Thursday Tipsheet: Cornell on CNBC | Target Cuts 140 @ HQ | Kroger +0.3% | Rite Aid +2.9%

 

Target cuts 140 more jobs at Minneapolis headquarters by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “Most, but not all, of those laid off in this latest round of job cuts were in the recently formed “business performance optimization” group…In addition, Target closed 50 open positions…After these latest cuts, Target has laid off about 2,500 workers this year, or about a fifth of the people at its downtown headquarters.” Read more

 

Kroger Q1 Total Sales +0.3% “Total sales increased 0.3% to $33.1 billion in the first quarter compared to $33.0 billion for the same period last year. Total sales, excluding fuel, increased 6.4% in the first quarter over the same period last year.” Read more

 

Rite-Aid Q1 Comp +2.9% “Revenues for the quarter were $6.6 billion versus revenues of $6.5 billion in the prior year’s first quarter. Revenues increased 2.8 percent primarily as a result of an increase in same store sales.” Read the release

 

Target’s Brian Cornell Appears on CNBC “The retailer is in the early stages of reinventing its food selection, and is acting on customer feedback by enhancing its assortment and presentation of natural, organic and gluten-free products, he said. Target is testing the initiative and will accelerate the changes early next year, he added.” See the video / Read more

 

Senator McCaskill questions retailers, search engines about supplements targeting seniors at AP via US News. “In letters sent this week to 15 companies — including Wal-Mart, Target Corp., Amazon, Google and Walgreen’s — McCaskill asks executives to explain how they vet dietary supplements and weed out products making false claims… “Frankly, I think there’s a special place in hell for someone who markets a product and says it will cure Alzheimer’s,” McCaskill told The Associated Press.” Read more

 

***A Message from Tee Driver – Drive Your Golf Ball Further! Gain distance & accuracy on drives by placing your tee at a consistent height every time. The easy-to-adjust Tee Driver finds your optimal tee height – then locks it in. Hit the sweet spot of your driver every time! See the sell sheet  Available in peggable clamshell. Retailers – request sample at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

Amazon Exec Appears Before US House by John Cook at GeekWire. “(Paul) Misener added that the aviation aspect of drone delivery is just one small piece of the puzzle for Amazon, which also needs to make sure its distribution facilities are equipped to handle drone deliveries. “To get that 30-minute promise down, we have to get that item somewhere in a very large building ready to get to the drone, and that presents another set of engineering challenges,” he said.” Read more

 

Former Wal-Mart Executive Buys Stake in Hardware Store Gracious Home at Dow Jones. “Dottie Mattison, who spent four years with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in varying roles, including chief merchant of its website, has joined with real-estate executive David Mitchell to buy a majority stake in Gracious Home for an undisclosed price. Ms. Mattison will serve as chief executive and Mr. Mitchell as chairman.” Read more

 

U.K. Retail Sales Unexpectedly Rise in May on Food and Fuel by Andrew Atkinson at Bloomberg. “The volume of sales rose 0.2 percent from April, the Office for National Statistics in London said on Thursday. Economists in a Bloomberg survey forecast a 0.1 percent decline.” Read more

 

Is Restoration Hardware trying too hard? Watch these CEO videos. by Sarah Halzack at Washington Post. “It seems like the company is thinking of these as something of a fireside chat for the digital era…And yet, if that’s the goal, the videos may not be succeeding. Each installment has the same musical backdrop — a mellow piano score befitting a spa or Lifetime romance movie. And each one features Friedman, tanned and pensive in a khaki sweater vest, sitting in the same wing chair and talking to the camera with his fingers perched in a steeple.” Read more

 

CVS Health Receives Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles Award Read the release

 

Apple Watch (Finally) Reaches Its Own Retail Stores at Recode. “In case you were wondering: Apple has not yet disclosed sales of its first major product introduction since the Apple iPad. Time, apparently, will tell.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Walmart Accused of Stealing Shaving Invention

Fenway’s CityTarget wants to sell you alcohol

Google’s Nest launches new home camera, smoke detector

J.Crew exec brags about surviving ‘Hunger Games’ layoffs

How One Retail Brand Made More Money From the Marketing Cloud

Macy’s Real Estate Has Shareholders Salivating

FedEx to Amazon, Uber: Don’t be fooled, we make delivering packages look easy

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

***

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 really happening in the world of retail. See our website at www.eyeonretail.net

Wednesday Tipsheet: Dads Dis Discounts | A&P: 137 Stores for Sale | R.Hard & $7,000 Couches

 

Survey: Dads spend more than moms shopping by Robert Channick at Chicago Tribune. “A third of dads say they try to buy products on sale, versus 52 percent of moms…”Discounts are such a point of pride for mom,” Bruno said. “For dad, it’s the opposite — deals are an insult to his vanity a little bit.” Not surprisingly, dads spent an average of $250 more on back-to-school shopping than moms last year, the report said.” Read more

 

Report: Wal-Mart Has $76 Billion in Overseas Tax Havens by Jesse Drucker & Renee Dudley at Bloomberg. “The study, researched by the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union and published Wednesday in a report by Americans for Tax Fairness, found 90 percent of Wal-Mart’s overseas assets are owned by subsidiaries in Luxembourg and the Netherlands, two of the most popular corporate tax havens.” Read more

 

Restoration Hardware is betting people still want to buy $7,000 couches by Sarah Halzack at Washington Post via Star-Tribune. “Now the company believes it can reach an even wider audience — and capture even more of shoppers’ dollars — by launching a new “mirror image brand” that has the same price point but a different vibe. And it aims to do it by sticking with a strategy that largely focuses on brick-and-mortar stores, unusual in an era when many retailers are obsessed with boosting their digital ­presences.” Read more

 

Dollar Tree-Family Dollar merger inches toward to July closing by Jennifer Thomas at Charlotte Business Journal. “Dollar Tree is one step closer to acquiring Family Dollar according to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Tuesday. The filing states that both parties have “signed an agreement containing consent orders proposed by the staff of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.” Read more

 

Your neighbor may deliver your next Amazon package by Emily Parkhurst at Puget Sound Business Journal. “Amazon’s move into this kind of delivery would have enormous impacts on a variety of industries, but particularly on the shipping industry and UPS.” Read more

 

***A Message from CLUG: The World’s Smallest Bike Rack is Now Available. The CLUG Bike Clip is targeted at the casual enthusiast and the urban cyclist 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.  See the video.  See the sell sheet. Retailers: Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net to request a product sample.

 

A&P shopping more than half of its 301 stores by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “The money-losing supermarket operator — whose brands include Food Emporium, Pathmark and Waldbaums in addition to its flagship A&P stores — is shopping 137 of its 301-store portfolio, The Post has learned.” Read more

 

Western Firms Caught Off Guard as Chinese Shoppers Flock to Web at WSJ. “After enjoying nearly three decades of steady growth in its China business, Unilever PLC last year watched sales fall off a cliff. The maker of Dove soap, Lux shampoo and Comfort fabric softener warned in October of a 20% drop in its third-quarter China sales. The next quarter, the company announced another 20% fall.” Read more (Subscription)

 

Petco Expands One-Hour Delivery “Petco today announced the launch of Petco Now, the first on-demand delivery service in the pet specialty retail category.” Read the release

 

Wal-Mart’s request moves toothbrush production to Michigan from China by Shandra Martinez at M Live. “Ranir, the largest maker of store brand toothbrushes and oral care products, is shifting production in China to its Michigan headquarters at the request of the retail giant…Making the switch required Ranir to invest $3 million to add 7,500 square feet of new high-tech equipment. It is also hiring 19 employees, a stat that Wal-Mart is tracking.” Read more

 

Etsy launches crowdfunding pilot program by Heesun Wee at CNBC. Read more

 

Gap Details Product and Customer Experience Strategies to Build for the Future Read the release

 

***

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 really happening in the world of retail. See our website at www.eyeonretail.net

 

 

Tuesday Tipsheet: Wmart #1 w/Millennials | Target Deal Started w/Dinner | Online Sales Tax Debate Reignited

 

Target’s $1.9 Billion Deal Started With Friendly Dinner by Lauren Coleman-Lochner at Bloomberg. “(Brian) Cornell and CVS’s CEO, Larry Merlo, have known each other for years and are occasional dinner companions…“We would get together for dinner from time to time and we always compared notes in terms of challenges, opportunities,” he said…“Over time, I think we’ll continue to evaluate ways to work together,” Cornell said. Does that include putting CVS brands on Target shelves? “I wouldn’t rule out anything,” he said.” Read more

 

…Q&A with Brian Cornell via A Bullseye View. Read more

 

Groups allege Wal-Mart used charitable foundation to boost expansion by Jonathan O’Connell at Washington Post. “The 22-page complaint, addressed to IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, details the retailer’s marketing and lobbying activities as it sought approval to open stores in New York City, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and other cities. The groups allege that the foundation is completely controlled by the company and that it “appears to target its donations and influence its grantees primarily to assist Walmart to achieve those expansion goals.” Read more

 

Online sales tax debate reignited in the House by Bernie Becker at The Hill. “The bill, from House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and a group of 15 other House members, would give states greater latitude to charge sales taxes on online purchases from out-of-state customers.” Read more

 

UPS Plans to End Some Shipping Discounts for Holiday Season by Laura Stevens at WSJ. “United Parcel Service Inc. is telling dozens of retailers it intends to do away with big discounts on oversize packages this holiday season and, in the case of some retailers, year round, according to people familiar with the matter.” Read more (Subscription)

 

Where Do Millennials Love to Shop? Hint: It’s Based in Bentonville, Ark. by Jack Neff at Ad Age. “Millennials now, as a generation, like Walmart the best, more so than Generation X, more so than boomers,” said Matt Kistler, Walmart senior VP-consumer insights and analytics. “That kind of shocks a lot of people, including inside the company,” admitted Walmart Chief Marketing Officer Stephen Quinn.” Read more

 

***A message from Dig It® Handwear – Protect your finger nails when gardening!  Revolutionary garden glove protects nails from chipping or breaking with patented “pillow-top” finger nail protection.  View the innovation at www.digithandwear.com. Peggable gloves merchandise easily. Retailers contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net to request samples.

 

Another top executive out at Lumber Liquidators by Michelle Celarier at NY Post. “Lumber Liquidators ousted its merchandising chief on Monday, just weeks after he was fingered in a shareholder lawsuit as the “go-to guy” for the company’s controversial Chinese operations.” Read more

 

First Look: Kohl’s debuts Innovation Center, culmination of $100M campus revamp by Alison Bauter at Milwaukee Business Journal. “(Janet) Schalk refers to “small i” and “big I” innovation taking place at the center. The capital letter refers to the sweeping, industry-disrupting changes currently rocking retail (think e-commerce and Amazon). The lower-case version answers the question, “How do we make things better every day?” said Schalk, who’s been with the company for five years.” See the 17 Pics / Read more

 

Coty reportedly nabs P&G beauty brands by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati.com. “The beauty company that produces Rimmel cosmetics and Calvin Klein perfume – has won the bidding for Procter & Gamble’s Wella hair care and Max Factor and CoverGirl makeup brands, the New York Post reports.” Read more

 

Five reasons Target’s deal with CVS Health makes it leaner and meaner by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “The CVS deal allows Target to speed that up a bit since their deal calls for them to co-develop 5-10 TargetExpress stores in the next two years, essentially doubling the size of the fledgling fleet.” Read more

 

Gap to close 175 stores and lay off 250 HQ workers by Karma Allen at CNBC.  Read more

 

Quirky ditches device manufacturing, preps for new investment at Fortune. “…Quirky in February hired bankers to either find Wink some new outside investment or find it a buyer. Kaufman says that the process was moving along well until April, when Wink experienced a security glitch that that knocked its hubs offline…Wink’s hub remains unavailable to many Target shoppers, although it is now fully back in Home Depot and Amazon channels. “We love Target, but it was a question of prioritization,” Kaufman says.” Read more

 

Wayfair Launches Heart Home Conference Read the release

 

Tipsheet Extra

Australia: The six stages of Costco: which level are you?

Top 10 Emoji’s in Popularity (Smiley Face Falls to Fifth!)

Video: Concrete plant demolition clears way for Cabela’s (See it fall)

Fashion startup Nineteenth Amendment gets to-die-for deal with Macy’s

Hannaford names new ad agency

Amazon now allowing some third-party merchants to ship directly with Prime

A Tide Of People Come To Parking Lots For Discounted Laundry Detergent

Wal-Mart Welcomes Veterans Home with Job Guarantees

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

***

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 really happening in the world of retail. See our website at www.eyeonretail.net

 

Monday Tipsheet: CVS Buys Target’s Pharmacies | Ex-JCP CMO to Yahoo | Target Fights Body Shaming

 

CVS buying Target’s pharmacy, clinic businesses for $1.9b via Boston Globe. “The deal includes more than 1,660 pharmacies in Target stores that will be branded as CVS/pharmacy. The agreement also calls for new Target stores to include a CVS/pharmacy if they are going to offer pharmacy services.” Read more

 

Yahoo Hires Former JCPenney CMO Debra Berman as Top Consumer Marketer by Tim Peterson at Ad Age. “Ms. Berman will start at Yahoo on July 6 and report directly to the company’s CMO Kathy Savitt who also oversees the company’s media business.” Read more

 

Target’s New Body-Positive Campaign Features Real Women at E Online. “Target is taking steps to put forth a more inclusive representation of women’s bodies in its upcoming ads, most recently with a new swimwear campaign that uses “real” women—who offer an array of body shapes and sizes—modeling bikinis and one-pieces from the brand’s latest swimwear collection.” See the pics/video

 

7 Fortune 500 companies with the most employees (Walmart #1) by Claire Zillman & Stacy Jones. See the list

 

***A message from Mobee’s ‘Bees’: Mobee has over 350,000 GPS tracked, Smartphone enabled ‘Bees’ located within 5 miles of every US retail store. Detect supply chain issues quickly and remedy the problem immediately. “Supply Chain Fix Alerts” have resulted in post-alert sales increases of up to +35%. How Mobee works video. Contact dowdy@getmobee.com to request a free pilot.

 

Wegmans executive says retailers should promote underutilized seafood by Elliot Zwiebach at Supermarket News. “Carl Salmone, VP of seafood at Wegmans Food Markets: “Right now they are not doing a good job [promoting such species],” he said. When he began buying seafood for Rochester, N.Y.-based Wegmans in 1974, the supply of wild fish in U.S. waters seemed inexhaustible, Salmone said, “and the challenge was getting people to buy it.” Read more

 

Why ‘Buy’ Buttons Will Pose Big Challenges for Google, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter by Jason Del Rey at Recode. Read more

 

Whole Foods cooks up venture capital alternative for food startups by Annie Sciacca at San Francisco Business Times. “The 36 grant winners are chosen by the company and via social media. While the grants may not seem large — this year, it was a little more than $5,000 for each small company — it can make a big difference to early-stage food startups, Singh explained.” Read more

 

Hudson’s Bay Co to buy German Galeria Kaufhof for $3.17 billion via Financial Post. Read more

 

Target in Kailua steps out of the box, joins local chamber of commerce by Darin Moriki at Pacific Business News. “Target has stores across the nation and we operate roughly 1,800 stores nationwide, and joining chambers is not the norm,” (Drew) Santos said. “It definitely was a decision that I made — a lot of thought went into that and I think it’s a smart move for us.” Read more

 

Under Armour isn’t ready to give Jordan Spieth the full Tiger Woods treatment – yet by Sydney Ember at NY Times. “At Under Armour’s headquarters in Baltimore, there have been talks of a signature Spieth line and perhaps a world tour. There are plans to introduce new golf apparel and footwear next spring…” Read more

 

***

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 really happening in the world of retail. See our website at www.eyeonretail.net

 

Friday Tipsheet: McMillon Speaks at Conf. | W.Foods Riles Farmers | R.Hard. +15% | Wgreen Dir. Out

 

Doug McMillon Speaks at Retail Conference by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “When our numbers got bigger over the years we weeded out some of the risk takers which are important to the equation. You can manage a department to death,” he added…a participant asked McMillon what he would ask IBM’s Watson to fix or help fix at Wal-Mart. With a laugh, McMillon responded, “How do I get comp store sales up?” Read more

 

…“I was at a store in Denver, talking to a store manager and associates on how to make things better, and the manger pointed to a small food trailer in the parking lot, and he said, ‘They pay $10 an hour to start, and we pay $9,’ and I’m like, ‘That doesn’t need to happen,’” McMillon said. Read more

 

Costco to source eggs from Hillandale despite animal welfare video at Reuters. “Costco would not commit to a timeline for promised transition to only cage-free eggs at its stores despite calls by the Humane Society to do so. “We are going to be continuing to expand our cage-free business as fast as we can,” Craig Wilson, vice president of quality assurance and food safety, said on Thursday.” Read more

 

Could Michelle Gass become Kohl’s next CEO? by Alison Bauter at Milwaukee Business Journal. “Kohl’s Corp. has named chief customer officer Michelle Gass to the newly created principal officer position of chief merchandising and customer officer, filling the long-vacant chief merchandising officer position as Kohl’s begins a search for chief operating officer, another new position.” Read more

 

Walgreens director resigns; company says no conflict by Ameet Sachdev at Chicago Tribune. “Steven Davis, 56, is the only African-American on the drugstore chain’s 12-person board. The timing of his resignation is curious because Davis was re-elected to the board at the end of May. The company said he was leaving to devote more time to “other professional responsibilities.” Read more

 

Target’s Digital Advisory Board by Joann S. Lublin at WSJ. “Last summer…council members visited a store near Target’s Minneapolis headquarters…“You [should] know me when I walk in the store,” Mr. Yagan complained to Mr. Carl, as they toured it. With a personalized experience, he added, “you change my shopping habits when I am in the store.” Mr. Carl agreed: “We’re not pushing far enough fast enough.” Mr. Yagan continued his critique during a headquarters session later that day with most of senior management.” Read more (Subscription)

 

***A message from Dolce Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Among the many unique qualities of Chile is an agricultural paradise situated between the mountains, rivers, and sea. From this oasis comes Dolce Super Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Featuring the lowest acidity rate in the category at 0.2%. Our advanced systems ensure less than 12 hours between harvest and oil extraction to packaging. See the websiteRetailers request a sample at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

Restoration Hardware Q1 Comp Brand Revenue +15%  Read the release

 

Wal-Mart sees India, South Africa markets as long term projects by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “David Cheesewright told The City Wire that there are numerous challenges for foreign retailers  seeking consumer-oriented retail in India. “When they make changes we will adapt. For now we have more than enough to worry about without doing to much there,” Cheesewright said.” Read more

 

Kmart Revamps Marketing Team, Hires CMO at Ad Age. “Kmart creative Mark Andeer has left the company, and the retailer has made personnel, structural and processing changes to its marketing team as part of an effort to evolve the brand’s overall marketing, the company said.” Read more

 

NY Times: Organic Farmers Object to Whole Foods Rating System by Stephanie Strom. “The longtime suppliers to Whole Foods are complaining that the program called Responsibly Grown can grant a farmer who does not meet the stringent requirements for federal organic certification the same rating as an organic farmer, or even a higher one.” Read more

 

Kroger to test online shopping at more stores by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati.com. “Kroger will continue to test in other Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Dayton stores, and will open more locations soon,” the supermarket company said.” Read more

 

Loblaw vows to ‘act quickly’ if supplier lied about organic poultry by Jamie Sturgeon at Global News. “In a lawsuit filed in Ontario on Thursday, Cericola Farms Inc., a poultry producer, is alleged to have falsified labels on chicken products, marking them as organic when the poultry came from non-organic farms.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Wal-Mart to participate at the Goldman Sachs Sixth Annual dotCommerce Day Conference

An Inside Look at Facebook’s Approach to Automation and Human Work

How Apple’s holy war on mobile ads could backfire

Police: Shoplifter confronted by loss prevention employee fired shots inside Target store

The hot new retail startup from Lululemon’s design guru

Twitter removing the 140-character limit … for direct messages

Amazon, Apple Are Best-Perceived Brands Among LGBT Americans

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

***

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 really happening in the world of retail. See our website at www.eyeonretail.net

 

Thursday Tipsheet: Aldi +45 in SoCal | Kroger Rolls Online Shop | Wgreen Pushes Virtual Docs

 

As Not Seen on TV: Wal-Mart Dials Back on Ads in Low-Price Push by Renee Dudley at Bloomberg. “In Sunday newspapers…the frequency of Wal-Mart circulars that advertise specials is down by about half from a year ago. “We are getting back to a place where we are playing offense with price to best serve our customers,” said Deisha Barnett, a spokeswoman for Bentonville, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart. “We believe that our suppliers’ best investment for our customers is an investment in price, not an investment in co-op advertising or a temporary discount.” Read more

 

US retail sales jump in May at CNBC. “The Commerce Department said on Thursday retail sales increased 1.2 percent last month after an upwardly revised 0.2 percent gain in April.” Read more

 

Aldi to open 45 stores in SoCal by Shan Li at LA Times.  “The company is building a regional headquarters and distribution center in Moreno Valley to support further expansion in coming years, said Jason Hart, Aldi’s chief executive for U.S. operations. “There is no other place with the same density of people that exists in Southern California,” Hart said in an interview. “It’s an important market with really big potential for us.” Read more

 

Jeff Bezos Gives the Floor to Rev. Jackson by Jay Greene at Seattle Times. “I very much appreciate your coming to the meeting,” Bezos said…“Amazon is delivering packages from drones in the sky,” Jackson told shareholders. “If you put your mind to it, you can certainly build a pipeline to engage African Americans, Latinos and women to change the face of technology.”…“We can no doubt use our ingenuity here,” Bezos said.” Read more

 

Kroger rolling out online shopping by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati.com. “Kroger plans to unveil the long-awaited expansion of its ‘click and collect’ online shopping option to the general public for its Liberty Township store…(Kroger) has been testing the service on a limited basis since last year and plans to introduce it Thursday during a press event.” Read more

 

Walgreens Pushes Expansion of Virtual Doctor Visits by Tom Murphy at AP via Yahoo. “Walgreens said Wednesday that it will offer a smartphone application that links doctor and patients virtually in 25 states by the end of the year.” Read more

 

Walmart’s U.S. Manufacturing Summit in July will have a ‘Better Filter’ by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “Michelle Gloeckler said in years past they met with people who had product ideas, but this year they will focus on meeting with people and companies who “have a manufacturing plan” and can begin almost immediately to put products on shelves. The 2015 Walmart U.S. Manufacturing Summit is themed “Investing in American Jobs,” and is set for July 7-8.” Read more

 

3D Printing Is Not A Fad — Lowe’s Companies Creates New Customer Experience by TJ McCue at Forbes. “Kyle Nel for Lowe’s Innovation Labs told me the customer response has been amazing. “We’ve seen artists bring in their artwork to scan and print before sending the original off to a gallery, software developers bring in prototype monsters to create in 3D to help with animation development, a collector bring in a fragile puzzle to be scanned and printed so that kids could play without fear of damage, and a bicyclist bring in a broken clip from an antique French bicycle that had gone unrepaired for years due to out of production parts.” Read more

 

***A message from Dig It® Handwear.  Revolutionary garden glove protects finger nails! Patented line of high-quality gardening gloves provides unique “pillow-top” protection for female gardeners. View the line at www.digithandwear.com. Peggable gloves merchandise easily. Retailers contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net to request samples.

 

Fortune: Why won’t J.C. Penney close more stores? E-commerce by Phil Wahba. “Until we can get this omni-channel fully rolled out, we have to guard against making the assumption that we have a correct or incorrect number of stores,” Marvin Ellison said.” Read more

 

Wayfair Names Liz Graham VP of Sales and Service Read the release

 

Rosalind Brewer on Forbes’s Women’s Summit Panel by Michela Tindera at Forbes. “Brewer explained how her club managers get involved with small business owners in their local communities. “We lend services and there’s no price tag on that,” she said. “We’ll go to their offices and actually work with them to build business plans.” Read more

 

Amazon launching daily live show to drive product sales, says deleted job posting by James Risley at Geekwire. Read more

 

Hudson’s Bay benefits from Target exit at Toronto Sun. “Home Outfitters and Hudson’s Bay are both reaping the rewards, or taking advantage, of the exit of Target and the continued erosion that you’re seeing at Sears,” Chairman Richard Baker said in an interview.” Read more

 

Federal judge: Wal-Mart violated state minimum wage laws via Chicago Tribune. “Wal-Mart could be on the hook for more than $100 million in back pay after a federal judge ruled the company failed to pay California minimum wage to truck drivers for activities that included inspecting and washing their trucks, an attorney said Wednesday.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Ex-Trader Joe’s president reveals how the most popular grocery store items have changed

J. Crew to lay off 10% of headquarters after horrific sales decline

Loblaw Companies Ltd removing micro beads, Triclosan, phthalates from beauty products by 2018

Walmart brawl in shampoo aisle upsets mayor

Today: Ribbon Cutting for Meijer’s 2nd Store in Detroit

The $5 Bil Battle for the American Dinner Plate

Amazon has three great businesses, and Jeff Bezos is hunting for a fourth

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

***

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 really happening in the world of retail. See our website at www.eyeonretail.net

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Tipsheet: Top CEOs: Jelinek #13; Linnie #8 in Can. | Target Test Link Troubles | Amazon Welcomes Rev. Jackson

 

Target reveals stock-buyback plan too early by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “A source close to the company said the vendor that posts press releases on the company’s Web site accidentally put up the announcement while testing the link. The company could indeed announce a buyback plan, but it certainly didn’t mean to do so before its board discussed the matter, the source said.” Read more

 

Dollar General Announces Jeff Owen as EVP of Store Operations Read the release

 

Glassdoor: 50 Highest Rated CEOs (HEB #3, Costco #13…) via The Mercury News. See the Top 50 list

 

…Bill Lennie, President of Home Depot Canada Ranked #8 CEO in Canada by April Fong at Financial Post. See the Top 10 Canadian CEO list

 

Humane Society alleges Costco egg vendor treats birds cruelly by Angel Gonzalez at The Seattle Times. “Hillandale said the employee who shot the video was the one who neglected to follow farm procedures. Hillandale told the news agency the images showed an isolated incident, and don’t reflect its “high standards.” Read more

 

Best Buy CEO Hubert Joly says company is ‘confident’ about future by Kavita Kumar at Star-Tribune. “On Tuesday, company officials’ unbridled optimism about the future was on full display at the electronics retailer’s annual shareholders meeting…Joly pointed to various opportunities to expand Best Buy’s business: increasing appliance sales, revamping in-home services offered through the Geek Squad and pushing sales around life events such as graduations and weddings.” Read more

 

Amazon Hosts Shareholder Meeting Today by Ina Steiner at EcommerceBytes. Read more

 

…Jesse Jackson to press for more inclusion in Amazon workplace by Jay Greene at The Seattle Times. “Amazon acknowledged that it would give Jackson a forum at the meeting, letting him ask the first question when the meeting moves to the shareholder question-and-answer portion. “We look forward to welcoming the Rev. Jackson at our annual meeting and we agree that these are important issues,” Amazon spokesman Ty Rogers said.” Read more

 

Supervalu CEO pay rises 40 percent by Sam Black at Minn./St. Paul Business Journal. “…boosting his total compensation to $6.92 million, up from $4.95 million in 2014…Former Target Corp. executive Gerald Storch, has been nominated by the Supervalu board to continue his role as non-executive chairman.” Read more

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods Opens Stores 614/615/616/617   614 615 616 617

 

Facebook Is Handing Out Free Beacons to Retailers by Kurt Wagner at Recode. “Facebook has designed its own beacon, which is being produced by an external manufacturer. Beacons aren’t expensive, but it’s still noteworthy that Facebook is willing to produce and distribute these beacons for free.” Read more

 

HD Supply Q1 Net Sales +6% Read the release

 

Watch out Walmart: Alibaba’s sales could be larger than yours this year by Tricia Duryee at GeekWire. Read more

 

Sam’s Club focusing more on private label by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “Rosalind Brewer told the media that her buyers are in the process of streamlining their private label offerings from 15 to 2…”You will see us do more with private label going forward. Our focus will be on better quality and value. Working toward an elite private label brand will be one of the levers you see us pull going forward,” Brewer said.” Read more

 

Cabela’s Announces Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Location Read the release

 

Blue Apron Announces $135 Million in New Funding “Blue Apron has tripled its volume in the last six months, and is now delivering over 3 million meals a month to homes across the United States. To further its mission, Blue Apron has forged exclusive relationships with hundreds of farmers and artisans.” Read the release

 

***

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 really happening in the world of retail. See our website at www.eyeonretail.net

 

Tuesday Tipsheet: Sam’s Likes Drones | Carol Tome in CNN Profile | Top Green Co’s (CVS #16, Target #147)

 

Walgreens defends dumping merchandise after landslide by Becky Yerak at Chicago Tribune. “Walgreens is facing criticism for dumping the inventory of a closed Wyoming store in a landfill last week instead of donating it to charity…”This certainly was not a typical situation for us,” Walgreens spokesman Phil Caruso told the Chicago Tribune on Monday. “As sad as it is to throw away merchandise, we decided we couldn’t donate any items out of an abundance of caution.” Read more

 

Newsweek: Top Green Companies in the U.S. 2015 (CVS #16, Best Buy #35, Home Depot #125…) See the top 500ish list

 

Kroger appoints new senior leader, president of Harris Teeter by Tom Demeropolis at Cincinnati Business Courier. “With (Fred) Morganthall’s move, Rod Antolock, currently Harris Teeter’s executive vice president, has been named president of Harris Teeter.” Read more

 

CNN to Profile Home Depot CFO Carol Tomé at News on News “Later in June, CNN’s “Leading Women” profiles US business woman Carol Tomé , CFO of the American retail giant, The Home Depot….Tomé discusses her rise at the company with CNN’s Isha Sesay, touching on family, what it’s like working at a Fortune 30 Company and her approach to work.” 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.  See the video.  See the sell sheet. Retailers: Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net to request a product sample.

 

Sam’s Club Bets Drones Will Fly Off the Shelves at Christmas by Sarah Nassauer at WSJ. “Rival Costco wouldn’t comment on its plans for holiday drones and doesn’t currently sell any. Target Corp. sells a $999 drone on its website and said it is likely it would sell more in the coming months.” Read more (Subscription)

 

Target exec in charge of store operations leaves by Nick Halter at Minn./St. Paul Business Journal. “(Bryan) Everett has been replaced by Cindy Hudson. Hudson started on the sporting goods floor when she was 20 and rose to vice president of asset protection, according to an interview she did with workingmother.com.” Read more

 

Macy’s expands its new discount store concept by Andy Brownfield at Cincinnati Business Courier. “Macy’s is adding two additional stores to the original four it announced in May, bringing the total to six. The two new stores are located in the Bronx, N.Y., and West Orange, N.J.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart execs defend expensive tech investments, will ‘take time to pay off’ by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “Looking forward we expect an increase in global e-commerce sales of around 25% in fiscal year 2016, and we anticipate growth over the three-year period from fiscal years 2016 through 2018 to average 30 to 40%,” Holley said.” Read more

 

***Check out Eye on Retail on the web!  eyeonretail.net

 

Walgreens Launches App for Apple Watch to Support Medication Adherence  Read the release

 

These Are the 13 Cities Where Millennials Can’t Afford a Home at Bloomberg. See the list

 

Wayfair CEO Niraj Shah to Present at the 35th Annual Piper Jaffray Consumer Conference on June 9, 2015  Read the release

 

Tipsheet Extra

Here’s Why Home Depot Continues To Win

Amazon halts sale of ISIS propaganda magazine ‘Dabiq’

Home Depot sued by woman claiming she injured her back loaded mulch into car

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

***

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 really happening in the world of retail. See our website at www.eyeonretail.net