Tipsheet: Costco #2 Grocer | Guam Kmart Loved | Sam’s ‘Insane’ Crowds | T.Joe’s Cuts Chemicals

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Amazon takes on Wish with an “Under $10” selection of products that ship for free by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “In the Amazon iOS app and on the web, Amazon recently added a new section offering products under $10 that ship for free. Some of the products are also available on Prime, but the feature doesn’t appear to be limited to Prime subscribers.” Read more

 

Kroger Edge Rolls at CNBC. “Kroger is in the midst of rolling out Kroger Edge, a new shelving system for its grocery stores. The company is planning to outfit hundreds of stores with digital screens that will be able to instantly update an item’s price or feature other information. Eventually, the technology will link to shoppers’ phones to help them navigate the store.” Read more

 

H&M Has Hired a Diversity Manager Following Its ‘Racist’ Monkey Hoodie Scandal by Natasha Bach at Fortune. “The Swedish retailer announced that it’s named Annie Wu, already the global manager for employee relations, as the group’s new global leader for diversity and inclusiveness.” Read more

 

dunnhumby: Grocer Preference Index: #1 Trader Joe’s, #2 Costco, #3 Amazon, #4 H-E-B, #5 Walmart 54 grocers ranked

 

The Last Place on Earth Where Everyone Still Loves Kmart by Lucy Kramer at Wall Street Journal. “Guam Kmart, by far the chain’s busiest store, is protected by an expanse of ocean from a consumer market that’s largely shunned such stores, prospering on a retail version of the Galapagos. “People come by and take photos, selfies out in front,” said Mike Fleissner, the store manager.” Read more (subs.)

 

‘Absolutely Insane Scene’: Police Deal With Unruly Crowd of 600 at Sam’s Club Store at CBS Detroit. “It was absolutely an insane scene there today,” said Lorna, who declined to give her last name. “Management has now closed it because it’s just getting, as they termed it, ‘too nuts inside and a little nuts outside.’” Read more

 

…Residents pack library to voice displeasure about Sam’s closing – many saying they believe the store was closed because it was located in a predominantly Black community at The Champion. Read more

 

Trader Joe’s to Remove Controversial Chemicals From Receipts by Lauren Coleman-Lochner at Bloomberg. “A study being released Wednesday in partnership with Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, a coalition of environmental and health groups, showed BPA and BPS were found in 93 percent of 208 register receipts tested.” Read more

 

**A message from Kidibul – The festive, bubbly beverage made for kids’ parties! Wildly popular European beverage now available in the US for the first time. 100% natural & sparkling juice in a champagne type bottle with natural cork & wire to pop. Great for birthdays, New Year, Christmas, etc. Kids love the bubbles! Website | PowerPoint | Samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Loblaw and the Canada Revenue Agency faced off in a Toronto court Wednesday in a $404-million dispute involving allegations that the grocery giant’s Barbadian banking subsidiary was misused for tax avoidance at Toronto Star. Read more

 

Amazon Studios to cut back on indie films in programing shift: sources at Reuters. Read more

 

Smart vending machines could change e-commerce as we know it by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Privately held Swyft has deals with CVS, Uniqlo, BestBuy, Sugarrfina, Nespresso and others. While Swyft at first placed its $20,000 smart machines in airports and malls, it is now placing them where customers live — at gyms, in hotels and on college campuses.” Read more/Pic

 

Walmart press release announcing Judith McKenna as President & CEO of Walmart Int’l Press release

 

Say Hello to Good Chemistry, Target’s First Exclusive Fragrance Brand at A Bullseye View. “The vegan and paraben-free scents are made with essential oils and will be available in all Target stores starting Jan. 21.” Read more

 

Office Depot’s chief accounting officer resigns by Keith Larsen at South Florida Business Journal. Read more

 

Wegmans opens first store to include a Mexican restaurant and tequila bar at Syracuse.com. “The second floor will feature Blue Dalia, a restaurant named after Mexico’s national flower, opening May 4 with a menu of Mexican dishes, made-to-order salsas, margaritas and more.” Read more

 

Goldman upgrades Walmart and names it one of the bank’s favorite stocks on the tax cut at CNBC. Read more

 

How online dollar store Hollar aims to win by keeping prices cheap by Katie Evans at Internet Retailer. “Until recently, Hollar sourced and owned all its own items…But the e-retailer’s business model is evolving. In July, Hollar launched an online marketplace that allows outside merchants to sell products on Hollar. The goal is to offer as much variety as possible.” Read more

 

Blain’s Farm & Fleet pushes into the Michigan market – will bring the company’s total number of stores to 40 by Melanie Lawder at Milwaukee Business Journal. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Dog Found Hanging From A Tree Near Lowe’s Store

Town could become first major city in world to run out of water after 90-day warning

“Big Truck Farms” brewery in the works on Under Armour co-founder’s farm

Macy’s moving to sell off parking at downtown Cincinnati HQ

Man commits “joke robberies” at JCP & Sephora – gets away with warning

Divers Have Discovered the World’s Longest Underwater Cave

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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: WM’s Next Int’l Chief | Amazon Spheres Ready | New NRF Board | Tiffany +5%

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Wal-Mart Makes Judith McKenna Its International Chief by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. “McKenna, currently chief operating officer of the retailer’s domestic operations, will succeed David Cheesewright on Feb. 1, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the move hasn’t been announced…McKenna’s promotion puts her among the possible contenders to eventually succeed McMillon…” Read more

 

Tiffany’s holiday sales jump 8 percent, boosted by growth in China and Europe at CNBC. “Total same-store sales were up 5 percent during the November and December months, the company said. In the U.S. alone, same-store sales rose 6 percent.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart to Offer Pill-Dissolving Product to Battle Opioid Abuse by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. “Customers filling a new Class II opioid prescription at any of Wal-Mart’s 4,700 U.S. pharmacies will now receive a packet of DisposeRx, a powder that — when mixed into a pill bottle with warm water — creates a safe, biodegradable gel, the company said in a statement Wednesday.” Read more

 

Amazon’s Spheres near opening day – website launches to showcase unique Seattle structures by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. “SeattleSpheres.com offers visitors a recap of the architectural and horticultural effort to date, and provides a bit of a tour through stories and images before Jan. 30 when The Spheres will officially open to the tech giant’s employees.” Read more

 

BJ’s Wholesale Club CEO Christopher J. Baldwin to Chair National Retail Federation. Newly elected members of the board are:

Miki Racine Berardelli, CEO, KIDBOX
John Furner, president and CEO, Sam’s Club
Jeff Gennette, CEO, Macy’s Inc.
Mike George, president and CEO, QVC Group
Steve Joyce, CEO, DineEquity
Rachel Mushahwar, Intel
Eva Press, U.S. group lead, Facebook
Brad Weston, CEO, Petco

Press release

 

NY Times: At NRF trade show, technology is the star by Tiffany Hsu. Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Retailers try luring shoppers with food by Alejandra Reyes-Velarde at LA Times. “Retailer Mark Werts was dining in a Hong Kong restaurant a few years ago when he noticed most people were doing more than chewing. “Of about 130 people, 129 people were on their phones,” said Werts, who owns the brands American Rag Cie clothing and Maison Midi home goods. “So it struck me that there’s an enormous opportunity while you’re eating to combine selling decor in a restaurant.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

**A message from Innovation Avenue at 2018 Sweets & Snacks Expo – Be first to market with the newest candy and snack products!  Nominees chosen for Innovative Awards go on to enjoy sweet success – see the 2017 Innovation Winners. Put yourself in the center of the single largest gathering of confectionery & snack companies under one roof – schedule your trip now! Chicago, May 22-24, 2018. Website | Exhibitors

 

15 Minutes With Home Depot’s General Counsel Teresa Wynn Roseborough by Aebra Coe at Law 360. Register to read

 

Amazon seeks medical data compliance leader for mysterious new initiative by Clare McGrane at GeekWire. “According to the listing, the company wants “an experienced HIPAA professional” who will oversee security and compliance for “a new initiative.” The exact nature of that new initiative isn’t clear. But after months of rumors, the listing is the clearest signal yet that Amazon is preparing to launch a major health initiative.” Read more

 

Dollar Tree Appoints Stephanie Stahl to Its Board of Directors Press release

 

Sidney, Nebraska faces challenge to fill vacant homes after Bass Pro takeover of Cabela’s by Paige Yowell at Omaha World-Herald. “There’s just going to be fewer people than houses, and some of them are going to be empty,” said Charles Nathanson, a professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.” Read more

 

IRI finds consumer confidence is holding steady with 53% of U.S. households feeling they are in good financial health Online shopping trends

 

Immigration raids at 7-Eleven came as franchisees feud with the retailer by Maria Halkias at Dallas Morning News. “Between 2019 and 2024, 80 percent of existing 10-year and 15-year franchise agreements will expire and 7-Eleven is pressuring franchisees to sign new deals, according to the coalition, which worries it will shrink their store profits.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

…Why 7-Eleven is now all about cold-pressed organic juice by Caitlin Dewey at Washington Post via Chicago Tribune. “At Kwik Trip, the Midwestern chain seen by many in the industry as the leader of the healthy stores movement, executives hired an in-house dietitian, Erica Flint, to help introduce new products and reformulate old ones. Each of the company’s 586 stores now stocks fresh fruit and vegetables…” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Doug McMillon @ NRF: “If we’re better at that than anybody else, we going to be here,” McMillon said about the future. “If we’re not, we won’t.” Read more

 

Burberry’s Weak Holidays Highlight Lack of Creative Direction by Robert Williams at Bloomberg. “The London-based trench-coat maker’s shares fell as much as 8.2 percent early Wednesday after Burberry said the new CEO’s plan to develop “it” handbags and higher-priced fashion won’t pay off until at least next year.” Read more

 

Citgo Petroleum plans to keep its headquarters in Houston, despite speculation that it might relocate to the Caribbean by Olivia Pulsinelli at Houston Business Journal. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Family of H&M model in controversial ad moves from home in Sweden over ‘security concerns’

Kim Jones Is Leaving Louis Vuitton

‘Miracle’ baby born in Target parking lot

China luxury sales rebound +20% as millennials snap up cosmetics, handbags

The fabulous story of North Korea’s fabric made of stone

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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: Costco Pharma Kickback | Boxed Eyes Stores | Foulkes @ CBS | Walton at Chamber

/in

 

 

Costco pharmacy directors fined $20,000 after admitting to $1.2 million drug kickback scheme by Jesse McLean at Toronto Star. “As part of the settlement, charges that the pharmacists allegedly accepted illegal payments from four other generic drug companies were withdrawn. The backbone of the case was a secretly recorded 2014 phone conversation in which Hanna explains to a Ranbaxy drug sales representative how much the company would have to pay to “greatly reduce the likelihood of somebody eating your business.” Read more

 

Boxed CEO @ NRF: Huang would not directly comment on a report that Kroger might acquire Boxed. However, he did say that stores are “absolutely” in Boxed’s future at Internet Retailer. Read more

 

Instacart Acquires Coupon and Voice-Shopping Startup Unata by Olivia Zaleski at Bloomberg. “…agreed to acquire Toronto-based startup Unata Inc., giving the grocery-delivery company new kinds of e-commerce tools and a path to expand in Canada. The deal totals about $65 million…Unata specializes in making and tracking digital coupons and circulars. The company is also developing a voice-activated tool to allow customers to purchase goods online from midsize retailers using devices like Google Home.” Read more

 

“THIS IS A MOVEMENT THAT IS HAPPENING” – CVS Health’s Helena Foulkes Appears on “CBS This Morning” “CVS Health will inform customers if certain advertisements for products were digitally altered.” Video

 

….Foulkes touched on Amazon, opioid crisis and shopper behavior

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water: Experts in coconut water production for 15+ years. Branded & PL supplier to leading grocers. Organic & Natural options available. Consumers love the sweeter taste – you’ll love our price! Sell sheet | Website | Request samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Walmart, other businesses kicked frantic Hawaiians out during missile scare at Hawaii News Now. “In a statement to Hawaii News Now, Walmart apologized for telling customers to leave after the alert was sent and said it’s reviewing its procedures to “help ensure all of our associates are prepared for any similar situations in the future.” Read more

 

White House press secretary calls out Amazon after 2-year-old orders Batman toy using Echo by Morgan Chalfant at The Hill. “Alexa, we have a problem if my 2 year old can order a Batman toy by yelling ‘Batman!’ over and over again into the Echo,” Sanders, who has three children, tweeted.” Read more

 

Report: Apple’s revenue from its app Store is set to overtake overtake Global Box Office revenues this year by Mark Prigg at Daily Mail. Read more

 

Alice Walton will receive the Sam M. Walton Award of Excellence at the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Luncheon on Jan 25 at Talk Business. Read more

 

Venezuela Promises Pregnant Women a Handout That’s Worth Almost Nothing at Fortune. “The monthly payment of 700,000 bolivars is, at the current exchange rate, worth about $3.83, according to CNN…After the women give birth, their stipend will increase to 1 million bolivars, or $5.48.” Read more

 

Platinum, Clinging to Its Status as a Top Precious Metal, Faces a Crisis by Alexandra Wexler at Wall Street Journal. “With benchmark prices down nearly 60% since 2008, the industry is facing a worst-case scenario: a dethroning from the pantheon of the world’s top precious metals…Gold traded at $1,340.90 a troy ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange’s Comex division Monday, as of midday trading, while platinum was $1,001.90. In 2008, gold was trading under $1,000 an ounce, while platinum rose above $2,250.” Read more (subs.)

 

Contraceptive app hit with complaints after being blamed for 37 unwanted pregnancies at The Verge. “The app uses an algorithm and measures factors like temperature to determine the period when a woman may be fertile. It’s a popular alternative to hormonal contraceptives like the pill because it lacks side effects.” Read more

 

Amazon delivery driver who was robbed of 62 parcels while on duty is sacked and ordered to repay the cost of the van repairs and stolen packages at Daily Mail. Read more

 

Wal-Mart Removes Lord Ganesh Doll from Store Amid Hindu Protest at India West. “Zed also urged the withdrawal of two other products involving Lord Ganesh and being sold at Walmart.com, including the Shri Ganesha Belly Button Ring and Ganesha God Pendant.” Read more/Pic

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Chicago O’Hare travelers possibly exposed to measles

Walmart Apologizes for Labeling Black Professor a Toilet Cleaner

$1.7 million verdict upheld for lady that slips in laundry detergent at Dollar General

Sam’s Club, Walmart to close on same block in Sacramento

This new Amazon service sends two boxes of Oreos and ‘swag’ to you every month

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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: WM Eliminates Jewelry | Kroger Eyes Boxed? | Lowe’s Gets Activist | H&M Gets Riots

/in

 

Walmart to cut 1,000 corporate jobs – will eliminate its jewelry business and decrease the number of co-managers per store by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “Talk Business & Politics learned a meeting was held Friday with store management and that’s when some of the news leaked to the media. Again, Wal-Mart didn’t confirm nor deny jobs were being eliminated.” Read more | WSJ article (subs.)

 

Kroger may acquire digital bulk retailer Boxed by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. “Aldi, Costco, Target are others mentioned as possible buyers, according to Forbes and Reuters, citing unnamed sources.” Read more

 

H&M closes all its stores in South Africa after protests by Jackie Wattle at CNN Money. “Some social media users shared footage claiming to show demonstrators throwing racks of clothing to the ground. Images show merchandise in tangled heaps and toppled security sensors…H&M has 17 locations in South Africa.” Read more

 

Activist investor said to take stake in Lowe’s by Ed Hammond & Scott Deveau at Bloomberg. “While D.E. Shaw’s specific plans for the investment couldn’t immediately be learned, the firm does plan to use its holding to agitate for changes at Lowe’s, the people said.” Read more

 

APRIL – Visa joins other major US credit card companies in getting rid of signatures by Chaim Gartenberg at The Verge. Read more

 

Nordstrom resumes plans to take the company private, escape ‘retail hell’ by Ashley Stewart at CNBC. “…it remains unclear lenders will be able to assemble the roughly $7 billion to $8 billion in debt needed get a deal done. To fill the gap, they may look for a third party to contribute roughly $1 billion in junior capital, some of the sources said.” Read more

 

**A message from 2018 Sweets & Snacks Expo – The can’t-miss candy & snacks event of the year! Save the date and meet us in Chicago, May 22-24, 2018. The only destination to discover candy & snack products, trends and companies you won’t find anywhere else. Find solutions to exceed shoppers’ expectations and stay ahead of the competition – schedule your trip now! Website | Register Now

 

Bon-Ton Creditors May Propose Bankruptcy Within Weeks by Lauren J. Keller at Bloomberg. “Bon-Ton, however, hasn’t made a decision and is still trying to avoid a court filing, said the people, who asked not to be identified…If the company does enter bankruptcy, it’s not clear whether it would seek to liquidate or to reorganize, the people said.” Read more

 

These Are All the Sam’s Club Locations That Are Closing at Fortune. List

 

…Line Spills Out the Door at Sam’s Store as Club Offers 25% Off Most Items at KTLA 5. Video/Read more

 

….’Worse than Black Friday’ at Sam’s store in San Antonio at My San Antonio. Pics/Read more

 

Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos donate $33M to fund scholarships for Dreamers by Clare McGrane at GeekWire. Read more

 

Amazon’s Grocery Sales Gained Weight After It Devoured Whole Foods by Heather Haddon at Fox Business. “Products carrying the natural foods chain’s brand helped push sales at Amazon’s online grocery-delivery service, AmazonFresh, up 35% to $135 million in the last four months of 2017 over the previous four months, according to data analytics firm One Click Retail.” Read more

 

CVS Health confirms that Aetna will stay in Hartford by Jon Chesto at Boston Globe. Read more

 

Supreme Court agrees to hear South Dakota vs. Wayfair tax case by Tony Romm at Recode. “…over the power that states should have to tax businesses that aren’t located within their borders yet sell goods to local residents.” Read more

 

GameStop tanks 11% after it says people are not upgrading smartphones at phone-selling locations at  CNBC. Read more

 

BATHROOM CLOSED ANGER – Dozens detained after party bus arrives at Seal Beach CVS, strong-arm robbery takes place at Press Telegram. “At least 50 people were detained Saturday night, Jan. 14, after a massive police response that shut down Pacific Coast Highway near the Long Beach city limit.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Supermarket yanks coffee cans with slave imagery

Meat vending machine installed at Nordstrom in Seattle

Retailer’s first store is temporarily closed because its white floors couldn’t handle a New York winter

Starbucks settles suit with mall giant over closing Teavana stores

Pomeranian puppy heist at pet store

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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: China Scolds Retailer | Body Parts Side Hustle | Sam’s -10% | Venezuelans Chase Cows

/in

 

Walmart’s Bumpy Day: From Wage Increase to Store Closings at CNBC. “They should have been taking a victory lap tonight,” said Mr. Galloway, the New York University professor, “and instead they are back on their heels.” Read more

 

CAN’T WIN – Wal-Mart’s Wage Hike Would Represent Just Five Hours of Sales by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. “At about $57 million in sales per hour, that’s how long it would take to ring up $300 million — the amount Wal-Mart expects to spend on the wage increases, excluding the costs of separate one-time cash bonuses. The company is on track for about $12 billion in net income this year, so it will take about nine days of profit to recoup the extra spending.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart will Close 10% of Its 660 Sam’s Club Stores by Charisse Jones at USA Today. “…about 50 will be going out of business for good. Roughly 10 of those locations are closing their doors as of Thursday, while the remainder will be shuttered over the next three to four weeks. About 10 to 12 of the stores are slated to be closed temporarily as the retailer converts them to regional distributional centers to help fulfill online purchases.” Read more

 

NBC Has ‘Less Than 10’ Super Bowl Ad Slots Available With Just 3 Weeks to Go by Jason Lynch at Adweek. “The company is averaging “more than $5 million for a 30-second spot,” which covers linear, digital and Spanish language platforms.” Read more

 

Venezuelans Are Rioting Over Food Shortages via Fortune. “A video on social media also showed around a dozen men running into a lush pasture, chasing a cow, and then apparently beating it to death. “They’re hunting. The people are hungry!” says the narrator of the video, who filmed the incident from his car. Lawmaker Paparoni said some 300 animals were believed to have been killed.” Read more

 

The Richest Women in America (Alice Walton #1) at Money. List

 

Pilot Flying J ex-president heard on secret recordings using racial epithets by Jamie Satterfield at USA Today. “Where’s our greasy (racial epithet) song?” former Pilot Flying J President Mark Hazelwood said…A song by country artist David Allan Coe with a two-word title consisting of a racial epitaph and a profanity that describes a white man’s upset that his girlfriend had dumped him for a black man could then be heard, with Hazelwood and his subordinates singing along.” Read more

 

Crate & Barrel is headed Chicago’s rapidly-gentrifying Logan Square neighborhood by Lewis Lazare at Chicago Business Journal. “Crate & Barrel will become the anchor office tenant in the massive redevelopment, which covers 22 acres and includes 1.5 million square feet of space that was formerly a Marshall Field’s facility before it was vacated in 2008.” Pic/Read more

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water: Experts in coconut water production for 15+ years. Branded & PL supplier to leading grocers. Organic & Natural options available. Consumers love the sweeter taste – you’ll love our price! Sell sheet | Website | Request samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Walmart rollbacks ahead: Retailer expected to use tax windfall to fund price cuts at CNBC. “Our sense is WMT will proceed judiciously [with] incremental near-term price investments,” UBS analyst Michael Lasser wrote in a note to clients. “It’s already been deploying ‘billions of dollars of price investments,'” Lasser said.” Read more

 

A funeral home’s side hustle: selling body parts by Brian Grow at Reuters. “Escher said Koch, who embalmed and dismembered bodies, pulled teeth from some of the corpses to extract the gold in crowns or fillings. She showed me her collection of gold teeth one day,” said Escher, who helped manage a former cremation-marketing business owned by Hess. Koch said “she had sold a different batch a year prior, and they took the whole family to Disneyland in California on the gold that they cashed in,” Escher said.” Read more

 

Where’s Cortana? Microsoft is playing the long game as Amazon and Google dominate CES by Nat Levy at GeekWire. “It’s a long journey to making a real assistant that you can communicate with over a longer period of time to really be approachable and interesting and better than the alternative,” Andrew Shuman, corporate vice president of Cortana engineering, told GeekWire.” Read more

 

Retailer Zara flies into China trouble over Tibet and Taiwan at CNN Money. “Also on Friday, Shanghai’s internet authority summoned representatives of European clothing retailer Zara, chastising the company for listing Taiwan as a “country” and ordering it to rectify the situation immediately.” Read more

 

Corporations may dodge billions in U.S. taxes through new loophole: experts by David Morgan at Reuters. “By manipulating their foreign cash positions…a U.S. multinational could potentially save money by shifting profits to the lower rate from the higher one, according to Stephen Shay, a senior lecturer at Harvard Law School. The savings could amount to more than $4 billion in Apple’s case alone, he said.” Read more

 

Nearly $100K In Jewels Stolen From Costco Display Case On Long Island at CBS New York. Video/Read more

 

France tries to stem damage from failed baby milk recall at Fox Business. “The baby products were still available in hospitals, day cares, pharmacies, and leading supermarkets well after last month’s recall. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire summoned the head of French dairy giant Lactalis for a meeting Friday, but acknowledged on BFM television that he couldn’t guarantee that recalled milk isn’t still available.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Hooters hopes delivery service entices embarrassed eaters

Macy’s discloses Downtown Cincy job cuts, closing day

Taylor Swift Enlists Drinking Buddies Ed Sheeran and Future for ‘End Game’ Video

‘Stable Genius’ is a merch windfall

This ring lets you bend musical notes on a keyboard with a wave of your hand

Treadmill Meetings Are Wall Street’s New Steak Dinners

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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: Ex-WM CIO @ Glaxo | ICE @ 7-11 | Kohl’s Eyes C-Stores | T.Joe’s 5-Syllables

/in

 

Kohl’s ready to partner with grocer or c-store to fill vacant store space at CNBC. “(Kohl’s) has created operationally smaller, more profitable stores…That downsizing leaves unused footage, which Mansell said would benefit from traffic-generating retailers like those that sell food. “If we had our preference, we are going first after well-capitalized companies, and preferably ones that have high traffic in grocery and convenience” Mansell said.” Read more

 

Immigration agents raid dozens of 7-Eleven stores at CNBC. “Agents targeted about 100 stores nationwide…Derek Benner, a top official at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told The Associated Press that Wednesday’s operation was “the first of many” and “a harbinger of what’s to come” for employers.” Read more

 

RESPECT THE CIRCULAR – The Hottest Targeted Ad? The Weekly Circular by Sarah Nassauer at Wall Street Journal. “Boxed spent 80% more on print advertising in 2017 compared with 2016 and says it now makes up about 12% of the marketing budget…Early last year, visits to Costco warehouse stores slowed slightly after the retailer sent fewer paper pamphlets touting deals. “We decided to change back immediately,” said Costco’s finance chief, Richard Galanti.” Read more (subs.)

 

Over 100 CEOs urge Congress to protect Dreamers in open letter (Cornell, Joly, Bezos, Peck, Wenig) List/Letter

 

How Hit Songs in Commercials Might Be Making You Shop More by Colin Stutz at Billboard. “Popular song syncs are a staple of modern advertisement, but it turns out these commercial uses benefit more than just good vibes — they increase viewers’ attention, emotion and memory by 20 percent and deliver a significant rise in effectiveness over multiple viewings.” Read more

 

Circuit City To Relaunch Feb. 15 by Alan Wolf at Twice. “The go-to-market plan…will begin with an experiential website and expand to kiosks, store-in-stores and ultimately showrooms….No date has been set for a showroom rollout, although Shmoel said major retailers in various distribution channels have expressed interest in his branded, traffic-driving store-in-stores.” Read more

 

CES organizers blame rainstorm for power outage, as weather continues to disrupt tech conference by Nat Levy at GeekWire. Pics/Read more

 

Glaxo Hires Ex-Walmart CIO Karenann Terrell at Daily Mail. Read more

 

Walmart Gets on Board with Automated Sampling by Patrycja Malinowska at Shopper Marketing. “Freeosk…now appears to have fairly saturated most major urban markets via (Walmart)…Freeosk also is available at select Giant Eagle stores (20 total) since July 2016, and last April expanded to Meijer (with 15 total locations).” Pics/Read more

 

Do Soda Taxes Work? Not Unless Retailers Raise Prices by Bryan Bollinger & Steven Sexton at Harvard Business Review. “Berkeley, California, was the first city in the U.S. to approve a soda tax on distributors…But our research estimated that this tax reduced calorie intake among Berkeley soda drinkers by only a few calories per day. We found that much of the cost of the tax is not being passed along to consumers, and consumption is not significantly dropping.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Grocery retailers located near Lidl stores in the U.S. set their prices for key staple products up to 55% lower compared to markets where Lidl is not present Press release

 

**A message from Hot Shot – There’s no place like home. 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

 

Academy Sports + Outdoors Names (Ex-Meijer & Ex-Family Dollar Exec) Michael Mullican CFO Press release

 

LOOKIN’ GOOD – Nike shows off gear that Team USA athletes will wear on the 2018 Olympics medal podium by Clare Duffy at Portland Business Journal. Pics/Read more

 

Tens Of Thousands Of Walmart Workers Win Labor Row Cert. by Dave Simpson at Law 360. “A California federal judge granted certification Tuesday to three classes of Walmart workers who claim the big-box retailer underpaid them for missing lunch breaks and did not provide enough information on their pay stubs.” Law 360 subs.

 

Amazon is seeking up to 1 million square feet in Boston by Tim Logan at Boston Globe. Read more

 

Fox Television Group chairman Dana Walden has bowed out of Amazon’s search process for a leader for its Amazon Studios entertainment arm by Cynthia Littleton at Variety. Read more

 

Tesco reports 1.9 percent rise in Christmas like-for-like sales via CNBC. Read more

 

…Tesco boss hands Christmas gift to his enemies by Andrea Felsted at Bloomberg. “CEO Dave Lewis is trying to convince his investors to back the company’s 3.9 billion pound ($5.3 billion) purchase of Booker Plc…A knock-out Christmas would have banished any doubts…Tesco didn’t deliver that.” Read more

 

Hype Meets Reality as Electric Car Dreams Run Into Metal Crunch by Elisabeth Behrmann, Jack Farchy & Sam Dodge at Bloomberg. “Complicating the process is the fact that the cobalt trail inevitably leads to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where corruption is entrenched in everyday business practices…The African nation produces more than 60 percent of the world’s cobalt, a fifth of which is drawn out by artisanal miners who work with their hands — some of whom are children.” Read more

 

FIVE-SYLLABLES – Man notices something about Trader Joe’s products – that you can sing the names of them to the tune of “Eleanor Rigby” by Andy Golder at BuzzFeed. Pics/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Young Girls Mistake Costco Cashier for Moana Character — and He Plays Along

Sam’s Club health chief Jill Turner-Mitchael to retire

Woman returns her Christmas tree to Costco in Jan. because it died – and they gave her a refund

Chicago Cubs find their new marketing guru at Gatorade

Stater Bros. Promotes 3 More

H-E-B president to speak at Temple business banquet

Lyft debuting craft beer brand with ride discounts on each can

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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: Overstock Bitcoin Mess | Flu Rages | Kohl’s CEO Iview | Nstrom +1.2%

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Supervalu Q3 Comp Store Sales -3.5% Press release

 

Kohl’s CEO: Physical stores are ‘critical’ no matter where consumers choose to shop at CNBC. “While the CEO wouldn’t comment on whether Kohl’s unique partnership with Amazon will eventually result in the e-commerce giant acquiring Kohl’s, he did speak to its benefits. “We’re focused on any ideas, however far-out they may seem to somebody outside our business, that would essentially drive more people into our stores,” Mansell said.” Video Iview/Read more

 

Target will open its ‘student union’ to public for Super Bowl week by Dan DeBaun at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. “Target Plaza Commons, which is typically only available to Target employees, will open to the public as the “Bullseye Lodge” from Jan. 26 through Feb. 4. The building is in a prime Super Bowl location.” Read more

 

Retailers (not just Amazon and Walmart) can unlock your front door now — if you let them at CNBC. “August Home has partnered with same-day delivery service Deliv to safely open shoppers’ front doors to retailers, merging August Home’s access platform with Deliv’s client base, which includes such companies as Macy’s, meal-kit service Plated, Kohl’s, Best Buy and Walgreens.” Read more

 

San Diego: Flu’s death toll doubles to 91 – “wireless fist bump” encouraged by Paul Sisson at San Diego Union-Tribune. “The number of flu deaths doubled and thousands more cases were reported last week, but county supervisors backed away from declaring a local health emergency Tuesday.” Read more

 

…IV bag shortage has hospitals scrambling to treat flu at AP via Yahoo. “Supplies of saline and nutrient solutions were already tight before hurricanes pounded Puerto Rico and cut power to manufacturing plants that make much of the U.S. supply of fluid-filled bags used to deliver sterile solutions to patients.” Read more

 

Nordstrom comp sales +1.2% for the nine weeks ended December 30, 2017 Press release

 

JCPenney moves account to Badger & Winters from McGarryBowen by Adrianne Pasquarelli at Ad Age. “Partnering with Badger & Winters, an agency known for powerful, social-driven campaigns such as #WomenNotObjects, marks a new direction for the retailer, which hired Marci Grebstein as CMO in May. New work is expected to debut this spring.” Read more

 

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Home Depot Packs Whole DIY Projects, Start to Finish, Inside Pinterest Pins by Gabriel Beltrone at Adweek. “Titled “Built-In Pins,” the promotional effort includes videos, images and a 360-degree interactive online shopping experience created with virtual reality advertising platform OmniVert.” Read more/See ad

 

LeBron James rips H&M advertising image, says ‘African Americans will always have to break barriers’ at ESPN. Read more

 

Bass Pro CEO challenges former Cabela’s execs to give to severance fund for Sidney workers — and pledges to match them by Paige Yowell at Omaha World-Herald. “(Johnny) Morris has said he will personally match all of the contributions to the severance fund, up to $10 million, said Bass Pro spokesman Jack Wlezien. Bass Pro has said it already has committed an additional $10 million on top of its normal severance program to help people in Sidney.” Read more

 

Overstock.com just fixed a serious glitch that allowed Overstock customers to buy any item at a tiny fraction of the listed price at Krebs on Security. “Overstock’s site just as happily accepted bitcoin cash as payment, even though bitcoin cash is currently worth only about 15 percent of the value of bitcoin…I had just made a $78 purchase by sending approximately USD $12 worth of bitcoin cash. Crypto-currency alchemy at last!” Read more

 

Victoria’s Secret’s flawed holiday sale ‘worked too well’ by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “In November, Victoria’s Secret handed out $20 reward cards to customers who spent $40 or more at its stores during the first two weeks of December…But the lingerie behemoth soon found out that customers were looking for bargains and not its pricey, constructed bras that sell for north of $60 each….sales ended up dipping 1 percent in December.” Read more

 

Target’s Brian Cornell Discusses Holiday Season & 2018 at A Bullseye View. “We’ll open 30 small-format stores, including our first small-format store in Dallas and our first store in Santa Barbara. We’ll triple the number of stores we reimagine, with more than 325 remodels planned this year on our way to more than 1,000 stores by 2020.” Q&A

 

…Target’s Mark Tritton Talks Denim “…we’re offering all apparel within Universal Thread in sizes 00-26W. This is the first time we’ve introduced a brand with such an expansive range.” Q&A

 

Inside Amazon’s traveling smart home trailer by Nat Levy at GeekWire. “GeekWire got a look inside the Amazon Alexa and Intel Smart Life Roadshow, an airstream trailer that travels all over the country and is equipped with a variety of Alexa-powered devices.” Video tour/Read more

 

Between Walmart and Kroger, 500 stores are about to ditch cashiers at CNBC. “Walmart is expanding its “Scan & Go” technology to an additional 100 locations across the U.S., the retailer announced Tuesday.” Read more | Walmart release

 

Multimillion-dollar settlement could signal end of dollar-store drama by Katherine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “In the latest development in a prolonged, dizzying dollar-store drama, Dollar Express and Dollar Tree have settled a pair of lawsuits filed last summer. Dollar Express and parent firm Sycamore Partners are paying Dollar Tree, which owns Family Dollar, $35 million.” Read more

 

Lands’ End wins American Airlines employee uniform contract by Lewis Lazare & David Schuyler at Milwaukee Business Journal. Read more

 

Ikea Wants You to Pee on This Ad. If You’re Pregnant, It Will Give You a Discount on a Crib by Tim Nudd at Adweek. “Sounds a bit gross, and maybe it is—but there’s a fun twist. If you’re pregnant, peeing on the ad reveals a special discounted price on cribs, thanks to technology similar to that in pregnancy-test kits.” See ad/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Ontario’s 21% minimum wage hike off to rocky start

Adweek: Why Target Is Gambling on the Tricky Task of Making Jeans for Women

More Mega-Ships Are a Big Problem for Cargo Carriers

Amazon Is Said to Pit Argentina Versus Chile in Data-Center Race

Restaurant charges ‘ridiculous’ $15 for Bud Light to promote craft beer instead

U.S. lawsuit says Wal-Mart deceived buyers of organic eggs

17 stores in Quebec converted to RONA banner on February 26

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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: Lore Q&A | Target +3.4% | N.Rack Head Exits

/in

 

Target’s comp sales +3.4 percent during the holiday season, topping an expected range of 0 to 2 percent at CNBC. “Target said fourth-quarter comparable sales should climb closer to 3.4 percent, compared with a prior estimate of 2 percent growth.” Read more

 

Walmart’s Marc Lore talks to Fast Company “Voice will be the next big way to leverage data. It will enable people to communicate either in their car or home or on their device and shop in a conversational way with a robot in the way that they would with a specialist on the showroom floor of a retailer. That robot will know you as well as your mom and dad.” Q&A

 

Nordstrom Says Head of Nordstrom Rack Division to Retire in March by Suzanne Kapner at Wall Street Journal. “Karen McKibbin, 57, will be succeeded by another longtime Nordstrom executive, Geevy Thomas, who is currently the company’s chief innovation officer, the retailer said.” Read more (subs.)

 

New Neiman Marcus CEO Faces Steep Challenge of $4.8 Billion Debt by Lindsey Rupp & Emma Orr at Bloomberg. “With its current debt levels, an outright sale of the company — either to another private equity buyer or to a strategic partner — seems unlikely. “I don’t think there are a ton of buyers, honestly, unless they do something miraculous,” Hebert said.” Read more

 

H&M Apologizes After Using Black Child in ‘Monkey’ Hoodie Ad by Anna Molin & Niklas Magnusson at Bloomberg. “We are deeply sorry that the picture was taken and we also regret the actual print,” H&M said. “Therefore, we have not only removed the image from our channels, but also the garment from our product offering globally.” Read more

 

…The Weeknd dumps H&M after monkey sweatshirt ad via ABC News. “In a statement, H&M said, “We completely understand and agree with his reaction to the image.” The Swedish low-cost fashion brand added that it would “continue the discussion” with The Weeknd and his team.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart de Mexico’s Sales Growth Lost Steam in 2017 by Anthony Harrup at Wall Street Journal. “Walmex said sales last year rose 7.7% to 569.4 billion Mexican pesos ($29.6 billion), the smallest expansion since 2014.” Read more (subs.)

 

Wayfair adds TJX exec to board as early investor leaves by Kelly J O’Brien at Boston Business Journal. “Jeffrey Naylor, who formerly held C-suite financial and administrative roles at retail giant TJX Companies Inc., is joining the board of Wayfair Inc.” Read more

 

Sprouts reported comparable store sales growth of 4.6 percent during the final quarter of 2017 by Brandon Brown at Phoenix Business Journal. Read more

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water: Experts in coconut water production for over 15 years. Branded & PL supplier to leading grocers. Organic & Natural options available. Consumers love the sweeter taste – you’ll love our price! Sell sheet | Website | Request samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Target introducing Universal Thread – an exclusive women’s denim brand featuring tops, dresses, accessories and shoes at A Bullseye View. Read more

 

Sears Canada pensioners stagger under stress of cuts Meghan McCabe at CBC News. “Life insurance, health and dental benefits were cancelled in September, and along with 18,000 retirees across Canada, Husk expects his pension will be cut by roughly 20 per cent. “That leaves me in a spot where, well, I’m going to need more money to make ends meet,” he said.” Read more

 

Bon-Ton sees 2.9% slump in comparable store sales during the holiday shopping season by Melanie Lawder at Milwaukee Business Journal. Read more

 

Walmart Shoppers Sue Over Labeling Of ‘Cage-Free’ Eggs by Joyce Hanson at Law 360. “A proposed class of consumers sued Walmart Stores Inc. and an egg supplier in California federal court Monday for allegedly lying about the treatment and condition of hens laying Walmart store-brand Organic Marketside eggs, saying the “cage-free” eggs are falsely labeled as having come from hens with outdoor access.” Read more (subs.)

 

Up to 2,000 people possibly exposed to hepatitis A at Utah 7-Eleven at CBS. Read more

 

Regis closing about 600 SmartStyle salons inside Walmart stores by Paul Walsh at Star Tribune. “The salons, housed in many Walmart stores, were considered by Regis to be underperforming. About 2,000 SmartStyle salons remain.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Why Airfreight Traffic Is Up: Dog Food and Semiconductors Are Vying for Space by Doug Cameron & Jennifer Smith at Wall Street Journal. “You’re literally begging and pleading to get on airplanes, leveraging any contact you can,” said Neel Jones Shah, global head of airfreight for Flexport Inc., a San Francisco-based firm that helps customers arrange freight shipments online.” Read more (subs.)

 

American Eagle Outfitters CEO to buy condo in new Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach by Brian Bandell at South Florida Business Journal. Pics/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Brad Pitt Unsuccessfully Bids $120K to Watch Game of Thrones with “Daenerys”

Nebraska farmers gearing up to provide chickens for Costco

Willie Nelson ends San Diego concert after a song, cancels his shows this week

Sunoco in Final Steps to Sell 1,100 C-Stores to 7-Eleven

Loblaw places restrictions on $25 gift card offer after bread price-fixing scheme

Whole Foods names new President to lead Northeast

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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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