Today’s Tipsheet: Target Stands By OCD Sweater | Wmart Scanned Faces | Blake to Macy’s | Throwing Packages

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Consumers Aren’t Happy With Target Sweater That Makes Light of OCD by Kristina Monllos at Ad Week. “We never want to disappoint our guests, and we apologize for any discomfort,” said a spokesman for the company in a statement. “We currently do not have plans to remove this sweater.” Read more / See the pics

 

Walmart’s Use of Sci-fi Tech To Spot Shoplifters Raises Privacy Questions by Jeff John Robert at Fortune. “Walmart’s experiment, which it ended after several months, highlights the powerful high-tech tools available to retailers to reduce theft…Home Depot says it does not use face scanning software. Walgreens says it has no contract with FaceFirst, and added it does not discuss specific security measures. Target, meanwhile, would not confirm or deny if the company uses the software.” Read more

 

Frank Blake Joins Macy’s Board of Directors “Blake’s election increases the size of the board to 14 members.” Read the release

 

Apples’s Angela Ahrendts on Where the Company is Taking Retail Next by Austin Carr at Fast Company. “How do we get our kids who prefer no human interaction into these stores?” Ahrendts bemoaned how fragmented the Apple retail experience has been in the past…”I asked Tim a very simple question: Why do we do it this way?” she recalled. “He said, ‘I don’t know—we’ve always done it this way.’” Read more

 

Target Debuts Black Friday Promotional Strategy, Stores to Open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving  Read the release

 

Best Buy opening at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving, releases Black Friday deals by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “And in a twist, the nation’s largest electronics chain will once again close its stores at 1 a.m. when traffic begins to wane that night and re-pen them at 8 a.m. on the actual Black Friday.” Read more

 

14% of Canadians regularly engaged in so-called “commuter commerce” on the bus, streetcar or commuter train are spending an average of $529 per month on goods and services, according to a new survey from Ipsos Reid and PayPal.  By Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. Read more

 

**A message from Dig It Gloves–Only 1 week remains to place your order for Spring ’16. Why are Dig It garden gloves loved by women? It’s easy–interior pillow-top protectors are built into each fingertip. That’s right, no more broken or chipped nails when gardening! Call it manicure insurance, or just plain brilliant, but you have to see it to believe it. Cross-merchandise in the garden center during Spring ’16. Request samples at: info@shiftmarketinggroup.net | www.digithandwear.com

 

Know a Workout Warrior? With New CMO, JC Penney Aims to Be Gifting Destination by Adrianne Pasquarelli at Ad Age. “We’re trying to facilitate her shopping mission from beginning to end,” said Ms. (Mary Beth) West, who was formerly with Mondelez International. “We have a wonderful assortment at great value, but people don’t know all that,” she said.” Read more

 

Walgreens Executive Vice President to Present at Credit Suisse 2015 Healthcare Conference Today Read the release

 

Rite Aid’s troubled history of family drama, high debt and mismanagement by John Luciew at Penn Live. “The company was started and built by the frugal father. It was mortally wounded by the free-spending son, who would end up in federal prison for his role in a sweeping accounting scandal, costing investors millions in vanished stock value…” Read more

 

Kroger to retrofit 1,000 gas stations energy-efficient lights by Alexnader Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. Read more

 

Oreo to let customers personalize packaging for holidays by Samantha Bomkamp at Chicago Tribune. “Or, for those who don’t want a digital design, Oreo is offering a black-and-white package that comes with markers to color the package by hand. Each Colorfilled Oreo pack costs $10, plus $5 for shipping.” Read more

 

Sam’s Club Adds New Pre-Black Friday Event Read the release

 

USPS worker fired after throwing $199 package of delicate electronics from customer’s driveway to his front door by Kieran Corcoran at Daily Mail. “I was expecting something professional. I mean grab the package, come to my door, leave it at my door and ring on the bell. But that’s not what I saw.’ See the video / Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Stores Realize It’s Dumb to Open Earlier and Earlier on Thanksgiving

CNBC: The other big retail frenzy you’ve never heard of

Home Depot loses bid to overturn N.C. Revenue Department’s denial of $4 million in tax deductions

J.C. Penney will open at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, two hours earlier

Meijer names Pepin SVP of foods

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Today’s Tipsheet: Target Had Quiet Talks w/Labor | Wmart Heir $27B Poorer | Mall’s ‘Politically Correct’ Display Mocked

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By Jason Long, jlong@eyeonretail.net

 

Target had quiet talks with labor on Minneapolis workplace rule by Adam Belz at Star Tribune. “The company’s involvement, which until now hasn’t been disclosed, reflects Target’s concern about what shape future scheduling rules will take. While the rule would have affected only a few hundred Target employees — at three regular Target stores and one Target Express in the city — it could have influenced the national discussion on workers’ rights, which affects the retailer because it must deal with the costs of varying work rules across the country.” Read more

 

Fortune: CEO Rosalind Brewer explains what the company is doing to bring millennials into its stores See the video

 

NY Times: On Screens and in Windows, Lowe’s Gives (and Gives, and Gives) How-To Help by Martha C. White. “Lowe’s hired Spaeth Design, the firm responsible for many of New York City’s iconic holiday window displays, to build a pair of life-size dioramas that mirrored the “stop motion” animation style of the Vine series…” Read more

 

Target stores look different these days—and that’s because Target has become a vastly different company by Sarah Halzack at Washington Post. “It really, I think, occurs when moms have their first child and begin to become almost zealots for, ‘Alright, what’s in the product that I’m serving my child?’ ” said Cornell during an interview at the company’s Minneapolis headquarters. “We see rapid shifts from conventional to organic baby food, but then it continues across category. Lite, diet, lean, fat-free, have been now viewed as code for, ‘there’s a lot of artificial ingredients there.’ Read more

 

Pico Rivera Wal-Mart reopens seven months after closing amid labor dispute by Samantha Masunaga at LA Times. “Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said in a statement that the repairs, along with “extensive” renovations and upgrades, are now complete.” Read more

 

PA: Shoppers go bananas at Wegmans opening by Xerxes Wilson at Delaware Online. “This is the Disney Land of grocery stores,” said one woman as she plowed through a chaotic gauntlet of awed shoppers knocking shopping carts between snapping selfies with produce….” See the video / 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.

 

$500,000 for Chicago Whole Foods project came from national crowdfunding by Mary Ellen Podmolik at Chicago Tribune. “$500,000 of the $15 million project came via crowdfunding, from 61 investors in 21 states, and was raised in just two days this fall. It’s a small amount to be sure, but the rapid success surprised crowdfunding platform Fundrise as well as DL3 Realty.” Read more

 

Apple’s iPad Pro to go on sale Wednesday at Reuters. Read more

 

Apple Retail Workers’ Class Action Suit Dismissed by Dawn Chmielewski at Recode. “The hourly retail workers were asking to be paid for the time spent waiting for a manager or security guard to search their bags before they left the Apple store for meal breaks or at the end of the day.” Read more

 

A Wal-Mart heir is $27 billion poorer than everyone thought at Bloomberg via Financial News. “That makes the grandson of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton US$5.5 billion richer than his 66-year-old mother, and the fourth- wealthiest member of the Walton family. His net worth is higher than the likes of Google executive Eric Schmidt and money manager John Paulson.” Read more

 

BJ’s Wholesale Club unveils midtown Charlotte store by Jennifer Thomas at Charlotte Business Journal. See the 30 pics / Read more

 

Mall’s ‘politically correct’ Christmas display is so bland that it offends shoppers and has to be taken down by Hannah Parry at Daily Mail. “Scores of customers complained after Roosevelt Field Mall, in New York, ditched its annual holiday village in favor of a winter-themed ‘glacier’ instead. Many mocked the futuristic display as something that would look more at home on the set of Star Trek than as Santa Claus’ grotto.” See the pics / Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Muslim man claims he was fired from Bed Bath & Beyond because of his beard

Mankato Sam’s Club pays $20,000 penalty for illegal gas pricing

University Returns $1M Grant to Coca-Cola

Frozen Turducken for Fido? Here’s the Whole Foods of animal food

America’s Nuttiest Billionaire Couple: Amid Drought, Stewart And Lynda Resnick Are Richer Than Ever

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Today’s Tipsheet: Lowe’s to Pay $2M Fine | P&G Buys Secret Ingredient | B.Pro Buy Cabela’s? | Dick’s New Ad

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By Jason Long, jlong@eyeonretail.net

 

Lowe’s to pay NY customers $1.1 million for deceptive sales practices by Katherine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “According to the attorney general’s investigation, Lowe’s charged customers for floor installations based on how many square feet of carpeting, tile, wood and laminate flooring they ordered for a project instead of those that were actually installed.” Read more

 

Target believes audio porn played in Calif. store was from outside source by Paul Walsh at Star Tribune. “Molly Snyder, spokeswoman for the Minneapolis-based national retailer, said this week that “there is absolutely no indication that any team members were involved” and that the company believes the raunchy recording did not originate from inside the store.” Read more

 

Report: Bass Pro Shops explores bid for Cabela’s by Reuters via CNBC. “Bass Pro is working with an investment bank on the potential offer, the people said this week….The sources asked not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential.” Read more

 

WI: Costco opening to be “organized chaos” by Maureen Wallenfang at Post Crescent. “If you’re not into lines, wait until Sunday. Come during the Packers game,” she said. “The week after opening it starts to ‘normal’ out.” Read more

 

Alibaba in Talks to Invest Around $80 Million in Boxed, a Costco-Like Shopping App by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “If a deal is struck, it would mark Alibaba’s second investment this year in a U.S. e-commerce startup. Earlier this year, it invested in Jet.com.” Read more

 

Walgreens-Rite Aid deal could lead to elimination of 3,000 stores by Phil Wahba at Fortune. Read more

 

Amazon to provide grants for ‘globally-impactful’ research at universities by John Cook at GeekWire. “Amazon.com announced a new program today called Amazon Catalyst…it plans to provide grants in the range of $10,000 to $100,000 to researchers, students and faculties at universities working to solve big problems, from climate change to cybersecurity threats.” Read more

 

Dick’s Pitches to the Heart in Holiday Campaign by Adrianne Pasquarelli at Ad Age. “Sports provide lasting memories passed down through generations,” said CMO and Exec VP Lauren Hobart, a former PepsiCo exec who has been with Dick’s since 2011. “We found it compelling to capture a special moment between a father and his daughter that represents a family tradition being extended to the next generation.” See the spot / Read more

 

**A message from Dig It Gloves–Only 2 weeks remain to place your order for Spring ’16! Why are Dig It garden gloves loved by women? It’s easy–interior pillow-top protectors are built into each fingertip. That’s right, no more broken or chipped nails when gardening! Call it manicure insurance, or just plain brilliant, but you have to see it to believe it. Cross-merchandise in the garden center during Spring ’16. Request samples at: info@shiftmarketinggroup.net | www.digithandwear.com

 

Judge ‘troubled’ by his own ruling in Amazon counterfeit goods case, says it’s an issue for Congress to address by Jacob Demmitt at GeekWire. Read more

 

How Barnes and Noble Is Hitting Back Against Amazon—With Coloring Books by Robert Klara at Ad Week. “On Nov. 14, Barnes & Noble will be staging its most colorful event yet: All of its stores are inviting adults to come in, sit down and color.” Read more

 

Tesco Is Hiring Someone to Untangle Christmas Lights by Benjamin Snyder at Fortune. “A store in Wrexham, north Wales has put out the job listing, according to The Telegraph, and Grinches need not apply. In fact, the job description requires a person who is “genuinely passionate about Christmas” and who has “excellent people skills.” Read more

 

Ikea to double stores in Canada even as website sales soar by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “The news is more remarkable given that 2016 marks Ikea’s 40th year in Canada, and it has built just 12 of its cavernous showroom warehouse stores in that period. “We are going to expand from coast to coast, in existing cities and into new cities,” Ikea Canada president Stefan Sjöstrand said in an interview.” Read more

 

Gap Connects Stores Over the Internet With Software-Defined Networking by Rachael King at WSJ. “So far this year, Gap has installed routers at 860 retail stores, said Snehal Patel, network architect at Gap, speaking at the Open Networking User Group conference here Thursday at New York University.” Read more (Subscription)

 

QVC’s U.S. web sales rise 15% in Q3 by Fareeha Ali at Internet Retailer. Read more

 

Whole Foods co-CEO says customers not looking “benath the hood” by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “Without naming names, Mackey said that many competitors are aping Whole Foods without really offering the same thing. “They are not copying our quality standards, they are copying our look and feel,” he said. “Many customers are not looking beneath the hood.” Read more

 

Inside The Coors Family’s Secretive Ceramics Business Worth Billions by Dan Alexander at Forbes. Read more

 

P&G buys a secret ingredient by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. “ChromaDex Corp. develops patented and proprietary ingredient technologies for dietary supplement, food and beverage, skin care, sports nutrition, and pharmaceutical products.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

CBS Atlanta Targets Stores for ‘Gun Porn’ Magazines in View of Children

Panera pledges to use all cage-free eggs by 2020

Accenture Holiday Survey: 40% plan to spend more on their holiday shopping this year

Sam’s Club top execs under pressure to boost holiday sales, improve traffic

Minnesota-born Twister inducted into Toy Hall of Fame

Walmart greeter gives stranded elderly woman ride home

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Today’s Tipsheet: Mulligan: Target’s “Frankenstein” System | McMillon #32 Most Powerful | Costco -1%/+5% | Bees Buzz at Ace

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By Jason Long, jlong@eyeonretail.net

 

Costco October Comp Down 1%, +5% Excluding Gas & Foreign Exchange “Costco reported net sales of $8.78 billion for the month of October, the four weeks ended November 1, 2015, an increase of one percent from $8.73 billion during the similar period last year.” Read the release

 

Target considers outside help for fresh food business by Nadita Bose at Reuters. “There is an opportunity to use some partners who may be able to do things a little bit better,” Chief Operating Officer John Mulligan said in a recent interview. Target’s supply chain evolved over time as it expanded its offerings, including more fresh food, he said, leading to a patchwork system. “I said to my team this looks like Frankenstein. We have made this thing out of a bunch of parts.” Read more

 

Forbes: The World’s Most Powerful People 2015 (Bezos #17, McMillon #32) See the list of 73

 

You can now use an Amazon Dash-like button to shop at Walmart by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “The device itself…is a piece of hardware with a button you press before speaking into its microphone. You can also use the Wi-Fi connected handheld device to scan grocery items from your fridge or pantry, which are then synced to hiku’s mobile app for iOS or Android.” Read more

 

Ace Hardware and True Value feel the sting of bee-loving protesters by Lewis Lazare at Chicago Business Journal. “Swarms of concerned bee lovers descended Wednesday on the corporate headquarters of home improvement store cooperatives True Value and Ace Hardware, located in Chicago and Oak Brook…” Read more

 

Whole Foods Shares Tumble After Results Miss Analysts’ Estimates by Leslie Patton at Bloomberg. “Same-store sales fell 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter, the Austin, Texas-based company said in a statement Wednesday. That represents the worst performance in more than five years. Analysts had predicted a gain of 0.7 percent.” Read more  Read the release

 

NLRB Rejects Target’s Petition to Invalidate Union Vote in Brooklyn by Sarah Nassauer at WSJ. “A small group of Target Corp. pharmacy workers in New York City are one step closer to becoming the retailer’s first ever union…In a letter denying the appeal, the NLRB said Target hadn’t raised any “substantial issues warranting review.” Read more (Subscription)

 

**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%. www.getmobee.com Contact dowdy@getmobee.com to request a free pilot.

 

Meijer Named Progressive Grocer Retailer of the Year via Grand Rapids Business Journal. “The award is designated based on a set of criteria: overall merit of the retailer’s performance; vendor feedback; creation and fostering of a great place to work; and community support.” Read more

 

Walmart and P&G Still #1 in Kantar Retail’s PoweRanking “Kroger, with its first-ever #2 ranking, was lauded by manufacturers for continued innovation and optimization of the data-driven tactics driving effective execution of its shopper-focused strategy…Target came in at an overall #3 rank, but maintained its #1 position in “Best Store Branding” and “Most Innovative Merchandising Approach.” Read the release

 

Washington Post: The challenge (and opportunity) for retailers as Black Friday becomes less of a draw by Sarah Halzack. “Deloitte found that 44 percent of consumers plan to do the majority of their shopping in December and January, up from 37 percent in 2013…the share of shoppers who planned to do most of their shopping early — that is, in October or the beginning of November — shrank from 30 percent to 23 percent.” Read more

 

Kroger’s VP of Pharmacy Honored “The Kroger Co.’s Vice President of Pharmacy, Philecia Avery, today was honored by the National Diversity Council with a 2015 Most Powerful & Influential Women Award.” Read the release

 

Daiso Japan dollar store opening second Texas location in Irving by Maria Halkias at Dallas Morning News. “While it’s focused on Texas, the company is still opening stores in California and will have 45 open there by the end of this year.” Read more

 

PetSmart Charities to lay off entire workforce as part of restructuring by Angela Gonzales at Phoenix Business Journal. Read more

 

Kraft Heinz to move Oscar Mayer HQ to Chicago at Chicago Tribune. “The company also announced plans to consolidate its production facilities during the next two years, which will result in the shutdown of seven North American manufacturing facilities…The closings will result in the loss of about 2,600 manufacturing jobs at the company.” Read more

 

Ex-Amazon Prime Boss Robbie Schwietzer Recently Left Role at Groupon by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “I could do a boomerang,” he said, using the phrase popular inside the company for executives who re-join Amazon after time away.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Coke’s Failed White Can, and How Packaging Actually Affects the Taste of Food

Can You Have Too Many Stores? One Retailer Says Yes

Meijer Opens Pharmacy Inside Hospital

Yonkers: Lowe’s approved for Ridge Hill; first Westchester location

House kills proposed gas tax hike

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Today’s Tipsheet: Ex-Wmart CEO Crashes Plane | Target Shutters 13 | BOPUS: 50% Had Problems | L.L.Bean New CEO

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By Jason Long, jlong@eyeonretail.net

 

Plane piloted by former Walmart CEO Bill Simon crashes in Arkansas by Hayley Peterson at Business Insider. “The pilot deployed an emergency parachute and the aircraft descended onto Martin Luther King Boulevard in Fayetteville near Fayetteville High School. When the plane touched ground, it collided with a 2012 GMC truck driven by Shakemia Harris. Harris was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.” Read more

 

Target Shutters 13 Stores by Nick Halter at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. “The decision to close a Target store is not made lightly,” spokesperson Kristy Welker said…”Typically, the decision to close a store is as a result of seeing several years of decreasing profitability.” See the list of 13 / Read more

 

…Around 9,000 Target-Lovers Rally To Save Their New Ulm (MN) Store by Kelsey Hering at KEYC 12 News. “The New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce was notified of the close Monday, but already almost 9,000 have joined the #SaveNewUlmTarget Facebook group in an effort to keep the store from closing.” See the video / Read more

 

Lumber Liquidators names new CEO as sales slump continues at Reuters. “Lumber Liquidators appointed board member John Presley chief executive…” Read more

 

Sam’s Club (again) shakes up its merchandising team with key changes by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “Bryant Harris, senior vice president, general merchandise manager (GMM) of food and beverage, will now hold a similar role as general merchandise manager of fresh. Reporting to Harris will be:
• Paul Hunt – vice president, divisional merchandise manager (DMM) of freezer/cooler
• Russell Mounce – vice president, DMM of produce
• Mike Turner – vice president, fresh operations
• Dennis Horn – senior merchandise director of café
• Eileen Fischer – senior merchandise director of bakery”  Read more

 

L.L. Bean Names Ex-Walmart Exec as New CEO by Taryn Luna at Boston Globe. “L.L.Bean has gone outside its ranks for the first time to pick a chief executive, on Tuesday naming veteran retailer Stephen Smith to lead the 103-year-old company. And Smith, 45, who starts in early January, said he already feels the pressure…” Read more

 

Google abandons plan to open retail outlet in New York, but why? by Gina Hall at Silicon Valley Business Journal. “The company spent millions to restore and build out 131 Greene Street. According to the report, the renovations included glass skylights, large windows, exposed brick, and removing a portion of the ground floor to create an area in the back with high ceilings. The exterior of the building was also restored.” Read more

 

**A message from Hot Shot Insecticides – While you’re away, what creepy-crawlies are at play? Be the hero with Hot Shot(R) Insecticides — our household bug solutions root out hidden insect pests before they move in and multiply. It’s the clear advantage at home and in the checkout line. Save the day! See our videos | Visit us on Facebook

 

Retailers Struggle Getting E-Commerce Goods to Customers, Study Says by Loretta Chao at WSJ. “A survey of over 1,000 online U.S.-based shoppers by and JDA Software Group Inc. shows that, of 35% who opted to buy online and pick up goods in a store in the past year, 50% encountered problems getting their purchases.” Read more (Subscription)

 

Walgreens Takes Top Spot in Radio, Home Depot Falls to Fifth at Radio Ink. “The drug-store chain cranked out over 50,000 spots last week. The Home Depot dropped from first to fifth with 27,132 commercials aired.” Read more

 

Dick’s Rewards Customers for an Active Lifestyle “The new “Move” feature of the DICK’S Sporting Goods app allows users to connect to fitness tracking applications MapMyRun and Fitbit to earn DICK’S ScoreCard points for achieving activity goals.” Read the release

 

Will Target Be Open On Thanksgiving? Employees Push Back by Sarah Berger at International Business Times. “The petition calling for Target to stay closed on Thanksgiving was started by a employee from Woodbury, New Jersey, who has worked at the retailer for more than nine years, according to the petition. As of Tuesday evening, the petition had garnered 37,231 signatures.” Read more

 

Walmart exec assumes COO spot at Brookdale by Michael Johnsen at Chain Store Age. “The top executive over Health and Wellness of Walmart’s U.S. division is leaving to join Brookdale Senior Living as its COO. Labeed Diab will have responsibility for all aspects of Brookdale’s operations, including community and field operations, marketing and sales.” Read more

 

Bankrupt A&P unable to get buyers for 1/3 of stores by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. Read more

 

Sears names Carrie Kirkman president and chief merchant by Pete Evans at CBC News. “Prior to coming to Sears (Carrie) Kirkman had been the interim president of shoe retailer Nine West Canada and was president of Jones Apparel Group from 2010 until April of 2015. She’s also worked at Sears rival Hudson’s Bay Co., Liz Claiborne, Kenneth Cole and Alfred Sung.” Read more

 

Sugar Paper Unwraps a New Holiday Line of Paper Goods for Target at A Bullseye View. Read more

 

Esty Struggles to Remain Cozy and Local Amid Global Expansion by Elizabeth Segran at Fast Company. “..no matter how trendy or local the factory, manufacturing at scale goes against Etsy’s original value proposition of offering handmade, one-of-a-kind items.” Read more  Read the release

 

Pepsi Plans New ‘1893’ Soda by E.J.Schultz at Ad Age. “A PepsiCo spokeswoman confirmed the launch of 1893 to Ad Age but provided no further details. The company in August filed a trademark application for the phrase “1893 From the makers of Pepsi-Cola.” Read more

 

Canada: Ex-Target locations to be divided into smaller stores by Jamie Sturgeon at Global News. “RioCan is still owed hundreds of millions of dollars in back rent from Target, which exited Canada in April. The mall owner is currently negotiating with the retailer on a settlement, RioCan said.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

CVC summons top Walmart India official in link to alleged bribery case

RioCan feels pinch of Target Canada’s exit as search for new tenants begins

Tiffany’s First-Ever Retail Partnership Has Major, Retro Glamorous Appeal

Publix retains iron grip on No. 1 spot in Florida’s competitive grocery business

Maps reveal the first days of snow across the US and show the areas most likely to be worst hit

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Today’s Tipsheet: Target Exec to W.Foods | Introducing Dollar Express | Amazon Bookstore Store Opens Today

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NY Times: Wall Street Sours on Whole Foods Market by Stephanie Strom. “Their single biggest problem is their price image,” said Meredith Adler, who follows the company for Barclays Capital…”The Whole Foods Market brand may never shake that label,” Mr. Mackey said in a wide-ranging interview during a recent trip to New York.” Read more

 

Dollar Tree sells 330 Family Dollar stores to newbie Dollar Express by Katherine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “The divested stores will operated under the Dollar Express banner. Sycamore Partners has offered few details about the new concept.” Read more

 

Kroger Expands “Scan, Bag, Go” Pilot by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. “Kroger is expanding testing of its “Scan, Bag, Go” pilot in Greater Cincinnati to 15 local stores…the program gives interested shoppers personal scanners as they shop.” Read more

 

Today: Amazon opens first-ever physical bookstore by Jeanine Stewart at Puget Sound Business Journal. “These aren’t metaphorical doors: these real, wooden doors are the entrance to our new store in Seattle’s University Village,” the company said.” Read more  Read Amazon’s letter

 

…Inside Amazon’s first bookstore by Taylor Soper at GeekWire.  See the in-store pics / Read more

 

Whole Foods taps Target Exec to lead non-perishable purchasing at Supermarket News. “(Don) Clark is responsible for all functions of Whole Foods Market’s non-perishable business, including growth through strong supplier relationships, inventory and category management initiatives and the management and expansion of the grocer’s exclusive brands program.” Read the release

 

Nielsen: Majority of Millennials shop Wal-Mart over all other retailers at The City Wire. “75.5% of Millennial consumers shopped at Wal-Mart in the last three-month period. Target garnered 55.6% of the demographic’s shopping trips and Amazon registered 46.8% of their retail business. The rest of the “Top 10 Retailer” list includes: Dollar Tree 38.6%; Kohl’s 30.9%; Dollar General 30.2%; JCPenney 26.4%; Family Dollar 25.6%; Best Buy 25.5%; and Macy’s 22.9%.” Read more

 

…Target closes gap to 2% with upscale millennials via Nielsen See the upscale millennial ranking

 

When It Comes to Coupons, Shoppers Prefer Paper by Molly Blake at NBC News. “Surprisingly even 18- to 24-year-olds, arguably the most mobile and tech savvy generation ever, use paper coupons more than twice as much as any other method.” Read more

 

Macy’s Starts Off Holiday Effort With Wish Fulfillment by Adrianne Pasquarelli at Ad Age. “This time around, the department store chain has produced a three-minute film online featuring a magic pen that grants wishes — like making it snow — and encourages children to believe in the spirit of the season.” See the video / Read more

 

**A message from Dig It Gloves–Only 2 weeks remain to place your order for Spring ’16! Why are Dig It garden gloves loved by women? It’s easy–interior pillow-top protectors are built into each fingertip. That’s right, no more broken or chipped nails when gardening! Call it manicure insurance, or just plain brilliant, but you have to see it to believe it. Cross-merchandise in the garden center during Spring ’16. Request samples at: info@shiftmarketinggroup.net | www.digithandwear.com

 

Paul Ryan Keeps his Distance from Lobbyists but Maintains Friendship with Home Depot’s Kent Knutson by Anna Palmer at Politico. Read more

 

Google X Drones Could Deliver You Something as Soon as 2017 by Mark Bergen at Recode. Read more

 

HEB to offer its 55,000 employees stock at Austin Business Journal. “Beginning Jan. 1, eligible employees will receive a portion of stock worth 3 percent of their salary, plus $100 in stock value for each year they have earned by the end of 2015.” Read more

 

With New CMO, eBay Extends Holiday Season to Become Browsing Destination by Adrianne Pasquarelli at Ad Age. “On Nov. 2, the San Jose, Calif.-based company unveils its Wish Bigger campaign, which will include a single “holiday hub” website address for all seasonal shopping, and a “heatmap” that tracks hot items in different regions.” Read more

 

Amazon Revamps Parental Leave Policy by Nitish Kulkarni at TechCrunch. “…new policy includes 20 weeks of paid parental leave for birth mothers and a novel leave-sharing system that allows employees to share up to 6 weeks of paid leave with a partner.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Man accused of setting off explosive to protest Wal-Mart removing Confederate merchandise

Chicago designer accuses Target of t-shirt design infringement

Best Buy Adds Same-Day Delivery in San Francisco

Walmart offers employees free GED program

MIT researchers say their drones can safely navigate forests at 30 mph

How Bloomingdale’s Plain Paper Shopping Bags Became So Incredibly Iconic

Amazon gets more clicks than Canadian web retailers, but it isn’t hurting sales — yet

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Today’s Tipsheet: Cramer’s Ideas for Wmart | Star Wars Book Pushed | Blue Light Back | Largest Costco “On the Planet”

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By Jason Long, jlong@eyeonretail.net

 

Amazon doubles holiday ‘lightning deals’ to 30,000 by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “The move is one piece of Amazon’s early Black Friday sales event, which starts Monday and runs through Dec. 22.” Read more

 

Target Senior VP: “We think it’s all going to be about drones and Star Wars” this holiday season by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. Read more

 

Walt Disney Co. is so determined to maintain the secrecy surrounding its hotly anticipated “Star Wars” movie that it asked its publishing partner to delay the release of a hardcover book tied to the film and forgo a potential holiday sales bonanza by Jeffrey Trachtenberg & Ben Fritz at WSJ. Read more (Subscription)

 

Fortune: Look out, Home Depot: Gracious Home is making a comeback (with ex-Walmart exec at the helm) See the video

 

Forget delivery drones, meet your new delivery robot by Jeniece Pettitt via CNBC. “God forbid a drone or a robot hits a toddler, or kills a cat or a dog,” Broughton said. “The liability is just too high.” Read more

 

Cramer drafts ideas for Wal-Mart at CNBC. “It could strike a deal with T-Mobile, and offer to slice phone bills low…Or it could offer customers free internet if they spent $100 at Walmart.com or $50 on specialty marked items in store. Heck, it could even tell Howard Schultz from Starbucks that it will give away coffee for free to anyone with a Wal-Mart credit card and reimburse Starbucks for the coffee. “That’s why I didn’t want CEO Doug McMillon to commit to that $20 billion buyback over the next two years…” Read more

 

**A message from Orchard Road Canning – Decorative Series lids breathe life into 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.

 

FBI Takes a Bullet in Banks’ $50 Billion Fee War With Retailers by Elizabeth Dexheimer & Robert Schmidt at Bloomberg. “The FBI has accidentally stepped in a hot-button political issue,” said Nick Holland, who tracked the incident as an analyst at Javelin Strategy & Research, a consulting firm that focuses on the payments industry.” Read more

 

QVC: The unlikely juggernaut of mobile shopping by Sarah Halzack at Washington Post. “With a strategy centered on “second screening” — the tendency to watch TV while also swiping and tapping on a gadget — QVC has become the fifth-largest mobile commerce retailer in the United States…In fact, it is projected to ring up a mobile sales haul this year that is nearly as large as Wal-Mart’s.” Read more

 

Salt Lake Costco becomes largest in the world by Jasen Lee at Deseret News. “We decided to add a business center and combined it with a (traditional consumer) warehouse for a hybrid,” said general manager Craig Jamieson. “Currently, we’re the largest Costco on the planet.” Read more

 

Walgreens willing to shed 1,000 stores on Rite Aid deal by Ameet Sachdev at Chicago Tribune. “The cap represents about 8 percent of the combined company’s 12,700 U.S. stores.” Read more

 

How Wal-Mart’s Halloween Swat Team Stops Offensive Costumes by Jeff Green at Bloomberg. “The Wal-Mart compliance team doesn’t simply react whenever a product provokes a public backlash. Each day, often with (Bao) Nguyen’s help, the group scours headlines and online products to identify items that might become newly offensive in light of the day’s news. It’s a responsibility that extends beyond Halloween.” Read more

 

Struggling retailer Kmart turns the blue light back on by Nathan Layne at Reuters. “The retailer started sounding the blue sirens used to flag the surprise, 15-minute long deals to shoppers at its 942 stores on Friday, and will kick-off a marketing campaign to highlight the move with a TV ad on “Sunday Night Football” on NBC.” Read more

 

WSJ: Retailers Work Harder to Lure Holiday Employees by Suzanne Kapner & Paul Ziobro. “Toys “R” Us Inc. is giving part-time employees the chance to double their hours compared with a year ago. Macy’s Inc. is looking to turn more part-time jobs into full-time positions and Target Corp. is offering holiday workers more money for the busiest shifts…” Read more (Subscription)

 

Tipsheet Extra

ConAgra selling private label unit to TreeHouse Foods

Amazon Kills Credit Card Reader And Square Competitor, ‘Register’

It Turns Out Shopping-Center Santas Actually Do Bring People in the Door

Inside Best Buy’s new Seattle technology development center

P&G discloses more on feminine care ingredients

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

Today’s Tipsheet: Target: 61% Digital for Holiday | Costco Disrupts Surfing | Lowe’s in Space

/in

 

By Jason Long, jlong@eyeonretail.net

 

J.C. Penney tapping tech to claw back billions in lost sales by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “Marvin Ellison…told the WWD Apparel and Retail CEO Summit…that the retailer has moved past the phase of “patching holes” from a turnaround strategy that could have put Penney out of business and is now in rebuilding mode…“We are heavy on art and not good at science,” as Ellison put it. And his plan calls for balancing that out.” Read more

 

Wireless veteran John Stanton is the newest member of the Costco board by James Risley at GeekWire. “He has a storied history in the wireless industry, serving as CEO and chairman a range of wireless providers, including Western Wireless, VoiceStream Wireless and Clearwire.” Read more

 

CVS, Express Scripts deliver blow to Valeant’s drug plan by Michelle Celarier at NY Post. “The three largest US pharmacy-benefit managers — CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and OptumRx — on Thursday terminated their relationships with the trouble-plagued Philidor.” Read more

 

Target Boosts Digital, Social to 61% of Holiday Budget by Adrianne Pasquarelli at Ad Age. “We have landed in a place this Christmas that will separate us from the pack,” said Jeff Jones, CMO at Target. The campaign includes 12 commercials in 60-second and 30-second iterations, which will begin airing on TV Nov. 4.” Read more / See the spot

 

How Costco is disrupting the surf industry by Jen Wieczner at Forbes. “Would we like to see something revered like [a surfboard] sold at Costco?” Sean Smith, executive director of the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association, told Bloomberg. “No, it’s not what we’d like to see.” Read more

 

‘Hardware Store in Space’: Lowe’s Wants to Send Commercial 3-D Printer to ISS by Mike Wall at Space.com via NBC News. “Made In Space is partnering with home-improvement giant Lowe’s to launch a commercial 3-D printer to the International Space Station (ISS) early next year, representatives of both companies announced Thursday (Oct. 29).” Read more

 

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Delhaize Q3 Comp +1.7% Read the release

 

Target offering free shipping and returns in new threat to Walmart by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “From November 1 through Christmas Day, Target said on Thursday it is once again waiving any minimum order size requirement to qualify for free shipping as well as offering free returns.” Read more

 

…Brian Cornell: “If we decided not to be open on Black Friday, we’d have guests rebelling,” Cornell said. “They’d be knocking on the door, wondering how to get in.” by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. Read more

 

Walmart U.S. bets on store pickup over free delivery for holiday sales by Kim Souza at The City Wire. Read more

 

Amazon Launches ‘Pay With Amazon’ Buttons for Mobile Apps by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “The e-commerce giant is bringing its “Pay with Amazon” buttons to mobile apps, while “tripling down” on placing its Pay with Amazon buttons on websites in overseas markets like Japan.” Read more

 

Millennials twice as likely to distrust ‘big food,’ study says by Samantha Bomkamp at Chicago Tribune. “Among adults age 21 to 38, 43 percent said they don’t trust large food manufacturers, Mintel said. That compares with just 18 percent of older adults.” Read more

 

Amazon/Walmart/Best Buy get spots on FAA’s task force for drone registration rules by Alan Boyle at GeekWire. “Other task force members include Walmart’s Thomas Head, Best Buy’s Parker Brugge and GoPro’s Tony Bates, as well as representatives of drone manufacturers and operators, aviation associations, surveyors and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.” Read more

 

Bass Pro Opens in San Jose via Silicon Valley Business Journal. “We’re heading west a little more aggressively these days because there’s more opportunity here,” Darin Mekkers said.” Read more / See the pics

 

Tipsheet Extra

Senate approves two-year budget deal in 3 a.m. vote

Porch.com’s new acquisition leads to big Seattle staff cuts

Ex-P&G beauty head, CEO contender lands new job

Hy-Vee plans Twin Cities grocery store

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories