Tipsheet: Dick’s Bans | Lowe’s Miss | JCP Purges | TP Shortage | Costco Hawk

/in

 

Dick’s CEO @ ABC News Announcing Sales Ban of Assault Rifles “Based on what’s happened and looking at those kids and those parents, it moved us all unimaginably,” company Chairman and CEO Edward Stack said today on “Good Morning America,” referring to the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that killed 14 students and three educators.” Video/Read more

 

Lowe’s Q4 Comp Sales +4.1% Press release

 

…Lowe’s profit and margins miss lowest Wall Street estimate, shares tumble at Reuters. “Lowe’s expects same-store growth to slow to about 3.5 percent this fiscal year, from 4 percent in the just-concluded fiscal.” Read more

 

…Lowe’s to become the exclusive retailer for Sherwin-Williams’ paint products at CNBC. “…the sole distributor in the home category of popular paint brands including Minwax, Cabot, and Thompson’s WaterSeal. Sherwin-Williams will continue to operate its own retail storefronts, as it skips over other major retailers for outside distribution in this deal.” Read more

 

TJX Q4 Comp Sales +4.0% Press release

 

Office Depot Q4 Total Sales -5.0% Press release

 

JCPenney is purging full-time employees to cut costs by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Many full-time employees will be cut to 25 hours a week from 35, The Post has learned. New part-time hires will also get 25 hours a week. “We are steering away from having any full-time associates,” a JCPenney insider told The Post.” Read more

 

American Customer Satisfaction Index Retail Report 2017:

  • Costco #1 in Dept & Discount stores
  • Target trounces Walmart
  • Lowe’s bests Home Depot
  • Publix #1

Press release | Download report

 

Costco wins firing fight against ex-staffer accused of swearing at customer at CBC News. “He admitted to calling her a bitch, but said it was his “clumsy” way of explaining that the customer created an “unpleasant situation” that he “did not respond to very well.” 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

 

The U.K. arm of Toys “R” Us is going into administration after the retailer failed to find a buyer by Natasha Bach at Fortune. “We will be conducting an orderly wind-down of the store portfolio over the coming weeks,” Simon Thomas, joint administrator and partner at Moorfields, said in a statement. Read more

 

BOSTON – Amazon set to bring at least 2,000 more jobs to the Seaport by Tim Logan at Boston Globe. Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Executive recruiting firm hires former Walmart execs to lead international division at Talk Business. “Cameron Smith has hired former Walmart Inc. executives Tom Colella and Eduardo Mariscotti to lead the new division, dedicated to placing business leaders around the world.” Read more

 

Walgreens and AmerisourceBergen deal talks have cooled as takeover looks unlikely at CNBC. Read more

 

Ahold Delhaize reported net sales growth of 1.6% to 15.8 billion euros ($19.3 billion) for the fourth quarter via CNBC. Read more

 

TP SHORTAGE – Taiwan Costco customers bum-rush pallet of toilet paper at Taiwan News. “As the video begins, a mob of customers is already surrounding the stack of toilet tissue packages and before the 16-second video is complete, the pallet has been picked completely clean.” Video/Read more

 

CHICAGO – Macy’s eyes sale of Medinah Temple, moving out Bloomingdale’s home store by Ryan Ori at Chicago Tribune. “The retailer has hired CBRE brokers to evaluate whether to sell and move out of the landmark building at 600 N. Wabash Ave., which is occupied by a massive Bloomingdale’s home furnishings store, according to sources.” Read more

 

What Amazon’s acquisition of Ring means for the smart home market by Nat Levy at GeekWire. “Ring products are carried by several Amazon competitors, such as Walmart and Costco. It seems unlikely that will continue, but it remains unclear.” Read more

 

COSTCO HAWK SNACKS ON PIGEON – “People are used to birds getting stuck inside the airport, and our big box stores. But the Costco Hawk is a particularly clever creature…Customers tell 9NEWS when the store opened the doors at night to let the hawk leave, it stayed. Instead, a pigeon flew in, and the hawk ate it.” Read more/Video

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Tim Hortons franchisees might sue head office over cash-register outages

‘Walking Dead’ ratings plummet again

Lowe’s Punished by Investors for Not Growing Like Home Depot

Robot ‘double’ allows sick students to attend school

96.5% of YouTube creators don’t make above the U.S. poverty line

Man Dumped His Dismembered Girlfriend’s Body Parts at Target

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

Tipsheet: Hollar CEO Search | Stitch Fix CEO Q&A | Macy’s Beats | MN #2

/in

 

Macy’s Q4 Comp Sales (Owned) +1.3% Press release

 

…Macy’s earnings for the holiday quarter top expectations, sending shares soaring at CNBC. “Earnings per share: $2.82, adjusted, vs. $2.71 expected. Revenue: $8.67 billion vs. $8.68 billion expected. Same-store sales: a 1.3 percent increase vs. growth of 0.1 percent expected.” Read more

 

Lumber Liquidators Q4 Comp Sales +4.5% Press release

 

…Lumber Liquidators beats 4Q profit forecasts via Yahoo Finance. “Lumber Liquidators shares have declined 21 percent since the beginning of the year. The stock has risen 42 percent in the last 12 months.” Read more

 

AutoZone Q2 Comp Sales +2.2% Press release

 

Dillard’s Q4 Comp Sales +3.0% Press release

 

Walmart confirms plans to launch new apparel, home brands at CNBC. “Walmart is rolling out apparel brands — Time and Tru for women, Terra & Sky for plus sizes and Wonder Nation for kids. Its existing line, George, is also getting a refresh. In a major push with private labels, Walmart is also launching a new mattress and bedding brand called Allswell.” Read more

 

Hollar — the dollar store mobile app worth $200 million — is looking for a new CEO by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “During Recode’s initial interview with Yeom, he seemed to suggest that the idea to replace him originated with Hollar’s board of directors. But after Hollar investor and board member Jeremy Liew of Lightspeed Venture Partners told Recode the decision was Yeom’s, the founder’s tune seemed to change.” Read more

 

Target + Techstars alum AddStructure acquired by Bazaarvoice by Jim Dallke at Chicago Inno via Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. “It has quickly caught on with e-commerce companies, and was one of 10 startups selected to the first-ever Target+Techstars retail accelerator in Minneapolis. It’s also working with Target on a natural language online shopping tool.” Read more

 

**A message from 2018 Sweets & Snacks Expo – Be first to market with the newest candy and snack products!  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

 

Sam’s Club and Instacart team up to offer same-day home delivery in three cities at USA Today. “…in Austin, St. Louis and Dallas-Ft. Worth starting Tuesday. 2/27.” Read more

 

Big Consumer Brands Don’t Have an Answer for Alexa at Wall Street Journal. “When it comes to voice search you go first position or you go home because beyond the first or second place there is no future,” Mr. Szczepaniak said. In a test conducted in October, Bain & Co. found that…in categories in which Amazon has a private brand, 17% of the time Alexa recommends the private-label product first even though such products make up just 2% of volume sold.” Read more (subs.)

 

Stitch Fix CEO Katrina Lake Talks Data, Amazon—and Hot Tubs by Nicole Laporte at Fast Company. “If you were the CEO of Macy’s, it’s kind of a pain to go work in a store and clock in and work a register and learn how to do that. You’d spend a whole day there. It’s amazing that I can do a little slice of that every single day. For me it’s valuable because I can see who our clients are.” Q&A

 

Krebs: USPS Finally Starts Notifying You by Mail If Someone is Scanning Your Snail Mail Online Read more

 

CHICAGO – Macy’s to sell top floors of State Street store for $30 million by Lauren Zumbach at Chicago Tribune. “Toronto-based Brookfield Asset Management signed an agreement to buy floors 8 through 14 from Macy’s, the retailer said Tuesday.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Supervalu promotes Rob Woseth as permanent chief financial officer Press release

 

AiFi emerges from stealth with its own take on cashier-free retail, similar to Amazon Go by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “But unlike Amazon Go, AiFi claims its A.I., sensor and camera network-based system can scale from a small mom-and-pop all the way up to a big retailer with tens of thousands of square feet and a hundred thousand products.” Read more

 

HBC’s Dutch stores too pricey for many consumers: report via Toronto Star. Read more

 

BEST STATES Ranking: Iowa #1, Minnesota #2…at Newsweek. Read more

 

Online mattress start-up Casper just opened its first store. You might want to move in at CNBC. Pics/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Gap Wins Widespread Praise for Breastfeeding Ad That’s an Instant Classic

Costco is launching its own version of Nutella

Christ Hospital lands major surgery deal with Kroger

Starbucks has 45 stores inside shipping containers

Warren Buffett reveals more details about healthcare venture with Amazon & JPMorgan

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

Tipsheet: Cornell @ CNBC | Flu Killer? | Best Buy Donates

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Walmart’s Big Bet on Home Delivery Hasn’t Paid Off Yet by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. “(Marc Lore’s) a tenacious fighter,” said Kirthi Kalyanam at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business. “Evidence suggests he really hates Amazon. For him it’s personal, not business.” Read more

 

Target CEO: Online shopping alone won’t cut it, retailers also need great stores at CNBC. “Cornell on “Squawk Box: “For the foreseeable future, the majority of U.S. retail sales will still take place at stores.” Video/Read more

 

Retailers are trying to profit off Toys R Us’ struggles by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “The buzz at Toy Fair this week, according to Silver, is that Kohl’s, JCPenney, Best Buy and others are talking to manufacturers about increasing their toy inventory this year.” Read more

 

Crate & Barrel Relaunches Kids Division Inside Existing Stores by Lindsey Rupp at Bloomberg. “…is renaming Land of Nod…as Crate & Kids, according to a company representative. It will debut March 7 and be integrated into more than 40 Crate & Barrel stores by early April. All Land of Nod stores will be closed by the end of May.” Read more

 

Amazon plans to open as many as six more cashierless Amazon Go stores this year by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “Amazon has held serious talks with billionaire developer Rick Caruso about bringing a Go store to The Grove, his 600,000-square-foot outdoor shopping Mecca, two of these people said.” Read more

 

Drug That Promises to Kill Flu in a Day Approved in Japan by Preetika Rana at Wall Street Journal. “Osaka-based Shionogi plans to file for U.S. approval later this year, and doesn’t expect a decision before 2019. Switzerland’s Roche has already acquired the license to sell Xofluza overseas, including in the U.S.” Read more (subs.)

 

Best Buy customers, staff donate $20 million to St. Jude’s by Shannon Prather at Star Tribune. Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Amazon’s latest Prime perk is free shipping on its deals site Woot! by Sarah Perez at Techcrunch. Read more

 

**A message from i-on – The handsink that reduces 99% of E-coli & Staph germs! Infused with Silver Ions to inhibit growth of millions of germs. Install in restaurants, hospitality, schools, hospitals, home & utility to create a Handwashing Only Zone. Sell sheet | Request sample @ info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

Retailers that promote auto-renewal subscriptions online will have to allow online cancellation when a new California law takes effect July 1 by Jamie Rubin at Internet Retailer. Read more

 

Loblaw shrugs off PC Optimum card glitches, signs up 6 million customers amid fierce competition by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “In December, the retailer admitted that it was the whistleblower as one of the players in a widespread industry scheme to fix bread prices, and it incurred a slew of charges in the period totalling $230 million.” Read more

 

Chase ‘Glitch’ Exposed Customer Accounts at Krebs on Security. “Fly & Dine included screenshots of one of their writer’s spouses logged into the account of a fellow Chase customer with an Amazon and Chase card and a balance of more than $16,000.” Read more

 

Jet’s website may not be reaching customers beyond city limits by Tonya Garcia at MarketWatch. “Walmart plans to invest more in the flagship website and lower its spending on Jet “except in urban markets” because the customer-acquisition cost is lower.” Read more

 

H&M speaks out on Chinese prison labor claim by Daniel Shane at CNN Money. “H&M said that it couldn’t confirm whether Humphrey’s allegations were true, but added that it was taking them “very seriously.” Read more

 

L.L.Bean President, CEO to Deliver Dickinson College Commencement Address Press release

 

Home Depot’s podcast series “Give Me An H” talks to Hector Padilla, President, Southern Division Transcript (English) | Podcast (Spanish)

 

Apple devices are butt dialing 911 from its refurbishing facility – 1,600 calls since October by Sarah Buhr at Techcrunch. “Apple has told CBS Local it was aware of the problem and was “working closely with local law enforcement to investigate the cause and ensure this doesn’t continue.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Does #MeToo Matter in the Teamsters? Trucker Sisters Take on “Boys Club”

Man found guilty of hijacking truck from Costco parking lot, crashing it into a tree

General Mills to buy natural pet food company Blue Buffalo

First National Bank of Omaha and car rental company Enterprise bail on NRA

Are Driving Bans Coming for German Cities?

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

Tipsheet: Target Tent Lockdown | Lore ‘Not’ Leaving | Lowe’s Rolls ‘Track’

/in

 

Marc Lore: I am ‘absolutely not’ leaving Walmart at CNBC. “If anything, trust is building more between me and Doug [McMillon] and the board, and we have a lot of work to do and a lot of things to be really excited about in the future,” Lore told CNBC on Wednesday.” Read more

 

Walmart launches a new home shopping site for furniture and home décor by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “The new site’s home page will feature curated collections across nine style categories, including modern, mid-century, traditional, glam, industrial, bohemian, farmhouse, transitional and Scandinavian.” Read more

 

Toys “R” Us Plans to Close Another 200 Stores by Lillian Rizzo & Paul Ziobro at Wall Street Journal. “(Toys “R” Us) recently had announced plans to close about 180 stores, affecting approximately 4,500 workers. The latest wave of closings would cut nearly in half the number of U.S. stores it had before its bankruptcy filing, the people said.” Read more (subs.)

 

…Toys R Us is in danger of breaching a covenant with its lenders at CNBC. “If Toys R Us does breach the covenant, its DIP lenders have the option to force it to immediately pay them back, which could in turn force the retailer into liquidation.” Read more

 

…Investors to Target – Hold Your Horses at Reuters. “We do not believe Target should invest more in selling national brand toys, and Target’s toys business is not core to our investment thesis,” said Jack Leslie, a portfolio manager for Miller/Howard Investments Portfolio, who holds a $96 million stake in Target.” Read more

 

Why is a Target store in San Francisco keeping tents behind locked cases? by Melia Robinson at Business Insider. “The Target Metreon store is located in a neighborhood that’s close to the Civic Center and the Tenderloin — where needles, garbage, and feces are found in concentrations comparable to some of the world’s poorest slums, according to a report from NBC Bay Area. People on Twitter quickly came to the conclusion that the tents at Target were being locked up because homeless people might be stealing them as a last resort for shelter.” Read more

 

Wayfair Q4 Direct Retail net revenue +48% Press release

 

**A message from ReadyStrainer – Sink full of dirty dishes and need to drain noodles? The ReadyStrainer sits at the side of the sink and directs water into the sink! Avoid contact with dirty dishes and bacteria. Product Overview | Website | Sample: info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

Tops blames Amazon as it files for bankruptcy via NY Post. “Tops said it expects the 169 stores it operates in upstate New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont to remain open while it restructures under Chapter 11 of the US bankruptcy code in White Plains, New York.” Read more | Press release

 

EBay hires former Disney comms exec Brian Nelson as VP of Americas communications by Diana Bradley at PR Week. Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Lowe’s takes another step to win workers in a tight labor market at CNBC. “The platform will offer employees financial assistance to pursue certification for a specific trade skill, such as carpentry, heating and air conditioning, electrical, plumbing and appliance repair. Eligible employees will receive up to $2,500 to complete their education via a partnership with Guild Education.” Read more

 

Venezuelans lost 24-lbs on average last year as hunger spread at Reuters. Read more

 

Despite bread price-fixing scheme, Canadians mostly happy with grocery stores, survey finds via Toronto Star. “Three Loblaw Companies Ltd. banners — No Frills, Loblaws and the Real Canadian Superstore — received the lowest scores of the 10 grocery retailers included in the survey.” Read more

 

Soon available at Walmart, Harry’s is giving Gillette a run for its money at Fast Company. Read more

 

Sarah Jessica Parker Launches Children’s Line with Gap at People. “One standout item from the collab includes a light blue bomber jacket with “Rabbit, Rabbit” stitched on the back, a saying that Parker’s family members would tell one another every month as a “sign of good luck.” Read more

 

SpartanNash Q4 net sales +5.3% Press release

 

Baltimore retailers scared as robberies soar at Baltimore Sun. “While the three-year spike in violent crime in Baltimore draws most of the attention, business owners across the city have suffered a similar increase in commercial robberies. Such crime has risen 88 percent in the last five years.” Read more

 

Costco confirms self-service snack kiosks in four stores by Coral Garnick at Puget Sound Business Journal. “The kiosks are currently located in Covington, Washington, as well as two Los Angeles-area warehouses and one in Tucson, Arizona.” Read more

 

Bill Gates appears on Ellen, badly flunks grocery price quiz by John Cook at GeekWire. “On the next product, Tide Pods, Gates fared even worse, guessing $4. “They want me to go higher,” said Gates after the audience reacted. Let’s go with $10, said Gates before the $19.97 price was revealed.” Video/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

As Trump trashes NAFTA, Mexico turns to Brazilian corn

Amazon Just Launched a ‘Plants Store’

Did Putin’s trolls create fake news about poisoned Walmart turkey?

Express Scripts, Walgreens expand group purchasing efforts

Amazon is now worth more than 2.5 Walmarts

Lesbians who fought gender bias at Home Depot honored

Canada Competition Bureau reaches settlement with retailer’s ‘buy now, pay later’ promotion

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

 

Tipsheet: WM Comms Dir Exits | Lore Eyes Exit? | Barneys CEO Q&A

/in

 

Marc Lore Eyeing Exit at Walmart? by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he left,” said Edward Jones analyst Brian Yarbrough. “I’m not convinced that Marc Lore and the other members of Jet.com leadership team are truly in it for the long haul,” added Brittain Ladd, a digital consultant and former Amazon executive.” Read more

 

Amazon has quietly launched an exclusive line of over-the-counter health products at CNBC. “The e-commerce giant launched the Basic Care line in August, including 60 products ranging from ibuprofen to hair regrowth treatment.” Read more

 

Home Depot Expects Lower Taxes, Stronger Sales Following U.S. Tax Reform — CFO by Tatyana Shumsky at Wall Street Journal. “(Home Depot) in December announced plans to invest $1.2 billion over five years to upgrade its delivery network….“When we are done, 90% of the U.S. population will have same day delivery and this is big, bulky stuff,” Ms. Tomé said.” Read more (subs.)

 

Home Depot’s Q4 2017 Earnings Call Transcript at Seeking Alpha. Read more

 

Walmart senior director of digital comms Chad Mitchell leaves after almost 10 years by Diana Bradley at PR Week. “Last Tuesday was Mitchell’s last day at the company. He said that he doesn’t have any plans yet, but is “excited to see what is out there.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Walmart’s Q4 2018 Earnings Call Transcript at Seeking Alpha. Read more

 

How Patagonia Grows Every Time It Amplifies Its Social Mission by Jeff Beer at Fast Company. “Incited by Trump’s agenda, the company has upped its commitment to environmental activism, making an unprecedented bet on corporate social responsibility. This has served not only to energize product innovation and marketing but to grow the company’s brand awareness and sales.” Read more

 

57% of Costco members also pay for Amazon Prime, up from 13% in 2013, according to a survey via Boston Herald. Read more

 

**A message from 2018 Sweets & Snacks Expo – Be first to market with the newest candy and snack products!  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

 

Barneys Aims to Reinvent Luxury Marketing for Younger Shoppers by Christina Binkley at Wall Street Journal. “WSJ: Did you just drop a piece of news, that you’re launching a new loyalty program? MS. VITALE: I’m sure I’m going to be in a lot of trouble for saying that. What I can tell you is that we want to make sure that loyalty to our brand doesn’t have to be tied to a Barneys proprietary credit card.” Read more (subs.)

 

Apple in Talks to Buy Cobalt Directly From Miners by Jack Farchy & Mark Gurman at Bloomberg. “The price of cobalt has more than tripled in the past 18 months to trade above $80,000 a metric ton. Two-thirds of supplies come from the Democratic Republic of Congo.” Read more

 

Walmart courts urban Vancouver customers with launch of fresh grocery delivery service by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “The Vancouver home delivery arrangement differs from Walmart’s fulfilment model in Toronto, where it delivers goods picked from its own store shelves using crowd source delivery companies. In Vancouver, Walmart will ship and store fresh groceries to the warehouse of Food-X’s parent company, Spud Inc., a local online grocery retailer.” Read more

 

Jeff Bezos shows how installation of 10,000 Year Clock is ticking along in Texas by Alan Boyle at GeekWire. “Over the lifetime of this clock, the United States won’t exist,” Bezos told Wired back in 2011. “Whole civilizations will rise and fall.” Video/Read more

 

Bi-Lo prepares for bankruptcy again, may close hundreds of stores by Katherine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “Bi-Lo could close up to 200 stores before filing for bankruptcy protection as early as next month…” Read more

 

Costco to shutter all Massachusetts photo departments except one via Boston Business Journal. Read more

 

Food workers union, Hannaford owners will come to table via Sacramento Bee.  “More than 200 members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1445 who work at the Hannaford Distribution Center in South Portland say they authorized a strike.” Read more

 

Guess chairman steps aside while harassment claims are investigated at Bloomberg via Toronto Star. Read more

 

Money Laundering Via Author Impersonation on Amazon? at Krebs on Security. “Patrick Reames had no idea why Amazon.com sent him a 1099 form saying he’d made almost $24,000 selling books via Createspace, the company’s on-demand publishing arm. That is, until he searched the site for his name and discovered someone has been using it to peddle a $555 book that’s full of nothing but gibberish.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Wayfair provides 3-D views via Facebook

Kroger-shopping firefighters save heart attack victim – a couple of aisles over

Target Launches New Home Brand, Opalhouse

Ex-Walmart US CEO: Gun regulation is the responsibility of the government, not retailers

Gap Brand CEO Jeff Kirwan to leave retailer

Saks fashion experts dish on Calgary’s new luxury store

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

Tipsheet: WM Comms Dir Exits | Lore Eyes Exit? | Barneys CEO Q&A

/in

 

Marc Lore Eyeing Exit at Walmart? by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he left,” said Edward Jones analyst Brian Yarbrough. “I’m not convinced that Marc Lore and the other members of Jet.com leadership team are truly in it for the long haul,” added Brittain Ladd, a digital consultant and former Amazon executive.” Read more

 

Amazon has quietly launched an exclusive line of over-the-counter health products at CNBC. “The e-commerce giant launched the Basic Care line in August, including 60 products ranging from ibuprofen to hair regrowth treatment.” Read more

 

Home Depot Expects Lower Taxes, Stronger Sales Following U.S. Tax Reform — CFO by Tatyana Shumsky at Wall Street Journal. “(Home Depot) in December announced plans to invest $1.2 billion over five years to upgrade its delivery network….“When we are done, 90% of the U.S. population will have same day delivery and this is big, bulky stuff,” Ms. Tomé said.” Read more (subs.)

 

Home Depot’s Q4 2017 Earnings Call Transcript at Seeking Alpha. Read more

 

Walmart senior director of digital comms Chad Mitchell leaves after almost 10 years by Diana Bradley at PR Week. “Last Tuesday was Mitchell’s last day at the company. He said that he doesn’t have any plans yet, but is “excited to see what is out there.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Walmart’s Q4 2018 Earnings Call Transcript at Seeking Alpha. Read more

 

How Patagonia Grows Every Time It Amplifies Its Social Mission by Jeff Beer at Fast Company. “Incited by Trump’s agenda, the company has upped its commitment to environmental activism, making an unprecedented bet on corporate social responsibility. This has served not only to energize product innovation and marketing but to grow the company’s brand awareness and sales.” Read more

 

57% of Costco members also pay for Amazon Prime, up from 13% in 2013, according to a survey via Boston Herald. Read more

 

**A message from 2018 Sweets & Snacks Expo – Be first to market with the newest candy and snack products!  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

 

Barneys Aims to Reinvent Luxury Marketing for Younger Shoppers by Christina Binkley at Wall Street Journal. “WSJ: Did you just drop a piece of news, that you’re launching a new loyalty program? MS. VITALE: I’m sure I’m going to be in a lot of trouble for saying that. What I can tell you is that we want to make sure that loyalty to our brand doesn’t have to be tied to a Barneys proprietary credit card.” Read more (subs.)

 

Apple in Talks to Buy Cobalt Directly From Miners by Jack Farchy & Mark Gurman at Bloomberg. “The price of cobalt has more than tripled in the past 18 months to trade above $80,000 a metric ton. Two-thirds of supplies come from the Democratic Republic of Congo.” Read more

 

Walmart courts urban Vancouver customers with launch of fresh grocery delivery service by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “The Vancouver home delivery arrangement differs from Walmart’s fulfilment model in Toronto, where it delivers goods picked from its own store shelves using crowd source delivery companies. In Vancouver, Walmart will ship and store fresh groceries to the warehouse of Food-X’s parent company, Spud Inc., a local online grocery retailer.” Read more

 

Jeff Bezos shows how installation of 10,000 Year Clock is ticking along in Texas by Alan Boyle at GeekWire. “Over the lifetime of this clock, the United States won’t exist,” Bezos told Wired back in 2011. “Whole civilizations will rise and fall.” Video/Read more

 

Bi-Lo prepares for bankruptcy again, may close hundreds of stores by Katherine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “Bi-Lo could close up to 200 stores before filing for bankruptcy protection as early as next month…” Read more

 

Costco to shutter all Massachusetts photo departments except one via Boston Business Journal. Read more

 

Food workers union, Hannaford owners will come to table via Sacramento Bee.  “More than 200 members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1445 who work at the Hannaford Distribution Center in South Portland say they authorized a strike.” Read more

 

Guess chairman steps aside while harassment claims are investigated at Bloomberg via Toronto Star. Read more

 

Money Laundering Via Author Impersonation on Amazon? at Krebs on Security. “Patrick Reames had no idea why Amazon.com sent him a 1099 form saying he’d made almost $24,000 selling books via Createspace, the company’s on-demand publishing arm. That is, until he searched the site for his name and discovered someone has been using it to peddle a $555 book that’s full of nothing but gibberish.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Wayfair provides 3-D views via Facebook

Kroger-shopping firefighters save heart attack victim – a couple of aisles over

Target Launches New Home Brand, Opalhouse

Ex-Walmart US CEO: Gun regulation is the responsibility of the government, not retailers

Gap Brand CEO Jeff Kirwan to leave retailer

Saks fashion experts dish on Calgary’s new luxury 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.

 

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Tipsheet: WM US +2.6% | Sam’s +2.4% | H.Dep +7.5% | Albertsons +Rite Aid | CVS #7 Innovative

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Walmart Q4 US Comp Sales +2.6% / Sam’s Club +2.4% Press release

 

…Walmart earnings miss estimates at CNBC. “Earnings per share: $1.33, adjusted, vs. $1.37 expected. Revenue: $136.3 billion vs. $134.9 billion expected. U.S. same-store sales: an increase of 2.6 percent vs. a 2.2 percent rise expected.” Read more

 

…Walmart’s online sales grew 23% in the holiday quarter, slower than the previous quarter’s 50% increase at Fox Business. Read more

 

Home Depot Q4 Comp Sales +7.5% Press release

 

…Home Depot’s profit, sales top estimates on higher traffic, spending at Reuters. “Excluding one time items, the company earned $1.69 per share beating analysts’ estimate of $1.61 per share.” Read more

 

Albertsons to Buy Rite Aid in Cash-and-Stock Deal by Katerina Petroff at Bloomberg. “Albertsons plans to acquire the parts of Rite Aid that are left over after a separate sale of nearly 2,000 stores, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing the companies’ chief executive officers.” Read more | WSJ article (subs.)

 

Bass Pro Shops offering buyouts to employees at former Cabela’s HQ by Paige Yowell at Omaha World-Herald. “This will be a mass exodus in Sidney,” a headquarters employee said in an interview on the condition the employee not be named. “This is what people have been waiting for.” Read more

 

The Amazon Prime credit card will start giving 5 percent back on Whole Foods purchases by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “Amazon customers who aren’t Prime members, but who pay with the regular Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card, will earn 3 percent back.” Read more

 

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Target to sell purple Science Museum hoodie from ‘Stranger Things’ by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “Target will sell the unisex hoodie (in sizes XS thru XXL) in about 1,400 of its 1,800 stores starting later this month. It will not, however, be sold on Target.com…A portion of the proceeds will go back to the museum and its education programs.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Lil Wayne drops a surprising collab with Neiman Marcus at Kulture Hub. “Available for sale at the Beverly Hills Neiman Marcus and online, The Young Money line consists of T-shirts, jackets, a hoodie, a pair of pants, and a hat.” Read more | Pics

 

Costco auto program’s transaction volume, including service and parts, increased by 7% over the previous year at Automotive News. “More than 900 franchised dealerships are enrolled in the service and parts program, Costco says, along with 475 independent garages.” Read more

 

Trump Wants Sales Tax Applied to Online Purchases, Mnuchin Says by Toluse Olorunnipa at Bloomberg. Read more

 

The World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies 2018 (Amazon #5, CVS #7, Walmart #15) at Fast Company. List of 50

 

J.Crew has hired the Starbucks executive who transformed the coffee chain into a tech innovator by Jason Del Rey at Recode. Read more

 

Snapchat Opens A Store–And Takes Aim At A Trillion-Dollar Industry by Mark Wilson at Fast Company. “Snap is only selling one limited edition sneaker drop for Jordan through a live event, it’s easy to imagine Snap leveraging the close relationship that its 187 million daily active users have with its camera to any number of third-party brand partners.” Read more

 

Ad Age’s 2018 A-List Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Menards shoplifter escapes with feces attack by Chris Sims at Indy Star. “…the loss prevention officer stated when he tried to stop the woman from leaving the store, she “reached behind her and dug into her pants and pulled out a handful of feces and threw it at him, striking him on his chest.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Here’s How the Premier League Could Still Lure Amazon to Soccer

As Tweens Flock To “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Retailers Follow

Amazon’s new Whole Foods delivery service tested in Austin

Santa Barbara gets a look at plans for its mini Target store

Mobile accounts for nearly 35% of 2017 e‑commerce sales

KFC chicken shortage will hit UK stores all week

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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 New Apparel Brands | Lowe’s #64 in Can. | Circuit City Misses

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Walmart in talks to buy more than 40 percent of India’s Flipkart – sources by Sankalp Phartiyal at Reuters. “Besides its own e-commerce site, Flipkart owns fashion portals Myntra and Jabong, and controls nearly 40 percent of India’s online retail, ahead of Amazon, according to estimates by research firm Forrester. It is also looking into expanding into grocery deliveries.” Read more

 

What Stores Do With $90 Billion in Merchandise Returns by Erica E. Phillips at Wall Street Journal. “These post-retail sales, including both returns and overstocked items, totaled $554 billion in 2016, and have been growing at about 7.5% a year, according to Zac Rogers, an operations and supply-chain professor at Colorado State University’s business school.” Read more (subs.)

 

Circuit City misses e-commerce website relaunch date by Thomas Barrabi at Fox Business. “We have been working around the clock to ensure that our site is optimized for our customers,” the website said. “Due to an overwhelming amount of preliminary traffic, we are reinforcing things a bit.” Read more

 

Canadian Tire Q4 Comp Sales +3.5% Press release

 

Amazon will pay $1.2M to settle with EPA over illegal pesticide sales by Monica Nickelsburg. “The company also agreed to develop an online course to educate pesticide sellers, the public, and marketers on federal pesticide regulations and policies.” Read more

 

Murphy Oil CFO John Eckart to retire, search begins for replacement at Talk Business. Read more

 

Weston family’s Choice Properties to buy Canadian REIT in $3.9-billion deal by David Paddon at The Canadian Press at Toronto Star. “The Weston family — one of Canada’s wealthiest — controls the Loblaw food business and other retail operations, including Shoppers Drug Mart and the Joe Fresh fashion chain, through its holdings in George Weston Ltd (GWL).” Read more

 

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Executive awarded record damages over Walmart Canada’s conduct by Howard Levitt at Financial Post. “(Justice Emery) found that (David) Cheesewright’s “callous indifference” and “reprehensible conduct” was made on behalf of the company and awarded $500,000. This is the highest award for moral damages in employment law in the country and one of the largest amounts for punitive damages. This decision will almost certainly be appealed.” Read more

 

Sears to Post a Rare Profit but That’s Only Thanks to Tax Reform by Phil Wahba at Fortune. Read more

 

Kroger Opens Culinary Innovation Center “Kroger commenced construction on the 12,000-square-feet, LEED-designed Center in March 2017. The commercial kitchen features multiple cooking stations, spaces and capabilities, including technology that allows video streaming of educational sessions to Kroger associates across the country.” Press release

 

Jury Finds Defendants In Pilot Travel Center’s Case Guilty On Only 5 Of 17 Counts at The Chattanoogan. “The trial, which began in early November, focused on Pilot sales representatives defrauding trucking companies out of promised rebates. It was computed that the trucking firms were cheated out of over $56 million they should have received.” Read more

 

Wegmans is 2nd Best Co. to Work For (REI #43, Publix #47, Sheetz #66, Nordstrom #88) at Fortune. Top 100 list

 

San Diego County: Walmart’s ‘academy’ opens with first 60 grads, — caps, gowns and high-fives included by Roger Showley at San Diego Tribune. “To the tune of “Pomp and Circumstance,” graduates paraded across a temporary stage, received their curriculum completion certificates, hugged friends and family and enjoyed a company-provided lunch….“It was very emotional when I first started walking down the aisle,” said Gladys “Gee Gee” Chavez, 54.” Read more/Video

 

Walmart Hires More Than 194,000 U.S. Military Veterans since the Launch of the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment Press release

 

WINNIPEG: Lowe’s opens 64th store in Canada by Bill Redekop at Winnipeg Free Press. “…its store will open at 6 a.m. on weekdays. That was a big hit with customers and contractors wandering the shiny, new store aisles on Thursday. Contractor Vlad Kulinich said that first hour in the morning is often wasted time for him while he waits for home improvement stores to open…” Read more

 

Walmart Unveils New Apparel Brands by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. “The store brands include Time and Tru in ladieswear — which will replace the jettisoned DanskinNow label — along with Terra & Sky in plus-size apparel and Wonder Nation for kids, according to a company presentation to suppliers obtained by Bloomberg News. The George apparel brand, which Walmart brought over from its British unit Asda, will be refocused for men only.” Read more

 

…Amazon’s Top Apparel Victims: Target, Macy’s, J.C. Penney by Lindsey Rupp at Bloomberg. “Amazon Fashion is tied with Target as the second-most-shopped apparel retailer in the U.S., behind Walmart Inc., as measured by number of shoppers, the survey found.” Read more

 

Warby Parker aims to run nearly 100 stores this year at CNBC. Read more

 

Dollar Tree confirms that the Florida high school shooting suspect worked at their store in Parkland at WHDH Boston. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Pepsi Redesigns The Water Bottle

Over 89K Petitioners Demand Answers from PetSmart on Mysterious Dog Death

Target Adds Black-Owned Beauty Brand The Lip Bar to Its Shelves

Ikea Wants To Replace Your Crappy Posters With Real Art

New EU Privacy Law May Weaken Security

Stranger spanks toddler in Kroger, says ‘This is what we do to kids in Mexico’

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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