Tipsheet: Kroger +4% | Women w/Power: Brewer #19, Campbell #20 | Target the Digital Media Giant | Macy’s Gets Apple Store | Wgreens Divest 1,000?

 

Kroger Q2 Total Sales +4.0% Press release

 

Fortune Names 2016 Most Powerful Women (Foulkes #12, Brewer #19, Campbell #20, McKenna #33, Ballard #42) See the top 51 list

 

MACY’S FIRST DEPARTMENT STORE TO HOST APPLE STORE by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “President and CEO-designate Jeff Gennette told Wall Street analysts on Thursday that Macy’s signed a deal with Apple to open an Apple store within its 1 million square-foot flagship at Herald Square in New York. Not only is Macy’s the first department store to host one of the tech giant’s emporia, but it will also be able to sell the Apple Watch at more than 180 stores in time for the Thanksgiving to Christmas rush.” Read more

 

Restoration Hardware Q2 Brand Revenue -3.0% “Net revenues for the second quarter of fiscal 2016 increased 7% to $543.4 million from $506.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015.” Press release

 

Ad Age: Is Target The Next Digital Media Giant? by Adrianne Pasquarelli. “(Target) will host a launch party Thursday afternoon in Manhattan to announce the program’s expansion to advertisers beyond those found on Target shelves, including automotive brands, financial firms and travel companies. “What we have packaged is access to our guests,” said Kristi Argyilan, who joined Target two years ago as senior VP-media and guest engagement.” Read more

 

Jessica Alba’s Honest Company has been in talks to sell to a big consumer product giant by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “Sources indicated that the buyer is likely to be a big consumer product company like Procter & Gamble or Unilever.” Read more

 

Home Depot’s CEO Craig Menear Presents at Goldman Sachs Global Retail Broker Conference via Seeking Alpha Full transcript

 

This Macy’s plan to boost sales doesn’t have anything to do with clothing by Katie Little at CNBC. “Jeffrey Gennette, Macy’s president and soon-to-be CEO, indicated at a Goldman Sachs conference on Thursday there could be additional expansion of food and beverage in the future…”…the scalable model to be able to get food and beverage out to more of our doors is what’s on our mind.” Read more

 

Washington Post: Retailers look to wean shoppers off the 24/7 discount party by Sarah Halzack. “Promotions are like city buses these days,” said Joel Bines, managing director of the retail practice at consultancy AlixPartners. “If you miss one, there’s going to be another one that looks just like it coming down the road behind it.” Read more

 

H&M may be repeating Macy’s mistakes by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “Already boasting more than 4,000 shops around the globe, the Swedish retailer has plans to boost its store count between 10 percent and 15 percent annually. That includes roughly 425 net new stores in 2016. Yet at the same time, H&M’s sales growth and profitability per square meter are slowing.” Read more

 

**A message from Fabe – Italian hand-crafted pillows prevent and relieve neck and back pain. Fabe’s Ergo Praxis pillow supports and aligns the head and neck to prevent cervical pain. Created in cooperation with Ludes University in Switzerland – it gets the body in the right position for a good night’s sleep. 100% Made in Italy. Ergo Praxis Specs | Fabe Website | Retailers request samples at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net. Italy-America New Product Connection

 

Walgreens expects to divest up to 1,000 stores in Rite Aid acquisition Press release

 

Amazon names Cornell Tech founding dean and Xerox veteran Daniel Huttenlocher to board by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. Read more

 

Commercial furniture business thrives after breaking off from Target by Nick Halter at St.Paul/Minneapolis Business Journal. “About that Target relationship: It’s good. Litwin said Target tapped Atmosphere for a “massive” amount of work, including a buildout at the company’s Brooklyn Park campus to make room for employees relocating from the now-vacant 394 campus, and renovations at Target’s downtown headquarters buildings.” Read more

 

Denver: All nine Albertsons stores to be re-branded under the Safeway banner – but the fried chicken stays by Emilie Rusch at Denver Post. Read more

 

Jos. A. Bank sales decline 16.1 percent in second quarter by Holden Wilen at Baltimore Business Journal. Read more

 

99 Cents Only Stores Q2 Comp Sales +1.1% Press release

 

Petco Announces 13 New Stores in September “This latest slate of new store openings will also be complemented by the rebranding of 31 select Unleashed by Petco stores, located primarily in Colorado, Georgia and Texas, to smaller format Petco stores.” Press release

 

Walmart’s Coke display remembering 9/11 sparks outrage at My Fox 8. Pic/Video/Read more

 

…Texas mattress store blasted for tone-deaf ‘Twin Tower Sale’ commercial, days before 9/11 by Denis Slattery at NY Daily News. Video/Read more

 

KOBUK THE DESTROYER – Nice Trash Can! Let’s See What the Bears Think by Harriet Torry at Wall Street Journal. “If your product survives a 60-minute mauling, congratulations—you’re bear-resistant! That stamp of approval is coveted by makers of products for campers and rafters, not to mention trash bins. But it’s no slam dunk. One grizzly, Kobuk, is so skilled at defeating the lids and latches, or the sides, of food containers that he is nicknamed The Destroyer.” Read more (subscription)

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

The Hill: 2016 50 Most Beautiful

NY Times: How to Pick the Fastest Line at the Supermarket

Patent filing: Amazon drones could hitch rides on trucks or buses 

Amazon Said to Seek Sports Streaming Rights From Tennis to Rugby

Fortune 2016 Most Powerful International Women

Over 3,000 of David Letterman’s TV Props and Costumes, Spanning 31 Years, Will be Sold Online

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Tipsheet: Albertson’s = No Trump Cake | Target Grocery Revamp | Gap Fire Started by Employee?

 

Albertson’s refuses to write ‘Trump 2016’ on cake by Marie Waxel at KSLA 12 News. “We just need an American flag cake with Trump 2016 on it, and right when I said Trump the lady just (makes face) kinda Trump? And she was like I can make you a flag cake but I’m not going to write Trump on it,” explained Gill.” See the video / Read more

 

Was massive Gap warehouse fire started by a disgruntled employee? by Wills Robinson at Daily Mail. “The shocking image circulated on social media after the enormous fire on Monday night. Staff members on social media posted the photo and said the suspected arsonist was furious her bosses had ‘written her up’ for being late.” See the pic / Read more

 

Target Revamps Staffing for Grocery Business by Khadeeja Safdar at Wall Street Journal. “Target Corp. is building dedicated teams to manage the grocery sections…Grocery employees will no longer work in other parts of the store and they will receive specialized training, including handling backroom inventory and interacting with customers. Each grocery team will have 10 to 60 employees, depending on the store. The changes have already been rolled out to about 450 stores and are expected to appear in another 150 by next month.” Read more (subscription) | Article via Pioneer Press

 

Walmart CFO Brett Biggs Presents at 23rd Annual Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference Read the full transcript

 

Supervalu Shares Tumble Premarket After Company Lowers Outlook at Fox Business. “The company is now expecting full-year adjusted EBITDA to be down 5% versus the year earlier. The company said its Retail segement has been hurt by competition and a challenging sales environment.” Read more

 

OUT AFTER CHRISTMAS – Pier 1 CEO resigning at year end by Korri Kezar at Dallas Business Journal. “Pier 1’s board is working with executive search firm Korn Ferry to find his successor.” Read more | Press release

 

…Pier 1 Q2 (prelim) comp sales -4.3% Press release

 

BLUE CHRISTMAS? – Here are the biggest losers from scuttling Hanjin Shipping by Leslie Shaffer at CNBC. “Analysts at Citigroup said that toys were likely to be the product most impacted as retailers awaited their shipments of Christmas goodies…Citi analysts said “softlines”…were also likely to be impacted, although department stores appeared to have been reducing their exposure to Hanjin over the past few months.” Read more

 

…Wall Street Journal: Hanjin Shipping’s Troubles Leave $14 Billion in Cargo Stranded at Sea by Costas Paris & Erica E. Phillips. “Samsung said it is considering chartering 16 cargo planes to fulfill its shipment contracts, mostly to the U.S. About 95% of the world’s manufactured goods—from dresses to televisions—are transported in shipping containers.” Read more (subscription)

 

…Bankrupt Korean shipper given okay to unload stranded vessels by Anne Stych at L.A. Biz. “Three cargo ships sitting offshore in California after they were stranded by their parent company’s bankruptcy should be among the dozens of vessels around the world that South Korea’s finance minister said will be cleared for unloading this week.” Read more

 

Private equity firm Golden Gate Capital acquires struggling mall shop PacSun by Shan Li at LA Times. “Golden Gate Capital said it is providing at least $20 million in capital to the troubled mall staple, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April. PacSun operates 583 stores nationwide and in Puerto Rico.” Read more

 

**A message from Pirola Italy – Colorful, designer-inspired ironing boards add spice to any home. Exclusively made in Italy for 45 years, these high-quality boards bring design and excitement to the category. Featuring the Arco board from the Design Line and the Luna board from the Plus Line. Custom colors and designs available. Request samples at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net. Italy-America new product connection

 

Kroger stock slammed by Sprouts outlook by Steve Watkins at Cincinnati Business Courier. “The prolonged deflationary environment, competitive landscape and industry dynamics have prompted heavy promotions across the industry, adversely impacting retail deflation and traffic generation,” Sprouts said in a news release.” Read more

 

How Macy’s Store Closures Could Help Gap by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “We’re watching that carefully to see if we have a co-tenancy clause issue which gives us a rent opportunity,” (CEO Art) Peck told the Wall Street analysts.” Read more

 

At Kmart, a Store Overhaul That Stands Out by Becky Strum & Suzanne Kapner at Wall Street Journal. “It’s amazing what cleaning the floors and turning the lights on can do,” said Dan Macaluso, a 62-year-old car salesman who came to the reopening with his wife. “It suddenly looks like they want to be in business.” Read more (subscription)

 

Washington Post: Vera Bradley is beloved by teens and boomers. Now, millennials, it’s coming for you. by Sarah Halzack. “Around Vera Bradley’s offices, its new target consumer has become known as the “daymaker,” someone who is about 28 years old and who they think of as optimistic, organized and “someone who appreciates beauty,” (CMO) Palermo said.” Read more

 

Fashion: ‘Americans Have Switched Off, Not Consuming’ by Stephen Galloway at Hollywood Reporter. Read more

 

Sears Canada revenue -15.6% / same-store sales -5.5% at Toronto Star. Read more

 

Pilot Flying J Launches First 360-Degree Marketing Campaign “With a crowd capacity in excess of 150,000, the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol will feature a border battle between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Tennessee Volunteers, broadcasted on ABC.” Press release

 

CAN’T WIN – Teacher starts petition against Costco after being offered ground beef by Candice Tubbs at HuffPo. Read more

 

P&G holds open casting calls for next Mr. Clean – and women are welcome by Barret J. Brunsman at Cincinnati Business Courier. “Another open audition will be held near Los Angeles next week….women are welcome to audition, P&G said. Those who can’t make it to either coast for the casting calls can enter a 60-second video of themselves online by clicking here and explaining why he or she should be the next Mr. Clean.” Read more

 

Couche-Tard Receives Approval to Acquire Certain Imperial Oil Retail Assets in Ontario and Québec Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Fainting, falls and crumbling shoes: Inside Kanye West’s ‘disastrous’ fashion show

Lowe’s Latest TV Spot Is ‘Multi-Porpoise’

C-store owner spent $1 mil buying thousands of lottery tickets from his own shop

Florida sex offender lists Walmart as home address

Why a chemical banned from soap is still in toothpaste

Bloomberg: Rosalind Brewer – How Did I Get Here?

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Tipsheet: Ex-Dick’s CFO Settles | W.Foods Poaches Sam’s Exec | H.Dep #1 in Radio | Target Shopper Shaken | Clinton/Wmart Mtgs

 

Hudson’s Bay: Comp sales +1.9% but fell 1.3% on a constant currency basis by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. Read more | Press release

 

HD Supply Q2 Sales +4.1% “Operating income increased $14 million, or 6.3 percent, to $237 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2016.” Press release

 

…MarketWatch: HD Supply offers weak profit and revenue outlook Read more

 

Whole Foods Poaches Sam’s Club VP of Marketing “As Global Vice President of Marketing, Sonya Gafsi Oblisk will lead the company’s marketing, advertising and brand development efforts…As Global Vice President of Team Member Services (HR), Martin Tracey will have strategic responsibilities for the end-to-end team member experience…As Global Vice President of Communications, Brooke Buchanan will lead Whole Foods Market’s public relations, internal communications and government affairs efforts.” Press release

 

Former Dick’s CFO to get $767K severance package at The Tribune Review. “Teri List-Stoll, who left (Dick’s) last month for undisclosed reasons, also will keep a $115,000 discretionary bonus she was paid in April and receive $26,400 for unused vacation time, according to a separation agreement reached with the company on Sept. 1. The severance payments will stop, however, should she find another job that pays her at least $750,000 annually.” Read more

 

Target kicks off Fashion Week with sing-along event at AP via Yahoo. “Target’s custom-built bar on West 33rd Street will be open to the public from Thursday through Saturday…”It will be a chance for fashion fans to come, rest, relax and get some food and beverage,” says Rick Gomez, senior vice president of marketing at Target.” Read more

 

Dick’s Announces First D.C. Store – Set to Open Store #659 by Patty Tascarella at Pittsburgh Business Times. Read more

 

TWEET – Jeff Jones @jjones: As I begin my last week @Target just one thing to say to the amazing people in stores and HQ… #redandkhakifan #GSD

 

Casey’s Posts Record First Quarter Earnings “Fuel – For the quarter, same-store gallons sold were up 3.1%…Grocery and Other Merchandise – same-store sales were up 4.7%…Prepared Food and Fountain – Same-store sales for the quarter were up 5.1%.” Press release

 

**A message from Black Flag® – We take no prisoners. In the battle against indoor and outdoor pests, it’s every man for himself. Arm yourself with Black Flag insect and rodent controls. Our tough, no-nonsense formulas are packed with a powerful punch to make short work of home insect invaders. Whether you’re battling crawling, flying or stinging insects or fending off mice, when the flag flies, pests die. Let it Fly. See the new ‘Sarge’ videos | Facebook page

 

Walmart stores around Tampa Bay found selling expired products, including baby food by Justine Griffin & Alli Knothe at Tampa Bay Times. “Walmart took notice of the issue Tuesday, both at the corporate level and at the St. Petersburg location cited by Wyman, where workers were busy rechecking expiration dates Tuesday morning.” Read more

 

Harris Teeter bringing first fuel center to N.C. Triangle region by Amanda Hoyle at Triangle Business Journal. Read more

 

Home Depot Flirts with 60K Weekly Radio Spot Count – Retakes #1 Spot at Inside Radio. “No. 3 is AutoZone, up from last week’s No. 6; No. 4 is Burger King, returning to the top 10 from 13; No. 5 is JC Penney, up from 11; and Lowe’s is No. 6, up from 10.” Read more

 

Dozens constructing Dick’s warehouse say wages ‘unfair’ at 12 Action News. “More than two dozen people say they’re standing up for fair wages as construction on the new DICK’S Sporting Goods distribution center begins…” See the video / Read more

 

‘Urban’ Target store headed to High Street near Ohio State campus by Tim Feran at The Columbus Dispatch. Read more

 

…Target store openings into 2018 See the list

 

Calendar Shows Hillary Clinton Meetings With Doug McMillon & Walmart Execs by Peter Nicholas & James V. Grimaldi at Wall Street Journal. “…on Sept. 16, 2011, Mrs. Clinton convened a summit in San Francisco, where she gave a speech on empowering women. Before the speech, according to her calendar, Mrs. Clinton met with nine executives from Wal-Mart Stores Inc….In the spring of the next year, Wal-Mart pledged to help women in Latin America with a $1.5 million donation in grants to 55,000 women entrepreneurs through a public-private partnership.” Read more (subscription)

 

Amazon-Wells Fargo Student-Loan Plan Ran Into Political Obstacles by Annamaria Andriotis at Wall Street Journal. “…the office of Sen. Warren—an outspoken critic of private student lenders and a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee that oversees federal student lending—met with Amazon to discuss the partnership, according to a person familiar with the matter…The office of Illinois Democrat Sen. Durbin also reached out to Amazon to express concern.” Read more (subscription)

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Sam’s Club China wins 2016 Asia Fruit Award

Target Shopper Shaken by Face-to-Face Encounter with Suspected Peeping Tom

Longaberger HQ – Selling a $5 Million, Seven-Story Basket Is No Picnic

Mompreneur Makes Big Shark Tank Splash With The Spatty

The avg. U.S. household is enrolled in 29 loyalty programs, but actively participates in only 12

Target: Beautycounter’s better for you beauty products are almost here

Postmates is raising at least $100 million in a round led by Founders Fund

How Rebecca Minkoff Keeps Disrupting the Fashion Industry

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Tipsheet: Costco No on Seattle Law | Target Employee an Online Hit | Wmart CFO Presents Thur | Kroger Branded Cage-Free

 

Costco doesn’t support Seattle’s proposed scheduling law by Janet I. Tu at Seattle Times. “Representatives from a number of companies, including Home Depot, JC Penney and Petco, have already spoken against the proposal at a public hearing last month.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart buyers for cakes and pies discuss Patti LaBelle phenomenon by Robbie Neiswanger at Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. “Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s bakery partnership with singer Patti LaBelle began with a Google search…”I had the expectation that if I called anyone they would answer,” (Kinna) Thomas said. “But the fact three days in I was on the phone with Ms. LaBelle herself … I did not expect that.” Read more

 

New Target employee becomes a hit with his comical online journal documenting every odd detail about his first week on the job by Miranda Bryant at Daily Mail. “He originally started it to entertain friends but it gained such traction online that his Tumblr posts about Target have attracted hundreds of thousands of readers…” Read more

 

Amazon poaches eBay A.I. chief by Monica Nickelsburg at GeekWire. “(Hassan) Sawaf is now Director of Artificial Intelligence at Amazon-owned A9 Labs.” Read more

 

Kroger-branded line of cage-free eggs quietly hit shelves nationwide this week by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. “The price of the new product will vary by region, but a dozen was priced at $2.49 at Kroger in Delhi Township – a dollar more than a dozen of Kroger’s store branded standard eggs.” Read more

 

It’s midnight at 7-Eleven, and the ATM rush for disability checks is on by Joe Robertson at Kansas City Star. “It’s midnight. First day of the new month. Fifteen people — with more coming — line up inside the front windows of a Kansas City 7-Eleven, waiting their turn at the ATM in the corner…“Nothing really good happens at 12 a.m. or 1 a.m.,” said Jeff Lee, the program director at the nearby Hope Faith Ministries.” Read more

 

Longtime Macy’s spokesman exits by Andy Brownfield at Cincinnati Business Courier. “Jim Sluzewski, Macy’s Inc. senior vice president of corporate communications and external affairs, retired effective Sept. 2.” Read more

 

**A message from Alma Italy – Enjoy the innovative, yet simple elegance of Alma Cookware. Alma Cookware produces non-stick aluminum cookware products and delivers healthy and tasty foods with the security of a professional product. Featuring La Sughiera – the thick-tempered glass lid with upper hole allows for spice-adding and stirring without removing the lid. Featuring Egizia – this warm color pottery connects modern technology with a traditional rural aesthetic. Made in Italy | Website | Italy-America new product connection | Retailers request samples at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

Hanjin Shipping’s Parent Steps In to Help Unload Stranded Cargo via Fortune. “Hanjin Shipping’s parent firm plans to raise 100 billion won ($90.46 million) to fund the unloading of billions of dollars worth of cargo…” Read more

 

Under Armour CEO to sell nearly 2 million shares of company stock currently valued at more than $80 million by Holden Wilen at Baltimore Business Journal. Read more

 

Study: A quarter of supermarket chicken bought in Britain is filled with a potentially fatal superbug by Sam Walker at The Sun. “The evolved food poisoning bacteria, which is responsible for the deaths of over 5,500 people a year in England alone, was found in samples taken from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose, the Co-op and Aldi.” Read more

 

Why Online Fashion Retailers Are Worth Their Dizzying Valuations by Stephen Wilmot at Wall Street Journal. “Online-retail valuations aren’t mad, but their dependence on shifting mature-margin expectations makes them highly susceptible to minor forecast tweaks. The resulting volatility is then exaggerated by momentum traders.” Read more (subscription)

 

Walmart CFO Brett Biggs to Give Presentation on Sep. 8th “His presentation on capitalism and the free market is in conjunction with the Paul R. Carter College of Business Administration, which will be dedicating the Waldron Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business Friday, Sept. 9.” Read more

 

E-retailers begin lining up behind a simplified online tax bill by Allison Enright at Internet Retailer. “E-retailers supporting the bill include: Overstock.com Inc., Colony Brands Inc., Crutchfield Corp., Mason Companies Inc., Blue Nile Inc., Potpourri Group Inc…” Read more

 

Pilot Flying J’s $100 Million Bathrooms Star in Its New Ad Campaign by Robert Klara at Adweek. “Instead of just touting amenities like Wi-Fi, and food and beverage choices, the company gave a starring role to its restrooms. In the brand’s new 30-second TV spot (which you can see below) and in one of its four new print ads, the commode is the best seat in the house.” Read more

 

Dukes of Hazzard’ Novelty Store Causes a Political Fender Bender by Michael M. Phillips at Wall Street Journal. “…the new store has brought in $950,000 selling items such as Confederate flag beer koozies, Cooter’s Garage guitar picks and models of Bo and Luke Duke’s orange 1969 Dodge Charger, the General Lee…the Sperryville store will shut down in October because Rappahannock County “snobs” won’t let his customers park behind the store…” Read more (subscription)

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

In apparent first, gluten not welcome at this college dining hall

Top 10 jobs with the most arrogant workers

Laptops and cool tops: a strong year for U.S. back-to-school shopping

Amazon says new $1,500 selling fees won’t apply to existing merchants

Legendary former Apple engineer, 54, is rejected for a job at Apple store

Mysterious light draws thrill seekers to Michigan forest

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Tipsheet: Retail ‘Shipping Crisis’ | Pilot’s $100M Bathrooms | New Wmart Center in NC? | Pippen Touts Kmart

 

Retailers Seek U.S. Help With Shipping Crisis by Paul Ziobro & Costas Paris at Wall Street Journal. “While the situation is still developing, the prospect of harm is significant and apparent,” Sandra Kennedy, president of the Retail Industry Leaders Association, wrote in a letter to the Department of Commerce and the Federal Maritime Commission. Hanjin’s recent bankruptcy filing “presents an enormous challenge to U.S. shippers,” she said, and “could have a substantial impact on consumers and the economy at large.” Read more (subscription)

 

Hanjin, the world’s seventh-largest container shipper, represents nearly 8 percent of the trans-Pacific trade volume for the U.S. market by Robert Jablon at AP via AJC. Read more

 

When buying on Amazon means a sale for Wal-Mart or Target by Courtney Reagan at CNBC. “…The orders were placed with standard shipping, and without the use of membership program. Of the 32 items ordered from Amazon, the majority of which were fulfilled by third-party vendors, six came with Wal-Mart or Target labeling or packaging.” Read more

 

Lands End Q2 Comp Sales -2.5% by Melanie Lawder at Milwaukee Business Journal. “Direct segment net revenue fell 6.9 percent for the quarter to $246.6 million. Retail segment net revenue also declined 4.3 percent to $45.5 million.” Read more

 

Walmart cuts 7,000 jobs, promises to relocate workers by Jackie Wattles at CNN Money. “Barnett said the positions are being cut because Walmart is implementing a modernized system for bookkeeping and tracking inventory.” Read more

 

…Walmart will centralize some of the accounting and invoicing roles into one location and hire 1,000 employees in that center, which is tentatively set for North Carolina by Kim Souza at The City Wire. Read more

 

GeekWire: What happened when we tested Fred Meyer’s drive-up grocery service by Nat Levy. “Apart from setting up shop closer to my house and not adding an extra cost for the service, there’s not a lot of room for Amazon’s future service to improve on the Fred Meyer experience.” Read more

 

US created 151,000 jobs in August vs. 180,000 jobs expected at CNBC. Read more

 

**A message from Pirola Italy – Colorful, designer-inspired ironing boards add spice to any home. Exclusively made in Italy for 45 years, these high-quality boards bring design and excitement to the category. Featuring the Arco board from the Design Line and the Luna board from the Plus Line. Custom colors and designs available. Request samples at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net. Italy-America new product connection

 

Costco says August sales hurt after it opened too many warehouses overseas by Tonya Garcia at MarketWatch. “Results were negatively impacted in the U.S. and Canada by tobacco, the company said, while hardware, health and beauty aids and tires performed well. Jewelry, media, home furnishings and apparel were “better performing” departments in the softlines area.” Read more

 

Meijer to launch home delivery service in Detroit & SE Michigan by Ian Thibodeau at Detroit News. Read more

 

J.C.Penney to live stream plus-size fashion show from New York City on Sept. 6 by Tonya Garcia at MarketWatch. Read more

 

Australia: Bunnings’ price promise will not apply to Masters fire-sale prices by Catie Low at Sydney Morning Herald. “There is a lot of speculation over exactly how much stock there is in Masters, with hardware insiders reporting there is inventory in the stores, distribution centres as well as “on the water” in containers that haven’t arrived in Australia yet.” Read more

 

Kmart Woos Millennials With Concierge Service, Scottie Pippen, and … Paint? by Polly Mosendz at Bloomberg. “Scottie Pippen signed basketballs, a disc jockey spun tunes, and a red sportscar glistened in the parking lot at a newly revamped Kmart store in Des Plaines, Ill., over the weekend…Dubbed the “Whole Lotta Awesome” store initiative, the store redesign and lavish, if eccentric, grand reopening are all part of the struggling retailer’s master plan to get millennials in the door.” Read more

 

Pilot Flying J’s ‘$100 Million Bathrooms’ Star in Its New Ad Campaign by Robert Klara at Adweek. “According to vp of brand and consumer experience Whitney Johnson, the restroom was a necessary thing to spotlight—not that it was easy. “There’s nothing hugely sexy and glamorous about travel centers along the interstate, and restrooms are a hard thing to showcase,” she said. “But they’re important to customers and especially families.” Read more

 

Lululemon Athletica set to open smaller hyper-local stores by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “Sales at stores open for more than a year…rose four per cent (five per cent in constant dollars). Online sales were up six per cent to US$87.4 million.” Read more

 

Gap August Comp Sales -3.0% “Gap Global: negative 5 percent…Banana Republic Global: negative 10 percent…Old Navy Global: positive 1 percent.” Press release

 

The Home Depot Foundation Pledges Quarter of a Billion Dollars to Veteran-Related Causes by 2020 Press release

 

Dollarama Inc considers offering online sales for bulk buyers to complement business model by Damon Van Der Linde at Financial Post. “Dollarama confirms it has been working with the Montreal-based Orckestra e-commerce company, though it only is a research stage and has no immediate plans to launch into online retail.” Read more

 

L.L. Bean sticks to core promises in competitive backpack market by Megan Woolhouse at Boston Globe. “Nearby, a maroon backpack hung like a slab of meat, loaded with 150-pounds of steel, just to see if the handle could survive a sixth-grader’s toss, while lab techs in white coats documented how quickly sandpaper destroys polyester. It’s the height of backpack season in a region that may have more packs per capita than any other, and few know the industry better than L.L. Bean.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Another Big Apple supermarket chain can’t pay the bills

‘Like it’s been nuked’: Millions of bees dead after South Carolina sprays for Zika mosquitoes

Kroger adds outside mural to spruce up renovovated store (pics)

Bass Pro Shops names senior director of Conservation and lead director of the Johnny Morris Foundation

CVS agrees in $795K settlement to change opioid prescribing practices in Mass.

Residents worry Costco location could bring ‘chaos’ to Lincoln area

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Tipsheet: Wmart VP Toys Presser | Costco Aug Flat | Zulily Chief Merchant Q&A | 3 S.Auth. Execs +$1.5M

 

Costco August comp sales flat / +2.0% excluding gas & f/x “For the 16-week fourth quarter, the Company reported net sales of $35.7 billion, an increase of two percent from $35.0 billion in the fourth quarter last year.” Press release

 

Amazon and Wells Fargo Terminate Student Loan Partnership by Shahien Nasiripour at Bloomberg. “It’s another black eye for Wells Fargo’s student loan business, which just last week agreed to pay $3.6 million to the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to settle claims that it misled borrowers…” Read more

 

Wal-Mart bets on ‘Star Wars,’ Barbie for the holidays by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “Star Wars” Electronic R2D2 and a new spin on Hasbro’s popular “Pie Face” game both made the retailer’s top 25 toys list, as chosen by kids…”They do tend to be our best items and they’re not always the ones we might have thought,” said Anne Marie Kehoe, vice president of toys at Walmart U.S.” Read more

 

…Anne Marie Kehoe, vice president of toys at Walmart U.S., held a press conference for the media Wednesday by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “To help shoppers get a jump on their holiday buying Walmart is opening its holiday layaway to the public on Sept. 2.” Read more

 

…US toy industry is coming off its best year in more than a decade – expecting this year to be just as strong, thanks to the “Star Wars” juggernaut by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Besides Disney’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” the toy industry is anticipating a boost from other breakout films heading into the crucial holiday season. Disney’s “Moana,” about a Polynesian princess, and “Trolls” from DreamWorks Animation.” Read more

 

Three top executives at Sports Authority will be cashing checks for up to $1.5 million by Mark Harden at Denver Business Journal. “The Wilmington, Delaware-based judge’s approval came despite the objections of a federal bankruptcy-court watchdog official, who called the payouts “unseemly,” the Wall Street Journal reports.” Read more | WSJ article (subs.)

 

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How 7-Eleven Uses Coffee to Get People Involved With Politics by Michal Addady at Fortune. “…customers can show their support for the presidential campaign by buying specially-marked coffee cups…New this year is a non-partisan purple cup, called the “Speak Up” cup, that encourages customers to “discuss or write in their own issue—or candidate—this election.” Read more

 

Facebook lets retailers offer coupons to entice shoppers to buy by Zak Stambor at Internet Retailer. “Facebook Inc. has rolled out a dramatic mobile-oriented revamp of its Offers program, which enables retailers to offer consumers discounts that are redeemable either online or in store.” Read more

 

Q&A with Zulily chief merchant Lori Twomey by Monica Nickelsburg at GeekWire. “Night owl or early riser? What are your sleep patterns? “I get approximately 5 hours of sleep per night and am the definition of an early riser! I’m up by 4:15 a.m., meeting friends for a run or heading to the gym.” Read the Q&A

 

Home presses ahead despite Lowe’s’ Masters ploy by Nicole Lindsay at Sydney Morning Herald. “It was “far-fetched” to suggest the deal was in any danger, (a Home spokesman) said. Woolworths has granted Home Consortium an exclusive call option over its two-thirds share in Hydrox. Woolworths stated last week that the deal to sell the property portfolio was “subject to Lowe’s consent”. Read more

 

Amazon brings its Dash Button to Germany, Austria, and the UK by Amar Toor at The Verge. “Amazon is also launching its Dash Replenishment service in the three countries…Under the Dash Replenishment program, makers of connected devices can program appliances to automatically reorder household items such as laundry detergent or dish soap…” Read more

 

Retailers respond to widening U.S. income gap in school supply sales by Rachel Abrams at NY Times via Star Tribune. “Our people said that whether it’s Burlington or Target or J.C. Penney or Sears, the uniform section was the hottest part of the competitive space for back-to-school,” said Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners, a retail consulting group. “About twice as many stores this year as last are doing specials on uniforms.” Read more

 

Walmart to Participate in the 23rd Annual Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference Press release

 

American Girl dolls are heading to Toys ’R’ Us by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “It marks the first time American Girl will be sold in brick-and-mortar locations outside its own stores…Sales plunged 19 percent in the latest quarter ended June — worse than the 8 percent drop in 2015.” Read more

 

Forbes: Amazon Has Already Gobbled Up Books, Electronics: Are Fashion And Beauty Next? by Barbara Thau. Read more

 

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