Tipsheet: Costco +5.8% | Gap @ Mad Money | Bed Bath -0.6% | Rite Aid -1.7%

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Costco March comp sales (ex gas & f/x) +5.8% “…net sales of $12.92 billion for the month of March, the five weeks ended April 8, 2018, an increase of 10.9 percent from $11.65 billion last year. For the thirty-one weeks ended April 8, 2018, the Company reported net sales of $81.43 billion, an increase of 11.8 percent from $72.82 billion last year.” Press release

 

Walmart close to buying majority of India’s Flipkart, deal likely by June at Reuters. Read more

 

Rare Coalition Bands Together to Fight Trump Tariffs by Lindsey Rupp & Mark Niquette at Bloomberg. “This is nuts,” said David French, senior vice president for government relations at the National Retail Federation, which hosted a recent meeting of the coalition” Read more

 

….The NRF took executives from retail companies including Christopher Baldwin, president and chief executive officer of BJ’s Wholesale Club and chairman of the NRF board, to meet with Trump on Wednesday. But tariffs weren’t discussed because it was a pre-arranged meeting about the impact of the tax overhaul and deregulation, the NRF said.

 

Rite Aid Q4 retail pharmacy comp sales -1.7% (-2.3% pharmacy, -0.6 front-end) Press release

 

…Rite Aid Shareholders Sour on Albertsons Deal by Heather Haddon & Miriam Gottfried at Wall Street Journal. “The deal is absurd based on fair value of Rite Aid’s existing stores and what it could do with them,” said Steve Krol, a 64-year-old investor from Florida…One of Rite Aid’s 10 biggest shareholders said it planned to vote against the deal because it doesn’t give shareholders a fair premium.” Read more (subs.)

 

Bed Bath & Beyond Q4 comp sales -0.6% Press release

 

…Bed Bath & Beyond Plunges After Posting Gloomy Annual Forecast by Nick Turner at Bloomberg. “…tumbled as much as 14 percent in late trading…Earnings will be roughly $2 to $2.50 a share this year, the retailer said on Wednesday. Analysts were projecting $2.77 on average.” Read more

 

Bon-Ton may be headed for liquidation as judge denies $500,000 fee payment at BizTimes. Read more

 

**A message from BK Resources – Grab your fair share of the growing food service equipment market. BK Resources is a leading supplier of stainless steel: commercial faucets, sinks, work tables, bar equipment, ice bins and more. Catalog | Website | Contact Us

 

Toys ‘R’ Us is having trouble selling its store locations by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Of 140 stores that hit the auction block last week, just 50 received winning bids, and 30 of them were from the landlords themselves, some of whom scooped up their own properties for $5,000 to $10,000.” Read more

 

Sobeys confirms which B.C. Safeway stores are set to close by Patrick Johnston at Vancouver Sun. “Five other locations, depending on whether the company and the unions representing its workers — UFCW 1518, UFCW 247 and the bakers’ union — can negotiate a new collective agreement, could still remain open, the company confirmed. If they are, they will be converted to the FreshCo brand.” Read more

 

Lands’ End’s Unfashionable Comeback: Bringing Back Elastic Waistbands by Suzanne Kapner at Wall Street Journal. “Within a week of taking the helm of Lands’ End, Jerome Griffith knew what he needed to do to fix the struggling apparel seller: Get rid of the flashy clothes…“It all got marked down, and it didn’t sell at markdown because it didn’t fit our customers.” Read more (subs.)

 

Best Buy to open in southwest Charlotte as a hub for online customers by Katherine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “…the company will open a 40,000 square-foot home delivery hub to deliver orders to customers in Charlotte, western North Carolina and parts of South Carolina who buy online.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Kohl’s chief administrative officer Richard Schepp set to retire this fall at BizTimes. Read more

 

Gap CEO Art Peck: Big data gives us major advantages over competitors at Mad Money/CNBC. “If you look at the difference between a customer who’s casually engaged and one who is really deeply engaged in our brands across channels, it’s at least 10 times the value of that [first] customer,” the CEO said.” Read more/Video

 

SHIPPING HEADACHE: “This capacity crunch is real and it’s getting tighter,” Colby Beland, vice president of sales and marketing at logistics provider CaseStack.” at Bloomberg. Read more

 

A massive, ‘semi-infinite’ trove of rare-earth metals has been found in Japan at CNBC. “The seabed contains more than 16 million tons of rare-earth oxides, according to the study. That’s equivalent to 780 years’ worth of yttrium supply, 620 years of europium, 420 years of terbium and 730 years of dysprosium, it added.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

China’s Built a Road So Smart It Will Be Able to Charge Your Car

Supplier community feeds nonprofit groups in Northwest Arkansas

Red Sox’s Joe Kelly Enters Yankees’ Game to ‘Walmart Yodeling Kid’ Remix

Apple’s Stumbling HomePod Isn’t the Hot Seller It Wanted

Thief on motorized scooter snatchs purse at grocery – zooms off for burgers

This 22-year-old college student makes $10,000 a month off Amazon’s Alexa

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 Fires ‘OK to be White’ Employee | Costco Women #11 Happy | WM Yodeler @ Ellen

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Target fires employee responsible for putting ‘It’s okay to be white’ cards in diaper boxes by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “A handful of customers around the U.S. have reported finding laminated cards inside diaper boxes they purchased from Target that said “It’s okay to be white,” a slogan often used by white supremacist groups. The back side of the cards included links to various white supremacist and neo-Nazi websites including the Right Stuff, the Daily Stormer and the Traditionalist Worker Party, according to the Anti-Defamation League.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Grocery suppliers get a buffer day on Walmart ‘OTIF’ policy by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Walmart Chief Merchandising Officer Steve Bratspies sent a memo to suppliers on Monday (April 9) detailing changes with “On-Time-In-Full” (OTIF) delivery requirements. The changes are retroactive to March 31. “As we continue our journey of improving On-Time and In-Full (OTIF) inbound performance to 95% across the business, Walmart is committed to reviewing OTIF standards and making adjustments to benefit out customers when needed…” Read more

 

Sears to auction off 16 stores online at CNBC. “The 16 properties (all under the Sears banner, not Kmart), which were reviewed by CNBC, are mostly attached to malls and located in suburban markets. Five are in Texas, four are in Missouri, three are in Indiana, three are in Ohio and one is in Michigan.” Read more

 

Casey’s Names Kum & Go SVP as New CMO…and Ex-HSN COO to Board

 

Former Best Buy CEO steps down from multiple boards of directors by Peter Cox at MPR News. “Brad Anderson has stepped down from four more boards of directors following news that he’d given money to an organization that produced anti-Muslim videos. Minnesota Public Radio, General Mills, Waste Management Inc. and Carlson all confirmed that Anderson had resigned from their boards.” Read more

 

Menards sues Georgia firm for moving walkways by Andrew Dowd at Leader-Telegram. Read more

 

Walmart teams up with Postmates for grocery delivery service expansion by Nat Levy at GeekWire. “The news of the deal with Postmates comes as a bit of a surprise as Instacart looked like a favorite to land Walmart after teaming up with its subsidiary Sam’s Club.” 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

 

CVS’ Caremark customers now have a tool that makes it easier to find less expensive drugs at CNBC. “We want to be known as the retail pharmacy that does the most to help save patients money”…Pharmacists are typically only able to see if drugs are covered and what the out-of-pocket cost would be.” Read more

 

Jesse Jackson Not Sure He Believes Kroger’s Profitability Claims at USA Today. “The Rev. Jesse Jackson called Tuesday for expansion of a boycott he is waging against Kroger to protest grocery store closures in minority communities. He also said he wasn’t sure whether he believed Kroger’s claims that a store in this city’s Walnut Hills neighborhood was unprofitable before it was closed last year.” Video/Read more

 

Kroger to hire 11,000 supermarket workers, will also raise wages by Charisse Jones at USA Today. Read more

 

20 Companies Where Women Are Satisfied With Their Pay (Costco #11, Sheetz #12) at InHerSight. List

 

Hank Williams’ ‘Lovesick Blues’ Tops LyricFind Global Chart After Walmart Yodeling Boy Video at Billboard. “In the latest sales-and-streaming tracking week (March 30-April 5), the song racked up 1,000 downloads (up 654 percent) and 1 million streams (a gain of 1,803 percent), according to Nielsen Music. Ramsey performed the song Tuesday (April 10) on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” Read more / Ellen video

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Restaurants are cooking your steak wrong on purpose

Aldi and Lidl go head-to-head in heated planning meeting

Etsy Is Reining In Brick-and-Mortar Ambitions, Alienating Sellers

Fastest Growing Craft Breweries of 2017

BBC reporter falls into swimming pool during interview

Royal Caribbean uses this psychological trick to make you spend more money

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: Protest @ Kroger HQ Today | Menear Iview | Target Red DFW Test | WM Picky

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TARGET RED: Target tests new program in Dallas-Fort Worth that gives shoppers rewards without a credit card by Maria Halkias at Dallas News. “…gives shoppers 1 percent cash back on their purchases…get Target’s Restock next-day delivery for free…cuts the first year Shipt membership price to $49.99 from $99.99.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Walmart Is Getting Picky About Online Marketplace Sellers by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. “Since November they appear to have reduced the number of sellers they approve,” said Juozas Kaziukenas, founder of Marketplace Pulse. “Most U.S. marketplaces are adding thousands of sellers a day, so Walmart is doing the opposite by trying to manage it.” Read more

 

Home Depot CEO Craig Menear talks home improvement at Bloomberg 9:15 video

 

BOYCOTT DAY TODAY: Jesse Jackson brings Kroger protest to HQ in Cincinnati by Alexander Coolidge & Sharon Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. “Kroger in the heart of the black community pulled out – it created a food desert,” Jackson told The Enquirer on Monday…Tentative local plans call for a protest in front of Kroger’s Downtown headquarters and a press conference in front of the closed supermarket in Walnut Hills.” Read more

 

Ace Hardware and Dollar Tree Top Tempkin Customer Experience Ratings (BJ’s beats Costco; Home Depot bests Lowe’s; Walmart beats Apple; Sears isn’t last) Press release

 

Did Kroger drop plans for Indy-suburb superstore because of Amazon-Whole Foods deal? by John Tuohy at Indy Star. “In 32 years in this business, this is the first time I’ve seen something like this occur, to pull out at such a late date,” said Mark Perlstein first vice-president of the commercial real estate service CBRE in Indianapolis.” Read more

 

LA: Whole Foods launches free two-hour delivery through Prime Now in Los Angeles Press release

 

**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

 

REI introduces new supplier sustainability standards “Visitors to REI.com can now shop by sustainability attribute, by searching for terms like “organic cotton” to find clothing made with resource-conserving farming practices, or “fair trade,” which promotes safe, healthy working conditions and sustainable livelihoods…” Press release

 

Best Buy to open first new U.S. store in seven years in Salt Lake City by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Trump Organization’s online store adds Virginia to short list of states collecting tax on its sales, bringing total to 3 at CNBC. “Tax experts say the Trump Store should be collecting sales taxes in New York.” Read more

 

Canadian Tire ups the stakes in its loyalty program, but do customers have loyalty fatigue? by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “Triangle Rewards will extend over time to the retailer’s other banners…The beloved coupon tender still isn’t going anywhere — Canadian Tire Money will continue to be handed out at stores.” Read more

 

MOBILE: 100+ Walmart DC job seekers come hours early, stand in rain at FOX 10 News. “When its fully operational, officials said the center will employ more than 750 full time associates, with wages averaging more than $16.50 an hour.” Video/Read more

 

WAWA DAY: On Thursday Wawa will give away more than 2 million cups of coffee to its customers at USA Today. Read more

 

Mattel is shuttering its New York office at CNBC. “The closing, which will take place in phases through the rest of the year, will affect roughly 100 employees.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

There’s an embarrassing shortage of ‘Black Panther’ toys

Man rams front-end loader into multiple cars in Walmart parking lot

The missing billions spent on gasoline in California each year

Boxed introduces annual membership for discounts

Man allegedly detonates 2 explosive devices at Sam’s Club in SoCal

Elderly women left out in windstorm at Walmart for over an hour

Women who have babies at these ages earn less than their husbands

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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: Laborers Knock H.Depot | B.Buy Breach | WM Heart | U.K. -10%

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Best Buy says some customers could be affected by data breach of third-party vendor by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “Best Buy spokesman Jeff Shelman said the number of customers potentially affected is similar to that of Delta and Sears, which have said hundreds of thousands of customers could have been affected.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Furious customers say they’ve been mysteriously locked out of their Amazon accounts — and they have no idea why by Kate Taylor at Business Insider. “Customer trust is one of Amazon’s top priorities,” an Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider. “To protect that trust, we take a number of actions, including closing accounts that have violated our policies.” Read more

 

U.K. Retailers Post Worst Sales Slump Since 2008 by Sam Chambers at Bloomberg. “…as two snowstorms dubbed the “beasts from the east” kept shoppers at home. Comparable sales in midmarket stores dropped 10.1 percent in March, the second-worst month on record, business advisory firm BDO LLP said.” Read more

 

David Cheesewright joins Walmart Canada as part-time consultant by Kim Souza at Talk Business. Read more

 

Target/Google Assistant voice-activated coupon ends early by Mark Reilly at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. “Though the coupon offer was initially supposed to run through April 21, it apparently ended early. A Target spokesperson told Adweek, “The promotion was popular and we hit our goals early.” Read more

 

Walmart completes due diligence for buying into India’s Flipkart at Reuters. “A deal is far from finalised, however, and talks between the two parties and investors in Flipkart are ongoing, said a third source.” Read more

 

Amazon and UPS have been quietly fighting over the post office’s cost structure — long before Trump at CNBC. “The central issue is the 5.5 percent minimum “institutional” cost contribution requirement from the post office’s package business, which competes with UPS and FedEx.” Read more

 

Instacart raises another $150M to double staff by Nat Levy at GeekWire. 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

 

Target agrees to $3.7M settlement over job-screening bias claim by Dan DeBaun at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. “The proposed settlement, which still requires court approval, calls for priority employment for eligible blacks and Latinos who applied at Target after May 11, 2006 and were denied employment because of criminal background checks.” Read more

 

Former Home Depot chairman and CEO Frank Blake to speak at Aptos Conference Press release

 

Walmart Pickup Towers are headed to the Charlotte market by Jennifer Thomas at Charlotte Business Journal. “…part of a larger plan…to add more than 500 of those units across the country in 2018. That will give it more than 700 towers by the end of the year…” Read more

 

Amazon Key expands nationwide, but controversial in-home package delivery does not by Nat Levy at GeekWire. Read more

 

Walmart rolls back plan to withdraw from program for people with intellectual disabilities at CBC News. “Last week, Walmart said it was phasing out the program, which gives 19 people job experience at stores across Quebec.” Read more

 

Los Angeles day laborers allege discrimination and threats at some Home Depots by Anabel Munoz at ABC 7. “We respect the right of Home Depot to secure their premises but this has clearly crossed the line,” said IDEPSCA’s Maegan Oritz. “It is important that we send a message and we stand up against these changes and attacks against workers…”added Flor Rodriguez with the Los Angeles Worker Center Network.” Video/Read more

 

Feds on the hunt for masked thieves who swiped $350K from Target vault by David K. Li at NY Post. “The FBI released surveillance video of two crooks strolling into the Riverdale department store at 40 W. 225th St. (the Bronx) at about 8:08 a.m. on March 26.” Surveillance video/Read more

 

Ex-Men’s Wearhouse CEO Sells $18 Million Hawaii Compound by Kathryn Hopkins at WWD. 14 pics/Read more

 

Toys R Us bankruptcy created ‘the perfect storm’ for Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, says CEO at Mad Money on CNBC. “Hopefully, a lot of [Toys R Us customers] or many of them or some of them are going to come to Ollie’s and buy toy closeouts,” the CEO said. “I think it’s a win-win on both sides of the equation for us.” Video/Read more

 

Inside Amazon’s $250M ‘Lord of the Rings’ Deal by Tatiana Siegel at Hollywood Reporter. “With the clock ticking, Amazon must be in production within two years, according to the terms of the pact. When production expenses like casting, producers and visual effects are factored in, the series is expected to cost north of $1 billion.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Krebs: Secret Service Warns of Chip Card Scheme

Wayfair gets a shoutout from Trump-lampooning Dr. Evil on ‘Tonight Show’

Canada: Tim Hortons falls 40 spots in annual reputation ranking

Defective Goodyear tires may have caused 95 deaths or injuries in past 20 years

Bloomberg: Let’s Stop Giving Retailers a Free Pass on Data Breaches

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: Costco Beer Guy | Sears Breach | Kroger #2 Restaurant | Macy’s CFO Retires

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Beanie Baby firm sues Target over knockoff rainbow plush poodles by Brigid Sweeney at Crain’s Chicago. “According to Ty, Target and MGS continue to manufacture and distribute the knockoff poodle despite “repeated requests” to cease and desist. The Beanie Boos maker also alleges that the Target version does not comply with federal children’s product safety requirements.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Sears hit by customer data breach at tech firm at Reuters. “Technology firm [ 24]7.ai, which provides online support services for Delta, Sears and Kmart among other companies, found that a cyber security incident affected online customer payment information of its clients, it said.” Read more

 

Albertsons to roll out Plated meal kits to hundreds of its stores by end of year at CNBC. “The grocer, which acquired Plated last summer, will also make the meal kits available through Instacart delivery for same-day online ordering and home delivery.” Read more

 

Kroger to open second standalone restaurant in Cincinnati by Steve Watkins at Cincinnati Business Courier. “Kroger has a supermarket on Beechmont Avenue in Anderson Towne Center in Anderson Township. But it didn’t specify if the new Kitchen 1883 will be located next to that store.” Read more

 

Sally Beauty Cutting Jobs at HQ at NBC DFW 5. “In addition to the job cuts, Sally said the cost-reduction plan includes “initiatives focused on organizational efficiencies, sourcing of product and brands for resale, indirect procurement, store operating expenses, and inventory management.” Video/Read more

 

Amazon to open Spheres to the public twice a month by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. “A reservation system for the weekend visits has been set up on the Spheres website. Reservations are available 30 days in advance of each date.” 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

 

Macy’s longtime chief financial officer to retire by Andy Brownfield at Cincinnati Business Courier. “Karen Hoguet, Macy’s longtime CFO who played a key role in the deal and integration of Federated Department Stores and Macy’s in 1994 and the May Co. in 2005, will retire in February 2019.” Read more

 

CVS Health eyes kidney patients for next expansion into care via CNBC. “The company said Wednesday it will offer home dialysis for patients through its Coram business, and it is working with another unspecified company to develop a new device for that.” Read more

 

INDIANA – Walmart drops shoplifting-prevention program criticized by attorney general at Indianapolis Business Journal. “…eligible shoplifting suspects could watch a four-minute CEC video and either enter into a contract with CEC to pay $400 and complete an “education course” via a six-hour online program or face arrest by local law enforcement.” Read more

 

Job ads hint at Amazon plans for express food delivery across Philadelphia at Philly Inquirer. Read more

 

As Trump Bashes Amazon, the Government Increasingly Relies on It by Ted Mann & Brody Mullins at Wall Street Journal. “GBH Insights, a research firm, predicts that Amazon’s government business will grow to $2.8 billion in 2018 and $4.6 billion in 2019, up from less than $300 million in 2015.” Read more (subs.)

 

Passionate, probably drunk man makes his own commercials for Costco Kirkland beer by David Moye at HuffPo. “Some sample slogans: “Kirkland Light: It’s 11 a.m. somewhere.”…“Kirkland Light: Available in 48-packs where you buy your pants!”…“I always get the cashier saying ‘Looks like someone is having a party,’ but Costco cut down on that shame.” Video/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

This Clever Shelf Is Designed For The Age Of Pop-Up Retail

A train packed with NYC feces is laying waste to an Alabama town

The North Face’s New Ad Campaign Focuses More on Women

Bed Bath & Beyond names brand firm CEO to Board

Island Pacific to close a half-dozen stores

Donatella Versace Spotted Shopping at Petco

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/Google 1st Voice Coupon | WM Teen Sleepover | ePacket Pass

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The full list of US products that China is planning to hit with tariffs at CNBC. List

 

Amazon may make rival bid for Flipkart at Mint. “Amazon may submit a rival offer to buy India’s largest e-commerce firm Flipkart, which is in advanced talks with Walmart Inc. for selling a majority stake, said two people with direct knowledge of the matter.” Read more

 

Google and Target Issue the First Voice-Activated Coupon for Google Assistant by Lisa Lacy at Adweek. “Google Express customers can complete purchases hands-free through the Google Assistant, and to raise awareness for this feature, we were running a pilot with Target to help educate customers about this capability.” A Target rep did not respond to a request for comment.” Read more

 

The deal with Walmart’s disturbing ‘funeral potatoes’ by Rachelle Bergstein at NY Post. “The name is regional to Utah and other Mormon enclaves. For those in the know, the frenzy caused by Walmart’s ad is simply a chance to show some public love for the savory comfort food. “They are SO good,” a young woman from Utah tweets.” Read more

 

Sprouts Farmers Market makes Charlotte debut by Jennifer Thomas at Charlotte Business Journal. 22 pics/Read more

 

Where’s Your Teen Sleeping? Check Chuck E. Cheese, Then Walmart by Jennifer Levitz at Wall Street Journal. “A Walmart Inc. spokesman said the company has been “dealing with this” for more than a year, with the teens “mainly hiding out in the toilet paper section, trying to meet their challenge.” Read more (subs.)

 

Should Trump turn his attention to the ePacket deal? by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “(ePacket) has rankled U.S. merchants who have found themselves sometimes paying higher rates to ship items to customers right here in their own country than Chinese merchants are paying to send goods to shoppers on the other side of the globe.” Read more

 

Former P&G manager elected president of Costa Rica by Barret J. Brunsman at Cincinnati Business Courier. “Alvarado Quesada was a marketing manager for P&G from 2011-13. He worked for P&G’s Home Care business, which includes household cleaning products.” Read more

 

**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

 

Aging US warehouses unfit to handle Amazon and e-commerce boom at CNBC. “The average age of a U.S. warehouse is 34 years, according to a survey by real estate services firm CBRE…In surveying facilities across 56 markets throughout the country, CBRE found most warehouses built before about 2005 lack modern upgrades: Ceilings are low, flooring is uneven and space is tight.” Read more

 

A petition with nearly 15,000 supporters is urging Walmart to bring Cosmopolitan magazine back to its checkout aisles at MediaPost. Read more

 

Neiman Marcus names Adam Orvos as company’s new CFO “Adam was most recently at Total Wine & More where he served as Executive Vice President of Retail and most recently was promoted to Chief Executive Officer.” Press release

 

Bed Bath & Beyond offers to buy old Toys R Us gift cards for store credit at CNBC. Read more

 

If Amazon had always been required to collect sales taxes, it would have collected a total of $20.4 billion in sales taxes from its founding in 1994 through 2015 at MarketWatch. Read more

 

Tractor Supply Company Announces 1,700th Store Opening Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

NRF Responds to Tariff List

P&G reportedly talking $15B deal with Pfizer

Amazon could do a lot to fix the U.S. health-care system — but Walmart could do more

Amazon Hasn’t Exactly Blown Up the Grocery Business Yet

These Are the World’s Cheapest Places for Drugs, Booze and Cigarettes

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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: Publix #1 in South | Rev. Boycotts Kroger | H.Depot Defraud

/in

 

Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor customers to be offered free credit-monitoring service by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. Read more

 

Walmart takes its money transfer service global at CNBC. “The new Walmart2World will allow customers to relay funds to people in more than 200 countries…also promises delivery of funds in 10 minutes or less, unlike some services that can take as long as three days.” Read more

 

Fleet Farm quietly changed its gun marketing last month by John Ewoldt at Star Tribune. “The retailer stopped all advertising and promotions for assault-style rifles and high-capacity magazines but it will continue to sell them…Fleet Farm (also) changed its policy so that “no sale will occur unless we receive a positive ‘OK to sell’ response from the FBI.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Walmart is looking at buying PillPack, an online pharmacy, for under $1 billion at CNBC. “PillPack manages prescription medications for its customers which include those with multiple chronic conditions — all by packaging, organizing and delivering drugs. It boasts a “full-service” pharmacy, meaning its customer service team is available 24/7.” Read more

 

Feds: Home Depot defrauded out of more than $300,000 in ticket-switching scam by David Allison at Atlanta Business Chronicle. “The four Atlanta residents allegedly switched or altered the prices of merchandise by changing the Universal Product Code so the items could be purchased at a lower price and then returned for the actual, higher retail price…” Read more | Complete indictment

 

Advance Auto Parts CFO Exits Press release

 

Overstock.com Pulls Stock Offering After Sharp Decline in Shares by Paul Vigna at Wall Street Journal. “Since trading at a record-high $86.90 on Jan. 8, shares have plummeted 62%, including several sharp selloffs recently.” Read more (subs.)

 

Honey — the under-the-radar coupon startup — has held talks to raise around $100 million in a new investment by Jason Del Rey at Recode. Read more

 

The South’s Best Grocery Stores at Southern Living: Publix #1, Kroger #2, Harris Teeter #3, HEB #4, Wegmans #5, Piggly Wiggly #6  Read

 

**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

 

Panerabread.com Leaks Millions of Customer Records at Krebs on Security. “…exactly eight months to the day after Houlihan first reported the problem — and data shared by Houlihan indicated the site was still leaking customer records in plain text. Worse still, the records could be indexed and crawled by automated tools with very little effort.” Read more

 

Whole Foods is now cheaper than Kroger for home-delivered groceries by Hayley Peterson at Business Insider. “Whole Foods was cheaper than Kroger by 2% to 7% on grocery orders in the Cincinnati area costing $35 to $50, the analysts found.” Read more

 

Target reveals locations of three new small-format stores in New York at CNBC. “Target is planning to open small-format stores in New York’s Upper East Side neighborhood, Staten Island and Astoria, Queens.” Read more

 

Marriott EVP nominated for election to Home Depot Board Press release

 

Amazon could ‘take Google to the cleaners’ in retail search with a $20 billion ad business, analyst says at CNBC. “Analyst: ‘Slowly over time you will use Amazon as your retail search engine rather than Google.'” Read more

 

Tesco says own-brand soft drink prices will not rise after sugar levy at Reuters. “Britain will implement the levy from April 6 on makers of sugary drinks…A charge of 18 pence ($0.25) per litre will be levied on drinks containing 5 grammes or more of sugar per 100 millimetres and 24 pence per litre on drinks containing 8 grammes or more.” Read more

 

The Day Warby Parker Lost Its Cool by Elizabeth Segran at Fast Company. “Over April Fools’ weekend, Warby Parker tried to get a few cheap laughs by announcing a fake partnership with the fast-food chain Arby’s that would be called–you guessed it–WArby’s.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Rev. Jesse Jackson calls for Kroger boycott

Here’s a look at Amazon’s new building in Boston’s Seaport

Anheuser-Busch Launches New Incentive-Based Sponsorship Model

Kroger drops plan to build massive store in Indy suburb

Uber to shut down same-day delivery service in Chicago, New York

Beer-delivery startup taps Minnesota’s love for craft brews

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

Saks/Lord Hack Biggest Ever? | Shaq Spent $70K at WM | W.Foods/Prime 10% Off Hint

/in

 

Hackers Steal Credit Card Information for More Than 5 Million Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor Shoppers by Jennifer Calfas at Fortune. “About 125,000 of these records were put up for sale on the dark web, the firm said, adding that it “is amongst the biggest and most damaging ever to hit retail companies.” The data breach also hit Saks Off Fifth stores. All of the U.S. locations of the retail chains have been compromised…with the majority of stolen credit card information coming from stores in New York and New Jersey.” Read more

 

Walmart opens first high-tech small-sized supermarket in China at Reuters. “Walmart’s store, located in the southern city of Shenzhen, will stock more than 8,000 items ranging from stir-fried clams to fresh fruit, 90 percent of which will also be available online.” Read more

 

“Typosquatting” domains including walmart{dot}cm & costco{dot}cm lead to places you don’t want to go at Krebs. “…if you try to visit some of the most popular destinations on the Web but omit the “o” in .com (and type .cm instead), there’s a good chance your browser will be bombarded with malware alerts and other misleading messages — potentially even causing your computer to lock up completely.” Read more

 

China imposing new tariffs on U.S. products in retaliation of Trump tariffs at CNBC. “All told, the extra tariffs will hit 128 kinds of U.S. products, multiple outlets reported. The list of new duties matches the proposed list released by the government on March 23, according to Reuters.” Read more

 

Shaq spent $70,000 at Walmart — the biggest purchase in company history by Scott Davis at Business Insider. “I’m very impatient,” O’Neal said. “So they already got the apartment set up, and I ain’t got nothing. I ain’t got no towels, I ain’t got no pots and pans … I’m Walmart’s biggest customer … Pans, socks, underwears, tank tops, TVs, printers, computers.” Read more

 

Amazon Stock Resilience May Be Tested After Another Trump Rant by Ros Krasny & Justin Sink at Bloomberg. “In a pair of Twitter messages Saturday, Trump lit into Amazon for the second time in three days, saying it “must pay real costs (and taxes) now!” Read more

 

Boxed suitors are circling at CNBC. “Without naming actual names, we have had conversations with just about every retailer under the sun,” Huang said. “International and domestic: some more serious than others.” Read more

 

Retailers race against Amazon to automate stores by Nick Wingfield, Paul Mozur & Michael Corkery at NY Times. Read (Tiered subs.)

 

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Toys R Us websites shut down as rapid liquidation continues at USA Today. “The Toys R Us and Babies R Us websites were turned off at 5 p.m. Thursday. Visitors to the sites are now being directed to a web page, goodbuytoysrus.com, which has information about the liquidation sales at the retailer’s U.S. stores.” Read more

 

Whole Foods just hinted at giving Prime members a 10% discount at CNBC. “At a Whole Foods in Austin, Texas, the grocer has tested marketing material that promotes 10 percent discounts for Prime members, according pictures of that signage obtained by CNBC.” Pics/Read more

 

Trump presidential campaign spent more than $150,000 on Amazon by Kathryn Watson at CBS News. Read more

 

Ex-Walmart US CEO says Congress should consider splitting up Amazon at CNBC. “It’s anti-competitive, it’s predatory, and it’s not right,” said (Bill) Simon.” Read more

 

Mexican leftist has 18-point lead ahead of July 1 presidential election at Reuters. “A Lopez Obrador victory could usher in a Mexican government less accommodating toward the United States…Lopez Obrador has backed the North American Free Trade Agreement, but his plan to review newly issued oil contracts sparked worries he will deter foreign investment.” Read more

 

Is Alexa spying on you? New Amazon, Google patents raise concerns at NBC Today. “Amazon Echo and Google Home can already “listen” to everything around them, and now both companies could be taking steps to have their devices listen in on a whole lot more.” 4:28 video

 

Mall Vacancies Reach Six-Year High by Peter Grant at Wall Street Journal. “The vacancy rate in big U.S. malls increased to 8.4% in the first quarter of 2018, up from 8.3% in the fourth quarter and the highest since the fourth quarter of 2012, according to real-estate data firm Reis Inc.” Read more (subs.)

 

Blockbuster’s last stand: Inside the last remaining Blockbuster store in the lower 48 US by Tom Krazit at GeekWire. “Karen Van, who walked out of the store with a selection of Oscar favorites…is a Redbox fan but prefers Blockbuster’s selection and pricing; she can hang on to her videos for several days for the same price, while Redbox charges by the night.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Music producer’s $16 million mansion has a Costco room

Rat caught on camera hiding behind bread at grocery store

Bernie Sanders sides with Trump on Amazon getting too big

C-store clerk charged with murder after shooting teen for stealing a beer

The Most Powerful Lobbyist in Trump’s Washington

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

**

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