Tipsheet: H.Depot EZ Apply | Bezos in D.C. | B.Buy Scrubs | WM Cloud Proud

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Walmart goes to the cloud to close gap with Amazon by Nandita Bose at Reuters. “It has made a big difference to how fast we can grow our e-commerce business,” said Tim Kimmet, head of cloud operations for Walmart. He said Walmart, for example, is using cloud data to stock items frequently ordered by customers via voice shopping devices such as Google Home.” Read more/Video

 

Home Depot Battles Tight Labor Market With Easy Application by Matthew Townsend at Bloomberg. “…applying was cut to 15 minutes, from about an hour, and applications surged 50 percent. Now, this spring, people can complete pre-screening and choose an interview time through Home Depot’s mobile website. A digital map even shows them how to get the interview.” Read more

 

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos Can’t Beat Washington, So He’s Joining It at Bloomberg. “Amazon’s most-recent effort focuses on music. It’s supporting the Music Modernization Act…Steve Boom, vice president of Amazon Music, worked the halls of Congress on the bill at the end of January. Amazon also hosted a meeting in a congressional office building where the sponsor of the legislation, Georgia Republican Representative Doug Collins, thanked the company for its months of work, a person familiar with the event said.” Read more

 

JAN. RETAIL SALES MIXED – Department store sales rose a solid 0.8% while a broader category that includes big-box retail stores such as Walmart, rose a smaller 0.2% Read more

 

Can the Nordstrom Family Outrun Retail’s Woes? by Suzanne Kapner at Wall Street Journal. “About the worst thing that could happen is to be known as the generation at Nordstrom that screwed it up,” Pete Nordstrom, 56, a great grandson of the Swedish immigrant who co-founded the company a century ago, said in a recent interview.” Read more (subs.)

 

Sam’s Club Offering Free Shipping by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “…the bulk of items it sells online will qualify and that there will be no minimum order size for customers who have a “Plus” membership, which costs $100 annually. Exceptions will include merchandise that is only available for curbside pickup such as fresh and frozen food, bulk items, and products sent directly to customers by a third party.” Read more

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water: Taste the difference – Never from concentrate! 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

 

Best Buy scrubs phony Huawei phone reviews from website by Dan DeBaun at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. “(Best Buy) removed more than 100 bogus reviews of Huawei’s Mate 10 Pro device from its e-commerce store on Tuesday, after tech-news website 9to5Google linked the slew of five-star posts to a promotional campaign by Huawei.” Read more

 

H&M Writes Off Hopes of 2018 Recovery as Markdowns Mount by Anna Molin & Hanna Hoikkala at Bloomberg. “H&M said it expects online sales to rise at least 25 percent this year. It said sales from e-commerce and non-H&M formats like COS, Weekday and newly launched Arket will nearly triple from last year’s level by 2022, but those labels currently account for less than one-tenth of sales.” Read more

 

Walmart claims to be more Millennial than Amazon by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Walmart claims 42% of Walmart.com and 65% of Jet.com customers are Millennials (ages 22-39) compared to 38% at Amazon. Generation X (ages 40-51) is a toss-up at 16% for Walmart.com and Amazon.” Read more

 

JC Penney to shut Milwaukee distribution center, cut 670 jobs at Reuters. Read more

 

Cramer on CNBC: “[Walgreens] may not be as smart as they think they are” considering Amerisource, Cramer said. “These companies are going to be squeezed by that [Bezos] venture and squeezed by others that have to compete.” Read more/Video

 

Dollar General appoints Tim McGuire and Ralph Santana to its board of directors Press release

 

EBay will roll out new augmented reality features this year to make buying and selling goods on the website more engaging at Bloomberg via Fortune. “EBay announced Tuesday that it hired data scientist Jan Pedersen to run its artificial intelligence efforts that will bring new shopping experiences to the marketplace.” Read more

 

When It Comes to Millennials’ Fashion Buys, Price and Convenience Trump Sustainability by Arthur Zaczkiewicz at WWD. “The researchers found that “only 34 percent of those Millennials surveyed reported that they are driven to make a fashion purchase because the apparel or accessory was eco-friendly and sustainably produced.” Read more

 

Walmart to Trim Store Management Ranks by Sarah Nassauer at Wall Street Journal. “The retailer this week is eliminating two department manager positions in some of its 4,700 U.S. stores, including managers who oversee cellphone departments and online-grocery pickup areas, according to a person familiar with the plans.er at Wall Street Journal.” Read more (subs.)

 

James Harden’s sneakers are now immortalized in candy form by Ananth Pandian at Rockets Wire. “Releasing exclusively at 7-Eleven in March…Shaped like the adidas Harden Vol. 1, the candy comes in both left and right shoe shapes and like real shoes, they can sit on their soles if placed on a hard surface.” Pic/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Target upgraded because of same-day delivery rollout, tax reform

C-store’s error leads Kansas woman to $30,000 lottery win

Amazon’s curious job postings hint at live-streaming video ambitions

Bloomberg Created a Video Game to Document the Demise of the Mall

7th Circuit weighs Costco’s liability for customer’s harassment of worker

French sports goods salesman caught armed to the teeth, customs says

Sears Home Services business could be a hidden gem

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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: Blue Apron-Like Food Stamps | Costco Food-Court Kiosks | Coca-Cola C-store Slushy

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Equifax names Home Depot exec to lead security by Michael E. Kannel at AJC. “Jamil Farshchi, who was hired by Home Depot after that company’s data breach, takes the slot at Equifax about five months after the company revealed that hackers had accessed the personal information of more than 145 million Americans held in Equifax systems.” Read more

 

Amazon’s Latest Ambition: To Be a Major Hospital Supplier by Melanie Evans & Laura Stevens at Wall Street Journal. “Amazon recently dispatched employees to a large Midwestern hospital system, where hospital officials are testing whether they can use Amazon Business to order health-care supplies for the hospital system’s roughly 150 outpatient facilities, according to a hospital official overseeing the efforts.” Read more (subs.)

 

Trump Wants to Cut Food Stamps—And Replace Them With Blue Apron-Like Meal Kits by Natasha Bach at Fortune. “Mick Mulvaney explained that “part” of food stamp recipients’ benefits would “come in…a Blue Apron-type program where you actually receive the food instead of receive the cash.” The proposal, called “America’s Harvest Box,” would reportedly contain “homegrown” products…” Read more

 

…Dollar Store Stocks Drop on News at Bloomberg via Fortune. “But the changes — if implemented — would extend to a broad swath of the grocery industry, including Walmart Inc. and Kroger Co. The food-stamp program served 42.2 million people during the 2017 fiscal year.” Read more

 

…Blue Apron shares spike on earnings beat, improvements at New Jersey facility at CNBC. Read more

 

Target partners with Honeyfund to add cash gifts to its wedding registry by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “The team responsible for building Target’s online registry saw Honeyfund appear on “Shark Tank,” and thought it would be cool to integrate the honeymoon registry service into Target’s own.” Read more

 

Costco stores test computerized food-court ordering kiosks by Samantha Gowen at Orange Country Register. “Shoppers simply tap icons on a touch-screen, click to pay with a credit or debit card, and slide over to the pickup window with a receipt. (Sorry, no cash at the kiosk.) We tried it Sunday at the Tustin District location and had an order of chicken Caesar salad, a hot dog and soda in about 2 minutes from beginning to end.” Pics/Read more

 

**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

 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS – 80% of Sears’ U.S. stores are within a 15-minute drive of a Home Depot, Lowe’s and/or Best Buy location at CNBC. Read more

 

Barnes & Noble is laying off lead cashiers and digital leads at CNBC. “ Read more

 

…Barnes & Noble Appoints Timothy Mantel as Chief Merchandising Officer “Mr. Mantel previously held the role of Chief Merchandising Officer for GNC Corporation.” Press release

 

Coca-Cola expands its instant slushy-making machine by Eric Mendel at Atlanta Business Chronicle. “Put a bottle on the platform and, after an “invisible shiver” through the liquid, it transforms into a slushy within seconds. Kim Drucker, director of platform innovation for Coca-Cola North America, likens the resulting product to being a Coke “in a cup with soft, crushed ice.” Video/Read more

 

Land of Nod shutters brick-and-mortar locations by Gina Hall at Chicago Business Journal. “Crate & Barrel, which owns the ritzy children’s furniture store, confirmed that it shuttered its Land of Nod retail stores…Land of Nod will continue to have an e-commerce presence, and Land of Nod products will roll out in 15 Crate & Barrel brick-and-mortar stores in the U.S.” Read more

 

Walgreens in talks to buy AmerisourceBergen at Reuters. Read more

 

Target will roll out same-day delivery in Twin Cities next month by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “As Shipt launches in the Twin Cities, Target will end its partnership with Instacart in this market. It is expected to do the same in the other markets where it had offered delivery through Instacart — Chicago and San Francisco — once Shipt rolls out to those areas.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

California’s drought restrictions on wasteful water habits could be coming back — this time they’ll be permanent by Steve Scauzillo at Orange County Register. “This means the powerful agency would no longer need a “drought emergency” declaration from the governor to act, like the ones issued by Gov. Jerry Brown during the state drought between 2012 and 2017.” Read more

 

Amazon confirms job cuts at Seattle headquarters, hundreds of positions impacted by John Cook at GeekWire. “About 500 people are losing their jobs, though those impacted were offered other positions inside the company, a source tells GeekWire.” Read more

 

Exxon Sues Its Antagonists in a Fierce Climate-Change Lawsuit by Bob Van Vorris at Bloomberg. “The company has targeted at least 30 people and organizations, including the attorneys general of New York and Massachusetts, hitting them with suits, threats of suits or demands for sworn depositions.” Read more

 

While U.S. malls are dying a slow death, malls in Mexico are thriving by Robbie Whelan at Wall Street Journal. “…there are 34 shopping mall projects under construction in Mexico right now comprising a total of 15.8 million square feet of leasable retail space expected to be completed in 2018. That is roughly twice the amount of mall square footage delivered last year.” Read more (subs.)

 

Stone Brewery sues Keystone over “‘stone” name by Daniel Wheaton at San Diego Tribune. “Keystone’s rebranding is no accident,” said Dominic Engels, Stone Brewing CEO. “MillerCoors tried to register our name years ago and was rejected. Now its marketing team is making 30-pack boxes stacked high with nothing but the word ‘STONE’ visible.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Former country crooner with amazing musical past found working in Kroger store

O.J. Simpson spotted on a Costco run

Deputies capture gator in Winn-Dixie parking lot, toss it in back of cop car (Video)

Why Diesel Opened a NYC Pop-Up Store Selling Knockoffs of Its Own Clothes

‘Oh Thank Heaven for 7-Eleven’ Creator Passes Away

DeLorean could be producing new cars next year

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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: Wayfair Overvalued by 84%? | Rev. Jackson Knocks Kroger | WM Taps Justice Dept

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Instacart Adds $200 Million to Defend Against Amazon Delivery by Olivia Zaleski & Ellen Huet at Bloomberg. “The funding values Instacart at $4.2 billion, said people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the terms are private. That’s quite a ways off from Amazon’s $649 billion market value…” Read more

 

Walmart taps Justice Department’s Rachel Brand as its corporate secretary, compliance officer by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Rachel Brand will join the company as executive vice president, global governance and corporate secretary. Brand will report to CEO Doug McMillon and is replacing Jeff Gearhart who retired at the end of January.” Read more

 

…Women at Walmart Becoming Scarcer Despite C-Suite Promotions by Matthew Boyle & Jordyn Holman at Bloomberg. “Walmart spokeswoman Tricia Moriarty said she could not confirm or deny that the retailer’s shift to selling more groceries has changed its gender makeup. 62 percent of the more than 225,000 graduates so far from its new training academies are women.” Read more

 

Amazon paid $90 million for camera maker’s chip technology – sources by Jeffrey Dastin at Reuters. “Amazon is exploring chips exclusive to Blink that could lower production costs and lengthen the battery life of other gadgets, starting with Amazon’s Cloud Cam and potentially extending to its family of Echo speakers, one of the people said.” Read more

 

WAYFAIR OVERVALUED BY 84%? by Elizabeth Winkle at Wall Street Journal. “A recent study by marketing professors Daniel McCarthy of Emory University and Peter Fader of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School found that Wayfair spends about $69 to acquire each new customer, but only earns $59 back from each acquisition. Using a method of valuing publicly traded retailers that focuses on customer retention, Professors McCarthy and Fader conclude that Wayfair is overvalued by 84%.” Read more (subs.)

 

…Wayfair cutting board draws angst from Hindus by Donna Goodison at Boston Herald. “Lord Ganesha was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to ‘chop, dice and slice’ meat, vegetables, cheese, etc.,” Zed said.” 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

 

After 33 years at Neiman Marcus, CEO Karen Katz contemplates life in comfortable shoes at Dallas Morning News. Read more (tiered subs.)

 

L.L. Bean Ditches Unlimited Lifetime Return Policy as Scams Rise by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “L.L. Bean said in some cases, people are trying to get a refund for something they bought second-hand at a yard sales.” Read more

 

Reverend Jesse Jackson knocks Kroger store closings in Memphis visit at WREG 3 Memphis. “Kroger represents jobs, healthcare and food. So if you close three Kroger’s, you make it a health desert and a food desert. People can’t get to their meds or work.” Video/Read more

 

Unilever Threatens to Pull Ads from Social Media Giants by Hallie Detrick at Fortune. “That’s according to a speech Keith Weed, the global consumer goods giant’s chief marketing officer, is set to give at the annual Interactive Advertising Bureau conference in Palm Desert, Calif., on Monday…He compared cleaning up digital advertising and supply chains to the company’s efforts to find sustainable materials for its products.” Read more

 

Guess forms special committee to investigate sexual harassment claims against CEO at CNBC. Read more

 

Hawaii’s Cesspools Threaten Drinking Water, Tourism by Ian Lovett at Wall Street Journal. “Hawaii has 88,000 cesspools across its eight major islands, more than any other state. Collectively, they deposit 53 million gallons of raw sewage into the ground every day, according to the state health department. More than 90% of the state’s drinking water comes from groundwater wells.” Read more (subs.)

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Man alleges his Apple AirPods earphone blew up

Alibaba’s high-tech mirrors will let you try on virtual makeup

Man arrested after loading up two 12-gauge shotguns inside Walmart

WinCo cashier pays for Bay Area mom’s groceries

Drought in India curtails chickpea crop, leads to spike in hummus prices

As Aldi and Lidl Sell Lobsters, Tesco Spies an Opening

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

 

Website: www.eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: WM Eyes 20% of Flipkart | Old Navy #30 Give Back | Amazon Biz Deliv

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Walmart Might Be Spending Billions for a Stake in Flipkart at Fortune. “Walmart is in discussions to pay several billion dollars for as much as 20% of India e-commerce leader Flipkart Online Services, according to a person familiar with the matter. The world’s biggest retailer would invest in Flipkart as part of a proposed deal that would increase the startup’s valuation as high as $20 billion, said the person.” Read more

 

Amazon reportedly launching a delivery service for businesses at CNBC. “The service is called “Shipping with Amazon” and will see the tech giant picking up packages from businesses and delivering them to customers, the WSJ said, citing people familiar with the matter. Amazon’s business delivery is expected to roll out in Los Angeles in the coming weeks with third-party merchants that sell goods via its website. More cities are to follow.” Read more | WSJ article (subs.)

 

NRF projects retail sales will grow between 3.8 and 4.4 percent this year, excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants at CNBC. “That compares with NRF’s forecast last year of growth between 3.2 and 3.8 percent. A jump of 4.4 percent would be the biggest increase since 2011, when retail sales climbed 5 percent.” Read more

 

Walmart, AT&T Bolster Their Tax Savings in Paying Worker Bonuses by Lynnley Browning at Bloomberg. “Walmart isn’t accounting for that charge in 2017, according to Randy Hargrove, a Walmart spokesman. If it had, Walmart could have saved $245 million. Instead, the $700 million deduction at the 21 percent rate will equal tax savings of $147 million.” Read more

 

Fresh Market is hitting the brakes on its growth plans by Kathrine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “In an email Thursday, the upscale grocery chain told the Observer that it will not be opening any new stores this year despite previously announced expansion plans.” Read more

 

TODAY – New details on Amazon’s private meeting with Seattle officials by Monica Nickelsburg at GeekWire. List of attendees

 

Canada’s Trudeau makes his pitch for HQ2 as he tours San Francisco’s tech scene at CNBC. “Trudeau landed meetings with Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and eBay’s Devin Wenig, as well as Robert Bradway, the head of biotech company Amgen.” Read more

 

CVS Q4 Net Revenue +5.3% Press release

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water: Coconut water supplier for 15+ years – branded & PL. Organic & Natural options available. Sell sheet | Website | Request samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Flight Club — the retail Mecca for sneakerheads — is merging with the GOAT sneaker app by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “The combination of GOAT and Flight Club is expected to create a powerhouse in the burgeoning sneaker resale market, which has exploded into mainstream pop culture over the last decade, especially among teen boys and men in their 20s.” Read more

 

Walmart updates app to make shopping at an actual store easier and faster by Charisse Jones at USA Today. “…customers who compile a digital shopping list within Walmart’s  app will find out how much they’ll have to pay — including sales tax– before they leave the house. Once they get to the store, the app’s new “store assistant’’ experience will include a map to guide customers…” Read more

 

PROGRESS – Rite Aid has transferred 1,114 stores and related assets to Walgreens “We have now completed more than half of the planned store transfers and remain on track to finish the process in the spring of this year,” said Rite Aid Chairman and CEO John Standley.” Press release

 

Ingles Q1 comp sales (ex-gas) +2.2% Press release

 

Same-day delivery service Deliv launches Deliv Rx for same-day prescriptions by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “…will power same-day delivery of prescriptions for select Walgreens, as well as Kay Pharmacy, Phil, Phox Health, Rancho Park and others.” Read more

 

Walmart makes push to sell online goods at $10 by Nandita Bose at Reuters. “Walmart’s goal is to see higher profit margins selling these more expensive items given the built-in cost of delivering goods purchased online, according to the people familiar with Walmart’s new strategy.” Read more

 

The Buckle January Comp Sales +0.2% Press release

 

Lawmakers, Alcohol Industry Tussle Over Cancer Labels on Booze by Saabira Chaudhuri at Wall Street Journal. “A month after slapping bright red and yellow cancer warnings on bottles of wine, vodka and other tipple late last year, workers at the government-run liquor store in Whitehorse, Canada, took them all off again. “Alcohol can cause cancer,” read the labels, part of a government-funded pilot program.” Read more (subs.)

 

CVS boosts hourly minimum wage to $11 after tax cut by Nathan Bomey at USA Today. “CVS also plans to increase its paid parental leave policy to four weeks at 100% compensation for all new parents.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

The 50 Best Workplaces for Giving Back in 2018 (Patagonia #15, Old Navy #30)

US gunmaker Remington seeks financing to file for bankruptcy protection

Shrinking Gems Are a Headache for the Diamond Industry

Jimmy Buffett Done with Margaritas on His New ‘No Sugar & No Carbs’ Diet

‘Astonishing Number’ Of Viruses Float Down On Us From The Sky

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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: Wgreens Opens Bathrooms | Activist Pushes Supervalu | 7-11 Blasts Classical

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Walgreens will now let customers use bathrooms based on gender identity by Chris Perez at NY Post. “Through [Meehan’s] efforts, with the backing of the ACLU of Southern California, the Walgreens pharmacy chain with more than 8,000 stores nationwide adopted a policy to address bathroom discrimination,” the group said in its statement Monday.” Read more

 

Activist Pushes Supervalu to Break Up, Explore Sale by David Benoit & Heather Haddon at Wall Street Journal. “Blackwells Capital LLC, which owns about 4.35% of Supervalu’s stock, privately urged the board to give it three seats and form a committee to review potentially separating Supervalu’s retail and wholesale divisions and selling the wholesale group, according to a letter it sent the board Tuesday evening.” Read more (subs.)

 

Container Store Q3 Comp Sales -0.2% Press release

 

Lululemon CEO left in part because of relationship with female designer at the company at CNBC. “The employee in the relationship with Potdevin resigned in 2014, after the relationship had begun. Lululemon later brought her back to work on discrete company projects as a contractor. In January 2018, it did not renew her contract.” Read more

 

Michael Kors’ same-store sales fall less than expected at Reuters. “Kors said same-store sales fell 3.2 percent in its third quarter ended Dec. 30, well below analysts average estimate of a decline of 6.8 percent.” Read more

 

Macy’s to launch a clothing line geared toward Muslims via CNBC. “Macy’s teamed up with a boutique called Verona Collection and plans to sell the collection of modest dresses, tops, cardigans, and hijabs online. The clothing will launch on Macy’s website on Feb. 15.” Read more

 

GameStop promotes 16-year company veteran to CEO role by Korri Kezar at Dallas Business Journal. “Mike Mauler formerly served as executive vice president and president of international for the company.” Read more

 

A First Look Inside Apple Park by Mark Wilson at Fast Company. “The press isn’t allowed in. But luckily, some of Apple’s own employees are on Instagram.” Pics/Read more

 

**A message from 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

 

SKIMMERS – Police in PA searching for men who’ve spent the last few months installing card and PIN skimmers at checkout lanes inside of Aldi supermarkets at Krebs on Security. Read more

 

Stew Leonard’s tops most-desired store by Long Island residents by Nick Musumeci at Long Island Business News. “35 percent of all voters were in favor of the grocery store. The second most popular option went to Amazon Go, with 18 percent of all votes. Also included on our poll was Target with 11 percent of votes.” Read more

 

Target Exits Memphis E-Commerce Distribution Center, Nearly 500 Workers to Be Laid Off by Burl Gilyard at Twin Cities Business. “But those workers are not Target employees: they work for Radial, a third-party logistics firm that operates the facility for Target.” Read more

 

Tesco faces record 4 billion pound equal pay claim in Britain at Reuters. “The BBC said that thousands of female workers in Tesco stores could receive back pay totaling 20,000 pounds if the legal challenge demanding parity with men who work in the company’s warehouses is successful.” Read more

 

Amazon Quietly Sets Its Sights on Discount Stores at Fox Business. “Amazon has launched a section of its app and website offering items for $10 and under with free shipping. It’s a below-the-radar, not promoted effort, but it’s a quiet attempt to see if the online giant can tap a new customer base.” Read more

 

Publix reverses policy denying coverage for HIV-prevention drug at Miami Herald. “Publix announced Tuesday it will include HIV prevention method PrEP in its employee healthcare plans, changing policy a day after meeting with Florida Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, the Legislature’s first openly gay Latino member.” Read more

 

Your smart TV may prey for hackers and collecting more info than you realize, Consumer Reports warns by Jefferson Graham at USA Today. “How bad is the security? So poor, according to its report, that it was able to take over complete remote control of the TVs from Samsung and TCL’s branded Roku TV, which included changing channels, upping the volume, installing new apps and playing objectionable content from YouTube. “ Read more

 

How Dick’s Sporting Goods Is Using the Olympics to Send a Message of Unity by Jeff Beer at Fast Company. “Chief Marketing Officer Scott Hudler says that in a time when people are seemingly more divided than ever, they set out to deliver the message that sports make people better.” See spot/Read more

 

7-Eleven Blasts Classical Music to Keep Loiterers Out by AJ Abell at Action News Now. Video

 

Amazon delivery man found wandering through Sarasota man’s home at News Channel 8. “A Sarasota man was stunned to find an Amazon delivery man wandering through his house. To make matters worse, it happened again the next day.” Video/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

The 19 Richest People In Cryptocurrency

There’s a secret ingredient in Costco’s rotisserie chicken that makes it taste so good

Herbal supplement contains opioids, regulators say

Here’s how much Lowe’s new COO will bring home in salary

H-E-B buys land in Upper Kirby, Houston for new mixed-use project

Secret shopper offer uses post office, Walmart in scam

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: Foulkes Congrats | New Artisan Standards | 36% Will Online Groc Shop

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Hudson’s Bay Poaches Helena Foulkes From CVS by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “Foulkes, long seen as a potential CEO at CVS, will have her hands full at HBC. In its most recent quarter, HBC…reported comparable sales fell 3.2%…HBC is also in an uneasy truce with an activist investor who has pressured it to sell of its German business and even consider turning the Saks flagship in Manhattan into a hotel.” Read more

 

Coach owner Tapestry’s sales top Wall Street estimates at CNBC. “During the latest quarter, global same-store sales of the Coach brand rose 3 percent, while Kate Spade’s total same-store sales dropped 7 percent.” Read more

 

Walmart acquires virtual reality startup by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “Spatialand makes software tools that let creators transform existing content into immersive, virtual reality experiences…The startup’s founder, Kim Cooper, and about 10 employees, will join Walmart in the deal. Katie Finnegan, who has been overseeing the Store No. 8 incubator, will serve as interim CEO of the new virtual reality company.” Read more

 

QVC’s Plan to Survive Amazon and Escape the Cable TV Death Spiral by Gerry Smith at Bloomberg. “In the Kitchen With David” is one of QVC’s most popular shows, drawing on average more than 2 million viewers…He has sold almost 900,000 air fryers. Whenever Venable tastes a dish he really enjoys, he raises his hands and turns in a circle while saying “happy dance, happy dance” over and over. It’s his signature move.” Read more

 

**A message from ReadyStrainer – The ReadyStrainer sits at the side of the sink and directs water into the sink. Dirty dishes are cumbersome to move and can contaminate other food with unhealthy bacteria. Problem solved! Product Overview | Website | Sample: info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

Kroger to sell its convenience stores to UK’s EG Group for $2.15 billion via CNBC. “Kroger said it plans to use proceeds from the sale to buy back shares and lower debt…Its supermarket fuel centers and Turkey Hill Dairy are not part of the sale.” Read more

 

Lululemon’s shocking CEO resignation due to lapse in code of conduct by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “The executive’s transgressions were not detailed by the company, but it was clear that the conduct breach was not related to the company’s operations.” Read more

 

Victoria’s Secret Boss Bets on a Radical Idea: Smartphones Will Fade by Khadeeja Safdar at Wall Street Journal. “People crave social interaction and will seek it at places like malls. “There are times when that gets interrupted, but people want to be with other people,” he says. “I’ve got 5,000 years of history on my side,” pointing to the ancient shopping bazaars in Rome and Istanbul.” Read more (subs.)

 

Former GameStop CEO J.Paul Raines will resign as a company director, effective immediately, “in order to focus on his health and family.” by Korri Kezar at Dallas Business Journal. Read more

 

Tesco fraud case collapses after defendant gets heart attack at Fox Business. Read more

 

Williams-Sonoma Appoints Ex-Macy’s Exec Yasir Anwar as Chief Technology Officer Press release

 

Retailers, NGO Create Standards for Artisans, Home-Based Workers by Ben DiPietro at Wall Street Journal “…retailers including Target Corp., Patagonia Inc., Eileen Fisher and West Elm, part of Williams-Sonoma Inc., teamed with nonprofit Nest–an organization focused on the development of the global craft industry–to draft more than 130 compliance standards for home-based workshops.” Read more (subs.)

 

A survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers finds 36% plan to grocery shop online this year, up from 22% in 2017 at Internet Retailer. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Taylor Swift has spent $50M on a single NYC block

Customers, employees remember closed Target with candlelight vigil

Booker boss Wilson to run Tesco’s British business

Justin Timberlake backed out of using Prince hologram at the last minute

Dunkin’ Donuts shares slip on soft sales in U.S.

Amazon passes Samsung for 2nd place in worldwide tablet shipments, sees 50% growth in 2017

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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: Cornell Helps NFL Players | Macy’s Pop-Ups | B.Buy Done w/CDs

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Macy’s launches pop-up marketplaces in its stores at CNBC. “Brands pay a one-time fee for the space and retain all their sales. The program, which formally launches Monday, will initially be tried in 10 cities, including at the Herald Square flagship in New York, Boston, Las Vegas and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.” Read more

 

Target helps NFL players think about their next careers by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “CEO Brian Cornell told the 15 or so players in attendance that he once wanted to be in their shoes playing for the NFL. “Unfortunately, I peaked when I was about 13 years old,” he said to laughs. “I was 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds. … The problem is, I’m still 5-9 and 170 pounds.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

…Players also met with Rick Gomez, Target’s CMO; Mark Schindele, SVP of Target properties; Mike Jewison, VP of store operations; and Cara Sylvester, VP of divisional merchandising by Dan DeBaun at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. Read more

 

Bon-Ton files for bankruptcy protection at CNBC. “Bon-Ton said Sunday it received a commitment of as much as $725 million in financing from existing lenders to support its operations.” Read more

 

Best Buy to pay up to $1,000 in bonuses to 100,000+ workers via USA Today. Read more

 

Is Walmart Coming to Israel? Netanyahu Says the Door Is Open by David Wainer at Bloomberg. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to use the power of his office to help bring the world’s largest retailer to Israel. That was Netanyahu’s message to John Furner, a senior Walmart Inc. executive…according to Netanyahu’s economic adviser, Avi Simhon. They discussed the idea of Walmart’s opening a retail branch and investing in Israeli technologies, said Simhon.” 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

 

In Australia, Amazon is still finding its way by Tom Westbrook & Byron Kaye at Reuters. “From Dec. 12 to Jan. 7, Australians looked online more often for Myer Holdings Ltd, a 118-year-old department store chain with a market capitalization of A$540 million ($431 million) and a steady run of profit warnings, than they did for $630 billion Amazon.” Read more

 

Best Buy to Stop Selling CDs, Target Might Be Next by Ed Christman at Billboard. “…sources say that Target has demanded to music suppliers that it wants to be sold on what amounts to a consignment basis. Currently, Target takes the inventory risk by agreeing to pay for any goods it is shipped within 60 days, and must pay to ship back unsold CDs for credit.” Read more

 

Costco’s plan has millennials in their stores by Benjamin Romano at Seattle Times via Toronto Star. “Reports that millennials are not joining Costco are “not accurate,” Jelinek said, noting that the generation represents over 40 per cent of its new-member sign-ups.” Read more

 

Whole Foods introducing ‘Real Food’ campaign by Jon Springer at Supermarket News. “A television ad debuting the “We Believe in Real Food” tagline has premiered on the retailer’s website and Youtube channel this week.” See spot/Read more

 

Brian Cornell Appeared Friday @ CNBC “The CEO pointed out that Target, unlike rival Walmart, has a much more “balanced portfolio,” which includes apparel, home goods, electronics and grocery. Food accounts for only 20 percent of the brand, compared with 60 percent of Walmart’s products.” 5:38 video/Read more

 

Amazon settles long-running dispute with French tax authorities, who have been seeking nearly 200 million euros ($249 million) at Fox Business. Read more

 

Nordstrom Sets Campaign for First Stand-Alone Men’s Store by David Boin at WWD. “The retailer’s first full-line New York City store will be a big flagship complex with separate men’s and women’s stores.” Read more (subs.)

 

Why Whole Foods employees are crying on the job by Michael Bartiromo at NY Post. “Making matters worse are the new “scorecards” that managers are expected to grade their employees with…Any employee who scores below an 89.9 is possibly subject to termination…store leaders and even one regional vice president have quit “because they consider OTS to be absurd.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Tiny town in water fight with Nestle

Willie Nelson’s cannabis brand raises $12 million to fund expansion

Retailers face prison time in bread price-fixing scandal?

Inside Saatchi and Tide’s Clever Super Bowl Ad Takeover

Meet The Designers Behind Target’s New Denim Brand

Recode: Amazon should buy CBS

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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-Target/Dick’s Exec Now CEO | Old Navy Racial Probe | H.Depot #1 Radio ’17

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The head of Boxed’s fastest-growing business is leaving amid sale talks by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “Behzad Soltani, the executive in charge of Boxed’s business-to-business division, is leaving the startup to take a C-level role at another company, Recode has learned…The company’s Chief Merchandising Officer Heather Mayo, a veteran of Sam’s Club, also exited in the fall after only a year on the job. Her departure had not been previously reported.” Read more

 

Amazon profits soar to $1.9B in key holiday quarter, eclipsing Wall Street’s expectations by Nat Levy at GeekWire. “…nearly two-thirds of the $3 billion in profits the company made in 2017 came in the fourth quarter. For the year, Amazon’s net sales increased 31 percent to $177.9 billion.” Read more | Press release

 

CANADA BREAD SCANDAL – Sobeys exploring legal action against George Weston for implicating it in bread price-fixing scandal via Financial Post. “George Weston and its main subsidiary, Loblaw Companies Ltd., admitted their involvement in what they say is an industry-wide arrangement to co-ordinate the price of bread for at least 14 years. Weston and Loblaw received immunity from criminal proceedings.” Read more

 

Ex-Target/Dick’s exec named CEO of Christopher & Banks by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “The women’s clothing chain of 463 stores, which has been struggling for years to turn around its business, said Thursday it has appointed Keri Jones as its next chief executive. The longtime Target executive who most recently held a high-level position at Dick’s Sporting Goods is expected to start in her new role on March 12.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Tesla Expands Sales of Solar Gear at Home Depot by Matthew Townsend at Bloomberg. “Tesla is beginning to roll out Tesla-branded selling spaces at 800 of the retailer’s locations, the company confirmed to Bloomberg News. The areas, which will be outfitted during the first half of this year, are staffed by Tesla employees and can demonstrate its solar panels and Powerwall battery. Lowe’s…has also been in discussions with Tesla about selling its solar products, said people familiar with the situation.” Read more

 

Kroger’s Organic Produce Sales Achieve $1 Billion Press release

 

**A message from deVaca – The full-flavored – caffeine free – non-GMO coffee substitute. Grown & roasted in Colorado – Fill the natural caffeine free gap in your coffee assortment. Sell sheet | Sample: info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

Old Navy store reopens amid racial profiling probe by Aaron Young at Des Moines Register via USA Today. “I was accused that I didn’t pay for my blue bubble jacket that I got for Christmas that I wore into the store,” said Conley in the post…Conley says the store manager “was very unprofessional and stereotyped me because I was a Black male.” Read more/Video

 

America’s 20 most hated companies (Sears #13, NFL #3) by Kate Gibson at MoneyWatch. List

 

Visitor experience at Amazon’s newly opened Spheres leaves some wishing for better look inside by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. “…some folks who headed down to get a firsthand look at all the exotic plants and cool views were left underwhelmed by Understory, the visitor experience at the base of the Spheres that does not provide access inside the glass domes. That access is strictly for Amazon employees.” Read more

 

CVS, Aetna asked for more information by DOJ, deal still expected to close this year at MarketWatch. Read more

 

Exxon, Chevron Disappoint With Profit and Production Figures by Kevin Crowley at Bloomberg. Read more

 

Home Depot was Top Radio Advertiser Of 2017 at Inside Radio. “The top 10 national radio advertisers for 2017 are: No. 1 The Home Depot, No. 2 GEICO, No. 3 JC Penney, No. 4 McDonald’s, No. 5 Lowe’s, No. 6 AutoZone, No. 7 Staples, No. 8 Mattress Firm, No. 9 Macy’s and No. 10 US Dept. of Transportation.” Read more

 

Amazon now employs 566,000 people worldwide — a 66 percent jump from a year ago by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. Read more

 

Home Depot destroyed supplies in St.Thomas after hurricane by Nicole Carr at WSB-TV 2 Atlanta. “The company crushed one million pounds worth of goods, according to Waste Management records obtained by Channel 2 Action News. They were sent to a local landfill and claimed on the company’s insurance — rather than sorted for hurricane survivors. The company doesn’t dispute the destruction but, citing liability concerns, insisted to Channel 2 Action News that no other options were available.” Video/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Amazon Is Spending $2.5 Million To Fix Alexa’s Fatal Flaw

Environmentalism or ‘nanny state’? Efforts to regulate plastic in CA take off

Rotten Tomatoes Denounces Group Taking Aim at ‘Black Panther’ Audience Score

Amazon has a patent for a wristband that knows if workers slack off

Nordstrom to close Oregon store, in a rare move

Americans bought 226M cases of spirits in 2017 – up 4.0%

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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