Tipsheet: Cornell Lobbies DC | Wmart Rejects Car Sales Report | Costco Win Slave Labor Suit | Roz @ Starbucks Board | B.Rep. Pres. Out

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Banana Republic’s president is out as the Gap brand struggles to find footing by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “Andi Owen, global brand president of the wear-to-work brand, will exit the company in late February, after 25 years at Gap. CEO Art Peck will oversee the Banana Republic brand until a successor is named.” Read more | Press release

 

Target plans to introduce its own smartphone payment service in stores later this year by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “Target plans to introduce mobile payment features to one or more of its own apps, the retailer’s Chief Information and Digital Officer Michael McNamara told Recode last week at a National Retail Federation conference in New York City. It’s not clear if Target will add the payment feature to its main Target app, its popular Cartwheel coupon app or both.” Read more

 

Costco Defeats Lawsuit Over Shrimp Linked to Thai Slave Labor by Joel Rosenblatt at Bloomberg. “A San Francisco federal judge threw out the case Tuesday, finding that the consumers who filed it failed to allege the company had a duty to disclose the information about labor abuses in its supply chain.” Read more

 

Walmart.com cuts 200 from its California operations by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “In a memo sent to Walmart.com employees on Tuesday (Jan. 24), Lore said, “We’re making changes on the inside so our customers can experience the benefits on the outside. Within the U.S. eCommerce team, we’re approaching this in a number of ways.” Read more | WSJ article (subs.)

 

Target Goes to Capitol Hill As Retailers Fret Over Trump’s Border Tax by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “Target CEO Brian Cornell recently visited lawmakers in Washington to lobby against the House Republican proposal. The visit by Cornell, first reported by Politico, was confirmed by a Target spokeswoman, who said the retailer was “monitoring closely” the potential impact of any legislation along those lines.” Read more

 

…Brian Cornell, on the Hill recently to lobby against the House GOP’s border-adjustment proposal, had every intention of skipping out on meeting Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.), Pro Tax’s Brian Faler reports. Paulsen’s not just an increasingly senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee — he’s also roommates with Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas), represents the same area of Minnesota where Target is based, received more donations from Target than anyone else … and, yes, was even employed there once. The two eventually chanced upon each other, but Cornell’s best-laid plan shows just how intense things are getting over the proposal.” by Bernie Becker at Politico. Read more

 

J.C. Penney hires head of its Bangalore tech center by Korri Kezar at Dallas Business Journal. “…appointed Snehil Gambhir to vice president and managing director of its global in-house center, which opened in August.” Read more

 

Amazon launches a subscription service for STEM toys by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “Amazon today unveiled a new subscription program aimed at parents called STEM Club, which delivers educational toys to your home for $19.99 per month.” Read more

 

PayPal users can now deposit cash at any 7-Eleven by Danny Parisi at Mobile Commerce Daily. Read more

 

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

 

The Limited shutters its online operations by Matt Linder at Internet Retailer. Read more

 

Wal-Mart rejects report that it will expand car-sales program by Marc Ramirez at Dallas Morning News. “A Wal-Mart Stores Inc. spokesperson said Tuesday that although Car Saver is a tenant in a Stuart, Fla., store, the company as yet has no plans to expand beyond that location. The Automotive News story said CarSaver is partnering with dealers in Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona to begin selling vehicles at various Wal-Mart Supercenters in the four markets on April 1.” Read more

 

Metro Inc makes modest first-quarter gains amid food price deflation by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “Sales rose to $2.97 million, a 0.3 per cent rise…Same-store sales nudged up 0.7 per cent.” Read more

 

…Metro grocery stores may drop Air Miles over backlash via Toronto Star. Read more

 

Kroger Announces Retirement of Joe Fey, Names Jerry Clontz President of Mid-Atlantic Division Press release

 

Panel to discuss possible effects of Costco’s proposed Fremont-area chicken plant on water quality by Barbara Soderlin at Omaha World-Herald. “Opponents of Costco’s proposed Fremont-area chicken operation are taking their concerns downstream. They say the project will foul sources of drinking water in Omaha and Lincoln with nitrates and other pollutants from chicken manure runoff.” Read more

 

Starbucks Nominates Rosalind Brewer to its Board of Directors Press release

 

Walgreens-Rite Aid Clock Runs Down With No Extension Set by Robert Langreth at Bloomberg. “Extending the deadline “is a matter for the boards,” Pessina said Tuesday in a meeting at Bloomberg’s New York office. “I cannot anticipate what they will do.” Read more

 

…Walgreens, Rite Aid to go on with merger if not approved by end of week by Josh Kosman at NY Post. Read more

 

Retailers Chasing Fast Fashion Stumble Under Heavy Buyout Debts by Emma Orr & Lauren Coleman-Lochner at Bloomberg. “Moody’s Investors Service lists 18 retail and apparel names as “very high credit risk.” That’s “the highest number I can remember since certainly the recession, and I don’t recall us getting to that level even then,” said Moody’s analyst Charles O’Shea.” Read more

 

Actually, it’s Generation X that spends the most time on social media by Polly Mosendz at Bloomberg. “Asked how many hours a week they spend on these networks, 35- to 49-year-olds averaged six hours and 58 minutes. Millennials, defined by the study as those aged 18 to 34, spent 39 fewer minutes per week.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Why Kroger is Wells Fargo’s top stock pick

Amazon Throws Speakeasy Events to Market Its New Prohibition Era Series

H-E-B consolidating Austin regional offices with 6-acre land buy

CVC, Leonard Green stand to triple 2011 investment in BJ’s

Amazon patents technology for drones with retractable in-flight wings

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Tipsheet: Target Tests ‘Foot Pong’ | L.Bryant CEO Out | Wmart Replen Cuts Concern | W.Foods Hires MediaCom

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Target testing ‘Foot Pong’ game in select stores by Dan DeBaun at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. “The game, made possible by a ceiling projector, is found near the children’s shoes and clothing sections. Target spokeswoman Kristy Welker said the game debuted at the Quarry Target last year after a store remodel. “The reason behind it was to bring a little fun to the kids area,” she said.” Video/Pics/Read more

 

Wal-Mart’s recent corporate downsizing raises questions among suppliers by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “Insiders said about 200 replenishment-related positions were eliminated last week around replenishment and Order Management Systems with men’s apparel and produce being two of the categories seeing potentially the most disruption. The cutbacks are believed to be directly related to the retailer’s Global Replenishment System, an expensive investment in just-in-time inventory management that replaced Inforem, the system used by Wal-Mart for decades.” Read more

 

Lane Bryant CEO out just four months after getting promoted by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post “(Linda) Heasley’s departure “was seemingly abrupt,” Marotta said. “We don’t know if she was asked to leave or left for another opportunity.” Read more

 

Walmart to sell cars by Hannah Lutz at Automotive News. “CarSaver, an online auto retail platform, will launch the program April 1 at about 25 Wal-Mart Supercenters in four markets: Houston, Dallas, Phoenix and Oklahoma City…CarSaver’s digital platform allows car shoppers to select, finance and insure a vehicle through its website or on a touch-screen kiosk.” Read more

 

Pier 1 activist investor halves stake in company, makes big profit by Korri Kezar at Dallas Business Journal. Read more

 

Auto parts stock prices drop in wake of Amazon plan by Josh Kosman at NY Post. “Amazon could grow its auto part business by 60 percent, to $5 billion, in 2017, one analyst forecast.” Read more

 

Alibaba smashes estimates as revenue jumps 54% to $7.67 billion by Jon Russell at TechCrunch. “The primary source of revenue remains Alibaba core commerce businesses — in particular its Taobao marketplace and T-Mall service for brands — and that unit accounted for RMB 46,58 billion ($6.71 billion), up 45 percent year-on-year.” Read more

 

Whole Foods Market Hires MediaCom for Media Planning, Buying by Lindsay Stein at Ad Age. “At least six agencies competed for the account, which is worth about $60 million-plus…Last fall, Whole Foods appointed Sam’s Club’s Marketing VP Sonya Gafsi Oblisk as global VP-marketing.” 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. Our tough, no-nonsense formulas are packed with a powerful punch to make short work of home insect invaders. Whether you’re battling crawling, flying or stinging insects or fending off mice, when the flag flies, pests die. Let it Fly. How to protect your home with Sarge video | Facebook page

 

Tracy Morgan ordered to hand over financial documents in Walmart crash settlement by Nancy Dillon at NY Daily News. “Tracy Morgan must hand over six years of tax returns and other highly personal information…A federal magistrate judge in New Jersey gave the comedian 20 days to cough up the documents…” Read more

 

Mall Owners Rush To Get Out of the Mall Business by Esther Fung at Wall Street Journal. “We’re seeing a boatload of these kinds of properties coming to market,” said James Hull, managing principal of Augusta, Ga.-based Hull Property Group.” Read more (subs.)

 

Consumers Trust Amazon & Walmart Most For Drone Deliveries (Target #3, Walgreens #4) by Alan Wolf at Twice. “As to which types of products they’d be inclined to have delivered by air, most (57 percent) said gifts delivered to others, followed closely by hot, ready-to-eat meals (56 percent).” Read more

 

Luxury stores face a triple threat, as potential store closures loom by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “We are living right now the first slowdown [in the luxury market],” Olivier Abtan, a partner at The Boston Consulting Group, told CNBC.” Read more

 

Warby Parker debuts first Philly store on Saturday by Suzette Parmley at Philly Inquirer. Read more

 

There’s something brewing in the Walmart beer aisle, but you can’t call it ‘craft’ by Fritz Hahn at Washington Post. “I convened a team of Washington Post staffers for a blind tasting of beers purchased at Walmart and Trader Joe’s and asked them to write down their thoughts. The results were not that positive…” Read more

 

Johnson & Johnson 4Q Sales Rise 1.7% at Fox Business. Read more

 

Amazon’s U.S. Echo sales top 8 million by Matt Linder at Internet Retailer. “That’s up 173% from an estimated 3 million shoppers this time last year. CIRP estimates that Amazon sold 3.1 million devices in the fourth quarter of 2016 alone.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Burglar botches his own heist at Bloomingdale’s

Gov. Mark Dayton recovering after collapsing during speech

iPhone 8 Report Claims Biggest Feature Removed

A Canadian furniture e-retailer zooms toward $100 million in annual sales

Best Buy CEO swats down rumors he’s leaving

Man on bail attempts to kidnap ex-wife at Walmart in shooting

Amazon Prime’s GM joins a nutritional products manufacturer

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Tipsheet: Lowe’s New CMO | Amazon Eyes Auto Parts | Kroger Tests Sensors | Wmart +$150K for Trump Inaug.

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Amazon’s next frontier to conquer? Auto parts by Josh Kosman & James Covert at NY Post. “In recent months, Amazon has struck contracts with the largest parts makers in the country — including Robert Bosch, Federal-Mogul, Dorman Products and Cardone Industries, sources told The Post…it’s possible that Amazon may even snatch up some of the regional parts distributors…” Read more

 

Lowe’s Appoints Jocelyn Wong As Chief Marketing Officer “Wong joined Lowe’s in September 2015 and has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, merchandising, brand management and product innovation with well-known brands such as Family Dollar, Safeway and Procter & Gamble. Prior to joining Lowe’s, she served as senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Family Dollar.” Press release

 

Walmart began handing out pink slips Friday morning (Jan. 20). Most of the cuts were in Bentonville. Kim Souza at The City Wire. Read more

 

San Antonio suspect captured in deadly mall robbery at My San Antonio. “One person is dead and three others injured from gunshot wounds following an attempted jewelry store robbery Sunday afternoon at Rolling Oaks Mall. Two other people were also transported to area hospitals with non-gun related injuries, police say. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus called it “a robbery gone really, really bad.” Read more

 

…One Good Samaritan is killed as he takes on two armed robbers – before another witness shoots one suspect at Daily Mail. Pics/Read more

 

Kroger Tests Sensors, Analytics In Interactive Grocery Shelves by Kim S. Nash at Wall Street Journal. “The system, which detects individual shoppers through their mobile devices, can offer tailored pricing on specific items and, through 4-inch color display screens, highlight products on the customer’s mobile shopping list. Tests began late last year and are expected to expand in the coming months.” Read more (subscription)

 

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

 

How Amazon parties: Inside the tech giant’s massive post-holiday celebration and concert by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. “Amazon turned Seattle’s largest event center into its own wonderland on Friday night as a way to say “thank you” to thousands of employees. The tech giant hosted 22,000 people at its annual post-holiday party inside CenturyLink Field and Event Center, and GeekWire had a chance to experience the massive celebration among a throng of Seattle-area Amazon workers.” Pics/Read more

 

At HSN, smartphones are the flagship store by Sarah Halzack at Washington Post. “What I’ve been saying to people is, you need to think about mobile as your new flagship. It’s the place everybody goes to first,” Grossman said. “So when somebody wakes up, they’re going to check the weather, they’re going to check their email. What is going to make them check with you? And it can’t just be, ‘I’m going to give you 30 [percent] off.’” Read more

 

Walgreens to pay $50M to settle claims that it violated anti-kickback law by Lisa Schencker at Chicago Tribune. “…to settle allegations that it illegally gave discounts to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to encourage them to fill their prescriptions at Walgreens.” Read more

 

Kroger to fill 10,000 permanent posts via Reuters. Read more

 

FTC not sold on Walgreens’ plan to win nod for Rite Aid deal via Reuters. “The FTC is also unlikely to complete its review of the deal before the deadline of Jan. 27 to close the transaction, the Bloomberg report said…”We still believe Walgreens will work as hard as possible towards completing the acquisition. WBA has already extended the acquisition date once and we believe will do so again if necessary,” Barclays analysts wrote in a note.” Read more

 

Buyers, Lowe’s Settle Flooring Formaldehyde Class Action by Carolina Bolado at Law 360. Read more (subscription)

 

Amazon’s latest attempt to build a friendlier workplace is a new program for employees in trouble by Monica Nickelsburg at GeekWire. “The initiative, called “Pivot,” connects under-performing employees with a team of “subject matter experts,” called Career Ambassadors. Based on a Career Ambassador job listing spotted by BI, PIP employees who opt-in to Pivot receive coaching and “specialist advice regarding HR, performance, and employment issues.” Read more

 

Coca-Cola, Walmart and Other Big Brands That Bankrolled Trump’s Inauguration by Simon Dumenco at Ad Age. “Walmart: “has given $150,000 to the inaugural committee, as well as sponsoring a ball,” according to a spokesman, per The Wall Street Journal.” Read more

 

Home Depot Escapes Whirlpool Energy Star Label Row by Kat Sieniuc at Law 360. Read more (subscription)

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Delaware Supreme Court revives derivative suit over Wal-Mart’s Mexican payments

Look at Amazon’s most ambitious, astonishing delivery patents

Retail space per capita in steep decline

81% of luxury buyers name digital channels as preferred means of researching a product

Retail Malaise Puts Pressure on Chains to Shutter More Stores

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Tipsheet: Carrefour Poach B.Buy CEO? | Target Names CMO | HEB’s Burger Drive-Thru | Loblaw New Pres.

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Carrefour weighs Best Buy executive to replace CEO at Reuters. “Carrefour SA shareholders could appoint a new chief executive this year and have identified Best Buy SA CEO Hubert Joly as one of their favorites for the post, Brazilian newspaper Valor Economico reported on Friday.” Read more

 

Rick Gomez will become Target’s new chief marketer by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “Gomez — who previously worked at MillerCoors, Quaker Oats and PepsiCo — will become part of the senior executive leadership team that reports directly to Cornell.” Read more

 

Procter & Gamble’s 2Q Results Top Expectations at Fox Business. “Net sales of $16.85 billion came in ahead of Wall Street estimates of $16.77 billion…P&G said it expects organic sales to grow 2 to 3 percent, up from its previous forecast of about 2 percent.” Read more

 

Sarah Davis named Loblaw president amid Galen Weston executive shift by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “Davis was most recently chief administrative officer at Loblaw, with responsibility for supply chain and IT, including overseeing the final stages of the retailer’s arduous SAP point-of-sale software rollout.” Read more

 

Central Texas H-E-B store getting Whataburger drive-through by Gary Dinges at Austin American-Statesman. “This will be the first Central Texas H-E-B location to feature a Whataburger drive-through and the second in Texas. The first was in Lytle, southwest of San Antonio, a spokeswoman said.” Read more

 

Amazon job posting suggests plan to bring shopping experiences into VR by Lucas Matney at TechCrunch. “The job is with the company’s A9 division, which oversees product search and advertising technologies. The posting claims that the division is “building Amazon’s VR shopping experience for use by millions of customers on a wide variety of VR devices.” Read more

 

Whole Foods to Open a Lower-Priced ‘365’ Store in Brooklyn by Keiko Morris at Wall Street Journal. “The first 365 store in the tri-state area will sit at the base of 300 Ashland Place, a new 35-story tower next to the Brooklyn Academy of Music and not far from the Barclays Center, the company said.” Read more (subs.)

 

**A message from NY NOW – Shop Bold New Trends from 2,400+ Top Home, Handmade + Lifestyle Gift brands this February and elevate your merchandise mix! NY NOW, the industry leader bringing innovation and design across Home, Lifestyle Gift + Handmade collections, will take place at the Javits Convention Center in NYC this February 4 – 8, 2017. 2016 show recap video. NY NOW is your source for volume buying & private label programs. Register now!

 

Amazon just launched virtual ‘Dash’ buttons for one-click buying from the homepage by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “The new virtual Dash buttons started appearing on the Amazon.com homepage and the Amazon app home screen on Thursday night…An Amazon spokesperson said Prime members can create a virtual one-click button for tens of millions of products available for Prime delivery. “Add to your Dash buttons” is now an option on the product page of all eligible products.” Read more

 

Costco agrees to pay $12M to resolve federal painkiller investigation by Coral Garnick at Puget Sound Business Journal. “The Issaquah-based retailer acknowledged that certain Costco pharmacies improperly filled prescriptions for controlled substances and kept poor records between 2012 and 2015, according to the settlement announced Thursday.” Read more

 

Amazon is creating an apprenticeship program to train veterans for tech jobs by Megan Rose Dickey at TechCrunch. “Amazon and the U.S. Department of Labor have signed an agreement to create a registered apprenticeship program…Through ApprenticeshipUSA, people can earn a salary while learning the skills needed for the job.” Read more

 

Ads for Google products topped Google search results 91 percent of the time by Tess Townsend at Recode. “According to a data analysis in the Wall Street Journal, the search giant has been buying millions of its own ads and displaying its products such as Google Home and Nest thermostats atop search results, over those of ad-buying customers.” Read more | WSJ article (subs.)

 

ShopRite Supermarkets Names Brett Wing New President “Prior to joining SRS, Wing served as VP of FoodMaxx, a division of Save Mart Supermarkets in Northern California. He also spent 25 years with Cub Foods, a division of Supervalu.” Press release

 

Nordstrom spurs tangible shows of affection with personal love stories at Luxury Daily. “One video features jewelry designer Arpana Rayamajhi and her tattoo artist beau Bruno Levy. The pair talk about their stubborn tendencies, characterized by the frequency of their arguments decreasing from daily to every other day. At the end of the 30-second film, Nordstrom includes the tagline of the campaign, “Love is a gift. Give freely.” Read more

 

Target CIO Mike McNamara Talks Tech Transformation at A Bullseye View. “I’ve been attending the annual NRF show long enough to remember when there were as many vendors showing off the latest in shelves and fixtures on the expo floor as there were vendors selling technology…” Read more

 

Mall Closures Ripple Through Small Town America by Esther Fung & Kris Maher at Wall Street Journal. “It’s very, very sad,” said Jamie McCallister, a Macy’s jewelry associate who stood behind a glass case of gold and silver chains and earrings as a liquidator earlier this month walked through the store adding discounts to individual products. “I’m just heartbroken.” Read more (subs.)

 

How Kraft Heinz Plans to Build a New Global Food Giant by Geoff Colvin at Fortune. “In Madison, they still struggle to accept that it’s really happening. On a not-yet-specified day before the end of March, a Kraft Heinz employee will turn off the lights in the sprawling Oscar Mayer plant, and for the first time in 98 years, no one will be coming back to work…” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Heartless crooks caught on video robbing 9-year-old boy shopping at Brooklyn Target

This under-the-radar retail chain will be a big beneficiary from Macy’s store closures

Amazon isn’t the only retailer trying to get rid of the checkout line. Here’s what others are doing

Ferguson Shop ‘n Save to close

Heineken in Discussions With Kirin to Double Down in Brazil

Walgreens to pay $200K, change opioid procedures

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Tipsheet: Target’s Soccer Push | Nstrom CIO Retires | Dament Svalu SVP | WSJ Talks Costco G.Balls

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Target makes big push into soccer marketing by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “(Target) is embarking on its biggest push ever into team sports…it has signed a three-year deal to be an official partner of Major League Soccer; will be a major sponsor of the local team, whose players will soon sport the company’s trademark bullseye on its jerseys, and will be the official retailer for U.S. Youth Soccer…“Soccer merchandise — think soccer balls and shin guards — were up 10 percent [in sales] in 2016 versus the previous year,” he said. “That is growing faster than any other sports category at Target.” Read more

 

Nordstrom CIO Dan Little announces plans to retire as retailer looks to fill several roles on tech team by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. “He said the company is searching for a new CTO who will have accountability for all aspects of technology at Nordstrom and absorb responsibilities that previously were part of the traditional CIO role.” Read more

 

Meet the One Retailer That Didn’t Get Killed During the Holidays by Brian Sozzi at The Street. “If you read the tea leaves, Best Buy not only won the holiday season because of its improved shopping experience in stores and online — not to mention the insatiable consumer interest for gadgets — but entered the new year with some form of sales momentum and a decent story to pitch to investors on the first-quarter earnings call (unlike everyone else in retail).” Read more

 

Ex-Target Grocery Head Anne Dament Named Supervalu SVP “Dament will lead the Company’s retail banner operations, oversee the retail merchandising and marketing functions, and report to Mark Gross, Supervalu’s President and Chief Executive Officer.” Press release

 

Robots, on-demand knitting and smart shelves: Welcome to the future of shopping by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “One of the buzziest technologies shown looks to satisfy customers’ craving for more unique merchandise. The partnership between Intel and Shima Seiki, a company that makes knitting machines for factories, allows consumers to customize their own apparel and have it created on the spot.” Read more/Pics

 

American Consumers’ Economic Expectations Are The Highest Since 2002 by Austin Weinstein at Bloomberg. “Comfort picked up last week among consumers in the Midwest, the most optimistic of all four regions, and in the West.” Read more

 

**A message from Hot Shot – There’s no place like home. And when you rule the roost, you do it all… keep the peace, dry the tears, mop up the messes – even squash the spiders. When bugs cross your threshold, count on Hot Shot® brand for practical, easy-to-use, effective home insect solutions that take care of the creepy-crawlies for you – without breaking the bank. Save the Day. Facebook page

 

Amazon captures a third of online visits by holiday shoppers by Don Davis at Internet Retailer. “The next-highest retailer was Wal-Mart Stores Inc. at 6.69%, followed by Target Corp. at 3.25%, Best Buy Co. Inc. at 2.93% and The Home Depot Inc. at 2.1%.” Read more

 

OPEN TODAY – Nike opens “future of sports retailer” – two-story, multi-sport store at more than 31,000 sq. ft. Press release

 

Wall Street Journal: The Most Coveted Ball in Golf Is From Costco by Brian Costa. “Clinton Svoboda, a 43-year-old electrician in Iowa City, Iowa, said he bought 44 dozen balls through multiple orders on Costco’s website and has since sold 40 dozen of them on eBay. He sells them for up to $40 per dozen, including the cost of shipping, which leaves him with around a $10 profit per box.” Read more (subscription)

 

Ex-Advance Auto Parts/Best Buy/Home Depot exec George Sherman named CEO of A Wireless Press release

 

Legoland starts construction on castle hotel by Lori Weisberg at San Diego Union-Tribune. “Instead of a mix of standard and premium rooms as in the first hotel, the new one will all have upgraded rooms with more detailed and colorful decor tied to the castle experience. From the moment young guests arrive, they’ll be greeted by staff costumed as princesses and wizards and made to feel as though they’re preparing for a grand tournament.” Read more

 

Walmart sued for firing of employee with Down syndrome by Alisa M. Schafer at Herald Times Recorder via USA Today. “The manager I talked to, she said ‘Well, we have to treat her just like everyone else,’ and I was done talking to her at that point because that is the farthest from the truth,” said Stevenson.” Read more

 

Shannon Johnson joins Pilot Flying J as Vice President of Food Innovation Press release

 

Target blamed after customer attacked by Demond Fernandez at WFAA. “Dallas police released surveillance images of the suspects who they believe attacked Whitener after he alerted store staff. “He asked Target for help,” Hamilton said. “Instead of giving the help that Derek needed, the help that any customer would need, Target turned Derek into a target.” Video/Read more

 

Small-town department store defying the odds by Beccy Tanner at The Wichita Eagle. “Her only competition, Eaton joked, is the obituary page. Her shoppers come from Oklahoma, Texas and all over Kansas. Longtime multigenerational customers talk about cherished bathrobes, dresses and other merchandise bought at Jetts decades ago – and still in use.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Beloved Walmart cart man pushes aside autism – community starts donation page for 21st birthday

Here’s why Cramer calls Target the ‘Donner Party’

Obese woman humiliated after pic of her falling off a Walmart scooter goes viral

Kids can play-shop at new Trader Joe’s exhibit at Irvine’s Pretend City

Man, 28, dies after being shot at Kroger over door ding

Amazon inspires ‘oh shit’ moment in the retail world

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Tipsheet: Target Nov/Dec Comp -1.3% | 84 Lumber S.Bowl Ad Rejected | W.Foods Cuts 500 | Amazon Patents T.Truck

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Target Holiday (Nov/Dec) Comp Sales -1.3% – Lowers Q4 Guidance “While we were pleased with Black Friday sales, December digital sales growth of more than 40 percent and continued strength in our Signature Categories, these results were offset by early season sales softness and disappointing traffic and sales trends in our stores,” said Brian Cornell, chairman and CEO of Target.” Press release

 

Whole Foods closing 3 regional kitchens, trimming 500 jobs by Gary Dinges at Austin American-Statesman. “Combined, the facilities in Everett, Mass.; Landover, Md.; and metro Atlanta employ about 500 people…The regional kitchens set to close are the last three operated by the company.” Read more

 

Amazon wins patent for Treasure Truck as it makes plans to expand beyond Seattle by Alan Boyle at GeekWire. “Amazon hasn’t said anything officially yet, but it’s looking for a product manager to identify which cities are ripe for the picking and oversee the expansion plan. There’s also an opening for a senior business development manager to deal with Treasure Truck real estate issues.” Read more

 

84 Lumber Explores Other Options After Fox Reportedly Rejects ‘Political’ Super Bowl Ad by Patrick Coffee at Adweek. “…according to a report published by Campaign today, Fox Sports declined to run the first version of the ad submitted by 84 Lumber and its agency partner Brunner. Sources claimed the initial creative summary included a wall preventing would-be employees from crossing an unspecified border, thereby mirroring President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promise to build a physical barrier between the U.S. and Mexico.” Read more

 

Thor Construction headquarters project gets Target backing by Neal St. Anthony at Star Tribune. “We couldn’t be more proud to partner with Thor on this important project,” said (Brian) Cornell. “Through this unique relationship with Thor, we’re helping to fuel opportunities in north Minneapolis.” Read more

 

J.C. Penney plans 600 Nike shops inside department stores by Matthew Kish at Portland Business Journal. Read more

 

Toys “R” Us Holiday Comp Sales -2.5% Press release

 

Tuesday Morning president resigns – announces layoffs by Maria Halkias at Dallas News. “With Phillips departure, CEO Steven Becker is assuming the title of president and the role of chief operating officer is going away.” Read more

 

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Tiffany Holiday Comp Sales -1.0% Press release

 

…Tiffany blames Trump Tower security for poor holiday sales by Mark Moore by NY Post. “November and December sales at its flagship location dropped 14 percent from a year earlier — a drop “which we attribute at least partly to post-election traffic disruptions,” the company said in a statement.” Read more

 

Amazon patented a highway network that controls self-driving cars and trucks by Johana Bhuiyan at Recode. “Amazon is rumored to be working on creating self-driving delivery vehicles out of its drone division, Prime Air. In fact, one of the listed inventors of the network, Jim Curlander, is the technical adviser at Prime Air.” Read more

 

Kroger hires government relations chief by Steve Watkins at Cincinnati Business Courier. “(Matt) Perin…previously worked as deputy director of government relations for Bayer Corp. Before that, he was staff director for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Nutrition & Horticulture.” Read more

 

J.C. Penney Sets Trend in Reviving Suburban Corporate Campuses by Peter Grant at Wall Street Journal. “The worst thing that happened to J.C. Penney was the best thing that happened to the city of Plano,” (Sam Ware) said.” Read more (subscription)

 

HSNi CEO Mindy Grossman elected chairman of the NRF Board of Directors Press release

 

Lowe’s names company veteran as CFO by Ken Elkins at Charlotte Business Journal. “(Bob) Hull, who has spent 17 years at Lowe’s, including 14 years as chief financial officer, will be replaced by Marshall Croom, who himself has been at (Lowe’s) for 20 years.” Read more

 

Twitter is phasing out the “Buy” button by Ingrid Lunden at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Amazon is crushing Walmart, eBay, and Target in the growing mobile shopping space by Eugene Kim at Business Insider. “At the end of 2014, Amazon had roughly the same number of mobile unique visitors as Walmart and eBay, in the US. As of December 2016, Amazon has more unique visitors than the apps of those two companies’ combined,” Oppenheimer wrote in the note.” Read more

 

Chewy.com, an online pet supplies retailer, is setting up an outpost in Boston that it expects will soon employ 200 people by Scott Kirsner at Boston Globe. Read more

 

Law firm considers class-action suit against Walmart for allegedly selling wildfire-contaminated food by David Thurton at CBC News. “Walmart Canada and four of its senior managers face 174 charges under the Alberta Public Health Act related to the sale of food contaminated during the wildfire, which engulfed the city last May. A 31-page charge sheet alleges the store sold various contaminated food items, ranging from chocolate bars to bacon and chicken.” Read more

 

Christopher & Banks CEO fired after poor holiday showing; stock plummets by Dan DeBaun at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. Read more | Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Intel to invest $100M in retail tech

Has Costco stopped selling the Kirkland Signature golf balls?

Amazon opens Pittsburgh office to tap local talent

Global shipping prices are staging a major comeback and here’s why

Leslie’s Pool Supplies acquired by private equity firm

OrderGroove nabs $20M to help brands raise their Amazon game

Online marketplace Letgo raises $175 million

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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.

 

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Tipsheet: Amazon Makes India Angry Again | Wmart +10K | A.Apparel -2.4K | HEB’s Butt +$100M

/in

 

Wal-Mart to Create 10,000 U.S. Jobs in Nod to Trump by Sarah Nassauer at MarketWatch. “The jobs will come from previously planned store openings, store expansions and new e-commerce services, the company said Tuesday. The retailer said 24,000 additional construction jobs will be supported by those efforts.” Read more | Press release

 

Amazon Is Making India Angry Again, This Time with a Pair of Flip-Flops by Joseph Hincks at Fortune. “India’s Secretary of Economic Affairs Shaktikanta Das also weighed in, warning Amazon over Twitter that being indifferent to Indian symbols and icons would be “at your own peril.” Read more

 

We will stand for our values in trade and immigration, eBay CEO Devin Wenig says by Elizabeth Gurdus at CNBC. “It’s important for companies that have been built on trade and immigration like ours to stand for those values,” Devin Wenig said on “Squawk Box.” Read more

 

C-stores are increasingly a threat to fast-food chains like McDonald’s by Ashley Lutz at Business Insider. “The average food purchase at a convenience store is $2 less than at fast food chains, according to NRN.” Read more

 

Executive shuffle continues as Wal-Mart moves to be a ‘digital enterprise,’ corporate layoffs may begin this week by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “We need more speed and less bureaucracy” to better serve shoppers to save them money and time, McMillon noted in a recent memo to employees. In that same memo McMillon said in an effort “to stay lean and fast” some jobs are being eliminated, and new positions created.” Read more

 

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American Apparel starts mass layoffs as company winds down operations by Shan Li at LA Times. “…the company began laying off 2,400 workers in Southern California on Monday — kicking off its final chapter as the country’s largest garment maker.” Read more

 

Retailers haven’t perfected buy online, pick up in store yet by Matt Linder at Internet Retailer. “57.5% of all shoppers use the omnichannel service, but only 31.6% describe it as being a smooth process, according to a new report.” Read more

 

H-E-B’s Charles Butt pledges $100 million to train school leaders by Melissa B. Taboada at Austin American-Statesman. “The center’s organizers estimate that more than 3,000 education leaders will go through the program in its first 10 years at no cost to the districts.” Read more

 

Holiday sales at Macy’s Inc., Sears Holdings Corp., and J.C. Penney Co. were anemic and U.S. government data just confirmed it by Jordan Yadoo at Bloomberg. “The breakdown showed purchases at department stores fell 7.2 percent, marking the 23rd consecutive month of year-over-year declines in the beleaguered sector.” See chart/Read more

 

NRF launches training for entry-level job seekers by Anne D’Inncenzio at AP via Fox Business. “Trying to stem high turnover in store jobs, nonprofit groups and chains such as Wal-Mart, Home Depot and the Home Shopping Network are launching a program to help people develop the skills to land entry-level jobs and advance in a retail career.” Read more

 

NRF 2017: New report unwraps holiday web sales insights by Katie Evans at Internet Retailer. “…from May 2015-November 2016, Amazon increased the products for sale on its site (both products sold by Amazon directly and from marketplace sellers) by 14.4% to 419,576,537 SKUs from 366,775,466.” Read more

 

Amazon ‘eFairness’ bill could put $100 million into ‘future tax cuts’ for Arkansans, says Sen. Files by Aric Mitchell at The City Wire. “Files said in 2016, there were 270 payments of the use tax by individuals statewide, “and I’m thinking there were probably more than 270 items that were purchased online.” Read more

 

Behind the J.C. Penney campus deal: ‘Our bid was higher by design’ by Candice Carlisle at Dallas Business Journal. Read more

 

Alibaba cracks down on $1.7 trillion fake goods market by Marco della Cava at USA Today. “Alibaba announced Monday that it has formed a coalition that will leverage the power of big data to crack down on purveyors of fake goods, whose value in 2015 exceeded $1.7 trillion.” Read more

 

Facebook’s Sandberg Unveils ‘Startup Garage’ in Paris by Marie Mawad at Bloomberg. “One of France’s richest people, Niel spent 250 million euros ($268 million) to transform a former freight station into an incubator area, with some 3,000 desks for rent and numerous hangout areas.” Read more

 

MasterCard CMO: 75% of brands ‘could disappear and no one would care’ at New York Business Journal. Read more

 

Ralph Lauren employee busted in attempt to rip off company by Rebecca Rosenberg at NY Post. “Alexandra Bocon, 32, created two bogus businesses and linked them to Square Cash accounts, an app that allows companies to accept payment via credit card.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Macy’s fires top executive in charge of growth – pays him $2.7M

Feds say scam netted $2.8 million from Lowe’s stores

America’s most hated companies (Sears #9, Walmart #11)

Gander Mountain to close 2 stores in Pittsburgh-area

Amazon manager joins Blucora as it exits the Seattle area

Randalls to close Houston-area store

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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.

 

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

 

Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

Tipsheet: Amazon Poaches Target | Bezos Buys Biggest House in D.C. | Ex-C.Tire CEO to Sobeys

/in

 

Former Canadian Tire CEO to take helm at troubled Sobeys after ‘extensive’ search by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “Michael Medline, who was abruptly replaced as chief executive of Canadian Tire last July, has been tapped to head troubled grocery chain Sobeys and its owner Empire Co…While Medline worked in a variety of executive roles at Canadian Tire and its sporting goods division for more than 15 years, he does not have direct experience in grocery retail.” Read more

 

Jeff Bezos is the anonymous buyer of the biggest house in Washington by Emily Heil & Kathy Orton at Washington Post. “Jeff Bezos has bought the former Textile Museum, a 27,000 square-foot property, intending to convert it into a single-family home, according to a person with knowledge of the sale. Bezos’s neighbors will include President Obama and his family, who are renting a property nearby for their post-White House home as well as future first daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband.” Read more

 

Amazon just poached one of Target’s rising stars to run Prime in important new markets by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “Amazon has hired Jamil Ghani, Target’s SVP of strategy and innovation, to run the Amazon Prime membership business in international markets, according to a person briefed on the move…At Target, Ghani was an up-and-coming executive tasked with figuring out how the traditional retailer would find new avenues for growth in a world increasingly dominated by Amazon.” Read more

 

Lowe’s preps for layoffs as it shifts to new store staffing model by Katie Little at CNBC. “…will be laying off “less than 1 percent” of its employees in the near future, a person familiar with the matter said Thursday. The source did not share the exact number of layoffs. Lowe’s workforce totals more than 285,000.” Read more

 

Target Earns Highest Paid-Search Traffic Share For Product Keywords by Laurie Sullivan at Media Post. “Target received nearly 30% of all paid-search traffic for the top 10 product-related keywords during the 2016 holiday season — more than 2.5 times the traffic of retail site like Walmart, which took 11% share…toysrus.com, 10%; eBay.com 9.8%; amazon.com, 7.1%; madeby.google.com, 5.9%; macys.com, 5.3%; fitbit.com, 4.1%; bestbuy.com, 3.4%; apple.com, 2.5%.” Read more

 

GameStop says holiday same-store sales slumped 18.7% by Ciara Linnane at MarketWatch. Read more

 

Trump Endorses L.L. Bean After Board Member Supports Him by Nick Turner & Molly Smith at Bloomberg. “Thank you to Linda Bean of L.L. Bean for your great support and courage,” Trump said on Twitter Thursday. “People will support you even more now. Buy L.L. Bean.” Read more

 

eBay takes on fashion resale startups with launch of authentication program by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “…called simply eBay Authenticate, which will allow sellers to opt in to have their goods verified. Buyers will be able to see that the items will be authenticated when viewing listings – a move aimed at boosting consumer trust, as well as increasing the prices sellers can charge.” Read more

 

American Apparel is moving to Canada by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Forever 21 held a recruitment event at American Apparel’s headquarters on Thursday, looking for job applicants to fill positions in accounting, design, IT and other professional positions, according to employees.” Read more

 

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U.S. News & World Report: Top 100 Jobs See the list

 

Amazon’s career guru shares playbook for tuition program by Casey Coombs at Puget Sound Business Journal. “We’re taking it to businesses across America and saying, ‘there’s no catch, no twist, no charge,’” said Juan Garcia, Amazon’s global leader for career advancement. “We will show you our playbook and help set up Career Choice.” Read more

 

Saks Fifth Avenue teams with a Milanese company on a collection of machine-washable suiting that respects traditional Italian design by Michael B. Dougherty at Wall Street Journal. “Eric Jennings, vice president and menswear fashion director at Saks Fifth Avenue, discovered Traiano last June, while attending menswear trade show Pitti Uomo, in Florence. “From a distance, [the company’s wares] looked like traditional Italian tailored clothing but as soon as we got up close and were touching the fabrics, we were like, ‘What?!’” Read more (subscription)

 

Sephora innovates business practices with mobile buying platform by Brielle Jaekel at Luxury Daily. “The beauty retailer, an innovator in modern business operations, has partnered with retail-buying platform RangeMe for a contemporary practice in product buying. Sephora will now be able to find new products from suppliers in a streamlined manner through a mobile application.” Read more

 

Sound Transit in talks with Amazon to place package delivery hubs at Seattle-area rail stations by Nat Levy at GeekWire. Read more

 

Panera Bread hits its goal of ditching all food additives by Sarah Whitten at CNBC. “Over the last few years, the company reviewed more than 450 ingredients that it sells in stores and reformulated 122 of them, including a large majority of Panera’s bakery-cafe recipes.” Read more

 

Top 10 Women in Retail Tech (PetSmart, Walgreens, Walmart, B.Buy, T.Supply, Jet) at Chain Store Age. List

 

Amazon Launches Anime Channel for $5 Per Month by Todd Spangler at Variety. Read more

 

Boy battling cancer gets his wish fulfilled – at Amazon fulfillment center by Kaila White at Arizona Republic via USA Today.”As he walked around the center, which is more than 1 million square feet and has more than 2,000 employees, he smiled, laughed, made faces and craned his neck to see the labyrinthine 8 miles of conveyor belts. To explain his excitement he used a metaphor. “This is the earth,” he said, mimicking its explosion with his hands. “Mind blown. It turned my life — I was upside down — back up.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Johnsonville Just Made an Amazing Sausage-Themed Reality Show You Need to Watch

Callaway buys backpack/golf bag maker Ogio for $75.5M

Fake news? P&G responds to viral web story that linked VapoRub to baby’s death

Expert discusses Wal-Mart’s recent shopping spree, says they may be building a ‘Frankenstein’

Ziploc freezer bags help premature babies thrive

Man claims shoe deodoriser he bought from Aldi is actually ‘Coles women’s antiperspirant with a plastic label’

Reclusive In-N-Out heiress, 34, reveals shocking details of her struggles with drugs

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.

 

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

 

Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here