Tipsheet: Kors Shutter 100+ | Dick’s EVP Departs | The Shrinketts | J.Jill +9.9%

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Dick’s Sporting Goods EVP to leave company in August by Paul J. Gough at Pittsburgh Business Times. “(Michele) Willoughby has worked for the sporting goods retailer since 2004, when she became vice president of planning and allocation. She was named senior vice president in 2008 and became executive vice president, eCommerce and Supply Chain, in July 2013. She was named EVP and chief strategy officer in April 2017.” Read more

 

Iceland’s first Costco is so popular that one-fifth of the population has joined its Facebook group by Corrine Purtill at Quartz. “People are excited about [Costco] because it is a chance to boycott the big chains that control all the prices and show that people will not have it any longer,” one Iceland native now living in California told Quartz. Prices for food and other consumer goods in Iceland are more than 70% higher than US equivalents.” Read more

 

Battle between Crate and Barrel & Restoration Hardware gets even weirder by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “At the center of the legal beef is not sourcing of home furnishings or store layout — but the formation of a restaurant amid its stores. RH is accusing Diemoz and the second executive, Kimberly Ahlheim, of copying the designs for the restaurant and sharing them with Crate and Barrel.” Read more

 

J.Jill Q1 Comp Sales +9.9% Press release

 

Former Lowe’s Chief Supply Chain Officer Joins MSC Industrial Press release

 

CVS opens first retail pharmacy in Colorado by Emilie Rusch at Denver Post. “The 13,500-square-foot drugstore, 16920 E. Lincoln Ave. in Parker, is the first of three CVS Pharmacy locations expected to open this year in the Denver metro area.” Read more

 

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Michael Kors Q4 Comp Sales -14.1% Press release

 

…Michael Kors to shutter more stores, swings to loss in 1Q at Fox Business. “Luxury retailer Michal Kors added more than 100 stores to the chopping block on Wednesday after putting the wraps on a “challenging” year in an overall difficult retail environment.” Read more

 

THE ‘SHRINKETTS’ – Annual meeting entertainment rooted in Sam Walton’s desire for a good time by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “We worked really hard to turn our shrinkage numbers around and thought it would be cool to come up with our own cheer around shrinkage,” Wilson recalled. “Our cheerleaders were known as the ‘Shrinketts.’ And when Sam heard about our cheer he invited the ‘Shrinketts’ to perform at the shareholders’ meeting, and he loved it.” Read more

 

Suppliers of Wal-Mart and Jet at risk for audits, chargebacks by Kim Souza at Talk Business. Read more

 

Going Out for Lunch Is a Dying Tradition by Julie Jargon at Wall Street Journal. “Americans made 433 million fewer trips to restaurants at lunchtime last year, resulting in roughly $3.2 billion in lost business for restaurants, according to market-research firm NPD Group Inc. It was the lowest level of lunch traffic in at least four decades.” Read more (subscription)

 

Amazon patents shipping label with built-in parachute for dropping packages from drones by Nat Levy at GeekWire. Pics/Read more

 

Walmart taps experts for inventory in battle with Amazon by Charisse Jones at USA Today. “For swimming, for example, Walmart just named Nathan Adrian, an American who won gold in the 2012 Olympic Games and bronze last year, to offer advice on everything from swim caps to goggles.” Read more

 

BJ’s Hires Ex-Dick’s/Belk Execs “Scott Kessler has been named executive vice president, Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective immediately. In addition, Rafeh Masood has joined BJ’s as senior vice president, Chief Digital Officer (CDO).” Press release

 

‘Consumer Reports’ subscribers pick Wegmans as top grocer, again by Todd Clausen at Democrat & Chronicle. “Market Basket (86), Trader Joe’s (86), Publix (86), Fareway Stores (86) rounded out the top five grocers in the ranking. Costco (85) Aldi (83), Whole Food Markets (78), BJ’s Wholesale Club (78), Sam’s Club (76) and Target (75) were some other notables making the list.” Read more

 

Office Depot announces leadership changes by Emon Reiser at South Florida Business Journal. “This is the company’s first official announcement about executive changes since CEO Gerry P. Smith was named CEO in January, replacing Roland Smith.” Read more | Press release

 

Berkeley to ponder ordinance banning plastic straws by Dianne de Guzman at SF Gate. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

A long-awaited Wegmans store in Brooklyn probably won’t open for another 2 years

Carrie Underwood travels to LA to promote her Calia line

Sears President Named CEO at Hannah Andersson

Missouri child mysteriously dies from symptoms resembling West Nile virus

Supreme Court’s Printer Decision Is Good News for Retailers and Consumers

Detroit busts 167 pot shops, with more closures coming

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Tipsheet: Amazon TV Show Canceled | Target Cuts 40 in Merch | Lore’s Good Advice

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Jeff Bezos’ live television show canceled by Oli Coleman at NY Post. “Page Six has learned that Amazon’s trailblazing “Style Code Live” has been canceled after 15 months on air. “They called everyone into a staff meeting on Friday and told them they don’t have jobs anymore,” said a source close to production.” Read more

 

70% of online shoppers very/somewhat likely to check out Amazon on Prime Day by Don David at Internet Retailer. “However, despite the interest in the bargains on offer, only 22% of consumers surveyed said they purchased anything on Prime Day last year.” Read more

 

Target cuts nearly 40 jobs in restructuring of merchandising division by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “Many employees’ roles are being adjusted with more of an emphasis on developing expertise in specific areas of each category — such as digital and pricing or promotions — instead of having more generalized buyers who oversee all of those areas.” Read more

 

Albertsons can’t find a grocery chain to take over by Josh Kosman at NY Post. “Cerberus Capital-controlled Albertsons, America’s second-largest grocery chain, had approached Sprouts Farmers Market months ago, but Sprouts is now trading at too high a multiple for a transaction to happen, two sources close to the situation said.” Read more

 

Amazon shares break above $1,000 for the first time ever at CNBC. “Shares of Amazon crossed $1,000 per share on Tuesday, the first time ever, and a long way from the company’s 52-week low of $682.12.” Read more

 

Court finds Petsmart buyout fair in blow to appraisal strategy at Reuters. “Private equity firms paid fair value for PetSmart Inc when they bought the retailer for $8.7 billion in 2015, a Delaware judge ruled on Friday, dealing a blow to hedge funds that try to wring cash from merger deals through a strategy known as appraisal.” Read more

 

**A message from the Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition – It’s Showtime Next Week! You need the right strategies, technologies and connections to enhance your e-commerce business. Whether you’re focused on solutions in content or search marketing, maximizing your mobile commerce platforms or minimizing customer disengagement, you’ll find what you need at IRCE. Chicago McCormick Place West June 6-9. Website | Exhibitor list | Register now

 

Walmart’s annual shareholder meeting & investment community Q&A is this Friday Press release

 

Crate and Barrel CEO Out “CEO Doug Diemoz has left the company to pursue his next challenge. Crate and Barrel Board Chair Neela Montgomery will become the new CEO effective August 1, 2017.” Read more

 

Amazon doesn’t understand why you don’t understand why Amazon is opening bookstores by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “What about all those gadgets at the front of the store? Those aren’t the real focus? “It’s called Amazon Books, and so books are the reason that we opened this store: To be a great bookstore for our customers,” Cast replied.” Read more

 

Walmart.com’s prices are competitive, even if they’re not necessarily the lowest online by Zak Stambor at Internet Retailer. “Market Track LLC compared the average daily online price of 140 electronics products on Walmart.com, Target.com, BestBuy.com and Amazon.com from Nov. 16, 2016, to May 14, 2017. On average, Walmart.com offered prices 12% lower than Target.com over the full six-month period, roughly the same prices as BestBuy.com and prices that were 2% higher than Amazon.com.” Read more

 

Craft soda makers add fizz to flat soft drink sales by Zlati Meyer at USA Today. “Craft-soda volume grew 5% in 2016 to 88.8 million gallons…But it isn’t all sugar and spice for craft soda makers…Reed’s reported that it lost $2 million in the first quarter…Jones Soda said it lost $197,000 in the first quarter.” Read more

 

Walmart’s Marc Lore received this good advice by Robbie Neiswanger at Arkansas Online. “Some advice I had gotten early on and proved to be extremely helpful was to make sure you work very closely with Greg Foran,” Lore said regarding the CEO of the Wal-Mart U.S. division. “If you want to give customers a truly integrated, omnichannel experience, it was important that we were kind of working together to make it happen, both the ecomm and the stores organizations. I think we got off on the right foot.” Read more

 

High-Price Drugs Raise Costs for Seniors in Medicare Part D by Joseph Walker at Wall Street Journal. “The median out-of-pocket cost for a drug purchased through Part D was $117 in 2015, up nearly half from $79 in 2011, in inflation-adjusted dollars, the Journal’s analysis found.” Read more (subscription)

 

Black Bear Spotted At Walmart at NBC LEX 18 “We seen it running down the sidewalk in front of the outdoor living center outside of Walmart, and me and six other cars tried to block..keep the bear from going towards the customer entrance,” said Malcolm Stephens, who helped police.” Video/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Rare $1,800 Cockatoo Stolen From Pet Shop

This is Denny’s ace in the hole as it ventures into delivery

Inside Sonos’ Seattle office, where the music is bumpin’ and the team is growin’

Mother ‘locked her kids aged five and two inside of her car trunk so she could go shopping at Walmart’

‘Tangerine’ director discovered cast member on a Target run

Pasta demand wanes as health-conscious consumers see it as carb demon

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Tipsheet: Costco +5% | Big Lots -0.9% | AmazonFresh Test Run | Ulta +14.3%

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Costco Q3 Comp Sales +5.0% “Net sales for the quarter increased eight percent, to $28.22 billion from $26.15 billion last year.” Press release

 

…Costco reports 2 million new Visa credit cards since last summer’s launch by Coral Garnick at Puget Sound Business Journal. “Meanwhile, Costco’s membership fees will increase next week. Annual fees will go up by $5 for U.S. and Canada Goldstar (individual) and business members, bringing the fee to $60 a year.” Read more | Earnings call transcript

 

AmazonFresh Pickup Opens to Prime Members in Seattle by Todd Bishop at GeekWire. “The broader launch of the AmazonFresh Pickup service, in Seattle’s Ballard and SoDo neighborhoods, also brings new details about how the pickup process works. Amazon says in an online FAQ that it “may use license plates to automatically recognize your vehicle when you arrive,” helping the company quickly match arriving customers with their orders.” Pics/Read more

 

…We tried the new AmazonFresh Pickup service in Seattle, and this is what happened “As a test, I ordered the same items from Fred Meyer’s ClickList, and the total was about $29, compared to more than $32 from AmazonFresh Pickup. However, Fred Meyer and its Kroger sister stores charge an extra $4.95 service fee for the ClickList service, and the process is decidedly more cumbersome, requiring you to call a number when you arrive and swipe a card at pickup.” Video/Pics/Read more

 

Big Lots Q1 Comp Sales -0.9% (vs. guidance of flat to +2.0%) Press release

 

Ulta Q1 Comp Sales +14.3% “…compared to an increase of 15.2% in the first quarter of fiscal 2016…comparable sales increase was driven by 8.7% transaction growth and 5.6% growth in average ticket. Retail comparable sales increased 10.9%, including salon comparable sales growth of 9.9%.” Press release

 

Cabela’s quietly sought sale before investor push; Jim Cabela tried to keep HQ in Sidney by Paige Yowell at Omaha World-Herald. “The documents, which Cabela’s filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission this week, detail the yearlong process to sell the retailer…” Read more

 

**A message from the Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition – It’s Showtime in 11 Days! You need the right strategies, technologies and connections to enhance your e-commerce business. Whether you’re focused on solutions in content or search marketing, maximizing your mobile commerce platforms or minimizing customer disengagement, you’ll find what you need at IRCE. Chicago McCormick Place West June 6-9. Website | Exhibitor list | Register now!

 

Staples reportedly rejects takeover offer, but another bid is still on the table by David L. Harris at Boston Business Journal. “Bloomberg reported that Cerberus’ offer was too low, but a bid from another New York private equity firm, Sycamore Partners, is still viable. Sycamore’s portfolio companies include Hingham-based Talbots, Dollar Express and The Limited.” Read more

 

…Poaches new marketing chief Read more | Press release

 

GameStop Q1 Comp Sales +2.3% Press release

 

Floor & Decor Q1 Comp Sales +12.8% “Net sales increased 30.6% to $307.3 million from $235.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016…We opened three new stores and relocated one store during the first quarter of fiscal 2017, ending the quarter with 72 stores.” Press release

 

Giant Eagle may buy some Marsh grocery store locations by Paul J. Gough at Pittsburgh Business Times. “The StarPress newspaper reported Thursday that Giant Eagle could be acquiring a few of the 44 stores in the Marsh Supermarkets chain, which is in bankruptcy protection.” Read more

 

New Amazon bookstore looks like airport desperation pit-stop by Raquel Lenari at NY Post. “Frankly, it is just weird,” says 51-year-old Emily Bell, who was visiting New York…she disliked having to scan books for the price and was particularly dismayed that a large chunk of the space was devoted to Amazon products like the Kindle and Alexa.” Read more

 

Target is investing $75 million in mattress startup Casper by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “While people close to Casper believe the company has its sights on an eventual IPO, it’s unclear whether having Target as an investor would scare off other potential suitors from the retail world along the way.” Read more

 

Ikea’s Top Designer on the Gift of Failure and the Future of Democratic Design by Katie Richards at AdWeek. Q&A

 

“I JUST PREFER TO TRAVEL” – Millennials Want to Buy Homes but Aren’t Saving for Down Payments by Laura Kusisto at Wall Street Journal. “Nearly 70% of young people ages 18 to 34 years old said they have saved less than $1,000 for a down payment, according to a survey by Apartment List, a rental listing company, expected to be released Friday. About 40% said they aren’t saving anything on a monthly basis.” Read more (subscription)

 

Coach, Inc. Launches Tender Offer to Acquire Kate Spade & Company Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Aaron Rodgers gives custom-made Polaris ATV’s to his offensive linemen

Apple Design Chief Jony Ive Adds Another Job to His Resume

UPS Fined $247 Million Over Illegal Cigarette Shipments

Why Your Next Favorite Restaurant Will Be a Bar

Amazon exec runs for Seattle school board

Beloved 96-year-old bagger who worked at grocery chain for 26 years dies

People are freaking out about ice cream sandwiches at Costco – but why?

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Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

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Website: www.eyeonretail.net

 

Tipsheet: B.Buy+1.6% | D.Tree/Burlington+0.5% | WeWork for Retail Space | Wmart Execs Present

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Best Buy Q1 Comp Sales +1.6% “Joly: “Compared to our expectations going into the quarter, our revenue was higher due to strong performance in gaming, a better-than-expected result in mobile, and the improvement of overall sales trends due to the arrival of delayed federal tax refund checks.” Press release

 

…This is how Best Buy gets so many of its customers to come into its stores by Tonya Garcia at MarketWatch. “About one-third of the consumer electronics retailer’s online sales are picked up in stores…Many customers don’t trust an expensive item to be shipped through home-delivery channels and left on the front porch or outside an apartment door.” Read more

 

Dollar Tree Q1 Comp Sales +0.5%: By Segment – Dollar Tree +2.5%, Family Dollar -1.2% Press release

 

Burlington Q1 Comp Sales +0.5% Press release

 

Wal-Mart regaining grocery share from competitors at ‘accelerating rate’ by Jeff Daniels at CNBC. “Loop Capital analyst Andrew Wolf…estimates (Wal-Mart) now has a 21.5 percent market share in the U.S. traditional grocery industry.” Read more

 

J.Crew’s Mickey Drexler Confesses: I Underestimated How Tech Would Upend Retail by Khadeeja Safdar at Wall Street Journal. “If I could go back 10 years, I might have done some things earlier.”…The New York City native, who doesn’t have his own Instagram, Facebook or Twitter account, was sharing thoughts with employees on a loudspeaker—hooked up through his phone—before Twitter was launched.” Read more (subscription)

 

Coach Thinks Outside the Bag by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “It’s not every day that you hear a $3,500 leather jacket described as a bargain. But that’s the argument Coach CEO Victor Luis is making as he shows off a piece from Coach’s new collaboration with hip luxury brand Rodarte…“In Europe they’d call this haute couture. The reality is that at $3,500, it’s a steal.” Read more

 

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Wal-Mart import exec discusses trade challenges by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “(Lisa) Schimmelpfenning…said the unraveling of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was a blow for Wal-Mart given that the retailer had spent an entire year in Vietnam working to create public/private partnerships to facilitate trade and educate suppliers who could help the retailers do business with Vietnam. “He [Trump] shut that down,” she said.” Read more

 

Aldi named the best place in the UK to buy beer, wine and spirits by Imogen Blake at Daily Mail. Read more

 

WaWa, Walgreens and Others Try to Clean Bad Map Data by Kate Kaye at Ad Age. “This is a problem for every single one of these organizations,” said Greg Sterling, VP-strategy and insights at the Local Search Association. Companies including Ignite Technologies, Brandify, Yext and MomentFeed are stepping in to provide services for cleaning and distributing data updates across search engines and mapping and traffic navigation tools.” Read more

 

Shoe Carnival Q1 Comp Sales -3.9% Press release

 

Sears just surprised Wall Street with a narrower-than-expected Q1 loss by Lauren Thomas at CNBC. “Sears’ U.S. stores saw their (Q1) same-store sales drop 12.4 percent, while at Kmart stores they fell 11.2 percent during the first quarter.” Read more

 

BrandSpark Most Trusted CPG Brands “…more than 10,000 American shoppers determined the winners by naming their most trusted Food & Beverage, Health & Beauty, Household & Pets and Kids & Babies brands.” Brands by category

 

BJ’s launches B2B Sales division – minimum order $5,000 Press release | Details

 

Think grocery shopping is expensive in the Bay Area? New study says maybe not by Annie Sciacca at Mercury News. “…it costs 396 percent more to buy healthy groceries in New Orleans than Palo Alto…for parents shopping for newborns, products cost 215 percent more in Tucson, Arizona, than in San Francisco.” Read more

 

Boston/Northeast/St.Louis hurt Lowe’s Q1 comps…Q1 Earnings Call Transcript via Seeking Alpha

 

Williams-Sonoma Q1 Comp Brand Revenue +0.1% “Pottery Barn (1.4 %), Williams Sonoma +3.2 %, West Elm +6.0 %, Pottery Barn Kids (5.7 %), PBteen (14.3 %).” Press release

 

The robots are coming for recruiters by Lionel Laurent at Bloomberg. “Two-thirds of temporary jobs are seen at high risk of automation versus about half elsewhere…” Read more

 

“WEWORK FOR RETAIL SPACE” – Flexible retail startup Bulletin raises $2.2M by Anthony Ha at TechCrunch. “The idea is to give businesses — particularly online brands — access to brick-and-mortar retail space without the cost or commitment of a traditional lease. Those businesses can rent sections of a Bulletin store on a month-to-month basis. Within that space, they get to decide which products get sold, the pricing and how they’re displayed.” Read more

 

SpartanNash Names Kathy Mahoney President, MDV military division Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Starbucks CEO’s first major initiative reportedly left employees steamed

Wal-Mart executive says free trade ties important to Arkansas

Etsy, under pressure from investors, cuts its intern program

Campbell Soup invests $10M in online meal-kit firm

Why a Giant New Eataly Won’t Sell Parmesan Cheese or Parma Ham

Lululemon’s site goes offline for about a day after a power failure

Women Hold Nearly 65% of the Country’s $1.3-Trillion in Student Debt

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Eye on Retail Tipsheet is must-read material for 20,000+ retail execs every weekday morning. Tipsheet stories are carefully curated bright and early every morning to ensure fresh and unique content.

 

Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

Contact us: Send story tips, press releases and advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: www.eyeonretail.net

 

Tipsheet: Rev. Jackson Needles Bezos | Lowe’s +2% | Cornell/Simon “Clash”

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Lowe’s Q1 U.S. Comp Sales +2.0% Press release

 

…CNBC: Lowe’s stock falls on earnings, sales miss “Home Depot is better at “a lot of little things,” Nagel said, incluiding adjusting merchandise and figuring out how to keep sales flowing in an “erratic” weather environment.” Read more

 

Walmart’s former CEO and Target’s CEO clash over one of Trump’s key policies by Kate Taylor at Business Insider. “It’s simple math,” Cornell said. “If the government takes nearly four out of every five dollars we make… there’s no capital to invest and no prospects for growth. And that matters a lot. Both to us and to the American economy. Instead of investing and creating American jobs, we’d be pushed in the other direction.” Read more

 

…Simon, who led Walmart for four years, took a more moderate position, believing the proposal could bring the intended economic benefits so long as it is implemented the “right” way at Fox Business. Read more

 

Tiffany Q1 Comp Sales -3.0% Press release

 

…Bloomberg: Tiffany Tumbles After Jeweler Reports Surprise Sales Decline “Even with the sales stumble, Tiffany was able to top earnings estimates, helped by higher operating margins. The company reported a profit of 74 cents, compared with a 70-cent projection.” Read more

 

Container Store Q4 Comp Sales -0.2% Press release

 

J.C.Penney’s New CMO is Ex-Lowe’s CMO Marci Grebstein by Korri Kezar at Dallas Business Journal. Read more

 

Cabela’s projects a same-store sales drop of 2% this year vs. earlier forecast of 1% growth, according to a Tuesday filing with the SEC by Josh Kosman at NY Post. Read more

 

Neiman Marcus recently met about a merger with real-estate behemoth Related Cos. by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Related is concerned about the teetering financial health of Neiman, and that the retailer might require financial backing as it gears up to anchor Related’s massive Hudson Yards office-and-retail complex on Manhattan’s West Side that’s slated to open late next year, sources said.” Read more

 

**A message from the Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition – Excel at e-retail! You need the right strategies, technologies and connections to enhance your e-commerce business. Whether you’re focused on solutions in content or search marketing, maximizing your mobile commerce platforms or minimizing customer disengagement, you’ll find what you need at IRCE. Chicago McCormick Place West June 6-9. Website | Workshop schedule | Exhibitor list | Register now!

 

CVS Health CEO Larry Merlo On GOP Health Care Plan, Opioid Crisis And Tax Overhaul at Nevada Public Radio. 9:52 radio interview

 

Amazon takes on Etsy with a new shop featuring handcrafted items for weddings by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Rihanna shares the stage with Neiman’s Karen Katz at NYC Benefit by Hilary Weaver at Variety. “No one can actually share the stage with [Rihanna],” Katz joked in her own onstage comments. Katz was right. Following the auction, a runway show, and award presentation for senior Parsons students, Rihanna was the main focus of the evening…” Read more

 

Walgreens CEO: need to “rethink its approach and do something radically different” in the front end by Brian Berk at Drug Store News. “CEO Stefano Pessina said Tuesday during a question-and-answer session at the UBS Global Healthcare Conference: “When customers come into the pharmacy, they come with a clear shopping mission,” he said. “They generally don’t buy from the front end.” Read more

 

Top Rated CEOs in Retail (Colleen Wegman #3, Craig Jelinek #13, Alex Gourlay #30…) at Owler. Full rankings

 

…Home Depot’s Menear Named One of Atlanta’s “Most Likable CEOs” by Phil W. Hudson at Atlanta Business Chronicle. Top 12 list

 

IKEA Has a New CEO via Fortune. “…picked company veteran Jesper Brodin to be its new chief executive, replacing Peter Agnefjall who will leave the company.” Read more

 

Rev. Jesse Jackson asks first question at Amazon shareholders meeting by Todd Bishop at GeekWire. “(Bezos) gave the floor to…Jay Carney, the former White House press secretary, who is now Amazon’s senior vice president of corporate affairs. “Since you visited us two years ago, we’ve taken significant steps toward enhancing diversity at Amazon through various programs” Carney told Jackson…” Read more

 

Kroger Announces Retirement of Paul Bowen, President of Jay C and Ruler – Successor Named at a Later Date Press release

 

Target reaches an $18.5 million settlement over a massive data breach in late 2013 via Fortune. Read more

 

Google’s New Feature Can Match Ad Clicks With In-Store Purchases by Mark Bergen at Bloomberg. “Google announced Tuesday that it has measured more than 5 billion store visits globally, and noted that people who click on search ads are 25 percent more likely to buy something inside a physical outlet….Google will start tracking YouTube, letting marketers measure whether their video ads lead to retail visits.” Read more

 

Advance Auto Parts Q1 Comp Sales -2.7% Press release

 

Albertsons Taps Tech Talent from Macy’s/Walmart/Sam’s Club Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

A sneak peek inside New York City’s first Amazon bookstore

Ikea’s smart light bulbs will work with Alexa, Siri and Google

Kroger bagger’s kindness rewarded with key to the city

Lululemon reportedly in the running to fill Sephora’s Fifth Avenue vacancy

Warby Parker’s Prescription Check app lets you skip the eye doctor

Walmart Has ‘No Tolerance’ for Racial Slurs Used by Customer in Video

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Eye on Retail Tipsheet is must-read material for 20,000+ retail execs every weekday morning. Tipsheet stories are carefully curated bright and early every morning to ensure fresh and unique content.

 

Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

Contact us: Send story tips, press releases and advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

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Tipsheet: Cornell/Simon in D.C. | Wgreen Comms Chief Retires | AutoZone -0.8% | DSW -3.0%

/in

 

Target CEO to testify in Washington against border adjustment tax by Kavita Kumar, Maya Rao & Jim Spencer at Star Tribune. “Cornell will appear Tuesday at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing titled “Increasing U.S. Competitiveness and Preventing American Jobs from Moving Overseas.” Other speakers include the chief executive of Archer Daniels Midland, a big exporter that backs the plan, and former Wal-Mart CEO Bill Simon.” Read more

 

…Target officials have held more than 200 meetings with congressional staffers and lawmakers, and Cornell has met with 30 lawmakers to try to persuade them to abandon the tax proposal at Reuters. Read more

 

Walmart announces guaranteed pay for military workers by Jackie Wattles at CNN Money. “So even when a worker is on a military assignment, they’re now guaranteed to earn at least as much as they would working as a civilian at Walmart. The policy covers any military assignment from three days up to five years.” Read more

 

AutoZone Q3 Comp Sales -0.8% Press release

 

Walgreens Boots Alliance comms chief Yves Romestan retires by John Harrington at PR Week. “…with many of his former responsibilities taken on by senior colleague Laura Vergani.” Read more

 

DSW Q1 Comp Sales -3.0% (vs. -3.4% expected) at Fox Business. Read more

 

Forbes: 2017 America’s Best Midsize Employers (L.L.Bean #15, Wayfair #39, 84 Lumber #227) Top 250 list

 

Nordstrom taps tech veteran for empty board of directors seat by Coral Garnick at Puget Sound Business Journal. “TaskRabbit CEO Stacy Brown-Philpot is replacing longtime board director Enrique Hernandez Jr.” Read more | Press release

 

**A Message from Headache Hat – Hands-Free, Wearable Ice Pack Fights Migraines. High-tech stretch material is form fitting, soft and stylish. Contains 24 real ice cubes coated in thin plastic. Wrap around your head and enjoy 2 hours of cold ice. Cubes are individually moveable to target pain points. No more lukewarm gel packs! Hundreds of rave reviews & named a top product by The Migraine World Summit. See it here now. Request sample @ info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

Walton Family Foundation 2016 giving tops $454 million by Kim Souza at The City Wire. List of benefactors/Read more

 

Trio faces consequences after scamming Amazon out of $1.2 million by Rich Van Wyk at WTHR 13 NBC. “Court documents say the Finans met Glumac in parking lots. They handed over big plastic tubs full of perfectly new, perfectly good merchandise. Glumac allegedly paid the couple more than half a million dollars, and sold the electronics for $900,000 to a New York company.” Read more

 

A Look at the Gas Stations of Tomorrow by Sarah Kent at Wall Street Journal. “Fifteen years ago it was just fuel,” says Alex Jensen, vice president for BP’s retail arm in Europe. Now, in the U.K., half of BP’s customers don’t even fill up when they visit a station, but just come in to buy food, she says.” Read more (subscription)

 

Amazon’s Latest Market Disruption: 1.7 Million Free Bananas by Laura Stevens at Wall Street Journal. “Most Amazonians like them. Other workers say it is now hard to find bananas in stock at nearby grocery stores. And some eateries in a two-block radius of the stands are feeling squished.” Read more (subscription)

 

Gymboree hires former Tilly’s/Coldwater Creek CEO Daniel Griesemer as CEO by Matt Linder at Internet Retailer. Read more

 

The Future of Whole Foods Isn’t About Groceries by Craig Giammona at Bloomberg. “He got all the hard things right over the years, but he didn’t get the easy stuff right,” Kantor said. “There hasn’t been laserlike focus in a long time.” Read more

 

Postmates CEO will testify before Congress about the promise of robots and drones by Megan Rose Dickey at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Warby Parker Grew to $250 Million in Sales Through Disciplined Growth. Now It’s Time to Get Aggressive by Tom Foster at Inc. Read more

 

Walgreens Mental Health Platform Spurs Follow-Up Care by Bruce Japsen at Forbes. “Walgreens and its partner, nonprofit Mental Health America (MHA), say nearly 75% of visitors to the drugstore giant’s mental health site who completed MHA’s free screenings are moving toward follow-up treatment.” Read more

 

There Aren’t Enough Slaughterhouses to Support the Farm-to-Table Economy by Deena Shanker at Bloomberg. “In 1967 there were 9,627 livestock slaughtering establishments in the U.S…By 2016, there were only about 1,100 federally inspected meat and poultry slaughterhouses in the country…Volume sales for free-range meat..was up 26.9 percent in 2016, while conventional was down 0.5 percent, according to data from Nielsen Fresh.” Read more

 

Scientists have found a way to photograph people in 3D through walls using Wi-Fi by Dave Mosher at Business Insider. “The applications for Holl’s Wi-Fi holography, he says, are pretty expansive. Adding an array of reference antennas, say, inside a truck, might help rescue workers detect people in rubble left by an earthquake — or spy agencies see whether anyone is home. “You could probably use a drone to map out the inside of an entire building in 20 to 30 seconds,” he said.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

These 10 US retail locations are the top storefront steals

Amazon Sets Sights on U.K. Grocery With Checkout-Free Trademark

Drone crashes into stands during Padres-Diamondbacks game

Shopper gets locked inside a CVS store after it closes

Man dies after eating gas station nachos

Two cross-dressing men suspected in Wal-Mart crimes

Man injured after grinder incident at Target facility

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

***

Eye on Retail Tipsheet is must-read material for 20,000+ retail execs every weekday morning. Tipsheet stories are carefully curated bright and early every morning to ensure fresh and unique content.

 

Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

Contact us: Send story tips, press releases and advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: www.eyeonretail.net

 

Tipsheet: Prime Air Protest | Actress Dating Wmart Heir | Worst Paying Retailers | Macy’s “Tattoo” Strategy

/in

 

Amazon Prime Air pilots are heading to shareholders meeting to confront execs over low wages by Ari Levy at CNBC. “More than 50 pilots are set to protest at Amazon’s shareholders meeting on Tuesday. The Teamsters say that Atlas Air and ATSG pay 50 to 60 percent below the rest of the industry. Without better pay and benefits, the pilots fear there won’t be enough of them to keep up their end of the contract with Amazon.” Read more

 

Nearly Half of All Retail Jobs Could Be Lost to Automation Within 10 Years by David Z. Morris at Fortune. “Between 6 million and 7.5 million retail industry jobs are vulnerable to automation within ten years, according to an exhaustive study released this week.” Read more

 

Australia: Thousands of shoppers line up around the block for Aldi’s famous snow and ski sale at Daily Mail. “Sydney father Philip Argy wrote on Facebook: ‘We are still alive after the ALDI annual snow sale – got the kids $2,500 worth of quality gear for $400. Still hobbling with a pinched nerve – almost got trampled in the rush!'” Pics/Read more

 

Macy’s CEO unveils new strategy inspired by founder’s tattoo by Andy Brownfield at Cincinnati Business Courier. “The five-point North Star Strategy laid out by Gennette is: (1) From familiar to favorite….(2) It must be Macy’s….(3) Every experience matters, both in-store and online…(4) Funding our future…(5) What’s New…” Read more | Gennette video

 

Here are the best and worst paying retailers in America by Hayley Peterson at Business Insider. “According to the report, Dollar General, Foot Locker, and Kroger are among the lowest-paying retailers, while Nordstrom, Costco, and Tiffany & Co. pay the highest hourly rates. The report was conducted by investment advisory firm Cornerstone Capital Group.” List of 29

 

Walmart continues test of vending machine pickup service in five stores by Tyler Cliford at Crain’s Detroit. “We’ve seen steady growth of how folks are using it,” she said. “Once the customer uses it, we’re seeing great feedback by just how quick it is. It is growing in popularity.” Pics/Read more

 

Scammers elude Amazon crackdown on fake reviews with new tricks by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “But the votes can also be used to sabotage a competitor, voting up negative reviews of rival products and tanking demand for goods that previously had been well-received, sources told The Post.” Read more

 

**A message from the Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition – Excel at e-retail! You need the right strategies, technologies and connections to enhance your e-commerce business. Whether you’re focused on solutions in content or search marketing, maximizing your mobile commerce platforms or minimizing customer disengagement, you’ll find what you need at IRCE. Chicago McCormick Place West June 6-9. Website | Workshop schedule | Exhibitor list | Register now!

 

Charbroil and cosmetics maker Tatcha were hit by hackers who accessed payment card information by Matt Linder at Internet Retailer. “A recent rash of malware attacks has targeted mid-tier e-commerce providers across the United States, the United Kingdom and India, in such industries as apparel, home goods and beauty, says Chris Olson, CEO of website security software vendor The Media Trust.” Read more

 

Baywatch actress is dating Walmart heir Steuart Walton at E News. “An insider tells us the 26-year-old has been dating the billionaire for “four or five months,” and he even takes her for “flying lessons on his personal plane.” Read more/Pics

 

Lone holdout stalls Target’s $10 million data-breach settlement with shoppers by Mark Reilly at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. “…the fund is still in limbo because of Texas resident Leif Olson…His legal team is a group called Center for Class Action Fairness…A lawyer for the center said that legal and administrative fees for the fund have risen to $13 million, more than the consumers themselves get.” Read more

 

L.L. Bean’s Bootmobile leaves North America for the first time – visits 25 stores in Japan at Boston Herald. Read more

 

Forever 21 is bringing its new beauty boutique, Riley Rose, to malls by Lauren Thomas at CNBC. “Ten Riley Rose stores will open before the end of this year, and three will open in 2018, according to the retailer and its real estate landlord.” Read more

 

Target looked at buying the mattress startup Casper for $1 billion by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “Target held serious acquisition discussions over the last few months with the mattress startup Casper Sleep, according to multiple sources, but plans to take a minority stake instead.” Read more

 

Jeff Bezos talk with kids about Apollo’s space legacy by Alan Boyle at GeekWire. Video/Read more

 

Nearly 1,200 employees losing their jobs with last Martin’s Food Markets closures by Tammie Smith at Richmond Times-Dispatch. “Nearly 1,200 Martin’s Food Markets employees will lose their jobs when nine stores not being sold to Publix Super Markets close this summer.” Read more

 

Target/Walgreens/Walmart Can’t Dodge Herbal Supplement MDL Claims at Law 360. Read more (subscription)

 

CABELA’S FIRST – U.S. Judge Allows First Transgender Person to Sue Under Disability Law at U.S. News. “Blatt is suing her former employer, the retail chain Cabela’s Inc, for sex discrimination, saying she was fired after harassment that included denying her use of the women’s bathroom and temporarily forcing her to wear a name tag with her male name given at birth.” Read more

 

New Target store near University of Texas campus delayed by Gary Dinges at American-Statesman. Read more

 

The place where old-fashioned malls are beating Amazon: Small-town America by Jill Rothenberg at Washington Post. “You take your family, your neighbors, and you make a day of it. The Pueblo Mall isn’t just the only game in town two hours away, it’s the only game in town for three counties.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Aldi employee scouted in checkout line – voted ‘second hottest man in world’

More than 37,000 AT&T workers begin strike

New York landlords slashing rents to attract retailers

Dollarama dream catcher kitsch ‘a slap in the face’

Why Is It So Hard to Build a $3.4 Billion Mega-Mall Near Paris?

Q&A with Topgolf’s CEO

Semen throw on woman at grocery store – for the second time

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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Eye on Retail Tipsheet is must-read material for 20,000+ retail execs every weekday morning. Tipsheet stories are carefully curated bright and early every morning to ensure fresh and unique content.

 

Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

Contact us: Send story tips, press releases and advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: www.eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: Rick Gomez @ Ad Age | F.Locker Blames Tax Refunds | Amazon Prime Day Rumor | Gap +2%

/in

 

Inside Target’s New Marketing Playbook by Adrianne Pasquarelli at Ad Age. “An endurance athlete, Rick Gomez has completed numerous marathons and half-Ironman races. He’s even done triathlons. But running the marketing department of Target Corp. might be his toughest challenge yet…”It’s incredibly competitive,” said the 47-year-old exec now in charge of Target’s $450 million measured media account. “The headlines are constantly talking about how retailers are shutting stores and on the verge of bankruptcy. There’s going to be a lot of consolidation of winners and losers. We at Target are going to fight like hell to be a winner.” Read more

 

What’s left of Gordmans chain will become off-price retailer like TJ Maxx, new owner says by Paige Yowell at Omaha World-Herald. “The one thing all of us have to acknowledge: It’s the one area of retail that has continued to prosper, even in difficult times,” Stage Chief Executive Michael Glazer said of the off-price model during a conference call with Wall Street analysts Thursday.” Read more

 

Foot Locker Q1 Comp Sales +0.5% “The slow start we experienced in February, which we believe was largely due to the delay in income tax refunds, was unfortunately not fully offset by much stronger sales in March and April.” Press release

 

Amazon Prime Day is coming again in mid-July by Fareeha Ali at Internet Retailer. “Amazon has not disclosed the date of this year’s one-day sale, but sources tell Internet Retailer the event will be held the week of July 10-16, and will last for 30 hours.” Read more

 

J.C. Penney’s new home department sales to outfit hotels, residences by Korri Kezar at Dallas Business Journal. “Ellison said J.C. Penney decided to sell its goods business-to-business after being approached by hotel operators already buying bedding, bath and window products from the company’s website. But J.C. Penney also sees an opportunity to sell the products to businesses like healthcare and nursing facilities, non-profits and restaurants.” Read more

 

Former Target CMO Jeff Jones will join startup as an advisor by Katie Roof at TechCrunch. “Brit + Co…is announcing an additional $15 million in funding…will be using the funding to expand its digital content business that targets women. They also will be using it to build more branded merchandise for their partnership with Target…She likened the brand to “the magazine version of Pinterest.” Read more

 

Walmart Q1 Earnings Call Transcript via Seeking Alpha

 

Google Tango bringing indoor AR mapping to 400 Lowe’s stores by Scott Stein at CNET. “Currently, a few Lowe’s stores already using this mapping technology can let shoppers borrow a Tango phone to try the service — which is necessary, since only two phones (the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro, and the upcoming Asus Zenphone AR) can take advantage of the in-store augmented mapping.” Read more

 

Consumer Reports: Of the 58 sunscreen lotions, sprays and sticks rated 20 of them tested at less than half of the SPF listed on their label via Today Show. “Trader Joe’s Spray SPF 50+ received an excellent rating, along with Banana Boat SunComfort Clear UltraMist Spray and Equate Sport Continuous Spray SPF 30.” Read more

 

Gap Q1 Comp Sales +2.0% “Old Navy Global: positive 8 percent versus negative 6 percent last year; Gap Global: negative 4 percent versus negative 3 percent last year; Banana Republic Global: negative 4 percent versus negative 11 percent last year.” Press release

 

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How JCPenney Is Using Mobile To Boost In-Store Purchases by Gavin O’Malley at MediaPost. “Do you still believe that mobile is the future of media and marketing? Well, “Then you’re probably really far behind, right now,” says James Meeks, Mobile Product Director at JCPenney…JCPenney is having success with so-called “use and kill coupons,” which can only be redeemed on the day that they’re sent to people’s mobile phones.” Read more

 

Wawa is going to D.C., though where remains a mystery by Michael Neibauer at Washington Business Journal. Read more

 

Why Amazon’s Probably Not Going To Blow Up Wireless Next by Aaron Pressman at Fortune. “…in some ways, it makes perfect sense, as was rumored this week, that Amazon is talking wireless with Dish Network…But there’s actually a lot less than meets the eye to latest efforts from new entrants. Consumers shouldn’t get too excited, nor investors too worried…” Read more

 

Ex-Staples SVP Joins Restoration Hardware as CTO “RH announced the appointment of Prakash Muppirala as Chief Technology Officer and President of RH Digital Innovations.” Press release

 

Reporter disconnected or transferred to the wrong department seven times for Walmart Grocery Pickup order – but still calls it a winner by Danielle Serino at WKYC 3 NBC. Read more

 

Revenue for China’s Alibaba surges 56% for the year on e‑com gains via Internet Retailer. “Alibaba’s earnings lagged estimates after it swallowed a higher tax bill and splurged on the entertainment and cloud computing businesses that are fueling revenue growth. The shares dropped the most in almost a year.” Read more

 

How a cold-brew coffee startup landed on Target shelves by Lauren Ohnesorge at Triange Business Journal. “When Target called in September, she had a fractured foot. With crutches, she “hobbled” on a plane to Minneapolis to meet with the buyer, she recalls. “I got there with a dress on and a backpack full of Slingshot and sat down for a meeting,” she says.” Read more

 

Why Amazon’s Delivery-Drone Team Is Obsessed With Geese at Bloomberg. “The e-commerce company said Thursday it has started development of an air-traffic control system to manage its fleet as the drones fly from warehouses to customers’ doors. Amazon created a new research and development team near Paris…” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Home Depot copper thieves didn’t account for rush hour traffic

Woman sues Target for $100K+ after cement ball rolls through parking lot

Tracy Morgan Jokes About Walmart Truck Accident in Stand-Up Special

Albertsons, Wegmans named EPA Safer Choice Partners of the Year

Woman burned by Starbucks coffee awarded $100K

Walmart customer takes down startled deer against a bag of dog food

The Next Shortage Facing Young Homebuyers: Good Schools

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

***

Eye on Retail Tipsheet is must-read material for 20,000+ retail execs every weekday morning. Tipsheet stories are carefully curated bright and early every morning to ensure fresh and unique content.

 

Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

Contact us: Send story tips, press releases and advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: www.eyeonretail.net