Tipsheet: WM Sells Asda | Chico’s to Sell on Amazon | Too Few Clerks | Saks Breach 9 Months

 

Walmart Pulls Away From Grow-Everywhere Plan With $10 Billion Asda Deal at Bloomberg. “Asda will combine with British retailer J Sainsbury Plc, mixing the U.K.’s second-biggest supermarket chain with No. 3 Asda in a deal worth about 7.3 billion pounds ($10 billion). Walmart will retain a 42 percent stake in the combined company, and will take a noncash loss of about $2 billion on the transaction, according to a statement.” Read more

 

Chico’s shares jump as apparel retailer announces plans to sell on Amazon.com at CNBC. “The company said in mid-May shoppers will find a “select assortment” of clothing and accessories including its athleisure line, no-iron shirts and jewelry on Amazon.com. Chico’s said it could potentially begin selling items from White House Black Market and Soma via Amazon, “as the new business channel gains traction.” Read more

 

Whole Foods sparks controversy by partnering with an Asian eatery called ‘Yellow Fever’ via CNBC. “The independently owned and operated eatery – whose name is taken from the slang term for a white man’s sexual attraction to Asian women – is located in the 365 store that opened in Long Beach, California, on Wednesday.” Read more

 

The Curious Case of the Amazon Prime Price Hike by Brad Stone at Bloomberg. “For more than a decade, that Costco-inspired lowest-price-anywhere mentality fueled the rise of Amazon.com Inc.’s reputation. But recently the company appears to be taking a different tact. There are legitimate questions about whether customers are really seeing the cheapest products on the internet, or only the cheapest ones stored in Amazon’s warehouses.” Read more

 

…Amazon keeps Prime membership price on hold in Canada at Financial Post. Read more

 

There’s a science and art to running a going-out-of-business sale by Courtney Reagan at CNBC. “The last three years have been the busiest we have ever experienced, and I have been doing this for 20 years,” Scott Carpenter, retail solutions president at B. Riley Financial’s Great American Group unit told CNBC in an interview.” Read more

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water – The Brazilian Coconut Water that’s Sweeter than the Rest! Leading branded & PL supplier for 15+ years. Organic & natural options available. Sell sheet | Website | Request samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

In Europe, Amazon.com Remains Out of Fashion by Jeannette Neuman & Laura Stevens at Wall Street Journal. “To explain Amazon’s struggles in conquering apparel in Europe, retail executives and analysts point to an absence of top fashion brands, a website they say isn’t conducive to browsing for clothes and a fragmented market full of plucky competitors.” Read more (subs.)

 

Retail’s Other Problem: Too Few Clerks in the Store by Suzanne Kapner at Wall Street Journal. “Gilbert McGarvey has worked at the flagship Saks Fifth Avenue store in New York City for 24 years, most recently in the shoe department. “It used to be what we sold was service,” he said, “Now, they’ve cut that to the quick.” Read more (subs.)

 

Here’s How Designers Would Fix Amazon at Fast Company Read more

 

Saks Fifth Avenue data breach lasted nine months: HBC by David Paddon at Canadian Press via Toronto Star. “…the breach began as early as July 1 last year but has been contained since March 31.” Read more

 

Amazon to hire additional 200 people for Minneapolis tech office by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “Amazon’s growing foothold in the Twin Cities has raised eyebrows as it’s moved into the home turf of two major retail rivals, Target Corp. and Best Buy Co., creating more competition to recruit and retain tech workers.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

A Documentary Will Explore the Sheetz vs. Wawa Rivalry

MoviePass drops movie-a-day deal

North Korea is shifting its time zone 30 minutes to align with South Korea’s

Democrats lose ground with millennials in new poll

HBR: Why the Most Productive People Don’t Always Make the Best Managers

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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: New C-Store | T.Supply +3.7% | GNC +0.5%

 

The Mad Dash to Buy Vintage Clothes on Instagram by Alexander Stratton & Kim Bhasin at Bloomberg. “Hundreds of accounts post carefully curated looks several times a day, and they often sell within minutes—or seconds. Since the clothes are plucked from thrift shops or a grandmother’s closet, they’re effectively one-of-a-kind. Miss an alert, and it’s gone forever.” Read more

 

Tractor Supply Q1 Comp Sales +3.7% Press release

 

Welcome to the New Convenience Store by Jane Black at Wall Street Journal. “…new upstarts like Choice Market, Green Zebra Grocery in Portland, Ore., Foxtrot in Chicago, the Goods Mart in Los Angeles and Amazon Go in Seattle are open long hours (if not 24) and use the same small spaces to offer a wider range of options.” Read more (subs.)

 

GNC Q1 Comp Sales +0.5% Press release

 

EBay Forecast Disappoints by Spencer Soper at Bloomberg. “(EBay) said sales will be $2.64 billion to $2.68 billion in the second quarter, while analysts were projecting $2.68 billion.” Read more

 

Carter’s Q1 Net Sales +3.0% Press release

 

Inflation Is No Match for Amazon, Walmart in the Grocery Aisle by Craig Giammona at Bloomberg. “A recent study of prices in Virginia and North Carolina found that a basket of items at Walmart was cheaper than at a nearby Aldi. That’s a reversal from a study conducted in December.” Read more

 

Cincinnati Kroger opens Ohio’s first new liquor store in three years by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. Read more

 

**A message from BK Resources – Commercial sinks and faucets are popular with DIY & Pro consumers. BK Resources is a leading supplier of stainless steel: commercial faucets, sinks, work tables, bar equipment, ice bins and more. Catalog | Website | Contact Us

 

Bloomingdale’s shines spotlight on modern motherhood by Sarah Jones at Luxury Daily. “Bloomingdale’s is celebrating female empowerment in a Mother’s Day campaign that focuses on ambitious women. Bloomingdale’s #MomBoss campaign features entrepreneurial moms at the helm of brands and nonprofits, showcasing their style and stories.” Read more

 

Orders for long-lasting or “durable” goods jumped 2.6% in March, riding a big increase in contracts for Boeing planes at MarketWatch. Read more

 

Kohl’s CEO Kevin Mansell @ CNBC  “We are much more positive as we go into [2018],” Mansell told CNBC’s Courtney Reagan Wednesday on “Squawk on the Street.” “We think amplifying the role of the store is the right strategy for us.” Video/Read more

 

Walgreens Safe Medication Disposal Program Collects More Than 270 Tons of Unused Medications Press release

 

Zillow scoops up office space from Nordstrom in Seattle by Nat Levy at GeekWire. Read more

 

How tax schemes shaped Amazon by David Pegg at The Guardian. “When Jeff Bezos was looking for a home for his fledgling online bookseller, amazon.com, in 1994, his first choice is said to have been a Native American reservation. The location would have presented generous tax breaks if the state of California had not intervened and halted the plan.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

We compared Costco’s and Sam’s free samples – and the winner was clear

Walmart Said It Would Cut the CEO’s Bonus Last Year. It Didn’t.

The E.Coli Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce Keeps Getting Worse

Dallas police officer dies after Home Depot shooting

Walmart customer in KY uses store intercom to ask for help, goes viral

Amazon’s Alexa had a flaw that let eavesdroppers listen in

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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: PetSmart “Drowning” | Bezos House Floor Plans | Instacart Fixes Fee

 

The Most Expensive Takeover in Retail Is Drowning in Debt by Eliza Ronalds-Hannon & Lauren Coleman Lochner at Bloomberg. “PetSmart’s owners thought embracing e-commerce would keep it competitive in the age of Amazon. Two chief executives and $3 billion later, they’re discovering it takes a lot more than web smarts to outrun an avalanche of debt.” Read more

 

Why Walmart is partnering with everyone except Instacart for its grocery delivery service by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “The sticking point? Instacart wants Walmart to list its grocery items for sale on Instacart’s app, while Walmart simply wants to use Instacart delivery people to fulfill orders that flow exclusively through Walmart’s own digital properties.” Read more

 

Amazon.com plays catch-up in Brazil by Brad Haynes at Reuters. “…(Amazon) may struggle to dominate retail in Brazil as it has elsewhere, according to a dozen executives, analysts and investors interviewed by Reuters. They compare the state of Brazilian e-commerce to that of the U.S. market 10 years ago — only Amazon’s slow rollout here gave rivals a chance to prepare.” Read more

 

Here Are the Floor Plans for Jeff Bezos’s $23 Million DC Home by Mimi Montgomery at Washingtonian. “Washingtonian filed a public-records request with the city’s zoning office to get copies of the blueprints for the renovations. They reveal a party pad of epic proportions…Note the new “garden-room” addition to the Wood house — one designer tells us that judging from the drawings, this solarium will be “fabulous.” Blueprints/Read more

 

Supervalu to sell and lease back handful of DCs, seek sale of Shop ‘N Save retail operations by Dan DeBaun at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. “A sale of Shop N’ Save would leave Supervalu’s retail arm with Cub Foods in Minnesota, Hornbacher’s in the Midwest and Shoppers in the mid-Atlantic region.” Read more

 

Sears’ head of real estate Jeff Stollenwerck is stepping down at CNBC. Read more

 

Instacart Is Fixing One Of The Most Controversial Parts Of Its Grocery Delivery Service by Biz Carson at Forbes. “The company is changing the default tip to 5% of an order total, up from nothing. It’s also lowering the service fee the company takes on each order to 5%, but is making it mandatory.” 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. The single largest gathering of confectionery & snack companies under one roof. Chicago, May 22-24, 2018. Website | Exhibitors

 

Ten Emerging Beauty Brands Kick Off This Year’s Target Takeoff Accelerator Program “Target Takeoff is a mini retail boot camp that brings 10 up-and-coming startups to Minneapolis to work alongside business mentors to learn the ins and outs of the retail industry.” Startups overview

 

Walmart Beats $32M ‘Backyard’ Trademark Fine by Bill Donahue at Law 360. “A three-judge panel ruled that there had not been enough evidence for a lower judge to rule that Backyard BBQ products by Walmart Inc., infringed the Backyard brand sold by Variety Stores Inc., which operates more than 300 Roses and Maxway discount stores across the South.” Law 360 subs.

 

GE Lighting will become the only nationwide supplier to Lowe’s U.S. consumer retail outlets for light bulbs Press release

 

Metro’s profit drops 19.3% from year ago as sales edge lower by Ross Marowits at Canadian Press via Toronto Star. “Sales for stores open at least a year…were down 1.2 per cent, but would have been up one per cent excluding the shift in the holiday period, the company said.” Read more

 

Walmart named most talked about brand online Brand list

 

Companies are complaining they can’t find enough truck drivers to ship their stuff because of Amazon at CNBC. “As soon as these logging devices were implemented, it resulted in a 10 percent drop in productivity because these truckers were obviously spending more time driving than they should have been,” Csongor said.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Amazon confirms new Fire TV Cube streaming device

Apple CEO Tim Cook will meet Donald Trump today

Jeff Bezos’ $65M jet seen at airports near potential HQ2 sites

Canada: Safeway stores succumb to real estate values

Subway Plans to Close 500 U.S. Stores

Warby Parker to open first Denver store this weekend

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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: Prince Heirs Sue Wgreen | Old Navy +60

 

Target Exec Rejoins Agency World by Erik Oster at Adweek. “Gina Gray joins Colle McVoy from Target, where she spent nearly seven years and most recently served as senior manager, strategic partnerships and agency management.” Read more

 

Walmart Is Getting Suppliers to Put Food on the Blockchain by Camila Russo at Bloomberg. “Frank Yiannas, vice president of food safety and health…spoke Monday at the MIT Technology Review’s Business of Blockchain conference…Yiannas said blockchain was able to cut the time it took to track produce to two seconds from six days.” Read more

 

Target adding dozens of car-charging stations by Dan DeBaun at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. “(Target) currently has electric vehicle stations at 18 sites in California, Hawaii, Minnesota, North Carolina and Texas…plans to grow the program over 100 sites (with a total of 600 spaces) in over 20 states in the next two years.” Read more

 

How merchants use Facebook to flood Amazon with fake reviews by Elizabeth Dwoskin & Craig Timberg at Washington Post. “These days it is very hard to sell anything on Amazon if you play fairly,” said Tommy Noonan, who operates ReviewMeta, a website that helps consumers spot suspicious Amazon reviews. “If you want your product to be competitive, you have to somehow manufacture reviews.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Old Navy to open 60 stores this year at CNBC. “In addition to opening new locations, Old Navy will also be remodeling roughly 150 stores over the next few months.” Read more

 

Walmart sets June 13 as its “Open Call” day…suppliers seeking a buyer meeting have until May 4 to sign up online by Kim Souza at Talk Business. Read more

 

Amazon Launches In-Car Delivery “In-car delivery is available at no extra cost for Prime members and is available today in 37 cities and surrounding areas across the U.S. with more cities rolling out over time.” Press release

 

…I gave Amazon the keys to my car last week and it went pretty well at USA Today. Read more

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water – Our Brazilian Coconut Water is Sweeter than the Rest! Leading branded & PL supplier for 15+ years. Organic & natural options available. Sell sheet | Website | Request samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Why Toys ‘R’ Us’ HQ is too close for comfort for Bed Bath & Beyond workers by John Crudele at NY Post. “(21 miles apart) is a little too close for employees of…Bed Bath and Beyond…(who) worry about…cheaper workers who will soon flood the market.” Read more

 

…New open dog policy at Bed Bath & Beyond HQ causing headaches for some “…management apparently thought it would be fun to allow — no, encourage — headquarters workers to bring their dogs to work. All dogs. Any day….“Dogs see and hear other dogs, so you now have territorial disputes, mating attempts when in heat.”

 

Amazon expands its Whole Foods delivery service to three additional cities: Denver, Sacramento, and San Diego by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. Read more

 

Competition Bureau of Canada approves $4.5-billion Métro/Jean Coutu merger at Montreal Gazette. Read more

 

Amazon eyes a move into home shopping TV by Ingrid Lunden & Katie Roof at Techcrunch. “Specifically, we’re told there have been acquisition discussions between Amazon and Evine Live, which operates a pay-TV home shopping channel of the same name.” Read more

 

Sears CEO offers to buy Kenmore, Sears real estate by Gina Hall at Chicago Business Journal. Read more

 

How Walmart capitalized on the ‘yodeling boy’ craze by Diana Bradley at PR Week. “Wal-Mart did not help set up (the Ellen DeGeneres) booking, but got involved after finding out he would appear on the show by gifting him a check for $15,000 to go toward his college fund.” Read more

 

15 Minutes With Target’s General Counsel by Sam Reisman at Law 360. “In a recent interview, Don Liu spoke to Law360 about what makes a successful in-house attorney, the changing landscape of cyberthreats and how clients can push for a more diverse legal industry.” Law 360 subs. required

 

Walmart releases summary of its eleventh annual Global Responsibility Report Press release

 

Loblaw Companies tax court trial begins via Toronto Star. “Loblaw Companies Ltd. and the Canada Revenue Agency faced off in Tax Court on Monday over allegations that the retailer’s Barbadian banking subsidiary had been misused for tax avoidance — a long-running dispute that could cost the retailer more than $400 million.” Read more

 

Retail Reckoning: How Private Equity Is Boosting Some Brands and Crushing Others by Phil Wahba at Fortune. Read more

 

Controversial New Milk Shakes Up Big Dairy by Mike Cherney at Wall Street Journal. “In the U.S., traditional milk sales have fallen about 7% annually on average over the last four years, according to the most recent data from Nielsen.” Read more (subs.)

 

Prince’s heirs sue Walgreens and the hospital that treated him after his first opioid overdose at Daily Mail. “It accuses Walgreen Co. and pharmacists at two of its Minnesota branches of ‘dispensing prescription medications not valid for a legitimate medical purpose.’ Walgreens and the hospital’s parent company both declined to comment Monday, citing pending litigation.” Read more

 

Coach, Nike, Fenty and others bypass retailers and sell straight to customers by Charisse Jones at USA Today. Read more

 

MEXICO ON MCMILLON – Walmart accidentally gives customer $21K, but pleas to take it back not taken seriously by Sean O’Shea at Global News. “…some of her friends suggested the money could be put to good use. “Let’s go Mexico, let’s go to Bermuda,” were among the ideas put forward. “I can’t do that.” Video/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Sneak peek at Legoland’s latest hotel: a 250-room castle

Yeti says NRA claims are ‘inaccurate’

Dean Foods to cancel contracts with 100+ dairy farmers after Walmart move

Jeff Bezos Dallas interview highlights

AMC CEO Says Gender-Integrated Saudi Theaters “May Take Some Time”

Apple Buys Ed Sheeran ‘Songwriter’ Documentary

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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 Mea Culpa | Wmart #23 Leader | Kroger CEO Open | Prince’s Pills

 

Walmart Tests New Dress Code for Workers by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. “Employees in some of Walmart’s stores will now be allowed to wear shirts of any solid color, rather than just blue or white, according to an employee manual obtained by Bloomberg News. Blue jeans are also permitted — as long as they’re solid blue — whereas previously only khaki-colored or black denim pants were allowed. Visible facial tattoos are forbidden for those hired after April 14, the manual said.” Read more

 

Women’s tall rain boots in Hunter for Target collection won’t be sold due to production issues by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “Turns out $40 Hunter boots sold by Target really were too good to be true…(Target) issued a mea culpa this morning in announcing the retailer decided to pull them from the collection altogether, which it acknowledged would be disappointing news for many customers.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

The World’s 50 Greatest Leaders (#23 – Walmart Chief Sustainability Officer) at Forbes. Top 50 list

 

Target leads the way as U.S. corporations look to go big on solar at CNBC. “Target added over 40 MW of solar capacity to its portfolio in 2017. The retailer now has more than 200 MW of installed capacity…The top 10 corporate solar users in the U.S. include businesses such as Walmart, Amazon, Apple and Kohl’s.” Read more

 

Fairfax agrees to buy Toys ‘R” Us Canada in $300 million stalking horse bid, source says by Scott Deveau at Bloomberg via Financial Post. “The so-called stalking horse bid allows other potential buyers to enter competing proposals by Monday, the person said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private.” Read more

 

Amazon courts Pentagon with marketing blitz ahead of $10 billion cloud contract decision at CNBC. “A series of AWS advertisements promoting an upcoming summit have recently appeared on the walls and floors of the two-leveled Pentagon metro station.” Pics/Read more

 

Staples to offer TSA Precheck enrollment by David L. Harris at Boston Business Journal. “Staples stores in the Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York and Seattle metro areas will be among the first to provide the service.” Read more

 

Walmart testing a new mobile checkout service for garden center in 350+ stores by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Employees wearing the “Check Out With Me” sash can scan the product on site and process a card payment. Cash transactions must go through a register.” 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. The single largest gathering of confectionery & snack companies under one roof. Chicago, May 22-24, 2018. Website | Exhibitors

 

CVS Launches Ad Campaign Featuring Unaltered Beauty Imagery Press release

 

Retailers Say LA’s False Markdown Suits Must Go by Daniel Siegal at Law 360. “J.C. Penney, Sears, Kohl’s and Macy’s on Thursday urged a California judge to dismiss the Los Angeles city attorney’s suits alleging the retailers trick consumers with inflated “original” prices on sale goods, arguing the city is pushing an unnecessarily narrow definition of “original” that consumers don’t share.” Read more (subs.)

 

Walmart Canada commits to zero food waste by 2025 Press release

 

Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen open to new ideas on food deserts by Dan Monk at WCPO. “In his first public comments since Jackson visited Cincinnati to protest Kroger store closures in minority communities, McMullen said Kroger will continue conversations with the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.” Read more

 

Pier 1 Imports’ stock craters on disappointing earnings report at CNBC. “Same-store sales were down 7.5 percent for the period, which included one more week than in 2017. For the current quarter, Pier 1 expects same-store sales to drop as much as 8 percent.” Read more

 

Publix brings home blue ribbons at National Pie Contest Press release

 

Meet the Walmart Activists Leading the Fight for Paid Family Leave by Valentina Zarya at Fortune. “Carolyn Davis insists she’s a terrible public speaker. “Oh, my goodness, it’s like being on the chopping block!” says Davis, an associate at Walmart’s New Bern, N.C., store. It took hours of practice, encouragement from coworkers, and “determination,” she says, to get her ready to address 15,000 people at the University of Arkansas’s Bud Walton Arena last June.” Read more

 

Temple Students Explore Role of Gender Toys in Merchandising at Target Case Competition by Elliot Sharp at Fox School News. “The winning team consisted of students Cong No, Tung Nguyen, Quyen Le, and Thao Nguyen, whose pitch to Target was a plan titled “PlayVenture.” It included the implementation of an indoor play area where kids could test new toys and shoppers could earn rewards.” Read more

 

PPG Investigating Internal Report of Accounting Violations at Wall Street Journal. “PPG said Thursday it had started an “extensive review” of its cost structure after losing a customer. PPG said in February that Lowe’s would discontinue the sale of its Olympic branded paints and stains later this year. In a separate announcement Thursday, the company said it has expanded a partnership with Home Depot Inc. for its Olympic stains to be sold in nearly 2,000 U.S. Home Depot locations.” Read more (subs.)

 

Whole Foods Market Recognizes ‘Supplier Award’ Honorees Press release

 

Prince’s assistant is seen on multiple trips to Walgreens to collect pills in new videos of the star’s final hours at Daily Mail. Video/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Netflix was in talks to buy Landmark Theaters, but backed out

Man buys nails at Menards – spreads on road to punish speeders

This Healthy Convenience Mart Aims To Take On C-stores

Krebs: A Sobering Look at Fake Online Reviews

Bloomingdale’s Flagship Store Is Looking Better Than Ever

Accused Stop & Shop shoplifter dies after staff altercation

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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: B.Buy Buddy Bezos | H.Dep +1K Tech | Costco #19 Reputable | Target D in Food Waste

 

Best Buy and Amazon partner up in exclusive deal to sell new TVs by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “Best Buy and Amazon have teamed up together to design and sell new smart TVs embedded with Amazon’s Fire TV and integrated with the voice assistant Alexa. Best Buy will be the exclusive retailer…Bezos said they have been working closely together to make a “killer product.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

…“What we’re doing is so deeply integrated,” Mr. Bezos said, acknowledging the fact that his company and Best Buy are often considered rivals. “It’s only possible because we trust each other.” by David Pierce at Wall Street Journal. Read more (subs.)

 

Home Depot is launching its biggest tech hiring spree ever by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “Home Depot plans to add more than 1,000 new hires to its technology teams in 2018…Matt Carey, Home Depot’s CIO, acknowledged in an interview that the hiring numbers might not compare to those of (Amazon)…“I don’t run their roadmap; I run my roadmap,” he said of Amazon.” Read more

 

Toys ‘R’ Us rejects buyout offer from Bratz billionaire by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “I haven’t yet been notified of the bid rejection but if this is true, it is very disappointing,” Larian said in a statement.” Read more

 

America’s Most Reputable Companies 2018 (Amazon #10, Costco #19, Bass Pro #42, CVS #59, Home Depot #67) by Reputation Institute via Forbes. Top 100/Read more

 

Amazon wins patent for data feed marketplace that could include bitcoin transactions at CNBC. “The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday approved the Amazon.com subsidiary’s Sept. 2014 filing for a patent that can correlate different data streams and sell the combined feed as a subscription to people who want to track that data. The filing referenced bitcoin transactions twice as examples of possible products.” Read more

 

TaskRabbit taken offline due to cyber attack by Anthony Noto at New York Business Journal. “TaskRabbit, the service that lets customers book a handyman for various types of odd jobs in their local area, has taken its app and website offline due to a cyber breach.” Read more

 

Bloomingdale’s “Heart of N.Y.” campaign begins April 23, gathers stories of well-known New Yorkers at WWD. Read more

 

Group gives Target, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Costco and Publix — a D grade for their efforts to reduce food waste, while Aldi received an F. Walmart had the best food waste reduction grade with a B. at Supermarket News. Read more

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water – Brazilian Coconuts are Sweeter! Leading coconut water supplier for 15+ years – Branded & PL. Organic & Natural options available. Sell sheet | Website | Request samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Bass Pro’s Johnny Morris plans huge Top of the Rock Lodge at sinkhole site by Wes Johnson at Springfield News-Leader. “The sinkhole, which Morris has excavated so far to a depth of 200 feet, also has been formally named and is now called the “Cathedral of Nature.” Pics/Read more | Video

 

Bon-Ton is preparing to liquidate. Here’s a map of all its stores at CNBC. Read more

 

Amazon now lets global customers shop from its U.S. store at Fast Company. “Listings will be available in five languages, including Spanish, English, simplified Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, and German, and customers will be able to shop in 25 currencies…Amazon will be managing customs clearance on packages.” Read more | Press release

 

Ex-Costco execs label all ingredients on their fast food Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Home Depot sued for mismanaging retirement fund accounts

There are 6,000 dogs ‘working’ at Amazon and they get access to these cool perks

The quest for the next billion-dollar color

Amazon may rent the old post office in downtown Vancouver

Ex-Home Depot/Walmart exec joins board as strategist

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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: Roz Rescue | Target Makeup | Dick’s Assaults Guns | Jet Traffic -60%

 

Target expands beauty offerings with makeup made for women of color by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “They are launching today on Target.com and will roll out to hundreds of stores next month where they will receive prime billing on two prominent displays at the end of aisles to draw more attention.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Walmart to roll out redesigned website next month at CNBC. “The company said Tuesday that a new Walmart.com will roll out to customers as soon as next month. It’s been years since the company made such large-scale changes to its website. The new design will be much more personalized, starting on the homepage.” Read more

 

Dick’s will destroy assault-style guns it yanked off shelves at NY Post. “The unsold inventory will be destroyed at the company’s distribution centers and the parts will be sent to a salvage company for recycling, said Dick’s, which did not provide a number of guns to be demolished.” Read more

 

Kroger will use tax savings to expand tuition reimbursement to part-time workers by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. “Both full and part-time employees who have worked for Kroger six months will now be eligible for up to $3,500 in tuition reimbursement each year.” Read more

 

Target launches same-day delivery for in-store purchases in five cities at A Bullseye View  “…by the end of the month, nearly 60 Target stores in five major cities—Boston, Chicago, New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.—will offer guests in-store, at checkout, the ease of having their store purchases delivered right to their doorstep.” Read more

 

March Retail Sales Increased 5 Percent Over Last Year Press release

 

ROZ KEY IN STARBUCKS RESPONSE – Starbucks COO Rosalind Brewer…said in an meeting with The Philadelphia Tribune’s editorial board, that the (Starbucks) arrest was personal for her as a mother of an African American. She said she joined the company six months ago in part because of its social causes.” at Philadelphia Tribune. Read more/Video

 

**A message from 2018 Sweets & Snacks Expo – Be first to market with the newest candy and snack products!  See the 2017 Innovation Winners. The single largest gathering of confectionery & snack companies under one roof. Chicago, May 22-24, 2018. Website | Exhibitors

 

Hudson’s Bay names Bari Harlam new chief marketing officer at Toronto Star. “Harlam has held senior marketing roles at U.S. companies BJ’s Wholesale Club, Swipely and CVS Health, where she built and launched the pharmacy’s loyalty program.” Read more

 

Ex-Home Depot & VF Exec named Lululemon CFO Press release

 

Jet’s website traffic declined about 60% in March compared with a year earlier. Walmart.com’s traffic, meanwhile, was up 5% over the same period at Internet Retailer. Read more

 

American Express to end its Plenti frequent shopper program on July 10th at CNBC. Read more

 

Walmart takes on dollar stores with lower prices by Tonya Garcia at MarketWatch. “Raymond James’s survey found that Walmart’s pricing for consumables, which includes laundry detergent and cereal, is 4.4% lower than Dollar General and 6.5% lower than Family Dollar, which was acquired by Dollar Tree.” Read more

 

Speedway to acquire 78 Express Mart locations in New York Press release

 

Lowe’s Canada rolls out ECO seal program Press release

 

Meijer’s new “Shop & Scan” program allows customers to scan as they shop Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Bentonville considers first Aldi store

Amazon starts revealing secret formula behind ‘Amazon’s Choice’ selections

Apple cracks down on drone pilot who shoots epic Apple campus videos

Amazon won’t suffer if the Supreme Court reverses internet sales tax law—here’s who will

IRI names top ten 2017 brands based on year 1 sales

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: Lowe’s Apple Chat | Gap Ends Bridal-Wear | Amazon to Open #3 in Bay

 

Toy tycoon may submit last-minute $900M bid for Toys R Us by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “…he will submit a last-minute bid on Friday to buy 274 top-performing Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores in the US for $675 million. That’s on top of a $215 million bid for the entire Canadian chain of 82 stores, as well as the company’s trademarks, Larian said.” Read more

 

Gap Follows J. Crew in Giving Up on the Bridal-Wear Industry by Justina Vasquez at Bloomberg. “Gap Inc.’s Weddington Way brand, which has operated shops within Banana Republic stores, announced plans to close down within the next few months.” Read more

 

Amazon finally opens up Prime Wardrobe to more customers by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “Unfortunately, the Amazon staffer’s tweet was deleted after we asked Amazon about it. It had read: “Amazon Prime Wardrobe is officially launched! Hooray! It’s been a fun project to work on.” Before we could screengrab the tweet, it was gone.” Read more

 

Trump Orders Post Office Review at Bloomberg. “The USPS is on an unsustainable financial path and must be restructured to prevent a taxpayer-funded bailout,” the president said in an order that was released Thursday night.” Read more

 

Bed Bath and Beyond Suffers Its Worst Stock Plunge in Nearly 8 Years at Fortune. Read more

 

Amazon completes Ring acquisition, drops price of original video doorbell under $100 by Todd Bishop at GeekWire. “The Ring deal “is just the beginning—we will continue to move quickly and work hard to empower customers with a suite of security solutions that provide an affordable, effective way to secure homes and neighborhoods,” said Dave Limp, Amazon’s senior vice president of Devices and Services.” Read more

 

Harris Poll: Childhood cancer ranked first among children’s causes to donate to at a retail register among moms Press release

 

Amazon plans to open its third bookstore in Bay Area by Katie Burke at San Francisco Business Times. “(Amazon) will be the new storefront on Berkeley’s Fourth Street, taking up an 11,175-square-foot portion of the former Crate & Barrel outlet that closed last month.” Read more

 

Lowe’s and 1-800-Flowers.com are among the first few retailers experimenting with Apple’s Business Chat for iPhones by April Berthene at Internet Retailer. Read more

 

**A message from Kidibul – The festive, bubbly beverage made for kids’ parties! 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

 

NRF Announces Speaker Lineup for PROTECT 2018 (JCP CEO, H.Depot VP Gulf, Kroger VP Houston) Press release

 

Home Depot exec named President & COO of tile and stone company by Peter Brennan at Orange County Business Journal. “Bedrosians Tile and Stone named Diana Kelly president and chief operating officer. She was previously regional vice president at Home Depot Inc., where she led a team of more than 16,000 associates in 82 stores.” Read more

 

Walmart’s opens new tech hub in Plano by Korri Kezar at Dallas Business Journal. “The hub is located inside a Common Desk coworking space at 5830 Granite Parkway in Plano…Today, the hub has a staff of 18 workers, but plans to grow to 22 within the next 30 days. By the end of the year, it’s slated to have 50 employees.” Read more/4 pics

 

Sears is closing its last store in Chicago by I-Chun Chen at Chicago Business Journal. Read more

 

Insect farms gear up to feed soaring global protein demand by Karl Plume at Reuters. “If we’re replacing 5 or 10 percent of the proteins that are normally in those feeds with insect protein,” Allen said, “That’s a lot of resources saved.” Read more

 

The Buckle March comp sales -1.1% Press release

 

Podcast with former Home Depot Chairman & CEO Frank Blake at Seeking Alpha. Listen

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Reporter visits Home Depot store in NYC’s Flatiron District – compares it to a nearby Lowe’s

Heinz sparks debate with offer to release ‘Mayochup’ in U.S.

22% of millennials haven’t heard of the Holocaust

Credit card signatures are ending in the US on April 13th

The 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media 2018

What It’s Like To Be A Blind Software Engineer At Amazon

Home Depot Shoplifter Caught After Locking Keys in Car

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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