Today’s Tipsheet: Target’s Latest Security Flaw | McMillon Backs Roz | H.Depot Eyes 100K sf in Marietta

 

Tech security firm says it’s easy to hack Target gift registry apps by Mary Lynn Smith at Star Tribune. “Target took Avast’s assertions seriously, issuing a statement late Tuesday that said, “Earlier this evening, it was brought to our attention that there may be a potential issue with our guest registry platforms. Out of an abundance of caution, we have disabled elements of our wish list app and gift registry while we assess. We apologize for any challenges guests may be facing while trying to access their registry. Our teams are working diligently overnight to resume full functionality.” Read more

 

…Avast: The prize for the most unnecessary permissions requested by a retail app goes to Walgreens, Home Depot a close #2. “The Walgreens app not only requests permissions that are completely unnecessary for its app to function, but also requests more permissions than any of the other retail apps we looked at – see screenshot below. The Home Depot app came in close second in terms of unnecessary permissions requested.” Read more

 

Doug McMillon Statement on Rosalind Brewer CNN Comments “For years, we’ve asked our suppliers to prioritize the talent and diversity of their sales teams calling on our company. Roz was simply trying to reiterate that we believe diverse and inclusive teams make for a stronger business. That’s all there is to it and I support that important ideal.”

 

…Fortune: Sam’s Club CEO Supports Diversity, Gets Called a Racist by Jennifer Reingold. “Could Walmart, Sam’s Club, and the world do a better job with diversity? Sure. Does talking about it make Roz Brewer a racist? Nope.” Read more

 

Home Depot wants to expand in Marietta; could add hundreds more jobs by Carla Caldwell at Atlanta Business Chronicle. “Officials with The Home Depot told the Marietta Development Authority on Tuesday the Atlanta-based company plans to buy a 98,900-square-foot building on about 6.5 acres off New Market Parkway adjacent to the four-building campus Franklin Road campus, reports Marietta Daily Journal.” Read more

 

Whole Foods chief quashes buyout rumors by Will Anderson at Austin Business Journal. “I don’t want to say point-blank that Whole Foods would never go private, because that could be used against us if we ever changed our mind,” Mackey told the Statesman.” Read more

 

What’s behind Kohl’s 170-hour pre-Christmas shopping marathon by Sarah Halzack at Washington Post. “The department store plans to stay open for 170 hours straight, starting Thursday at 7 a.m. and wrapping up at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve.” Read more

 

Millions of ‘organic’ eggs come from industrial scale chicken operations, group says by Peter Whoriskey at Washington Post. “Isn’t it a coincidence that there was not one bird outdoors on any of the facilities?” Kastel said. He noted that the space around barns is inadequate for the numbers of birds within – at any moment of time.” Read more

 

**A message from Black Flag® Brand: When the flag flies, pests die. The Black Flag® indoor/outdoor pest arsenal arms homeowners in the battle against invading bugs. Offering quick, decisive formulas that act fast and never back down, Black Flag insect and rodent controls get the job done, and take no prisoners. It’s time to Let It Fly. Check out our videos | Visit us on Facebook

 

Home Depot Bags Highest Ratings for Best Mobile Shopping Experience “22% of respondents claim that if a mobile site doesn’t work they will go straight to a competitor to find an alternative.” Read the release

 

Charlotte: Cam Newton Rides Around Dick’s Sporting Goods on Scooter to Spread Christmas Cheer by Caroline Sikes at Sporting News. See the video & pics / Read more

 

Pittsburgh: Steeler’s running back goes undercover as employee at Dick’s Sporting Goods at WPXI 11 News. “Thankfully, I’m better at carrying the football than working at Dick’s,” (DeAngelo) Williams joked in the video supplied by the company.” See the video / Read more

 

Toys R Us Domestic Comp Sales Down 0.9% Read the release

 

Schnucks names new chief merchant at Supermarket News. “Before joining Schnucks, (Mark) Doiron was president of Sure Winner Foods, a frozen food distribution company. Prior to that, he was chief supply chain officer for Belgium-based Delhaize, where he oversaw the company’s U.S. operations.” Read more

 

Walgreen strikes a deal on drugs with Valeant at Bloomberg via Chicago Crain’s. Read more

 

Amazon leads North America’s top e-retailers in sending email to new customers by Sandra Guy at Internet Retailer. “An Internet Retailer survey shows Amazon sent 128 emails in November to someone who had just signed up to receive them.” Read more

 

A woman named ‘Flaming Lee’ is a classic example of double-dealing in China’s murky, anti-counterfeiting industry by Erika Kinetz at AP via Business Insider. “A lot of times the counterfeiter will turn into the investigator’s informant: ‘Don’t get me. I know these other guys down the road.’ It’s a protection racket.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

From Seahawks to Costco, Demitrius Bronson tries to stay on NFL radar

Jury awards ex-BJ’s employee $780K amid claims of corporate retaliation

Here are Google’s ‘top trending searches’ for 2015

NY Times: Square Merchants Bought Shares During Its I.P.O., With a Start-Up’s Help

U.K. Shoppers at Risk of Higher Grocery Bills If Nation Quits EU

Amazon boasts average wait of 39 minutes as it keeps bringing restaurant delivery to new cities

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Today’s Tipsheet: “Vendorville is Shrinking” | Ex-Costco Exec = Organic Fast-Food | Toys R Us = “Full & Chunky”

 

Retailers Lost $185 Million in Sales Due to Warm Weather by Adrianne Pasquarelli at Ad Age. “Of course, consumers should have more disposable income from the lower heating bills that come with warm weather. But they’re not spending that extra cash at retail stores, said Jack Kleinhenz, chief economist for the National Retail Federation.” Read more

 

Former Costco exec launches certified-organic concept by Lisa Jennings at Restaurant News. “Erica Welton, a former food buyer for Costco Wholesale Corp., has opened what she says is the nation’s first ‘certified organic fast-food’ concept.” Read more

 

JC Penney Shoppers Visit Santa’s Workshop in New Virtual Reality Initiative by Adrianne Pasquarelli at Ad Age. “Dubbed “Twas the Flight Before Christmas,” the initiative sends participants — outfitted with an Oculus headset — to the North Pole where they can interact with reindeer, elves and snowmen.” Read more

 

Walmart Says Labor Group Gave Bloomberg Info They Weren’t Allowed To by Josh Eidelson at Bloomberg. “In a motion filed on Dec. 9, Walmart alleges the labor group OUR Walmart “intentionally disclosed documents marked and designated confidential” to Businessweek reporter Susan Berfield, despite a judge’s protective order.” Read more

 

65% Enjoy Christmas Music “Some” or  “Not at All” by Robert Klara at Ad Week. “As a general rule of thumb, Turner tells his retail clients to think of holiday music like holiday decorating. “Less is more,” he says.” Read more

 

Amazon Prime Now: Getting Over the 40,000 Item Hump by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “(Amazon’s Stephenie) Landry said the company’s Prime Now warehouses make it difficult to carry much more inventory than that, but hinted the company is thinking about other options. “There is some functional limit if we continue to do things the way we do them right now,” she said. “But the company is really inventive.” Read more

 

Neiman Marcus same-store sales fall for first time in six years by Subrat Patnaik at Reuters. “Total revenue fell 1.8 percent to $1.16 billion. Same-store sales declined 5.6 percent, the first fall after 23 quarters of rising sales.” Read more

 

**A message from ASD Market Week – ASD is the trade show with the highest ROI! On February 28 – March 2, 2016, we open the doors of the Las Vegas Convention Center to 45,000+ attendees looking to shop the world’s widest variety of wholesale lifestyle accessories and general merchandise at the lowest price points available. Discover hot new products and stylish finds from over 2,600 vendors in categories including: fashion & accessories, beauty & fragrance, gift & home, toys & novelties and many more. Learn more about ASD / See category list | See the show floor video | Register now

 

Workers move into the first of Amazon’s downtown towers by Jay Greene at Seattle Times. “The company ultimately plans to occupy 10 million square feet downtown, enough room for roughly 50,000 employees.” Read more

 

Groups concerned about Walgreens’ ties to Catholic hospital by Donna Gordon Blankinship at AP. “Nineteen groups led by the American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter Monday to drugstore chain Walgreens expressing concerns about the company’s plans for a Catholic hospital to run its in-store health clinics in Washington state and Oregon.” Read more

 

Struggling Toys ‘R’ Us Tries “Full & Chunky” Stores by Suzanne Kapner at WSJ. “If a customer can’t find what they’re looking for at your store 60% of the time, they will shop somewhere else and never come back,” the 63-year-old Mr. Brandon said in a recent interview. “We want our stores to be bulkier,” he said of the effort to stuff shelves with more goods. “We call it full and chunky.” Read more (subscription)

 

AP: Global supermarkets selling shrimp peeled by slaves “U.S. customs records show the shrimp made its way into the supply chains of major U.S. food stores and retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kroger, Whole Foods, Dollar General and Petco…AP reporters went to supermarkets in all 50 states and found shrimp products from supply chains tainted with forced labor.” Read more

 

Northwest Arkansas: Retail consolidation continues to reduce ‘Vendorville’ jobs by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “Vendorville is shrinking. Whales swallow guppies and always will, but this past year it’s at an all time high. We have certainly felt the impact as well,” (Cameron) Smith said in an email. “Some suppliers are keeping their powder dry with regards to adding headcount.” Read more

 

Best Buy sends Geek Squad to help travelers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International by Kavita Kumar at Star-Tribune. “One of the biggest draws on Monday, though, was the handful of top holiday tech toys on display at the booth. The BB-8 robot from the upcoming Star Wars film turned many heads…Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Former landlords push Target Canada on details of RioCan settlement

‘It destroyed my life’: Hundreds of women sue hair care label over claims the product made their hair fall out

Tina Fey Relives the Awkward Moment She Went Shopping at JCPenney with Her Mom at 10

Apple Opens Secret Laboratory in Taiwan to Develop New Screens

Boston Globe not a fan of ‘gun-toting Frosty’ inflatable from Bass Pro

Starbucks: Customers call out terrible polar bear cookie design – looks like the animal’s throat has been cut

Designer behind Target’s localization strategy launches his ideas for Minnesota

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Today’s Tipsheet: Wmart Gets Apple Watch | Amazon Pulls Hoverboards | Kohl’s Legion

 

Walmart Retreads Black Friday Deals for Green Monday by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “Green Monday has become the third biggest online spending day of the holiday season, after Cyber Monday…and the day after that. Last year, shoppers spent $1.6 billion on Green Monday, according to comScore, and if sales rise tomorrow at anything like e-commerce’s growth rates for the season so far, we could be looking at a nearly $2 billion day.” Read more

 

Kohl’s is building a legion of loyal shoppers by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “It’s also the first Christmas that its new loyalty program has been rolled out in earnest, with more than 34 million shoppers now enlisted…” Read more

 

Walmart Becomes the Largest Retailer to Sell Apple Watch by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “Walmart has started selling the Apple Watch on its website, becoming the biggest retailer to carry the popular device. The retailer is selling the watch at only a few select stores at this point, a Walmart spokeswoman told Fortune.” Read more

 

FTC seeks more info on Walgreens-Rite Aid deal at Reuters. “The FTC’s “second request” for information extends the waiting period required under antitrust rules to 30 days after the companies have provided the information.” Read more

 

Hudson’s Bay says strong greenback hurting Saks sales: ‘Even our own (employees) with discounts don’t shop in the U.S. anymore’ by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. Read more

 

**New Product Spotlight. A message from SpinChill – Get warm drinks cold in 60 seconds! Don’t wait half an hour to get the party started – get the party started fast: Just clip it on, stick your drink in the ice, and Spin it for a Minute! See how it works | YouTube channel Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net to request a sample. www.spinchill.com

 

Walmart’s Everyday Low Prices Face Amazon’s Dynamic Price Push by Kate Kaye at Ad Age. “On Black Friday, for example, around 16% of Amazon’s prices fluctuated from the previous day, according to 360pi…But around 12% of Walmart’s online prices fluctuated…Meanwhile, Target altered only around 5% or less of the product prices tracked for most of the month, including on Black Friday.” Read more

 

Amazon Is Pulling Hoverboards From Its Store Pending Safety Review by Colin Lecher at The Verge via Recode. Read more

 

Walmart Accidentally Leaked Some New Star Wars Toys by Jen Wieczner at Fortune. “A Walmart in Council Bluffs, Iowa, put a figurine of the new female character Rey wearing her so-called “resistance outfit” on shelves recently with a price tag of about $7. But when Star Wars collector and host of the podcast Star Wars Action News, Justin Kozisek, purchased the product earlier this week and posted a picture to Facebook, he set off a firestorm.” Read more

 

Customers Make Amazon #1 in India “Just two and a half years after launching, Amazon.in became the most visited e-commerce site in India in October 2015, according to the global analytics firm comScore.” Read the release

 

Ikea Canada’s president brings his Swedish values to the workplace by Craig Dowden at Financial Post. “Stefan Sjostrand took over the reins as Ikea Canada’s president in August 2014, after spending eight years working for the company in the Netherlands, Sweden and France…” Read the Q&A

 

How a Mom-and-Pop Creamery in Brooklyn Became the Official Ice Cream of Star Wars by Angela Dawson at Ad Week. “Disney chairman, CEO and acknowledged ice cream aficionado Bob Iger read an article in The Wall Street Journal last year about the ice cream company, which started with just one shop less than five years ago, and expanded to a second shop and a few kiosks as well as starting up a mail-order component…” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

A School Is Asking Kids to Sing This Walmart-Themed Christmas Song

Sam’s Club CEO takes action if suppliers send her all white male reps

Jet.com CEO Marc Lore Explains Why Fighting Amazon Isn’t a Stupid Idea

This poll captures Amazon’s staggeringly big role in online shopping

Online and other nonstore sales grow 7.3% in November

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Today’s Tipsheet: Brewer: ‘We Plan to Win’ | Wmart CMO Out | Macy’s Buyouts

 

Walmart CMO Out, Former Target guru Michael Francis In by Sarah Nassauer & Paul Ziobro at Dow Jones via Pioneer Press. “Walmart is hiring Francis as a marketing consultant; he spent nearly three decades at Target in Minneapolis and was an architect of Target’s cheap-chic image. Francis will initiate a broad revamp of Walmart’s marketing department and will likely work closely with Quinn’s eventual successor, said a person familiar with the situation. A Walmart spokesman said Francis will start Jan. 1 “ Read more

 

What Amazon Wants for Christmas: 100,000 Temps by Adam Satariano & Spencer Soper at Bloomberg. “SMX and Kelly Services also send Amazon thousands of seasonal workers each year, but Integrity got in earlier. The company, founded in 1997, landed its first contract with Amazon that year. “We did things others weren’t willing to do,” Chief Executive Officer Todd Bavol told a local radio station earlier this year.” Read more

 

Sam’s Club CEO on Costco: ‘We plan to win’ at CNN. “Sam’s Club CEO Rosalind Brewer tells CNN’s Poppy Harlow she’s “competitive” and is focused on beating competitor Costco.” See the video

 

Macy’s offers buyouts to hundreds of senior executives by Andy Brownfield at Cincinnati Business Courier. “About 360 executives across the country will qualify for the offer, and terms of separation will vary depending on individual circumstances.” Read more

 

‘Amazon Mom’ becomes ‘Amazon Family’ in U.S. after long campaign by dad bloggers by Todd Bishop at GeekWire. “The campaign for the name change goes back more than two years, but it was reignited earlier this year after the death of Oren Miller, a dad blogger who passed away in March. Miller had originally helped to popularize the name change campaign.” Read more

 

UPS Struggles to Keep Up With Surge in Web Orders by Laura Stevens at WSJ. “Andrew Barrall, an Albany, N.Y., resident, ordered two garage-door openers from Home Depot Inc. on Thanksgiving, and was still waiting for one that was finally delivered by a UPS employee who identified himself as a manager on Tuesday, Mr. Barrall said. It was “delivered at 8:30 p.m. in a rented truck—one week after arriving at the delivery facility 5 miles from my house,” he added.” Read more (subscription)

 

Amazon expands Prime Now delivery service to include 4,000 new items by Ashley Stewart at Puget Sound Business Journal. Read more

 

**A message from Pro Chlor chlorine tabs – Does a gap exist in your septic assortment? Aerobic septic systems require chlorine tabs – not Rid-X® – to disinfect water. Aerobic systems are mandated for use in certain communities in the lower-half of the US. Chlorine tabs are expensive to ship and ideal for driving in-store traffic. See why Pro Chlor is the choice of retailers’ nationwide. Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net for program information. www.gwtcinc.com

 

Kroger adds former Disney exec to board by Erin Caproni at Cincinnati Business Courier. “Anne Gates is the president of MGA Entertainment Inc., a privately held developer, manufacturer and marketer of toy and entertainment products for children.” Read more

 

Taipei: Costco to honor refund policy amid controversial Ting Hsin boycott at Focus Taiwan. “Costco said six of its 11 outlets in Taiwan have reported shoppers buying Lin Feng Ying-brand milk made by Ting Hsin subsidiary Wei Chuan Corp., then immediately opening the containers and asking for a refund.” Read more

 

Waco: HGTV stars parlay ‘Fixer Upper’ success into country charm megastore by Arnold Wells at Austin Business Journal. “The grounds are a former grain processing and storage facility complete with two large silos and a 20,000-square-foot storage building.” See the 14 pics

 

Whole Foods hires global VP of culinary and hospitality at Supermarket News. “Whole Foods Market plans to elevate its prepared foods and bakery departments with the creation of a new role, global VP of culinary and hospitality, to be filled by noted chef Tien Ho.” Read more

 

Mich. woman who shot at shoplifters leaving Home Depot gets 18 months probation, vows to ‘never help anybody again’ by Michael E. Miller at Washington Post. “Duva-Rodriguez did not contest the charge in court, but she was hardly contrite. “I tried to help,” she told WJBK after her sentencing on Wednesday, before wryly adding: “And I learned my lesson that I will never help anybody again.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

White House CIO: The Internet of Things has become like ‘free love in the ’60s’

New Adidas Playbook Betting Hard on 3D Printing, Robots

Peek Inside New York City’s Merriest Holiday Windows

Nearly Half of Youth Say ‘American Dream’ Is Dead: Harvard Poll

Can Jos. A. Bank Really Survive Without Excessive Discounts?

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Today’s Tipsheet: FTC: Retailers ‘Bamboozled’ | Walmart Pay | Danger at Costco?

 

FTC Says Retailers Are ‘Bamboozling’ Shoppers With Fake Bamboo Fabrics at AdWeek. “The Federal Trade Commission announced complaints against four major retailers—Bed Bath & Beyond, Nordstrom, JCPenney and Backcountry.com—with civil penalties totaling $1.3 million. The offense? Marketing bamboo products that aren’t made of bamboo.” Read more

 

Walmart Drops An Atomic Bomb On Its Apple Pay Competitor by Mark Rogowsky at Forbes. “But the big news, which Walmart neglected to mention in its press release, is that in dropping this midnight bomb just two weeks before Christmas, the retailer isn’t targeting Apple Pay. Instead, it’s essentially blowing up MCX, the Walmart-led consortium that was formed in 2012 and has been desperately trying to roll out an Apple Pay competitor called CurrentC.” Read more

 

NY Post: Technical glitch almost ruins Walmart’s new app unveiling by Lisa Fickenscher. “By the time the phone conference began, most reporters were befuddled, asking “What’s the news about?” and complaining that they couldn’t access the video.” Read more

 

This brick-and-mortar store wants to sell you the Internet of Things by Tracey Lien at LA Times. ” In a store under construction…in Silicon Valley, workmen tinker and tarps cover the walls…B8ta’s founders came from Nest Labs…the founders learned how resource-intensive it was for a company selling an Internet of Things product to create environments inside retailers that adequately explain how everything works.” Read more

 

Amazon Launches One-Hour Booze Delivery in Manhattan Through Prime Now by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “The launch marks the second city in the U.S. where alcohol delivery is available through Prime Now; the first was Amazon’s hometown of Seattle.” Read more

 

**A message from Orchard Road Canning – Decorative Series lids bring innovation to the home canning category. Orchard Road’s Decorative Series delivers three distinct designs: Wild Daisy, Fruit and Gingham. See the designs here Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net for program information.

 

Wal-Mart customer insights from 2.2 billion voices drive much of the retailer’s business plan by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “There’s nothing like talking to your customers,” (Matt) Kistler said during his speech at the WalStreet Breakfast event held by the Bentonville-Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday (Dec. 9) in Bentonville.” Read more

 

Danger at Costco? Membership Growth Slowest in Years by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “Membership fees of $593 million in the quarter ended November 22 came in less than the $621 million Wall Street firm Cowen & Co was expecting. That represents growth of 1.9%, an anemic performance for Costco. Growth in fees has ranged from 4.5% to 7.7% in Costco’s four previous full fiscal years.” Read more

 

Costco earnings hurt by credit-card switch by Sarah Nassauer at MarketWatch. “Richard Galanti, Costco’s finance chief, said co-branded customer sign-ups during the quarter ended Nov. 22 had “greatly slowed and now ceased.” That reduced the company’s quarterly earnings by $15 million, or 2 cents a share, and he predicted the negative trend would to continue in the next two quarters and possibly into the fiscal fourth quarter.” Read more

 

Costco Q1 Earnings Call Transcript Read here via Seeking Alpha

 

Wednesday in Chicago: Hundreds of protesters block Michigan Avenue at Fox News. “The protesters formed a circle in the middle of downtown Michigan Avenue and appeared to be headed for a bridge near the Magnificent Mile, which was the site of a Black Friday protest. Some in the crowd shoved officers before police let them through.” Read more

 

WinCo to build Texas distribution center by Andy Nelson at The Packer. “The 800,000-square-foot facility could open by Spring 2017, said Michael Read, vice president of public and legal affairs for Boise, Idaho-based WinCo.” Read more

 

Patti LaBelle Sweet Potato Pies are back at Wal-Mart by Fred Imbert at CNBC. “It took about 2 million pounds of California-grown sweet potatoes to deliver this Christmas miracle,” John Forrest Ales, director of corporate communications at Wal-Mart, said in an email.” Read more

 

**A message from ASD Market Week. How can you make sure your company gets the most out of trade shows? Pairing relevant retail education with the largest selection of high margin merchandise anywhere, is key. ASD attendees have access to over 90 free retail education, e-commerce, and amazon selling strategy sessions, as well as a number of tools, both on and offline, to help buyers find the right vendors on show site. Attending educational tracks is a must if you want to see your company succeed in this day and age. Here are five tips to get you on the right track before your next trade show.

 

Washington Post: Home Depot looks to adapt for baby boomers who aren’t so into ‘do-it-yourself’ anymore by Sarah Halzack. “Their expectations of the Home Depot are changing,” said Marc Powers, the chain’s executive vice president of U.S. stores. “Now people like me have less time and less energy to do it myself like the Home Depot taught us to do. Now I want someone to do it for me.” Read more

 

The Hill: Retailers pan cyber bills as holiday assault looms by Katie Bo Williams. Read more

 

‘His mother is alive and well’: Woman who recounted emotional moment is branded a liar by Emily James at Daily Mail. “A Colorado woman’s emotional video about a Walmart cashier who broke down while at work, hours after his mother committed suicide, has been labeled a fake by a spokesperson for the store. According to the spokesperson, the incident detailed by Paige Yore, 25, in a heart-wrenching Facebook video…never actually took place.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Major Brands Including Walmart, Unilver Sign ‘Anti-Piracy Pledge’

Walmart health kiosks potential way to spread telemedicine model

These pictures show you how massive Under Armour’s new distribution facility is

Alex From Target Is Unrecognizable With His Bright New Hair Color

Supreme Court May Limit Indian Tribal Sovereignty In Dollar General Case

Chipotle CEO pledges to be ‘safest place to eat’

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Today’s Tipsheet: Costco +6% | Bentonville Cricket Match | Top 5 for Returns | Wegmans in Smithsonian

 

Costco Q1 Comp Sales -1.0% / +6.0% (excluding gas & foreign exchange) “Net sales for the first quarter increased one percent, to $26.63 billion from $26.28 billion during the first quarter last year.” Read the release

 

Downbeat Americans may spend less for holidays: Survey by Steve Liesman at CNBC. “The CNBC All-America Economic Survey finds that just 22 percent of the public sees the economy improving, a 5-point drop from more buoyant levels a year ago.” Read more

 

Home Depot CEO Touts U.S., Digital Growth Opportunities by Thomas Barrabi at Fox Business. “Home Depot will not pursue international expansion or new acquisitions as part of its efforts to reach $101 billion in sales by 2018, Chief Executive Craig Menear said Tuesday at the company’s 2015 Investor and Analyst Conference…” Read more

 

Walmart Beats Pepsi in Bentonville Cricket Match by Sarah Nassauer at WSJ. “Among the spectators: PepsiCo Inc. boss Indra Nooyi and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. chief Doug McMillon. Months earlier, Ms. Nooyi had dared her counterpart to accept a Pepsi challenge—to a game of cricket. Now the CEOs sat chatting on white folding chairs under a tarp waiting for the rain to relent…Wal-Mart U.S. CEO Greg Foran, a New Zealand native, played with his company’s team.” Read more (subscription)

 

Apple executive seeks a touch of chic at retail stores by Katie Benner at NY Times via CNBC. “Angela Ahrendts, Apple’s senior vice president of retail, got a private demonstration of the fancy wireless speaker, the Phantom, and its sound quality seven weeks ago. On the spot, she said she wanted the space podlike device, which starts at $1,990, to be sold in Apple’s retail stores…” Read more

 

The 50 Best Places to Work (HEB, REI..) by Julie Verhage at Bloomberg. See the list

 

NY Times: Walmart’s Imports From China Displaced 400,000 Jobs, a Study Says by Hiroko Tabuchi. “…according to an estimate by the Economic Policy Institute, a progressive research group that has long targeted Walmart’s policies…“Unfortunately, this is an old report with flawed economic analysis that assumes that imports equal job losses and does not take into consideration that countless jobs are added through the global supply chain, distribution and logistics…” (Walmart spokesman) Mr. Lopez added.” Read more

 

**A message from Black Flag® Brand: When the flag flies, pests die. The Black Flag® indoor/outdoor pest arsenal arms homeowners in the battle against invading bugs. Offering quick, decisive formulas that act fast and never back down, Black Flag insect and rodent controls get the job done, and take no prisoners. It’s time to Let It Fly. Check out our videos | Visit us on Facebook

 

U.S. FDA still can’t identify source of E. coli outbreak at Costco by Anjali Athavaley at Reuters. Read more

 

Wegmans Wonderplace opening at Smithsonian by Todd Clausen at Democrat & Chronicle. “The 1,700-square-foot Wegmans Wonderplace is set to open on Wednesday in a new Innovation Wing at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C…The space will have roughly 100 artifacts and six interactive areas…” Read more

 

Co-founder of The North Face, dies in kayaking accident in Patagonia by Sasha Goldstein at NY Daily News. “The 72-year-old, well-known as an outdoorsman and conservationist, was paddling with a group on Chile’s General Carrera Lake when he and five others flipped into the chilly waters around 11 a.m. Tuesday.” Read more

 

Organic vs. Non-GMO Labels. Who’s Winning? by Jacob Bunge & Annie Gasparro at WSJ. “Natural-foods makers have spent years going after the industry establishment. Now, they are taking on each other. Surging sales of foods marketed as made without genetically modified crops are outpacing sales of food labeled organic in U.S. grocery stores…” Read more (subscription)

 

5 Stores with the Best Return Policies by Chris Morris at Fortune. “Nordstrom tops the list – in large part because it doesn’t put any real limits on its return policy…” See the top 5 list

 

Best Buy to Offer $100 off Apple Watches (Again) by Dawn Chmielewski at Recode. “The discount will continue through Christmas.” Read more

 

Coca-Cola’s Ingenious Holiday Bottle Has a Label You Pull Into a Festive Bow by Roo Ciambriello at AdWeek. “The delightfully festive bottles are available for Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Life, Coca-Cola Zero and Diet Coke. Sadly, you can only get them in the U.K.” See the video & pics / Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Fortune: Target Invokes Willy Wonka for Its Store of the Future

Former Best Buy CEO joins second tech company board

Toronto: McDonald’s debuts North America’s first standalone McCafé — and it serves Egg McMuffins all day

Smartphones to die out ‘within five years’, says new study

Posh mall banishes Santa to a ‘prison-like’ chamber

Christopher & Banks tweaks assortment after customers say no to leggings, activewear

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Today’s Tipsheet: Target Opens ‘Retail Spectacle’ in NYC | C.Tire Sues Wmart Over Lights | $500M for Lebron?

 

Target opens a holiday-themed playground to sell toys and test ideas in New York by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “The 16,000-square foot “retail spectacle,” as the company calls it, will be free and open to the public for two weeks starting on Wednesday. Located next to the Chelsea Market, it is filled with 10 holiday-themed displays that incorporate a digital element on top of an interactive physical experience. Each one is tied in to a popular holiday toy that Target is selling at the space.” Read more

 

Canadian Tire suing Wal-Mart Canada Corp for allegedly copying clip-on Christmas lights by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “It also accuses the Arkansas big-box retailer’s Canadian unit of pulling a “bait and switch” on customers by featuring an image of the Noma lights on its packaging rather than depicting the actual merchandise.” Read more

 

Happening Today: Home Depot 2015 Investor & Analyst Conference Webcast

 

Home Depot Backs Guidance, Sets Long-Term Targets “The Company reaffirmed its sales and diluted earnings-per-share guidance for fiscal 2015. The Company expects sales to increase approximately 5.7 percent for the year, with comps of approximately 4.9 percent.” Read the release

 

Today at 6pm PT: Costco Releases Q1 Earnings Results

 

Bidding war for Pep Boys seen after Icahn tops Bridgestone offer by Kevin Orland & Jennifer Surane at Bloomberg via Boston Globe. “I wouldn’t rule out that he owns it ultimately, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he owned it with the intention of auctioning off the service and tire business,” said Jordan, who has a hold recommendation on Pep Boys.” Read more

 

The U.S. Postal Service Will Start Emailing You Your Mail Each Morning by Michal Addady at Fortune. “Individuals who are registered on My USPS, the postal service’s website, will be alerted every morning, except Sundays, through their digital inbox. It will let them know what mail they will receive that day by sending images of the front side of their unopened letters.” Read more

 

$170K in jewelry stolen from Gwyneth Paltrow’s pop-up shop at NY Post. Read more

 

Bay Area man wanted in Costco ring theft at KOBI 5 NBC. “…a man was looking at a $5,000 ring at the Medford Costco on sunday, when he asked the clerk if he could compare it to a $31,000 ring. “The clerk gives him both rings,” Sgt. Brent Mak says, “at which point he grabs them, and bolts for the door at which point he jumps into a waiting car.” Read more

 

Omnicom Big Winner in Multibillion-Dollar P&G Review by Alexander Bruell at Ad Age. “Omnicom won the majority. Carat will have about one-third of the business, and Starcom Mediavest Group, the incumbent on the U.S. buying and planning business, will likely hold onto some brands, according to people familiar with the matter.” Read more

 

Walmart wrapping paper supplier moves back to U.S. for the holidays by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “It’s the first time Wal-Mart has offered holiday paper made in the U.S.” said Cindi Marsiglio, vice president of Walmart Manufacturing. “Impact Innovations agreed to onshore their wrapping business after first meeting with us nearly three years ago and in June the new presses in Memphis begin to run.” Read more

 

**New Product Spotlight. A message from SpinChill – Get warm drinks cold in 60 seconds! Don’t wait half an hour to get the party started – get the party started fast: Just clip it on, stick your drink in the ice, and Spin it for a Minute! See how it works | YouTube channel Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net to request a sample. www.spinchill.com

 

FTC moves to block Staples-Office Depot merger by Beth Healy & Hiawatha Bray at Boston Globe. “…regulators at the US Federal Trade Commission on Monday filed a legal action to kill the deal, saying it would lead to higher prices for office supplies, particularly for business customers.” Read more

 

HD Supply Q3 Net Sales +5% “Adjusted EBITDA increased $35 million, or 15.2 percent, to $265 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to $230 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2014.” Read the release

 

Zulily makes its first appearance on QVC by Molly Brown at GeekWire. “Zulily’s chief merchant Lori Twomey will guest star on the QVC show…A Zulily rep told us in an email release that the show will feature footage of the Seattle office and employees going through the process of selecting and presenting products on the site.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart’s Greg Foran No. 1 In Arkansas Exec Pay At $19.5M by Gwen Moritz at Arkansas Business. “Thanks to Wal-Mart’s policy of front-end loading stock awards for top executives, Greg Foran was the higest paid executive in Arkansas during 2014…That was enough to edge out his boss, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. CEO Doug McMillon. McMillon’s total compensation last year was just under $19.4 million.” Read more

 

Amazon targets bookworms with new $250 ‘Reader’s Edition’ tablet bundle by Jacob Demmitt at GeekWire. “The offer is a little unusual, since Amazon already sells a line of Kindle e-readers. But the company explains that while Kindles are “purpose-built for reading,” this is “the best tablet for reading.” Read more

 

LeBron James Signs Unprecedented Lifetime Contract With Nike by Eben Novy-Williams at Bloomberg. “Terms of the deal weren’t released, but sports agent David Falk, who represented Michael Jordan for most of his playing career, estimated its value at $400 million to $500 million.” Read more

 

Costco surprises former NICU patient with 93″ teddy bear, donates $30,000 to Sanford Children’s by Amy Unrau at WDAY 6 ABC. See the video / Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Target hosts Christmas shopping spree for blind children

Boomers are ready to retire from holiday hubbub, but their kids won’t let them

Woman defrauds 150 Target stores in “short change” scheme

Donald Trump called out Jeff Bezos on Twitter. Then Bezos called his bluff

Google is developing a wearable that draws blood

‘Power issue’ hits Microsoft Surface tablets during Monday Night Football, as teams revert to pen and paper

Thirty Boston College students get sick after eating at Chipotle

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For story tips or advertising information contact Jason Long at jlong@eyeonretail.net

 

 

 

Today’s Tipsheet: Wmart Sues P.Rico Over 91.5% Tax Rate | Williams-Sonoma Founder Dies at 100 | Amazon Buys Its Own Truck Trailers

 

Wal-Mart Sues Puerto Rico Over ‘Astonishing’ Tax Increases by Andrew M. Harris at Bloomberg. “The new levy raised the estimated cumulative income tax on Wal-Mart Puerto Rico Inc. “to an astonishing and unsustainable 91.5% of its net income,” according to the company’s complaint, filed in federal court in San Juan Friday.” Read more

 

Williams-Sonoma founder Chuck Williams dies at 100 by Olga R. Rodriguez via Dallas Morning News. “Williams opened his first Williams-Sonoma store in Sonoma, Calif., in 1956 inspired by a trip to Paris three years earlier…”I couldn’t get over seeing so many great things for cooking, the heavy pots and pans, white porcelain ovenware, country earthenware, great tools and professional knives,” Williams told The Washington Post in 2005.” Read more

 

Amazon Buys Thousands of Its Own Truck Trailers as Its Transportation Ambitions Grow by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “One guess on why Amazon only wants to own the trailer at this point: If it owned the tractor, it would have to register as a commercial trucking company and incur the insurance costs and liability risks that come with that.” Read more

 

Target still trying to catch up after mistaken Web strategy by Lee Schafer at Star Tribune. “These are things that people working for Target should have spent those ten years learning to efficiently and reliably give its customers, reporting to a Target CEO who cared a lot about making sure the work got done.” Read more

 

Nordstrom Joins Syndicate In $15.5 Million Round For On-Demand Custom Shoe Retailer Shoes Of Prey by Jonathan Shieber at TechCrunch. “Part of the funding will be used to firmly entrench the Sydney-based startup in its new home in Los Angeles, according to the company’s co-founder Jodie Fox. The money will also be used to add new products to the Shoes of Prey roster (the company intends to roll out a line of boots next winter).” Read more

 

**A message from ASD Market Week – ASD is the trade show with the highest ROI! On February 28 – March 2, 2016, we open the doors of the Las Vegas Convention Center to 45,000+ attendees looking to shop the world’s widest variety of wholesale lifestyle accessories and general merchandise at the lowest price points available. Discover hot new products and stylish finds from over 2,600 vendors in categories including: fashion & accessories, beauty & fragrance, gift & home, toys & novelties and many more. Learn more about ASD / See category list | See the show floor video | Register now

 

Amazon to begin move into new Seattle campus this week, with rooftop dog park and indoor basketball court by Jacob Demmitt at GeekWire. “Construction on the entire project — which will consist of 4 million square feet of office space across three towers, a large meeting center and epic-looking glass spheres — still isn’t complete. For now, just two buildings are ready for move-in, a company spokesman tells GeekWire.” Read more

 

In time of change, Food Lion president looks to innovate by Katherine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “Meg Ham’s first year as president of Food Lion has been a time of major change for the Salisbury-based grocer. Among her tasks: Roll out Food Lion’s new merchandising and pricing strategy across its 1,100 stores. And steer the grocer through a major corporate change…” Read more

 

Skymall gets back in the air with United Airlines by Hugo Martin a LA Times. “In April, New Jersey-based C&A Marketing purchased Skymall out of bankruptcy protection with plans to revive the business. The first step began in October when Skymall paid to be included as an insert in United Airlines’ in-flight magazine, Hemispheres.” Read more

 

Canada’s second-largest supermarket seeks ‘transparency,’ better deals in supplier pricing overhaul by Marina Strauss at Globe & Mail. “Marc Poulin, chief executive officer of Sobeys, said in an interview that the steps the retailer is taking with its suppliers are aimed at removing the “complexity” and administrative cost of deducting multiple payments from vendors for such things as bulk buying and flyer promotions.” Read more

 

Electrolux’s US plans in tatters as GE deal falls through via CNBC. “Announcing the deal in autumn last year, Electrolux said its biggest ever acquisition would double its sales in the United States and step up the challenge to arch rival Whirlpool in the world’s largest appliance market.” Read more

 

Hoverboards are blowing up across country and in Europe, US and UK officials warn by Alfred Ng at NY Daily News. “The UK’s National Trading Standards seized more than 15,000 hoverboards since Oct. 15 after finding them a major safety risk. Of the 17,000 hoverboards inspected, the organization said an alarming 88% of these devices had an increased risk of “overheating, exploding or catching fire” because of faulty plugs.” Read more / See the pics

 

Woman shares important message after heartbreaking experience at Walmart at WTTV CBS 4. “Yore continued to console him, and that’s when he said, “Ma’am, my mom just committed suicide this morning… and I have to work because I have to pay our rent, and I have to pay our bills. And I don’t even have a mom anymore. And this lady is just yelling at me.”…In less than three days, the video has already been viewed over 13.6 million times.” See the video / Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Washington Post: Toy sellers step gingerly into debate over gender-specific labeling

People are faking disabilities to fly with their pets

Theaters are messing with your senses to make movies more real

Newest Victoria’s Secret model was discovered at an Ohio Gap

Robbers shattering glass at California mall send shoppers fleeing fearing gun attack

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For story tips and advertising information contact Jason Long at jlong@eyeonretail.net