Tipsheet: Target Groc Chief Out | Costco +2% in Oct | Kroger ClickList = ‘Headwind’ | W.Foods Down to 1 CEO

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Target’s grocery chief Anne Dament is leaving by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “Her last day will be Nov. 18, said company spokeswoman Katie Boylan. Her work is already being transitioned to Mark Tritton, Target’s chief merchandising officer and Dament’s boss. At the same time, Boylan said, Target is launching a comprehensive search for a replacement that will include internal and external candidates.” Read more

 

Walter Robb to step down as co-CEO of Whole Foods by Claudia Grisales at American-Statesman. “Co-founder John Mackey will now become sole Chief Executive Officer, while former cohort Walter Robb will now transition to his new, primary role on the company’s board of directors, among other responsibilities. This, as the company’s longtime CFO Glenda Flanagan will retire from her role by the end of 2017, spurring a hunt for her replacement starting in January.” Read more

 

Costco October Comp Sales +2.0% “Costco reported net sales of $9.11 billion for the month of October, the four weeks ended October 30, 2016, an increase of four percent from $8.78 billion during the similar period last year.” Press release

 

Amazon’s Private Labels Already Dominate Battery and Speaker Sales Online by Jack Neff at Ad Age. “1010data found that Amazon and affiliates controlled a whopping 94% of the approximately $113 million in online battery sales. The AmazonBasics private label had a 31% share of online battery sales.” Read more | 1010data press release

 

Kantar: Walmart and Kroger in virtual tie for No. 1 position for retailers Press release | Download report

 

Ex-Barnes & Noble CEO bags $4.8M on his way out by Teresa Novellino at New York Business Journal. “Boire, who had previously led up Sears Canada and held a top spot at Brookstone, was with the struggling bookstore chain for less than a year when Barnes & Noble announced he was leaving in a tersely worded statement.” Read more

 

Etsy CFO to exit in March via New York Business Journal. Read more

 

Kohl’s sticks with Thanksgiving Day opening by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “Kohl’s on Thursday said it will once again start its Black Friday doorbuster deals at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving.” Read more

 

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Gap CFO Sabrina Simmons to Depart at End of Fiscal Year Press release

 

HEADWIND – Kroger launches ClickList at 500th store by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. “(CEO) McMullen said the service has not been as profitable as expected so far. “Today, it’s a headwind, but it will pay off,” McMullen said.” Read more

 

Party City Adds Ex-Sears & OfficeMax Exec to Ranks Press release

 

Kohl’s Will Sell the Apple Watch in a Major Holiday Season Salvo by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “Kohl’s will start selling the Apple Watch at 400 of its 1,100 stores on November 15…The announcement comes just a few weeks after Macy’s said it would sell the watch within Apple boutiques at 180 of its stores. But in one key difference, Kohl’s will place the watches in its activewear and wellness sections, rather than with other electronics.” Read more

 

Nordstrom Defends Sale of Ivanka Trump Brand Amid Criticism at KTLA 5. “Our customers can make choices about what they purchase based on personal views,” Nordstrom tweeted.” Read more

 

Who’s the Boss? Amazon Contractors Sue to Find Out by Josh Eidelson at Bloomberg. “In the complaint, he contends Amazon was so involved in his day-to-day work as to be a “joint employer” and as such, liable for the alleged violations under both state and federal law.” Read more

 

Mossberg: Google Home shows promise, but needs work at Recode. “Google Home does beat Alexa and the Echo in some ways, but it’s remarkably dumb in others. It needs enough work that, if I were Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, I wouldn’t be losing any sleep about it — at least not yet.” Read more

 

Albertsons Appoints Christine Wilcox as Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs Press release

 

Hasbro caught in crossfire of NRA’s Candy Land campaign by Diana Bradley at PR Week. “In a blog post on Wednesday, the NRA wrote: “Board games are a great way to bond with friends and family. But have these timeless games you’ve grown up with, played time and time again, become a little, well, boring? Put a twist on your favorite games and head to the range!” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Fortune: The 15 Best Workplaces in Retail

Man dresses up as 12-foot-long CVS receipt for Halloween

Burberry Tells Its Founder’s Story in a Holiday Ad That’s Like a Mini Film

A peek inside Target’s new Honolulu store

Coach cleared of wrongdoing after making players do drills in Walmart parking lot

QVC launches beauty-specific network Beauty iQ

Reebok laces up for headquarters move to Boston

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Tipsheet: WSJ on Wmart Ecom Departures | N.Marcus @ Today Show | Belk Cuts 40

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Wal-Mart E-commerce Executives Depart in Wake of Jet.com Purchase by Sarah Nassauer at Wall Street Journal. “The departures include Fernando Madeira, head of Walmart.com, Dianne Mills, senior vice president of global e-commerce human resources and Brent Beabout, senior vice president of e-commerce supply chain, a spokesman said. Mr. Beabout left in recent weeks and will be succeeded by Jet.com co-founder Nate Faust, who will lead fulfillment operations for Jet.com and Walmart.com. Ms. Mills’ departure was announced internally Monday. Mr. Fernando will leave after helping Wal-Mart with its Brazilian website and several other projects.” Read more (subscription)

 

Amazon charges non-Prime members more at physical bookstores, hinting at new retail strategy by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. “When the Amazon bookstore in Seattle opened almost exactly a year ago — the company’s first full-fledged retail location — book prices were identical to those on Amazon.com, whether you were a Prime member or not. But now the discounted prices are only available to Prime members. If you’re not, you’ll pay sticker price.” Read more

 

Belk lays off about 40 at Charlotte corporate office by Katherine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “News of the corporate job cuts comes almost a year after the department store chain sold itself to Sycamore Partners…Graham said the company combined together similar functions and reduced inefficiency to better support Belk stores. She declined to say from which departments the local employees were cut, though.” Read more

 

YESTERDAY ON TODAY – Ginger Reeder of Neiman Marcus shares gifts from the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book with Savannah Guthrie See the 5:19 video

 

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JC Penney to Start Black Friday Sales Before Thanksgiving This Year by Adrianne Pasquarelli at Ad Age. “We’re going to kick it off early this year,” said Mary Beth West, exec VP-chief customer and marketing officer at Plano, Texas-based JC Penney. “We are going to give customers who want to shop early the opportunity to get some of those exciting deals.” Read more

 

American Apparel may not make it through the holidays by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “The largest clothing manufacturer in North America is hanging by a thread…Working with a restructuring expert (and) has had talks with licensing firms and could agree to be sold in a deal that would precipitate another trip through bankruptcy court.” Read more

 

Publix Q3 Comp Sales +0.9% Press release

 

Wegmans ramps up North Carolina expansion, picks site for fourth store by Amanda Hoyle at Triangle Business Journal. “A new plan recently filed in the town of Cary shows that Wegmans will anchor a new retail development project called Twin Lakes Center.” Site plans / Read more

 

Instagram makes it easier to shop on its platform by Michelle Castillo at CNBC. “Tuesday, the Facebook-owned company is adding a feature for retailers that will allow them to add prices for up to five items in a single post…The additional page also includes a link directly to the retailer’s mobile site, where someone can directly purchase the product. The new features are being tested by 20 brands including Kate Spade, Jack Threads and J.Crew, and are free for Instagram’s partners.” Read more

 

‘Love, Nordstrom’ campaign debuts in the U.S. and Canada “More than 30 real Nordstrom customers were photographed in Los Angeles, Nashville and Seattle and are featured in the national campaign that was produced in partnership with creative agency Partners & Spade.” Press release / See the campaign

 

SAN JOSE INSTITUTION DIES – Mel Cotton’s to close – was like “working in the candy store” by Jody Meacham at Silicon Valley Business Journal. “The store survived Sears and REI, Any Mountain and even Bass Pro Shops. But it couldn’t outlast the land beneath its sprawling building, which has been sold to a developer with other plans.” Read more

 

Victoria’s Secret sales sink after late arrival to ‘bralette’ trend by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “The lingerie giant, owned by L Brands, got slammed on Tuesday after revealing that same-store October sales will sag 2 percent.” Read more

 

Coach: Handbags priced higher than $400 accounted for more than half of its sales in that category – up from 30% just one year ago by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. Read more

 

CEOs, Designers and Influencers in Fashion and Technology to Back NRF Foundation Fundraiser Press release

 

Etsy Reports 33% Revenue Growth in the Third Quarter Press release

 

Survey: Amazon is the most relevant brand among U.S. millennials (Costco #30 overall) by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. Read more | Top 50 list

 

Venezuela is telling hungry city dwellers to grow their own food by Sofia Barbarani at Washington Post. “How are you going to tell someone with no space for a plot to grow [their own food]?” asked De Leandro, whose family-owned farm was expropriated, like many other businesses, under former president Hugo Chávez’s nationalization program.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Amazon plans to enter Southeast Asia with Singapore launch in Q1 2017

Fast Company: Free Shipping is a Lie

Kroger’s Stock Surges After Affirming 2016 Outlook

Bezos Rocket Company Is a New Leader in the Suborbital Space Race

Teen CEO seals deal with Dick’s Sporting Goods

Eating an egg a day ‘keeps stroke at bay – slashing your risk by 12%

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Tipsheet: G.Eagle Cuts 350 | Meijer Scraps Plus-Size Dept | Breakfast w/Menear | Sears Shutters Call Center

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Giant Eagle confirms it’s eliminating about 350 positions by Tim Schooley at Pittsburgh Business Times. Read more

 

Amazon would have posted big loss if not for booming cloud business by Dan Richman at GeekWire. “…without AWS’s extra financial push, the company overall would have posted a $286 million operating loss, rather than a $575 million operating profit.” Read more

 

To Lure Plus-Size Shoppers, Meijer Will Scrap Plus-Size Department by Imani Moise at Wall Street Journal. “The concept, already in practice in 15 stores, will be rolled out to all 230 stores by early 2017. It means the majority of styles will be offered in everything from a size small to XXXL. “We really felt all customers should have the exact same experience at Meijer,” said Annette Repasch, vice president of Softlines.” Read more (subscription) | Press release

 

Students Have Breakfast with Home Depot CEO by De Castillo at Patch. “(Menear) emphasized how they are getting back to one of their core principles: developing and cultivating a strong culture among employees and customers…” Pics / Read more

 

Target’s Brian Cornell and HSN’s Mindy Grossman are among the speakers at Shoptalk 2017  List of speakers

 

Sears closing N.C. call center by 2017 by Katie Arcieri at Triad Business Journal. Read more

 

Macy’s Starts to Unload Stores in Deal With Major Mall Developer by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “The sale to GGP, whose larger rival Simon Property Group, has landed similar deals with various department stores, could also appease an activist shareholder, hedge fund Starboard Value.” Read more

 

Aeropostale discovers many stores are making money by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Mall operator Simon kept 500 of Aeropostale’s 700 stores open — 200 more than first thought — after discovering those locations were in the black, Sandler O’Neill + Partners’ analyst Alexander Goldfarb wrote in a recent research report.” Read more

 

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Aldi sounds out PR agencies as it considers adding to roster by Sam Burne James at PR Week. “PRWeek understands that Aldi is particularly keen on firms to promote its food and baby products. The retailer did not specifically confirm or deny this.” Read more

 

Chobani’s founder draws threats for helping immigrants by David Gelles at NY Times via Boston Globe. “As (founder) Ulukaya has stepped up his advocacy — employing more than 300 refugees in his factories, starting a foundation to help migrants, and traveling to the Greek island of Lesbos to witness the crisis firsthand — he and his company have been targeted with racist attacks on social media.” Read more

 

Macy’s has a huge opportunity this holiday by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “We don’t believe the market fully appreciates just how bad fourth quarter 2015 was, specifically on the gross margin line,” Citi analyst Paul Lejuez echoed in a separate note to clients Monday.” Read more

 

Walmart pulls nude adolescents photo books from website by Charisse Jones at USA Today. “Last week, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, an anti-pornography organization, launched a petition to remove those and other books and magazines the group says are offensive.” Read more

 

After cutting its 500-person workforce in half, Porch focuses on profitability by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. Read more

 

Wal-Mart Sues Canned Tuna Cos. Over Price-Fixing Scheme by Y. Peter Kang at Law 360. “Wal-Mart lodged an antitrust suit in Arkansas federal court Monday accusing the three largest producers of packaged tuna products in the U.S. of conspiring to fix prices, adding to the legal woes of StarKist Co. and others already facing multidistrict litigation over similar claims.” Read more (subscription)

 

Public enemy No. 1 at your local CVS: Grandma and Grandpa by Julie Marsh & Kevin Sheehan at NY Post. “Seven discrimination lawsuits filed Monday against the pharmacy chain in courts across the city include the revelation that a CVS “Loss Prevention” handbook warns employees that senior citizens on a “fixed income” present a “special shoplifting concern.” Read more

 

Amazon.com Launches Black Friday Deals Store and Curated Holiday Gift Guides Press release

 

It’s So Hard to Make Blue Jeans Without Nasty Chemicals by Lauren Coleman-Lochner at Bloomberg. “When it comes to materials, we’re at the very initial step, which is figuring out what the heck is actually in our products,” said Marty Mulvihill, a founder of the Berkeley Center and its former executive director. “A lot of companies are just completing that first step.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Kroger buys land for a second Marketplace store in Chesapeake

Customer waits months for Sam’s Club refund after stores close

Ex-Kroger Exec Helps Crowdsource Cincinnati’s Child Poverty Challenge

Zika may cause men’s testicles to shrink medical researchers warn

Bass Pro Donates $50,000 to Latino Fishing Initiative

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