Tipsheet: WM Exec to UPS | Canada Post Office Full | Beyonce Shops Target

 

Walmart makes last-minute holiday push for procrastinators at CNBC. “This holiday season, the big-box retailer will qualify more items on Walmart.com for same-day pickup in stores than ever before, Walmart announced Friday.” Read more

 

Sam’s Club, Your Store for Premium Goods and Rare Imports (in China) by Wayne Ma at Wall Street Journal. “We continue to explore the market” in China, Costco Chief Financial Officer Richard Galanti said. Eager to maintain its edge, Sam’s plans to “put our foot on the gas” in China by doubling the number of clubs to 40 by 2020, Mr. Miles said.” Read more (subs.)

 

United Natural Foods Q1 Net Sales +7.9% Press release

 

Judge orders Whole Foods to reopen shuttered 365 store by Matt Day at Seattle Times. “We don’t want a check,” Nold said. “We want Whole Foods to open and operate.” The company, he said, plans to expand elsewhere in the U.S., and can afford the expense associated with trying to improve a Bellevue Square location long enough to meet the terms of the lease.” Read more

 

99 Cents Only Stores Q3 Comp +11.3% Press release

 

Amazon sues ‘con artists’ claiming ‘insider knowledge’ and affiliation with retail giant in classes for aspiring third-party sellers by Nat Levy at GeekWire. “They allegedly pitched their experience and track record to get people to attend seminars at a cost of up to $35,000.” Read more

 

PetSmart Lenders Are Worried About a Chewy.com Spinoff at Bloomberg. “Buying Chewy.com was supposed to be a coup for PetSmart Inc. For debt investors who funded the deal, it’s been more like a dog. Within months of the May acquisition, PetSmart lost some of its mojo with a key supplier, and then lost its chief executive. The notes sold by the pet superstore to finance the takeover of Chewy Inc. are among the year’s worst performers for newly issued junk debt.” Read more

 

Alibaba redraws retail fault lines with bricks-and-mortar push by Cate Cadell at Reuters. Read more

 

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Family Businesses Worry the Tax Overhaul Will Hurt Them by Siobahn Hughes at Wall Street Journal. “Family-owned businesses are a slice of the universe of “pass through” companies… that pay taxes through individual rather than corporate returns. Trusts in this category of business include Hobby Lobby, the arts and crafts chain founded by billionaire David Green, and Love’s Travel Stop.” Read more (subs.)

 

Alibaba to Invest $200 Million In India Online Grocer by Saritha Rai at Bloomberg. “Alibaba is taking a stake of about 25 percent in Bigbasket after months of negotiations, said the people, asking not to be identified because the matter is private.” Read more

 

What it’s like to work a bad job (in retail) by Laura Amico at Harvard Business Review. Read more (subs.)

 

Rush of online orders leaves Canada Post pickup centres overwhelmed by Alex McKeen at Toronto Star. “Canada Post spokesperson Jon Hamilton confirmed Thursday that three of the city’s 300 post offices are currently too full to store any more items….”According to the post office employees, there was no room,” (a resident) said. “Neither the slip nor the 7/11 had any information about where my package currently is.” Read more

 

UPS Taps Wal-Mart Executive for a ‘Transformation’ Role by Lauren Olsen at Footwear News. “UPS said it is tapping Wal-Mart Stores Inc. executive Scott Price to be its chief transformation officer, effective Dec. 11.” Read more

 

Chip and Joanna Gaines Give Target House Families a First Look at Their Remodeled Dining Room at a a Bullseye View. Video/Pics/Read more

 

Retail fraud is on the rise as companies grapple for solutions at CNBC. “The level of fraud as a percentage of retailers’ revenues has climbed to 1.58 percent year to date from 1.47 percent a year ago, according to a study by LexisNexis Risk Solutions.” Read more

 

Brazen thieves could steal Christmas one shipping container at a time by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “On Nov. 29, in a town near Tacoma, Wash., a cargo container packed with 6,000 Laser X toys, among the hottest gadgets on store shelves this year, was stolen from the parking lot of a warehouse — in broad daylight.” Read more

 

Beyonce let her hair down, threw on some shades, and did some Target shopping at TMZ. “Tar-jay customers and Lady Bey had a close encounter Thursday in San Clemente, CA. Looks like she was cruising the toy aisles with her mom, Tina. Shhh!!! Don’t tell Blue Ivy … or Siror Rumi.” Pics

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Review: Amazon wants a key to your house. I did it. I regretted it.

This is the one book Walmart’s CEO thinks everyone should read

President Trump asked a billionaire investor twice whether Amazon was a monopoly

Mall of America scolds ‘Santa’ after he tosses $1,000 to shoppers

Homeless man seeking shelter at Sam’s Club run over by 18-wheeler

$449 bird stolen at knife-point from Petco – thief jumps in getaway car to flee

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

 

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

 

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Tipsheet: Gift Cards Fuel Drug Addiction | WM Orders Slow | D. Gen 2K Plan

 

Surging online orders slow Wal-Mart delivery network by Eric M. Johnson & Nandita Bose at Reuters. “With massive volume going through our system, there were some orders that took extra time, much like other major e-commerce sites,” Wal-Mart spokeswoman Danit Marquardt said of the week of Thanksgiving. “A vast majority of orders are shipping on time now,” she added.” Read more

 

Dollar General reveals 2,000 store plan – Q3 comp sales +4.3% “For fiscal 2018, we have plans to execute approximately 2,000 real estate projects comprised of 900 new stores, 1,000 store remodels and 100 store relocations.” Press release

 

Gift card crime fueling opioid addiction across the US by Contessa Brewer & Scott Zamost at CNBC. “When you’re suffering from addiction, any length means any length,” said Kristen Booth, 23, who has been arrested twice for retail return fraud in connection with gift cards. Booth was among four patients who candidly spoke to CNBC at Gateway Community Services, a drug rehab center in Jacksonville, Florida.” Read more/Video

 

Adobe: U.S. shoppers have spent $65.15 billion so far from Nov. 1 to Dec. 5, up 14.7 percent from last year by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. Read more

 

…Smartphone shopping represents 40.3 percent of total e-commerce traffic thus far (8.5 percent came from tablets), and 22.3 percent of revenue (10.1 percent from tablets) Read more

 

Walgreens takes 40% stake in leading Chinese retail-pharmacy by Gina Hall at Chicago Business Journal. “GuoDa was formed in 2004, is headquartered in Shanghai, and operates more than 3,500 retail pharmacies across 70 cities…The region is currently the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical market.” Read more

 

Walmart Changes Its Legal Name to Reflect How Customers Want to Shop Press release

 

Home Depot CEO says mortgage deduction changes ‘not as big a deal’ as people think by Courtney Reagan at CNBC. “Only about 20 percent of Americans deduct mortgage interest, and the numbers show less than 5 percent of folks have a mortgage greater than $500,000,” (Craig Menear) said.” Read more (subs.)

 

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Amazon is killing Walmart in paid search, study says by Jade Scipioni at Fox Business. “Analysis from Adthena, showed that Amazon’s share of ad spend on desktops sits at just over 15.35%, the largest among other retailers studied, including Walmart and Target.” Read more

 

Demise of athleisure greatly exaggerated as Lululemon sales surge by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “Total comparable sales were up 8 per cent in the quarter, while online revenue climbed 26 per cent.” Read more

 

The Recode 100 – The people in tech, business and media who mattered in 2017 (Bezos #1, Lore #19) List/Read more

 

Dollarama Q3 Comp Sales +4.6% Press release

 

Jos. A. Bank sales decline slows in third quarter by Holden Wilen at Baltimore Business Journal. “Comparable sales at Jos. A. Bank increased 4.9 percent primarily due to an increase in transactions and average-unit retail…Jos. A. Bank has 493 stores, 57 fewer than a year ago.” Read more

 

NRF Foundation Announces 25 People Shaping Retail’s Future 2018 List of 25

 

Wal-Mart de Mexico November Comp Sales +7.6% by Anthony Harrup at Wall Street Journal. “Walmex, served 1.2% more customers who spent on average 6.4% more per visit. Same-store sales in Central America rose 6.9% from a year before.” Read more (subs.)

 

Sonos and Ikea are collaborating on sound products for the home by Fitz Tepper at TechCrunch. “In typical corporate fashion there’s no concrete details about what specific types of products the two will collaborate on. And since the products won’t launch until 2019, it may be a while before we know what exactly will result from the collaboration.” Read more

 

What’s Driving Walmart’s Digital Focus? Paranoia, Top Exec Says by Brian O’Keefe at Fortune. “For us, a big part of it is being paranoid,” said Walmart chairman Greg Penner on Thursday at the Fortune  Global Forum in Guangzhou, China. “We’re at our best when we’ve got a competitor that’s really challenging us.” Read more

 

Acosta: More shoppers are choosing at which store to shop based on how much they like the store brand (53 percent of shoppers versus only 34 percent in 2011) Press release

 

It’s Amazon’s World—But Do You Want to Live There? by Katherine Bradley at Wall Street Journal. “It’s 5:30 p.m. on a Saturday and I’m on Day Six of my Amazon diet. An Amazon diet is when you use as many products and services from Amazon as possible and live in an apartment that looks like what would happen if Jeff Bezos’s brain threw up.” Read more (subs.)

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Saks Fifth Avenue owner admits summer layoffs sparked chaos

San Fran supervisor proposes ban on delivery robots – settles on a permitting system

Apple Is Leading a Revolution in Office Chairs

Walmart parking lot shooting leaves cop injured, 2nd person dead

Ford recruits Alibaba to help break into China’s electric vehicle industry

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Eye on Retail Tipsheet is must-read material for 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: Saks +0.2% | Ive Dishes | UPS Slow | RH +6.0%

 

Interior head says Patagonia claim about public land “a lie” by Matthew Daly at AP via Denver Post. “I understand fundraising for these special interest groups,” Zinke said. “I think it’s shameful and appalling that they would blatantly lie in order to gain money in their coffers.” Patagonia replaced its usual home page Monday night with a stark message declaring, “The President Stole Your Land.” Read more

 

Hudson’s Bay Q3 Comp Sales -3.2% “On a constant currency basis, comparable sales at Saks Fifth Avenue grew for the second consecutive quarter, increasing by 0.2%. Comparable sales at Saks Fifth Avenue have been positive on a constant currency basis for three of the last four quarters.” Press release

 

Home Depot announces $15 billion buyback program via CNBC. “Home Depot set a target to grow annual sales to between $114.7 billion and $119.8 billion by the year ending January 2021.” Read more

 

…Set out long-term fiscal 2020 financial targets including compounded annual sales growth rate from the end of fiscal 2017 ranging from approximately 4.5 percent to approximately 6.0 percent Press release

 

Wal-Mart makes changes to Savings Catcher program starting Feb. 1 by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Wal-Mart said shoppers can let the Savings Catcher rewards accumulate in an eGift card to spend a later date if they so desire. The retailer caps the rewards at $599 per year per customer, and rewards can’t be carried over from year to year.” Read more

 

Fred’s Q3 Comp Sales -0.8% “We have witnessed a complete turnaround in our tobacco business, significantly enhanced cosmetics and successfully rolled out beer to approximately 150 stores and wine to approximately 50 stores. We have also kicked off a reduced price endcap test, which is showing promising results, and we intend to roll it out to all stores.” Press release

 

Could Humana be the target of a Walmart takeover? by Grace Schneider at Louisville Courier Journal. “Ana Gupte, a senior analyst at Leerink Partners, jolted investors recently when she mentioned that health insurer Humana may be next as a takeover target by Connecticut-based insurer Cigna – but others in the mix may be Walmart, Walgreens and even another rival in insurance, Anthem.” Read more

 

American Eagle Q3 Comp Sales +3.0% Press release

 

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Luxury Brands Win a Crucial Victory in Battle Against Amazon Distribution by David Meyer at Fortune. “(Luxury) brands received cheering news on Wednesday: the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that luxury brands are perfectly entitled to forbid their distributors from selling through third-party online platforms such as Amazon and eBay.” Read more

 

RH Q3 Comp Revenue +6.0% Press release

 

Belk to become exclusive distributor of women’s The Limited clothing line by Katherine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “Belk said in a statement that The Limited brand recently relaunched online and debuted in 150 Belk stores. The department store said it will launch The Limited in another 74 stores in 2018. Belk also said that The Limited will be managed as one of its private-label brands, apparel lines that for Belk, also include Crown & Ivy and New Directions.” Read more

 

Best Workplaces In Diversity 2017 (Wegmans #5, Publix #6, QuikTrip #29, Old Navy #73) at Great Place to Work. Top 100 ranked

 

Ann Taylor owner blames ‘fashion missteps’ for dismal sales by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “A lot of what was the fashion misses were from the team that was already in place,” Muto admitted on Tuesday’s call. “So we own that.” Comp sales at Lane Bryant were down 5 percent in the quarter, and comp sales were 2 percent lower at its tween chain, Justice.” Read more

 

McLane Company Opens $150 Million Grocery Distribution Center in Findlay, Ohio Press release

 

UPS, Overwhelmed by Online Orders, Warns of Delivery Delays by Paul Ziobro at Wall Street Journal. “ShipMatrix, a software provider that analyzes shipping data, said 89.2% of parcels shipped last week through UPS Express were delivered on the day they were promised…By comparison, 99.4% of FedEx Express packages were delivered by the end of the day they were scheduled to arrive.” Read more (subs.)

 

Chicago loses out on Mars Wrigley U.S. candy headquarters; 200 jobs likely headed to N.J. by Jessica Mazzola at NJ.com. Read more

 

Judge approves Toys R Us bonus plan to spur holiday shopping via CNBC. “Toys R Us won court approval on Tuesday for plan to pay top executives up to $21 million in bonuses by arguing that the money will incentivize them to boost the bankrupt retailer’s sales during the critical year-end shopping season.” Read more

 

Jony Ive Dishes On Apple Rumors And His Design Team In Rare Interview by Mark Wilson at Fast Company. “Jony Ive helms the most secretive design lab in the world at Apple. But aside from the top secret mystique, the soft spoken Ive is notoriously private, often giving just one interview a year. Last week at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Fast Company alum Rick Tetzeli performed that interview.” Interview highlights

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Ex-Home Depot CEO Nardelli discusses “instant gratification” on CNBC

Trump’s FTC moves to block another merger

Drinking $1,400, 42-year-old Scotch in a Costco Storeroom

Retailers Can Forget About Being Bought by Steinhoff Now

Men’s online suit maven Indochino doubles down on showrooms

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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: 40% Chance of CVS Deal? | Schumer Attacks Holiday Bots | HD Supply +7.5%

 

Target launches its own mobile payments system with debut of ‘Wallet’ by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “Wallet, as the name implies, allows Target shoppers in-store to both check out using their smartphone as well as take advantage of their Cartwheel digital coupons and discounts with only one scan of their barcode.” Read more

 

40% CHANCE OF CVS DEAL? – “Source: ‘Considering that Aetna’s share price would be around $160 a share without a merger, the market is saying there is only a 40 percent chance the deal will get approved by regulators.'” by Josh Kosman at NY Post. Read more

 

…CVS Boss Larry Merlo’s Path From Corner Pharmacy to C-Suite by Sharon Terlep at Wall Street Journal. “I can’t say enough good things about Larry and his team,” Wolfe Research analyst Scott Mushkin said. “But this deal, whoa, I don’t know. Sometimes I suppose you just have to give a good team the benefit of the doubt.” Read more (subs.)

 

HD Supply Q3 Net Sales +7.5% “Preliminary Net sales in November were approximately $372 million, which represents year-over-year average daily sales growth of approximately 9.8 percent.” Press release

 

Holiday bots are stealing Christmas, driving up prices via USA Today. “Grinch bots cannot be allowed to steal Christmas, or dollars, from the wallets of New Yorkers,” (U.S. Sen. Chuck) Schumer said in a statement…“We look forward to working with him and all interested parties to strengthen enforcement against bad actors…,” said David French, a spokesman for the retail federation.” Read more

 

AutoZone Q1 Comp Sales +2.3% Press release

 

“THE EVENSVILLE WALMART” – How Dollar General Became Rural America’s Store of Choice by Sarah Nassauer at Wall Street Journal. “Dollar General’s typical shopper “doesn’t look at her pantry or her refrigerator and say, ‘You know, I’m going to be out of ketchup in the next few days. I’m going to order a few bottles,’” said Mr. Vasos, the company’s chief executive. “The core customer uses the last bit of ketchup at the table the night prior, and either on her way to work or on her way home picks up one bottle.” Read more (subs.)

 

J.Jill Q3 Comp Sales -0.6% “CEO: ‘Thus far in the fourth quarter, we have returned to total comparable sales growth, with our current product offering better aligned to what our customer expects from J.Jill.'” Press release

 

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Neiman Marcus CEO Says Affluent Shoppers in ‘Very Good Shape’ by Lindsey Rupp at Bloomberg. “Her balance sheet is in very good shape,” (Karen) Katz told Emma Chandra on Bloomberg Television. It’s “really a matter of how emotionally she feels about things, and she seems to be in a good place right now.” Video/Read more

 

Block California’s egg law, 12 states ask the Supreme Court via LA Times. “A dozen states are banding together to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to block a California law requiring any eggs sold there to come from hens that have space to stretch out in their cages.” Read more

 

UPS Drivers To Demonstrate Against 70-Hour Work Week at CBS Boston. “The Teamsters Locals said UPS “is forcing a 70-hour week for drivers” which is “a nationwide issue jeopardizing the safety of drivers and the general public.” Video/Read more

 

Big Lots CEO, David Campisi, To Take Temporary Medical Leave Press release

 

Jim Cramer: “Wal-Mart is the only retailer with the heft to truly challenge Amazon. It’s also got the leadership to pull it off thanks to CEO Doug McMillon.” at CNBC. Read more

 

Shoppers Drug Mart partners with producer Aphria for medical marijuana by Aleksandra Sagan at Canadian Press via Toronto Star. “The deal comes after many months of discussions and is subject to Health Canada approving the application of the chain’s parent company, Loblaw Companies Ltd., to dispense medical marijuana. Loblaw applied for a licence in October 2016, but neither company can say if or when that application will be approved.” Read more

 

Amazon adds ‘Homemade’ artisan products to Prime Now 2-hour delivery service in select cities by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. “The Prime Now eligible cities for Handmade product delivery include: Austin, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland, Raleigh, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle.” Read more

 

Nike Will Close Its Flagship NYC Store in Spring, New One Coming in 2019 by Emily Price at Fortune. “New York City will be without a flagship Nike store for around a year, the sports apparel maker announced Monday. The retailer announced plans to open a new 69,000 square-foot flagship store in Manhattan at 650 Fifth Avenue at West 52nd Street in early 2019.” Read more

 

Instacart and Kroger strike grocery delivery deal at most of its stores in the Portland and Seattle areas by Nat Levy at GeekWire. Read more | Press release

 

Amazon finally launched in Australia — and other retailers immediately rallied via CNBC. “Amazon’s not materially cheaper on a wide basket of items than the retailers,” said Vertium Asset Management portfolio manager Daniel Mueller.” Read more

 

Patagonia accuses President Trump of stealing public lands at Fast Company. “The brand, making good on a threat it made back in April, will soon be announcing a potential lawsuit against the Trump administration for the protection of Bears Ears National Monument, complementing a separate effort and lawsuit filing by others regarding the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Forbes: The 50 Happiest Co’s to Work for in 2018 (Nordstrom #32)

Here’s what Starbucks’ new Roastery in Shanghai looks like

H-E-B plans to add parking deck, sky bridge across from HQ

Walmart lauds Shurtape’s role in its initiative supporting US jobs

This 80’s New Wave Rock Band Is Outselling Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran

Bic Was Hip. But Then the World, and Investors, Moved On

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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: CVS/Justice Dept Showdown?| Buy-for-Me +19% | Judge Bars Store Closures

 

CVS and Aetna CEOs Talk Merger Deal on CNBC’s Squawk Box “Upon closing, “they’ll be things we’ll be able to do out of the gate,” Merlo told CNBC. “Over the next couple of years, you’ll see a dramatic change in terms of the store not just being about products but also service offerings that can help people on their path to better health.” CVS plans to run Aetna as a separate business unit.” Video/Read more

 

…CVS-Aetna Deal May Hinge on Antitrust Approach Under Trump at Bloomberg. “Most vertical deals don’t raise antitrust concerns, and the ones that do generally get approval to close with an agreement containing behavioral conditions,” said Jennifer Rie, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst who follows antitrust issues, in an email. “But the Justice Department appears to be rejecting this kind of remedy given its approach to the AT&T-Time Warner deal.” Read more

 

From Target to Toys ‘R’ Us, retailers are throwing parties this holiday season by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “Target Corp. hosted a scavenger hunt as well as a toy event in many stores last month. Next weekend, it will hand out cocoa, cookies and milk in stores. The following weekend it will give out Star Wars sticker sheets to coincide with the release of the newest movie in the franchise, “The Last Jedi.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Walgreens Wants You To Know It Cares by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “The 8,000-store chain will start airing ads on TV that show so-called “care stories” depicting customers sharing Walgreens experiences related to their care and well-being. Other ads will follow in 2018 and the campaign also includes a big social media component as Walgreens looks to try to win over more young women. The goal, as Walgreens puts it, is to show it will “champion” the health and well-being of people.” Read more

 

Corporate Winners and Losers in U.S. Tax Bill at Bloomberg. “…aspects of the legislation on the personal side — like doubling the standard deduction — will give such individuals more discretionary income. The advantage would be temporary under the Senate bill; its individual tax cuts would expire in 2026.” Read more

 

Holiday shoppers are spending more on themselves this year at CNBC. “A recent survey by (NPD) found that 19 percent of consumers “definitely” plan to spend more on themselves this holiday season, while 40 percent are at least considering doing so.” Read more

 

No tears for end of Cook County soda tax — and no more pop runs to Indiana by Greg Trotter at Chicago Tribune. “After repealing the tax in October, the Cook County Board adopted a budget last month that will lay off 321 employees in the absence of the revenue from the sweetened beverage tax.” Read more

 

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Tim Belk’s new adventure turned the former retailer into an organic farmer by Katherine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “People say to me, ‘Tim you seem different, you’re smiling so much more’ ” Belk says. “One of the things I wanted was to have more control over my time. Being CEO, you’re on 24/7. You just don’t realize how much pressure that is until you get away,” he adds.” Read more

 

Judge bars Starbucks from closing 77 failing Teavana stores by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “An Indiana judge has taken an unusual step and temporarily barred Starbucks from closing 77 failing Teavana stores in Simon Property Group malls because the real estate giant was less able to handle the financial pain.” Read more

 

Amazon hands out chocolates to increase worker morale at Mirror. “They told me the chocolates were given out to try to raise spirits, to get everybody on board. It’s a couple of sweets per shift to get morale up and make them think they care about us. I found it quite insulting, to be honest.” Read more

 

Signet Jewelers discloses that the consumer watchdog is considering legal action for its in-store credit practices at CNBC. “Signet, owner of jewelry chains Zales, Kay and Jared, has long been scrutinized for its extensive offering of credit, particularly to those with low FICO scores. For this fiscal year, 62 percent of its $3.9 billion sales in its “sterling jeweler” business were offered on credit.” Read more

 

Hepatitis A outbreak prompts San Diego to build giant tents for its homeless by Bradford Betz at Fox News. “Gemma Librado lives a block away from the tent that opened Friday. She said she is glad to see the streets being cleaned up but she worries it may attract more homeless. Last Sunday, a homeless man high on drugs and with a bleeding hand ran into her apartment when she opened the door and locked himself in the bathroom.” Read more

 

36-Year-Old Makes $62 Million With Instant Web Flea Market by Pavel Alpeyev at Bloomberg. “What Mitsumoto discovered was a way to remove the last bit of friction for sellers to get rid of stuff, unlocking value wasting away in people’s closets. He tapped into a market of people who lacked either the time or the patience to take nice pictures, write product descriptions and haggle with buyers.” Read more

 

GNC cancels funding plans, seeks alternatives at Fox Business. “GNC Holdings Inc. cancelled a sale of senior notes and its plans to borrow more as it considers other options to raise funds…The company did not specify its options, though a potential sale is usually part of a strategic alternatives search.” Read more

 

Toys R Us UK to close stores in restructuring via CNBC. Read more

 

Tiffany & Co. is the favorite luxury jewelry brand among wealthy millennials (by far) via MVI Marketing. “(Tiffany) came ahead of Cartier in second place, Pandora in third and Chanel in fourth, MVI said Tuesday. Rolex was the top brand for watches, followed by Apple, Omega and Cartier.” Read more

 

Fed rate hike expected next week, three hikes expected in 2018: Reuters poll Read more

 

Home Depot launches “Give me an H” podcast: A behind-the-scenes look at the company’s culture “The series, hosted by Home Depot human resources leader Arlette Guthrie, begins with Ted Decker, the company’s executive vice president of merchandising.” Listen/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

People are flipping out over upside-down Christmas trees this season

Why Retailers Are Rethinking Their Holiday Ad Strategies and Moving Away From Storytelling

Woman names newborn after Costco employee who helped delivery him (in store!)

Facebook has a team of around 100 employees building products for teens and kids

How Weight Watchers Transformed Itself Into A Lifestyle Brand

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: Cornell Done Chasing Shiny Pennies | WM TM Fight | Unilever CEO Loses Cool

 

CVS reportedly close to acquiring Aetna in $66B deal by Jessica Bartlett at Boston Business Journal. “The deal would likely be valued between $200 and $205 a share for Aetna, a premium of more than 25 percent, the Journal said.” Read more | WSJ article (subs.)

 

Amazon is in exploratory talks with generic-drug makers by Meg Tirrell & Christina Farr at CNBC. “The conversations, including with generics giants Mylan and Sandoz, a unit of Novartis, have been high-level, and the nature of Amazon’s plans isn’t yet clear, said the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions aren’t public.” Read more

 

DON’T CHASE THE SHINY PENNY – Target’s CEO just revealed a key part of the company’s future by Hayley Peterson at Business Insider. “Brian Cornell: “To do things at scale, they have to have broad-based applications. Otherwise they are nice little experiments that distract the organization and distract resources that really need to be reapplied to the core enterprise.” Read more

 

Ulta Q3 Comp Sales +10.3% “Retail comparable sales increased 6.6%, including salon comparable sales growth of 3.8%…E-commerce sales grew 62.9%.” Press release | Call transcript

 

Big Lots Q3 Comp Sales +1.0% Press release

 

Five Below Q3 Comp Sales +8.5% “The Company opened 41 new stores (Q3) and ended the quarter with 625 stores in 32 states…an increase in stores of 20.9% from the end of the Q3 fiscal 2016.” Press release

 

Walmart Fights Denial Of ‘Investing In American Jobs’ TM by Kyle Jahner at Law 360. “Walmart told a panel of skeptical Trademark Trial and Appeal Board judges it should allow the company to register the trademark “Investing in American Jobs”…The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office argued that Walmart had presented no evidence, such as a consumer survey, that suggested consumers could source the phrase to Walmart or even that Walmart used it separately from the Walmart brand itself.” Read more (subs.)

 

Houston Costco reopens after 96-day restoration process by Melanie Feuk at Houston Chronicle. “We gutted everything from eight feet, below,” said Bruce Marteney, general manager. “We took everything down. The water was up to four feet, but we took that extra four feet. Everything in the place was thrown away.” Read more

 

**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. Whether you’re battling crawling, flying or stinging insects or fending off mice, when the flag flies, pests die. Let it Fly. Facebook page

 

Publishers team with retailers on holiday pop-up shops by Max Willens at Digiday. “On Dec. 1, beauty site Byrdie will open the Byrdie Beauty Lab…where people can buy beauty products Byrdie created with Nordstrom. A few blocks away, Domino will open up a 3,000-square-foot pop-up shop in SoHo with Home Depot…On Dec. 9, PopSugar will open Deck the Hauls, an Old Navy-supported installation.” Read more

 

Blue Apron replaces CEO with Under Armour exec by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “The company priced its June IPO at $10 a share but has seen its stock price fall to just $3 after disclosing operational problems at a new warehouse that led to marketing cuts, disappointing revenue forecasts and staff layoffs.” Read more | Press release

 

Target’s online growth during Black Friday week eclipsed that of Amazon, research firm says by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “The firm said Target’s online sales grew an “astonishing” 44 percent compared to the same shopping period last year… Other retailers that also posted big online sales growth during that timeframe included Best Buy, Apple, Walmart, and yes, Amazon, at between 19 and 25 percent.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

The FDA Approves the First EKG Reader for Apple Watch by Emily Price at Fortune. “The idea is that KardiBand can detect when your heart is behaving in an unusual way for you and can alert health care professionals.” Read more

 

PetSmart Opens its 1,600th Store in North America at Pet Age. Read more

 

In Rwanda, Drones Deliver Medical Supplies to Remote Areas by Robert Lee Hotz at Wall Street Journal. “By flight volume, they are operating one of the busiest airlines in Africa,” says Zipline spokesman Justin Hamilton.” Read more (subs.)

 

Unilever CEO Loses His Cool With Analyst at Investor Event by Thomas Buckley at Bloomberg. “You’ve been telling us the margins were low for the first five years, and I’ve been telling you we have made investments to be able to get this company back on track and where it belongs to be,” Polman said. “Here you are all saying ‘I want shareholder value, I want to drive it,’ and you’re pissing it away by not even asking us to give it. To me, that’s incomprehensible.” Read more

 

Schwan’s Co., maker of frozen foods like Tony’s pizza and Mrs. Smith’s pies, has hired an investment bank to weigh options that include a potential sale at CNBC. Read more

 

Forever 21 bathroom videos ended up on porn sites: lawsuit by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “A former worker at the teen apparel chain alleges she was caught “urinating and in various stages of undress and exposing her private parts” by a hidden camera installed in the toilet— only to discover later that the filthy footage had been distributed on “multiple” porn sites, the suit alleges.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Walmart yanks shirt threatening to kill journalists

Medical marijuana users ‘have 30 days’ to turn in their guns, police say

The Unlikely Strategy Behind Buffett’s Investments in Encyclopedias

UPS Ditches Signatures for Business Drop-Offs

Kroger says ‘high’ interest in convenience stores

Farmers Business Network just raked in a whopping $110 million in funding

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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Tipsheet: Costco +10.8% | Kroger +1.1% | Target +Men | Pilot ‘Cheated Customers’

 

Costco November Comp Sales +10.8% (+7.9% excluding gas & f/x) “Pre-Thanksgiving and Black Friday/holiday weekend sales fell into the first quarter this year compared to the second quarter last year. Combined, these factors produced an estimated net benefit of approximately 1.5% in the U.S., and slightly less worldwide.” Press release

 

Kroger Q3 Comp Sales (ex-gas) +1.1% “Total sales increased 4.5% to $27.7 billion in the third quarter…Total sales, excluding fuel, increased 3.0% in the third quarter compared to the same period last year…Expects 2017 Q4 comp sales (ex-fuel) to exceed 1.1%.” Press release

 

…Reuters: Kroger’s quarterly results top Street as discounts lure shoppers Read more

 

Michaels Q3 Comp Sales +1.0% “For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the company expects comparable store sales to increase 1.5% to 2.5%…and  to open one new Michaels store and close four Aaron Brothers stores.” Press release

 

The 50 most innovative CMOs in the world in 2017 (Walmart #22, Nordstrom #46) by Tanya Dua at Business Insider. Top 50 list

 

At Home Q3 Comp Sales +7.1% Press release

 

Target Lures Guys to Its Stores With Beer and Beard Wax by Matthew Boyle & Alexandra Stratton at Bloomberg. “Target is reaching out to men with ads in GQ Magazine and during televised football and baseball games, hoping to lure guys like Andrew Hart, 23, an analyst in Dallas, who shops at J. Crew and Banana Republic and said he “would never buy clothes at Target,”…But the Goodfellow brand has clicked so far — sales are up more than 10 percent compared with Target’s previous men’s offering.” Read more

 

Sears comp sales tumbled a whopping 15.3% during Q3 at CNBC. Read more

 

**A message from i-on antimicrobial handsink – reduce 99% of E-coli & Staph bacteria! Infused with Silver Ions to inhibit growth of millions of germs. Addresses need for foodborne illness solutions. Great for restaurants, hospitality, schools, hospitals, home & utility to create a Handwashing Only Zone. Sell sheet | Request sample @ info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

Wal-Mart updates suppliers about on-time, in-full progress; effort could raise shipping costs by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “We are working on a system that would give you an appointment at the same time you get the purchase order,” Oldham said. Beland expects Wal-Mart will likely delay the full 95% OTIF implementation well into next year given the perfect storm brewing. He said Wal-Mart is not building additional regional distribution centers and that means it’s going to have to improve the flow in the 42 it already operates.” Read more

 

UPS picks Walmart exec as new ‘chief transformation officer’ by Eric Mandel at Atlanta Business Chronicle. “Scott Price will join the company…effective Dec. 11, reporting directly to chairman and CEO David Abney…Price is currently executive vice president, Global Leverage, for Walmart.” Read more

 

Forbes Best States for Business Ranked list

 

‘I cheated customers and I did it well,’ former Pilot Flying J sales exec tells court by Jamie Satterfield at Knoxville News Sentinel via USA Today. “Brian Mosher considered himself a master at the game of defrauding trucking company customers, and he told jurors Monday that he made sure two of his bosses knew it. “I was hammering for a promotion with the discount savings my (fraudulent) manual rebates created for Pilot,” Mosher testified in U.S. District Court in Chattanooga.” Read more

 

Target Media Director Nick Jezarian On Data, Creative Versioning And Addressable TV by Steve Ellwanger at Beet.TV. “Target Media Director Nick Jezarian was one of the keynote speakers at the recent Beet Retreat Miami 2017…Creative “is the number one thing that we’re focused on” and “not just letting an investment level or a production budget dictate how much content you’re going to create,” he said.” Video/Read more

 

Emotional Jean Coutu says farewell after shareholders approve sale to Metro via Montreal Gazette. “I gave my all, my best, in business and my profession,” the company founder said before choking up. Coutu, 90, said he will now devote his time and energy to helping the poor through a foundation established with his wife and family.” Read more

 

Casey’s Opens 2000th Store Press release

 

Miniso, Japan’s $2.99-store, plans to open 500 shops by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “(It) has been described as Dollarama’s biggest potential threat, but its diverse product range hews more closely to that of Muji or Loblaw’s Joe Fresh brand. After debuting its first six stores in Vancouver in the spring, the retailer, which prices the majority of its items at $2.99, opened its first two Ontario locations last month and a third is opening this coming weekend in Newmarket.” Read more

 

Black Enterprise’s 300 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America Press release | List

 

Alice Walton sells 1,460-acre ranch west of Fort Worth by Max B. Baker at Star-Telegram. “The last price listed for the ranch, its 4,000-square-foot home and 24-stall main show barn was $16.5 million, although two real estate brokers involved in the transaction could not disclose what Three Amigos paid for it.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Lumberjacks help Duluth Trading Company introduce Waukesha store

Express Scripts CEO says he sees Amazon as a potential partner

Gap shares fall after Citi downgrades to sell

Amazon is previewing an IOT security service

Simon wants to help startups establish a retail presence in malls

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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: The ‘Uber’ of Retail Gas? | Top 38 @ Amazon | Tiffany -1.0%

 

What We Learned From Retailers’ Five-Day Scramble for Shoppers by Matthew Boyle & Lindsey Rupp at Bloomberg. “This was supposed to be the year that brands like Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors relied less on markdowns to move merchandise. But so far, the industry appears as discount-dependent as ever.” Charts/Read more

 

GBH Insights has predicted the average Prime customer is spending 20 to 25 percent more on Amazon.com this holiday season at CNBC. Read more

 

Tiffany Q3 Comp Sales -1.0% Press release

 

…Tiffany earnings: 80 cents a share, vs 76 cents EPS expected at CNBC. “Total revenue rose to $976.2 million from $949.3 million.” Read more

 

The New Corporate Perk: Gassing Up at Work by Christopher M. Mathews at Wall Street Journal. “Booster Fuels founder and chief executive Frank Mycroft…sees his market as younger, tech-savvy consumers who place a premium on convenience…”Some people are still going to want to go to the gas station and shop and buy other stuff,” Mr. Mycroft said. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say we’d disrupt retail gasoline as Uber has to the taxi market.” Read more (subs.)

 

More than 70 percent of Americans shopped Thanksgiving weekend by Abha Bhattarai at Washington Post via Denver Post. “The 174 million Americans who shopped between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday spent an average of $335 per person during that five-day period, the (NRF) said.” Read more

 

…Older Millennials Were the Biggest Spenders During Holiday Weekend by Lindsey Rupp at Bloomberg. “Older millennials shelled out $419.52 during the five-day stretch, 25 percent more than the overall average.” Read more

 

Here are the top 38 people who run Amazon at CNBC. List

 

WEED WILLING – Couche-Tard Q2 profit surges to record on acquisitions via Montreal Gazette. “Brian Hannasch said the large convenience store chain, which operates as Circle K outside Quebec, has a proven track record of selling age-restricted products like cigarettes and beer. “We welcome the opportunity to work with one of the provinces here in Canada to demonstrate we can be a good partner in the space,” he said during a conference call about its second-quarter results.” Read more

 

Amazon Is Offering Tickets for Jumanji Previews to Its Prime Members by Fortune. Read more

 

Rite Aid hands off first batch of stores to Walgreens at Central Penn Business Journal. “Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. has taken over the first 97 stores from Rite Aid Corp. as part of a larger store sale valued at nearly $4.4 billion.” Read more

 

Apple security glitch gives anyone access to your Mac without a password by typing ‘root’ at Daily Mail | Krebs article

 

Mars backs Kind bar company with investment, sales deal by Nathan Bomey at USA Today. Read more

 

After shoving its way onto iTunes, U2 is headed for the Amazon Echo by Brian Heater at TechCrunch. “The whole thing will be available as a one-time broadcast in the U.S., U.K., Germany and Austria on Thursday the 30th.” Read more

 

Instacart signs up Albertsons in delivery partnership at CNBC. Read more

 

Dick’s Workers Knock Bid To Pause Their Bag Check Suit by Braden Campbell at Law 360. “Dick’s Sporting Goods workers urged a California federal court Monday not to stay their class action alleging they are owed pay for time spent in security checks.” Read more (subs.)

 

C&S Wholesale Grocers Appoints Mike Duffy CEO Press release

 

Nonprofit Project Veritas — which targeted Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post — eligible for donations via AmazonSmile by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. Read more

 

Williams-Sonoma Introduces New Augmented Reality iOS App for Pottery Barn Press release

 

Fossil watches heading for ‘an epic blow-up’ by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “The watch and leather goods maker, which produces time pieces for Michael Kors, Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, DKNY and more than a dozen others, is sitting on a small and shrinking pile of cash — too little to service its enormous debt.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Amazon drone would dismantle itself in sky, rain down parts

BJ’s CEO talks to CNBC (3:28 video)

Police ask for help identifying woman seen holding toddler at Walmart, three hours after girl went missing

Amazon’s ‘urban treehouse’ revealed in new images of future office building

WHO: 10% of drugs are bogus in developing countries

Taco truck halts GM autonomous car’s cruise through SF

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