arlie and his wife on a vacation.” See the video / Read more

 

GNC: 4th round of testing shows herbal supplements safe by Paul J. Gough at Pittsburgh Business Times. “This additional round of tests leaves no doubt that our products are not only pure but are in full compliance with all regulatory requirements,” said GNC CEO Michael G. Archbold in a statement released Tuesday afternoon.” Read more

 

The Surprising Winners And Losers Of The Retail Revolution by Sean Silverthorne at Forbes. “(Home Depot) looked strategically at all aspects of their offering across the various channels they have at their disposal to maximize customer satisfaction and the return they get on their TIPS (Technology, Inventory, People, Space) assets. For example, if your toilet blows up, you aren’t going to wait two days for delivery for a part from Amazon Prime.”  Read the Q & A

 

Lumber Liquidators Provides Agenda For 3/12 Business Update  Read the release

 

Why this CEO wants to save SkyMall by Michelle Fox at CNBC. “Scott Jordan wants to save the in-flight catalog SkyMall, but right now the airlines are not returning his calls, he told CNBC.” See the video / Read more

 

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Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet is read worldwide by Retail Merchants & Executives and created early every weekday morning. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s happening in the world of retail. Contact us at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net.

Tuesday Tipsheet: Recruiters Like Target | Walmart.horse | Loblaw Adds 50

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Layoffs begin at Target; Dayton meets CEO Cornell by Adam Belz & Patrick Condon at Star Tribune. “One employee who declined to be identified said that probably a couple of dozen upper managers were let go Monday and gone by lunch. The employee said broader cuts were expected Tuesday. “The mood is pretty somber, about what you would expect,” the employee said.” Read more

 

…Brian Cornell met Gov. Dayton for about 45 minutes Monday at the governor’s Summit Avenue residence. Also present were Lt. Gov. Tina Smith and top Target executives Jodee Kozlak, chief of human resources, and Tim Baer, chief legal officer.

 

HappyFresh Is Bringing Instacart-Style One Hour Grocery Delivery To Southeast Asia by Jon Russell at TechCrunch. “Insane pretty much describes the value proposition that we bring to the table,” HappyFresh co-founder and Executive Chairman Tim Marbach told TechCrunch in an interview. “Our goal is to have the full selection of offline stores — we see ourselves as a marketplace to connect retailers with customers.” Read more

 

Walmart Displeased With Walmart.Horse, Wants It Taken Down by Chris Morran at Consumerist. “There is currently no reason whatsoever to type the URL Walmart.horse into your web browser, but if you go there, you get pretty much exactly what you’d expect — a picture of a horse and a Walmart store. Walmart is not amused at the use of its name on this site and has sent a cease-and-desist notice to its creator, Jeph Jacques, creator of the Questionable Content comic.” Read more

 

Safety agency expected to announce potential Lumber Liquidators action today by Michelle Celarier at NY Post. “Last year, about 11 percent of Lumber Liquidator’s $1 billion in sales were in laminate flooring made in Chinese factories, which it insists is compliant with California’s standard.” Read more

 

Canada: Loblaw Will Build 50 New Stores by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “Loblaw will build 50 new stores, under its own banners and that of Shoppers Drug Mart, to boost its network of 2,300 locations across the country and will also renovate more than 100 stores. Loblaw estimates the projects will create about 5,000 jobs at its corporate and independently owned grocery outlets.” Read more

 

HuffPo Hits Walmart: Walmart Puts Green Label on Products it Doesn’t Even Claim Are Green by Stacy Mitchell. “I searched the bubble wrap’s product page high and low for its secret sauce…but found no explanation. It turns out that the key to this mystery lies in a remarkable disclaimer tucked into the middle of the home page of Walmart’s sustainability shopping portal: “The Sustainability Leaders badge does not make representations about the environmental or social impact of an individual product.” Read more

 

World’s Most Ethical Companies (Petco, Marks & Spencer)  See the list

 

Macy’s CEO to headline Global Retailing Conference by Travis Arbon at Phoenix Business Journal. “It’s a unique conference in that you can get right up close to these industry giants,” Brooke said. “These are the big guys. You’re in a position because it’s such a small and intimate conference to be able to walk up to Kip Tindell, CEO of container store or Jerry Stritzke, CEO of REI, and have a conversation with them.” Read more

 

‘Fearful’ Target Employees Receptive To Recruiters at WCCO 4 CBS. “If you are a growing company in town, or in or region, and Target has a profile of employees you are looking for, I don’t know why you wouldn’t be reaching out to folks,” he said. “I had a conversation with an IT friend of mine last week. She had about six inquiries in the first three hours.” See the video / Read more

 

WinCo Foods Announces Opening of New Store In Chandler, Arizona “WinCo Foods LLC announced today that it will open its first store in Chandler and its sixth discount supermarket in the State of Arizona at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 12th.” Read the release

 

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Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet is read worldwide by Retail Merchants & Executives and created early every weekday morning. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s happening in the world of retail. Contact us at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net.