GlaxoSmithKline appoints Ex-Walmart exec Karenann Terrell to chief digital and technology officer at Reuters. "Terrell, who left Wal-Mart as chief information officer in February, will join GSK on Sept. 4 and will be a member of the senior corporate executive team in her new role, GSK said." Read more   Birkenstock CEO accuses Amazon of “modern day piracy” by Abha Bhattarai at Washington Post via Denver Post. "In a blistering five-page email obtained by The Washington Post, David Kahan last week derided the online behemoth for contacting shop owners and offering to buy their products at full price." Read [...]

  Supervalu Q1 net retail sales -2.7%...Consolidated net sales increased by 6.3%...Wholesale net sales increased by 12.4% Press release   Barnes & Noble shares surge 14% as activist investor urges the bookstore chain to sell itself by Lauren Thomas at CNBC. Read more   Dollar Tree fires new volley in Charlotte dollar-store legal battle by Rick Rothacker at Charlotte Business Journal. "Dollar Tree is asking a Delaware court to dismiss a suit that alleges it tried to “kill” the business of now-defunct Charlotte rival Dollar Express." Read more   J.C. Penney appoints Ex-Walmart exec to chief financial officer by Korri Kezar at [...]

  Hibbett Sports Scare: "Based on very challenging sales trends, comparable store sales are expected to decrease approximately 10% for the second quarter ending July 29, 2017." Press release   ...Academy lays off 100 people from corporate office by Jack Witthaus at Houston Business Journal. Read more   9 people dead after sweltering tractor-trailer found at San Antonio Walmart at CNN. "The employee told authorities the trailer was parked at a Walmart lot in San Antonio. A man who was in it asked the employee for water. The employee brought water for the man, then called police and asked them [...]

Eye on Retail Tipsheet is on summer break and returns 7/24/17. A big thank you to our loyal readers!   Jason Long Eye on Retail jlong@eyeonretail.net

  US retail sales drop 0.2% in June vs 0.1% increase expected via CNBC. "U.S. retail sales unexpectedly fell in June for a second straight month, which could temper expectations of strong acceleration in economic growth in the second quarter." Read more   Wal-Mart introducing 'helpers' for back-to-school season by Phil Wahba at Fortune. "...has expanded the (online pickup) service to include hundreds of back-to-school items like pens and notepads. Walmart will also integrate TeachersList, an online resource with more than 500,000 classroom lists, so customers can directly look up the school supplies they need to buy. Finally, the retailer [...]

  Target boosts second-quarter forecast, says same-store sales will be higher by Terri Cullen at CNBC. "The retailer said it expects to see a "modest increase" in comparable-store sales, having forecast negative results earlier in the year. "Following better-than-expected results in the first quarter, we've seen additional, broad-based improvement in traffic and category sales trends in the second quarter, despite continued challenges in the competitive environment," Brian Cornell, chairman and CEO of Target, said in a statement." Read more | Press release   J.C.Penney rolling out toy shops by Korri Kezar at Dallas Business News. "...introducing roughly 500-square-foot areas in [...]

  Wal-Mart Will Punish Its Suppliers for Delivering Late — or Early by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. "Two days late? That’ll earn you a fine. One day early? That’s a fine, too. Right on-time but goods aren’t packed properly? You guessed it -- fined. The program, labeled “On-Time, In-Full,’’ aims to add $1 billion to revenue by improving product availability at stores, according to slides from a presentation obtained by Bloomberg." Read more   Target is testing new curbside pickup service in Twin Cities by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. "In 2014, it partnered with...Curbside...Target ended that program in 2016..."But [...]

  True Value Weighs Sale, Could Fetch About $800 Million by Kiel Porter at Bloomberg. "The company is working with an investment bank to examine strategic options, including a sale, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. The process is expected to attract private equity firms, the people said. No final decision has been made and the company may elect not to pursue a sale." Read more   Amazon wins India's approval to invest in domestic food retail at Reuters. "Amazon.com Inc has secured approval to stock and sell food and [...]