Friday Tipsheet: H.Depot Withdraws from Jet | Wmart Raise Backlash | D.Gen. EVP Returns | Denim is Hot

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Unintended Consequence of Wal-Mart’s Raise: Unhappy Workers by Shannon Pettypiece at Bloomberg. “It is pitting people against each other,” said Charmaine Givens-Thomas, a 10-year Wal-Mart veteran. “It hurts morale when people feel like they aren’t being appreciated. I hear people every day talking about looking for other jobs and wanting to remove themselves from Wal-Mart and a job that will make them feel like that.” Read more / See the video

 

Home Depot & Others Pull Brands From Jet.com by Rolfe Winkler at WSJ. “Companies with multiple brands whose links have been withdrawn from Jet include heavyweights Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Gap Inc., Walgreens, Williams-Sonoma Inc. and L’Oréal SA . “If someone is using our brand without our permission, there are a multitude of concerns, and we’re not going to allow it,” said a Home Depot spokesman, who added that Jet was cooperative in removing his company’s logo after being asked to do so.” Read more (Subscription)

 

Sneak Peek: Whole Foods new Uptown Dallas Store by Maria Halkias at Dallas News. “The long anticipated store, which was first announced in 2012, opens Wednesday on McKinney Ave. between Routh and Fairmont. Regular hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.” See the pics / Read more

 

Wal-Mart Launches Site to Connect Suppliers to U.S. Manufacturers by Kim Nash at WSJ. “A supplier hoping to do business with Wal-Mart can search ThomasNet.com for makers of washers, tubing and thousands of other components , using attributes such as product type, company location, specific government certifications and diversity criteria, said Tom Greco, vice president of ThomasNet.com. The supplier could then buy those components to use in the making of its own product for Wal-Mart shelves, Mr. Greco said.” Read more (Subscription)

 

Ken Martindale named CEO of Rite Aid Stores at Supermarket News. “Martindale, 55, joined Rite Aid, Camp Hill, Pa., in late 2008 as chief merchandising, marketing and logistics officer. He was formerly co-president, chief marketing officer and chief merchandising officer of Pathmark Stores in 2006 and 2007 after serving as EVP, purchasing and procurement, for Fred Meyer, Inc., in 1998.” Read more

 

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

 

Petco Changes Leadership Team “Petco today announced several key leadership changes, including the addition of Chairman responsibilities to CEO Jim Myers’ role after 25 years with the company and naming Brad Weston President…Prior to joining Petco, Weston held various leadership positions in merchandising for other retailers, including Dick’s Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy and May Department Stores.” Read the release

 

Fred’s July Comp Sales +0.7% “Fred’s total sales for the month increased 11% to $164.7 million from $148.9 million in July 2014.” Read the release

 

Former Dollar General Executive Will Rejoin the Company “James Thorpe brings 24 years of merchandising experience to the position including more than six years with Dollar General where he served as senior vice president and general merchandise manager from May 2006 until his retirement in July 2012.” Read the release

 

Retail trends: Denim is hot, ‘bro tanks’ are not by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “According to Sidney Morgan-Petro, retail editor at trend forecasting firm WGSN, there are three new juniors’ trends that should get people spending. The first is the 1970s bohemian look, including items like flared jeans, the peasant blouse and the blanket wrap. Another is a ’90s-influenced throwback to T-shirts and jeans, and plaid shirts tied around the waist. The third is a shift back to denim.” Read more

 

Grocery store cashier fired for telling client a product is cheaper at Walmart by Paul Delean at Montreal Gazette. “It’s unthinkable that a cashier serving a client, at the time of payment, tell him that certain products he’s buying are cheaper at a competitor,” the judge said.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

This ad agency’s former CEO is being investigated by the SEC and owes the company $12 million

Instacart to let workers become employees in L.A., other cities

Wayfair details top summer home trends

Build-A-Bear Q2 Comp Sales +8.7%

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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

 

Thursday Tipsheet: Retail’s Top 25 Earners | Costco Rolls Out Christmas | Dick’s/Chelsea In-Store Video | TreeHouse Raises $16M

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Retail’s Top 25 Earners by Arthur Zaczkiewicz at Women’s Wear Daily (Brian Cornell #2, Marvin Ellison #4, Doug McMillon #6)  See the top 25 list and how much they earn

 

Costco’s French Revolution by Angel Gonzalez by Seattle Times. “After four years mired in a thicket of red tape, Costco Wholesale is getting closer to opening its first warehouse in France, a key building block in its slow but sure-footed global push. Now the hard part begins. When the Issaquah retailer opens the store, possibly next spring, it will land right on the doorstep of some of the world’s most powerful retailers.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart HQ cuts could reduce economic activity in Northwest Arkansas by $47 million a year by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “You have to think that not everyone will leave. You may have some people stay in the area and become entrepreneurial. So there could be a positive from that aspect,” Collins said.” Read more

 

Costco July Comp Sales Flat (US +3%) “Costco today reported net sales of $8.64 billion for the month of July, the four weeks ended August 2, 2015, an increase of one percent from $8.55 billion during the similar period last year. “ Read more

 

Dick’s is Stretching for a niche in ‘athleisure’ by Sarah Halzack at Washington Post. “The demographic that we have in mind is somebody that is really on the cutting edge of both fitness trends and fashion trends. So somebody who really likes to try things,” said Lauren Hobart, general manager of Chelsea Collective.Athleisure.” Read more

 

…See the in-store video at Washington Business Journal. See the video

 

***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. “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.

 

5-month-old Durham tech startup snags Lowe’s investment by Lauren K. Ohnesorge at Triangle Business Journal. “SoloPro, which is only a few months old, is an online market place aimed at helping home buyers purchase agent services.” Read more

 

Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Tractor Supply Hang On To ‘Sizzling’ Growth by Sarah Mahoney at MediaPost. “And (NRF) also ranked what it calls the “sustained sizzle” companies, those that have maintained their dominance and managed to stay in the “Hot 100” for the six years it has been compiling its rankings. Amazon continues its reign as supreme sizzler, followed by O’Reilly Automotive; Tractor Supply Co.; Dick’s Sporting Goods; Dollar Tree, and Ross Stores.” Read more

 

Sustainable home improvement retailer raises millions to add new stores by Michael Theis at Austin Business Journal. “The goal: To take on giants such as The Home Depot and Lowe’s Companies Inc. in the same manner Whole Foods Market Inc. challenged traditional grocers. The company announced Wednesday that it closed a $16 million funding round. The funds will be used to open stores in new markets and launch an e-commerce platform, among other things.” Read more

 

Costco Rolls Out Christmas in August by Jeremy Appel at Toronto Sun. “Christmas-coloured ornaments, lights, gift wrapping, winter jackets, snow pants and two trees were on sale. A Costco Canada spokesman said they have been doing this at all stores at least since Costco came to Canada in 1986…pointing out that Costco has sold more than $20,000 worth of winter coats since July.” Read more / See the video

 

Jeff Bezos just sold $534 million worth of Amazon stock by Emily Parkhurt at Puget Sound Business Journal. Read more

 

Raw pet food sales are booming, but are the products safe? by Laurie Tarkan at Forbes. “The FDA is mostly concerned about humans. Handling raw meat at home can expose pet owners to the bacteria, and could potential make you, well, sick as a dog.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Fastest-growing retailer isn’t a household name

Home Depot Names Gerard Arpey to Its Board of Directors

John Deere recalls more than 2,000 tractors over crash risk

General Mills revives monster cereals, with Target and Walmart gimmicks

Chicago Avenue Walgreens sells for $3.8M

Can P&G’s shaving cream-dispensing razor revive Gillette’s sales?

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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

 

 

Wednesday Tipsheet: Target Testing Beacons | #1 Brands: H.Depot/Costco/Dick’s | $6 Eggs | L.Liquidators Crashing

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Target testing beacons to provide in-store shoppers coupons, recommendations by Kavita Kumar at Star-Tribune. “The experiment is Target’s first major foray into beacons. It is starting out with 50 stores in markets such as Denver, Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco as well as in 15 stores in the Twin Cities. In each of the stores, Target has placed anywhere between 20 and 50 beacons that transmit a signal about 20 feet away.” Read more

 

Target CFO John Mulligan Joins McDonald’s Board by Nick Turner at Bloomberg. “McDonald’s has faced criticism in the past for having an insular board staffed with Chicago business leaders…” Read more

 

2015 Harris Poll EquiTrend Brands of the Year:  Mass – Target; Hardware – Home Depot; Club – Costco; Sporting Goods – Dick’s; Value – Dollar Tree. See the top brands in 120 categories

 

Sneak peek inside Cincinnati’s first Cabela’s store by Erin Caproni at Cincinnati Business Courier. See the 16 pics/Read more

 

Kellogg to stop using artificial products in cereals, snack bars via NY Post. “The 109-year old company, whose cereals have been a popular breakfast choice for decades, said on Tuesday it was aiming to stop using artificial colors and flavors in its cereal and snack bars by the end of 2018.” Read more

 

Safeway dumps program that gave more than $300 million to schools and nonprofits by Mark Calvey at San Francisco Business Times. Read more

 

Target to rebrand CityTarget, TargetExpress stores as just Target by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “So what about SuperTarget? The name used to describe the retailer’s big-box stores with a full grocery assortment will remain — at least for now.” Read more

 

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Rite Aid Promotes Ken Martindale to Newly Created Position of CEO via EPR Retail News. Read the release

 

Harvard Business Review: How Target Is Taking Sustainable Products Mainstream by Andrew Winston. “Within Target’s “naturals and organics” category, sales grew 17% last year, four times faster than its total grocery sales.” Read more

 

Lumber Liquidators is crashing at Business Insider. “Comparable store net sales…fell 10% in the second quarter.” Read more

 

Neiman Marcus is gearing up for an initial public offering of stock (again) by Maria Halkias at Dallas News. “The filing for an IPO could be a signal that the new owners are also entertaining a sale of the company.” Read more

 

$6 eggs could be on the way by Katie Little at CNBC. “It’s almost scary to think about what could happen to egg prices,” Hundley said.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Too Racy? Retailers to Put Blinders on Cosmopolitan

30 Startups Pitch Obama at White House Demo Day

China’s Government Will Embed Police In Its Largest Tech Firms

Target Listens – Adds More Plus Size Jeans for “Bottom-Heavy” Girls

Amazon Studios Chief Addresses Woody Allen, ‘Top Gear’ Controversies in Awkward Panel

CVS banned tobacco. Now its sales are hurting

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

 

Tuesday Tipsheet: JCP Hires Target/H.Depot Execs | CVS Comp +0.5% | Lowe’s Taps Tech

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CVS Q2 Comp +0.5% (Pharmacy +4.1%, Front end -7.8%) “Net revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2015, increased 7.4%, or $2.6 billion, to $37.2 billion compared to the three months ended June 30, 2014.” Read the release

 

Lowe’s Taps Into Tech to Promote New Manhattan Locations by Ashley Rodriguez at Ad Age. “A lot of work went into figuring out what home improvement means for the Manhattan customer, for the Upper West Side customer, for the Chelsea customer,” said Mr. Luster. “It was really important for us to be part of the community. We’re not a flagship store here. We’re absolutely a neighborhood home-improvement store.” Read more

 

J.C. Penney CEO Marvin Ellison hires execs from Home Depot and Target by Maria Halkias at Dallas News. “Michael Amend becomes executive vice president of omnichannel beginning Tuesday. Amend comes to Penney from Home Depot where he was vice president of online, mobile and omnichannel and worked with Ellison. Mike Robbins, formerly the senior vice president of global supply chain for Target, will become senior vice president of supply chain at Penney effective Aug. 10.” Read more

 

Costco delays online photo services return, citing ongoing security concerns by Tricia Duryee at GeekWire. “Other retailers’ photo sites, including Sam’s Club and Rite Aid continue to be down, as well.” Read more

 

Amazon Echo sold outside Amazon.com for first time – available at Staples.com for $180 by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. Read more

 

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Publix Q2 Comp +4.1%  Read the release

 

Walgreens Names Kimberly R. Scardino SVP, Global Controller and Chief Accounting Officer “Scardino joins Walgreens Boots Alliance from American Express Company, where she was senior vice president, business advisory controller.” Read the release

 

Alibaba Group Appoints Ex Goldman Sachs Exec as President  Read the release

 

Sears Q2 Comp Plummets -10.6% at AP via Star Tribune. “At Sears stores, the metric declined 13.9 percent. It fell 6.9 percent for Kmart locations.” Read more

 

Target Set To Upgrade To Safer Card Technology by Nina Moini at CBS Minnesota. “A Target spokesperson said on Monday the major retailer is on track to mail out new chip-based cards to customers in the next couple of months.” Read more

 

Amazon Places New Limits on Amazon Prime by Ina Steiner at eCommerceBytes. “A new provision called “Amazon Households” restricts members to sharing the program with up to six members: two adults, each with their own Amazon account, and four children.” Read more

 

Ingles Markets Q3 Comp +1.6%  Read the release

 

Office Max Q2 Total Sales -10%  Read the release

 

Tipsheet Extra

What It’s Like To Use Amazon’s New Dash Buttons

Target offers free shipping and returns

Woman allegedly finds frog in bag of organic spinach from Sam’s Club

Walmart India plans to add 50 stores in 4-5 years

Deliv takes on Amazon with same-day delivery for Macy’s – now it’s headed for NYC

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

 

Monday Tipsheet: Lowe’s Takes Manhattan | Target’s Big Jump in Reputation | Japanese D.Store +20 in TX

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Lowe’s set to open its first store in Manhattan by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Anchoring the corner of Broadway and West 68th Street, in a former Food Emporium space, Lowe’s is unveiling what it describes as a “test store,” a smaller format that will be a model for other urban stores across the country. The chain is opening a second Manhattan outlet in September in Chelsea.” Read more

 

Costco purchases land in southeast Redmond for long-delayed project by Angel Gonzalez & Sanjay Bhatt at Seattle Times. “Costco Wholesale has bought a big chunk of land in southeast Redmond, signaling that a long-delayed project to build a warehouse there could be moving forward after six years…Costco chief financial officer Richard Galanti confirmed that purchase on Friday but didn’t provide further detail.” Read more

 

Target’s reputation with parents improves faster than the competition by Cody Nelson at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. “About 53 percent of parents surveyed said they would consider the Minneapolis-based retailer when they make their next purchase at a major retailer. Target ended up at No. 2 on the list, finishing about 9 percentage points behind Wal-Mart.” Read more

 

…See the study via YouGov.  Read here

 

Daiso Japan dollar store opens first of many Texas stores by Maria Halkias at Dallas News. “The first of about 10 Daiso stores in Dallas and 10 more in Houston opens Saturday…Daiso is the largest 100 Yen store in Japan with more than 65 percent of the category’s market share. It has more than 2,800 stores in Japan and more than 600 in 28 countries.” Read more

 

Ullman steps down, again, as Penney CEO by Maria Halkias at Dallas News. “There weren’t two or three executives walking the face of the earth at the time that could have saved Penney,” said Marvin Ellison, who succeeded Ullman as CEO on Saturday.” Read more

 

Etsy is growing up. Here’s why it needs Congress’s help by Jacob Bogage at Washington Post. “The trendy online marketplace is on a mission to grow up. And on Capitol Hill, it learned that growing up starts with grip-and-grins before transitioning into policy debates…Company executives set up two days of marathon meetings with 20 members of Congress, including Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and power broker Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.).” Read more

 

Whole Foods CIO Jason Buechel Promoted to Executive Management Team by Steven Norton at WSJ. “Mr. Buechel retains his responsibilities as CIO, but now has the same voting power as other senior executives, according to a spokesman. He previously reported to CFO Glenda Flanagan.” Read more (Subscription)

 

***A message from Pro-Chlor Septic Tabs – Homeowners with aerobic septic systems must properly chlorinate them or face fines upon mandated county inspections. Flushable tabs don’t work here …only chlorine tabs made specifically for aerobic systems. High margin traffic driver. Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net for program information or go to gwtcinc.com

 

CVS drives another nail in film’s coffin: No more 1-hour processing by Hiawartha Bray at Boston Globe. “A phase-out that began four years ago concluded at the end of July with CVS removing the last of its one-hour film processing stations from its 3,000 stores.” Read more

 

New York Reaches Accords With Sellers of Toy Guns by Rachel Abrams at NY Times. “Walmart, Sears and Amazon are among a handful of retailers that have agreed to keep realistic-looking toy guns off their shelves as part of settlements with the New York attorney general’s office.” Read more

 

Jet.com willing to spend money to make money, CEO says by Trent Gillies at CNBC. “Lore has no fear of red ink—at least until he gets what he wants. “In the short term, we will incur losses until we get to scale,” he said.” Read more

 

India’s Snapdeal, an Amazon Competitor, Raises $500 Million by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “Alibaba finally has its ally in India, perhaps the world’s hottest e-commerce market. The Chinese e-commerce giant has invested in Snapdeal, an India-based e-commerce startup, as part of a $500 million round, according to multiple sources.” Read more

 

City’s plastic bag ban could mean more potato chips in your cart by Gregory Karp at Chicago Tribune. “A new academic study in the Journal of Marketing finds shoppers with reusable bags often feel virtuous, because they are acting in an environmentally responsible way. “That feeling easily persuades them that, because they are being good to the environment, they should treat themselves to cookies or potato chips or some other product with lots of fat, salt or sugar,” write Uma R. Karmarkar of Harvard University and Bryan Bollinger of Duke University.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Australia: Target wins rights to the name Tarjay after legal battle

Dick’s Sporting Goods opening first North Dakota store

Canada in ‘mild recession’ after economy shrinks five months in a row

Former Dole president Michael Carter to sell $25M San Juan Island estate (Pics)

Kroger wants to hire 2,000 for its Atlanta Division

Jessica Alba’s Honest company under fire over sunscreen

Target Store in Louisville to Close

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