Tipsheet: Schnucks Buys 19 | Amazon Go Line | Kroger’s Dip

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Chicago’s new Amazon Go store had a line of customers out the door and down the block waiting to get in Monday during the lunch rush by Lauren Zumbach at Chicago Tribune. “…prices that struck him as relatively reasonable for the Loop…“I don’t know if people would come more than once just for the payment process, but if the quality is good, it’s convenient,” (a shopper) said.” Tiered subs.

 

Schnucks buying 19 Shop ‘n Save stores by Brian Feldt at St.Louis Post Dispatch. “The fate of the remaining 17 Shop ’n Save locations remains uncertain…the stores not acquired by Schnucks will remain open for now but will close “later this year” if a buyer doesn’t emerge…Schnucks is also buying the remaining prescription files of the Shop ’n Save stores not included in the deal, too.” Read more | Press release

 

Visa, Mastercard reach $6.2 billion settlement over card-swipe fees at Reuters. Read more

 

Best Buy joins $12M quest by Melinda Gates to bridge gender gap by Jackie Crosby at Star Tribune. “Best Buy is investing $600,000 as one of a dozen technology companies involved in the latest initiative by philanthropist Melinda Gates.” Tiered subs.

 

AutoZone Q4 domestic comp sales +2.2% Press release

 

Kroger’s new fashion label, Dip, is rolling out this week to 300 Kroger Marketplace and Fred Meyer stores nationwide by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. “More than 80 percent of the collection is $19 or less.” Read more

 

Emmys: Complete Winners List at Hollywood Reporter. Read more

 

Trump Saves Kids, and Target, as China Levies Exclude Baby Goods by Angus Whitley & Bruce Einhorn at Bloomberg. “The Trump administration excluded several big-ticket children’s items including playpens, car booster seats and highchairs from the final list of $200 billion of Chinese goods set for tariffs.” Tiered subs.

 

**A message from the Megaphone sound enhancing case: Don’t tolerate average smart phone sound – get Loud + Clear Megaphone sound! No wires or batteries, boosts sound 2X and filters the sound for a smoother “stereo” listening experience. Website/Video | Sample

 

The CEO of Macy’s says it’s harder for an e-commerce giant to conquer offline retail than the other way around by Shirin Ghaffary at Recode. “But: “What all retailers are figuring out is that you can’t starve your home base of brick and mortar while you’re taking care of what your needs are going to be online.” Read more

 

…Macy’s partnering with Facebook to bring nearly 150 e-commerce brands to The Market @ Macy’s across nine stores Press release

 

Amazon plans to release at least 8 new Alexa-powered devices, including a microwave, an amplifier, and an in-car gadget at CNBC. “Amazon is expected to reveal some of these devices at an event later this month, according to an internal document describing the plans.” Read more

 

…Amazon teams up with Audi to expand Alexa’s automotive presence by Nat Levy at GeekWire. “At an event in San Francisco, the German auto giant showed off the new $74,800 e-tron SUV, Audi’s first vehicle with Alexa built into the console display.” Read more

 

Instacart expands ALDI partnership by Kate Clark at TechCrunch. “As of Thanksgiving, Instacart  users in 35 states and 5,000 ZIP codes will be able to fill their virtual carts with ALDI groceries.” Read more

 

Lemonis doubles down on long-term view for Camping World, says No. 1 asset is loyalty club at Mad Money on CNBC. “What we’re ultimately, Jim, trying to do is find the millennial, the millennial who doesn’t want to go in their father’s … motor home,” the CEO said. “They want to go in a smaller unit, a lighter unit. They want to pull it with their Prius.” Video/Read more

 

Ikea is now interested in self-driving cars by Katharine Schwab at Fast Company. “…has released a set of seven concepts meant to help people think about how car interiors might shift when they become autonomous. There’s a shopping car (outfitted with Ikea products, of course), as well as a grocery car, a coffee car, and a hotel car.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

These 10 shopping days will account for almost 45% of this year’s holiday visits

GovPayNow.com Leaks 14M+ Records

Here’s why Flipkart still wants to IPO even though Walmart bought it for $16 billion

Amazon adds exclusive premium diapers brand under the new name of Earth + Eden

‘No ice, no charcoal, and no cigarettes!’ Tough security guard at NC Harris Teeter store

Thief Killed By Friends While Fleeing Walmart Shoplifting Spree

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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: Retail Talent ‘War’ | Strawberry Needle Sabotage | 1st NC Groc Store Reopens

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First grocery store reopens, draws hundreds in Wilmington, N.C. by Josh Shaffer at The Virginian-Pilot. “A crowd bordering on a mob formed in Wilmington Saturday as the first grocery store opened in four days, drawing 500 storm-soaked residents to push through the doors…As doors opened at 10 a.m., Harris Teeter employees loudly warned shoppers elbowing each other at the door to be civil, and that Wilmington police had nothing better to do than haul unruly people out of the store.” Pic/Read more

 

Amazon Investigates Employees Leaking Data for Bribes at Wall Street Journal. “In exchange for payments ranging from about $80 to more than $2,000, brokers for Amazon employees in Shenzhen are offering internal sales metrics and reviewers’ email addresses, as well as a service to delete negative reviews and restore banned Amazon accounts, the people said.” Subscription

 

Walmart Finally Makes It to the Big Apple by Michael Corkery at NY Times. “Walmart may think they have found a new, under-the-radar path into New York City by buying up businesses already here, but we should not be fooled,” Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, a Democrat, said in a statement. “We intend to be watching very carefully.” Tiered subs.

 

First Amazon Go store outside of Seattle opens this morning in Chicago by Nat Levy at GeekWire. “The 2,000-square-foot Chicago store, at 113 S. Franklin St., is the fourth Amazon Go location overall, with the other three in Seattle.” Read more

 

**A message from BK Resources – The Best Kept secret for commercial and food service kitchen equipment. Leading supplier of stainless steel: commercial faucets, sinks, work tables, bar equipment, ice bins and more. Catalog | Website | Contact

 

Out of Stock This Holiday Season: Store Workers by Suzanne Kapner & Inti Pacheco at Wall Street Journal. “There’s going to be a war for retail talent,” said Andrew Challenger, vice president of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. “We might be getting to a point where there is a limit to how much companies can grow because it’s hard to get labor.” Subscription

 

Google lets retailers feature videos in Showcase Shopping ads by James Melton at Internet Retailer. “The Showcase Shopping ads integrate YouTube videos into retail paid search ads for the first time and allow advertisers to create ads attached to pictures in the content of certain Google publishing partners. Google plans to roll out the new video ads with 500 advertisers this month in the U.S., U.K., France and Germany.” Read more

 

Amazon launches Storefronts to give 20K small businesses a bigger spotlight by Ingrid Lunden at TechCrunch. “Storefronts will highlight different merchants in the mix with videos that profile the owners, and highlight a selection of items that they sell via Amazon. It will also feature the small businesses in a marketing campaign.” Read more

 

Walmart’s Flipkart unit is in talks to buy a stake in Star India’s video streaming service Hotstar at Reuters. Read more

 

Strawberry sabotage scare spreads to all six Australian states at The Guardian. “Coles and Aldi had pulled all strawberries from their shelves across Australia except in Western Australia, and on Monday police in that state said a suspected case had been identified there…A 62-year-old woman was caught putting a needle into a banana in Mackay, central Queensland, in what is believed to have been a copycat act.” Read more

 

Coca-Cola Is Eyeing the Cannabis Market at Bloomberg. “…is in talks with Canadian marijuana producer Aurora Cannabis Inc. to develop the beverages, according to a report from BNN Bloomberg Television.” Tiered subs.

 

Former Allen Edmonds CEO launches online upscale clothier CircleRock by Jackie Crosby at Star Tribune. “Where a custom suit might take three or four months, CircleRock pledges to deliver the same quality within weeks — and at a much lower price point because it ships directly from the manufacturer.” Tiered subs.

 

Former eBay COO and Yahoo chairman Maynard Webb shares advice for founders by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. Read more

 

Retailer slammed for selling sweatshirt with ‘Being Fat Is Not Beautiful’ on it by Kaitlyn Frey at People via AJC. “The cropped sweatshirt, which is shown being worn by a sample size model, read, “BEING FAT IS NOT BEAUTIFUL IT’S AN EXCUSE.” Pic/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Is Pampers ditching ‘Sesame Street’ over gender concerns?

Shoplifters drag 76-year-old Walmart employee, ram him with cart

This is billionaire Jeff Bezos’ daily routine

Attention Walmart shoppers: The secrets of selling electricity in Texas

Apple’s AirPower wireless charging mat “may be doomed to failure”

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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 Censoring? | Fred’s -3.5% | Peak Costco? | Rona Wanted Lowe’s

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U.S. retail sales barely rise; import prices drop at Reuters. “The Commerce Department said retail sales edged up 0.1 percent last month, the smallest rise since February. Data for July was revised higher to show sales rising 0.7 percent instead of the previously reported 0.5 percent gain.” Read more

 

Target mistakenly replaces ‘transgender,’ ‘queer’ with asterisks on book descriptions on website by Jackie Crosby at Star Tribune. “Cáel Keegan, author of the November release “Lana and Lilly Wachowski,” noticed the redactions and alerted her publishing company, the University of Illinois Press, according to Publisher’s Weekly, which first reported the glitch.” Tiered subs.

 

Fred’s Q2 comp sales -3.5% Press release

 

L Brands to Close All Henri Bendel Stores at Fortune. “Known for its brown-and-white-striped bags, Henri Bendel was founded in 1895…Now all 23 of its stores and its e-commerce website will close in early 2019.” Read more

 

Sears Q2 comp sales -3.9% Press release

 

Walmart will acquire Latin American food delivery service Cornershop for $225 million at Reuters. “Costco which offers deliveries via the app, declined to comment.” Read more

 

Dollarama Q2 comp sales +2.6% Press release

 

Kroger shares tumbled more than 9 percent Thursday at CNBC. Read more

 

Instacart teams with Walmart Canada to bring shoppers in Toronto and Winnipeg same-day grocery delivery by Kate Clark at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Bezos says Amazon’s second headquarters will be revealed by end of 2018 by Tal Axelrod at The Hill. Read more

 

Walmart Is No. 1 Retailer in Management Top 250 – Home Depot Among Biggest Gainers at Wall Street Journal. Top 250 list (WSJ subs.)

 

Zulily co-founder departing – for real this time by Nat Levy & Todd Bishop at GeekWire. Read more

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water – Our Brazilian Coconut Water is Sweeter than the Rest! Organic & Natural, PL & Branded. Sell sheet | Website | Request samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Rona offered to buy Lowe’s Canada years before it was acquired, says ex-CEO in autobiography via Montreal Gazette. Read more

 

Jeff Bezos Announces Launch of $2 Billion Charity to Help With Education and Homelessness at Fortune. Read more

 

Meijer Makes Achievers’ Top 50 Most Engaged Workplaces Press release

 

Costco stock downgraded by Wells Fargo because this ‘may be as good as it gets’ at CNBC. Read more

 

Forget Airline Miles. Retailers Pile on Perks for Big Spenders. by Suzanne Kapner at Wall Street Journal. “Nordstrom’s revamped loyalty program…has a new category to fete top spenders: invitation-only “icon” status that includes private dinners with designers and other exclusive events…Macy’s platinum cardholders will get special access to its Thanksgiving Day Parade…” WSJ subs.

 

Chrissy Teigen introduces exclusive kitchen and tabletop collection at Target at A Bullseye View. Read more

 

THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Mosquitoes the size of a quarter plague Houston area at ABC 13. “ABC13 reporter Steve Campion said:  “I can’t tell you how many mosquitoes swarmed @13PhotogReed and me. Every time we hit one there was blood.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

America’s Most Dangerous Dog Breeds (Infographic)

The four major U.S. wireless carriers detail initiative that may let websites avoid passwords

Startup 50: The Complete Ranking of Canada’s Top New Growth Companies

Walmart EVP Supply Chain Greg Smith speaks to Florida Tech students

Volkswagen to kill the Beetle in 2019 as car sales plunge

Women model lingerie in windows during New York Fashion Week

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Eye on Retail Tipsheet is must-read material for retail execs every weekday morning. Tipsheet stories are carefully curated bright and early every morning to ensure fresh and unique content.

 

Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

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

 

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Tipsheet: Serena @ Target Mtg | Heff Bezos | Kroger +1.6% | Trust: B.Buy #1/H.Dep #4

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Kroger Q2 Comp Sales (without fuel) +1.6% Press release

 

Walmart redesigns lagging Jet.com digital site, rolls out Nike gear, 3-hour grocery delivery at CNBC. “Traffic was waning on Jet.com…rolling out a newly redesigned website on Thursday with faster delivery for New York residents…Nike merchandise had previously been for sale on Jet.com via third parties.” Read more

 

Serena Williams speaks at Target’s annual employee meeting in Minneapolis by Jackie Crosby at Star Tribune. “The Target meeting wasn’t open to the public and Thomas declined to say what Williams spoke about. On social media, some attendees used the hashtag #inspiring to describe the couple’s talk.” Tiered subs.

 

HEFF BEZOS – Jeff Bezos wears pajamas to board meeting by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. “…posing in an Instagram post looking more like he was about to get a rundown on the state of Playboy magazine…September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month.” Read more

 

HQ Trivia bags Target to sponsor its biggest-ever single winner prize of $100,000 by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “…a special Emmy-themed game…will air on Monday, September 17 at 9 PM ET…will be played in a different fashion than usual…only one individual will earn the winnings.” Read more

 

Best Buy Tops the List of America’s Most Trustworthy Public Companies (Home Depot #4, Ross #6, Costco #18) Press release/Top 20 list

 

Free-for-all in NC Walmart as Florence nears at Daily Mail. Video/Read more

 

…At least 436 Walmart store locations and Sam’s Clubs located in South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia are in the path of Florence by Kim Souza at Talk Business. Read more | List of closed stores

 

Target closes six stores preparing for Florence A Bullseye View

 

Tailored Brands: All retail brands report positive comps in Q2 (Men’s Warehouse +1.7%, Jos. A. Bank +1.0%) Press release

 

12 Finalists for 2018 National Toy Hall of Fame List

 

APPLE FIRE – The explosive problem with recycling iPads, iPhones & other gadgets: They burst into flames by Geoffrey A. Fowler at Washington Post via LA Times. “About 30 minutes into iPad surgery comes the most delicate part: prying out the battery glued to the back of the iPad…”Don’t bend it. Don’t poke it. Just try to go slow,” Flores-Hernandez says, explaining his tactics. I hold my breath. The iPad doesn’t explode. This time.” Tiered subs.

 

Macy’s is doing weekly “drops” of its new limited-edition watches by Mary Hanbury at Business Insider. Read more

 

PR STUNT OF THE DAY – WD-40 moves top-secret formula to secure bank vault – CEO chains himself to briefcase Press release

 

Kroger Mid-Atlantic workers in 22 stores ratify new contract “…raises starting wages to $9.50 an hour for part-time associates and $10 an hour for full-time associates.” Press release

 

**A message from Sondare Megaphone sound enhancing case – Don’t tolerate average smart phone sound – get Loud + Clear Megaphone sound! No wires or batteries, boosts sound 2X and delivers a smoother “stereo” listening experience. Website/Video | Sample

 

Target to hire 20% more workers this holiday season, doubling the number of jobs dedicated to online orders at CNBC. “All temporary workers hired by Target after this Sunday will start with an hourly wage of $12, and also receive benefits like a 10 percent discount on Target.com and 20 percent off wellness merchandise.” Read more

 

Ikea considers turning odd-shaped building near Yale that has sat empty for 14 years into a new hotel at Daily Mail. Pics/Read more

 

RH CEO Explains His $50 Million Bet on New Flagship by Colin Bertram at Bloomberg. Tiered subs.

 

Good Housekeeping Teams up with Amazon & Mall of America to Launch the GH Lab Store Press release

 

B&G Foods to Sell Pirate’s Booty to The Hershey Company for $420.0 Million Press release

 

Crack pipe vending machines disguised as pen dispensers pop up in front of shopping centers by Rachel Desantis at NY Daily News. “The machines, which are cemented into the grass, offer up glass tubes with a filter that can be used to smoke crack for anyone who inserts $2 in quarters. The cash also gives customers a pen top and a tube of ink.” Pic/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Dangerous bike “swerving” fad just won’t die in New Jersey

Major shake-up in bass tournament world

20K Pallets of Water Bottles Were Left in Puerto Rico, and No One Seems to Know Why

Jason Isbell wins 3 of 4 at Americana Awards Show

Amazon signs on as presenting sponsor for Cincinnati 2018 Oktoberfest

For the first time, Target is making Cartwheel promotions available for an entire week

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Eye on Retail Tipsheet is must-read material for retail execs every weekday morning. Tipsheet stories are carefully curated bright and early every morning to ensure fresh and unique content.

 

Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

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

 

Website: www.eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: 85% Yes to Drugs on Amazon | Get Men to Spend 79% More

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BJ’s Wholesale Club offering free trial for residents to stock up for Florence at WTKS 3 CBS. Read more

 

After less than four years, Amazon’s business supplies site is on pace to pass $10 billion a year at CNBC. “We believe Amazon B2B over the very long-term has the potential to surpass the size of the core B2C segment, and remains an under-appreciated opportunity by many investors,” Colin Sebastian, an analyst at R.W. Baird, wrote in a note Tuesday.” Read more

 

Walmart built a new vending machine that retrieves groceries within seconds by Hayley Peterson at Business Insider. “The new version…can serve five customers simultaneously. The first version could serve only two customers at once. “Not only do customers not have to wait for an associate to bring them their order, but they also never need to set foot inside the store,” a Walmart spokesperson said.” Pics/Read more

 

Whole Foods grocery delivery is now available in 38 markets Press release

 

‘Home Depot Backyard’ opens on Georgia Dome site by Tim Tucker at AJC. “Falcons owner Arthur Blank, Home Depot CEO Craig Menear and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms participated in a ceremony opening the space Tuesday.” Read more | Video from CBS 46

 

85% of insured Amazon Prime members open to buying drugs on the site, Deutsche Bank says at CNBC. Read more

 

Amazon is stuffing its search results pages with ads by Rani Molla at Recode. “The average cost per click on a sponsored Amazon product rose to 84 cents in the second quarter of 2018, up 6 percent year over year, according to digital marketing agency CPC Strategy.” Read more

 

Walmart takes a cue from Netflix in buying clothing brands like ours, Bonobos CEO says at CNBC. “If you want to win, you’ve got to own great brands,” (Andy) Dunn said Tuesday on CNBC’s “Squawk Alley.” Video/Read more

 

**A message from BK Resources – The Best Kept secret for commercial and food service kitchen equipment. Leading supplier of stainless steel: commercial faucets, sinks, work tables, bar equipment, ice bins and more. Catalog | Website | Contact

 

Don’t believe the hype about Amazon ‘savings’ at Whole Foods by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “…prices in Whole Foods’ 490 stores across the country — even after shoppers pony up cash for the Prime discount — come down by just $1.54 on a $400 basket of groceries, according to the report.” Read more

 

Sears Canada’s court monitor opposes priority for pensioners over other creditors via Toronto Star. Read more

 

Amazon to surpass Walmart as top U.S. apparel retailer with $30B in annual sales by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. “Quartz on Monday cited a new Goldman Sachs research note that shows Amazon overtaking Nike this year as the “preferred shoe retailer of young men.” Goldman Sachs analysts also reported Amazon as a top destination for athletic apparel, underwear, and grooming items for U.S. males ages 13-to-34.” Read more

 

FedEx plans six days per week, hire 55,000 workers for holiday season at Reuters. Read more

 

Hudson’s Bay will net proceeds of $616 million as it sells half the real estate of Galeria Kaufhof, the German department store chain it acquired in 2015 by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. Read more

 

Instacart has brought on Mark Schaaf as Chief Technology Officer at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Amazon will ship 7-foot-tall Christmas trees this season by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. “The AP says Amazon sold trees shorter than 3 feet last year. But because of popularity among customers, Amazon says it “increased the assortment.” Read more

 

eBay’s HeadGaze brings hands-free input to the iPhone X using ARKit at The Verge. Read more

 

U.S. Businesses Ramp Up Lobbying Against Trump’s Tariffs at Wall Street Journal. “…last week, the trade association for retailers including Target Corp. andWalmart Inc. brought 150 small retailers to meetings with lawmakers to talk about how tariffs could hurt their businesses.” WSJ subscription

 

Macy’s to hire 80,000 workers for holidays at CNBC. Read more

 

Oprah Winfrey partners with Kroger to end hunger by Elaine Kong at WKRC. Pics/Read more

 

Men spend 79% more in stores with an attractive male assistant at the door at CNBC. “The average spend for men was $165 when the attractive guy was present, more than double the amount for women, which was $72. When he wasn’t there, men spent $92 and women $97, according to Otterbring in an article published in the Harvard Business Review.” Read more

 

Fast Company’s 2018 Innovation By Design Awards 17 winners

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Product placement may help power Nasa’s next big space mission

Ossia teams up with Walmart to pilot wireless charging tech

Grocery store owners traded more than $5M in food stamps for cash

Publix may soon allow employees to grow beards

‘The Tonight Show’ Cancels Norm Macdonald Appearance After Controversial Comments

DC Extends Walmart-Exclusive Publishing Line With New Titles

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: New Grads: BJ’s #42 | Young: Nstrom #5, Target #12 | Ellison Q&A

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Five Below Q2 comp sales +2.7% Press release

 

GameStop Q2 comp sales -0.5% Press release

 

…GameStop is reportedly working with Perella Weinberg Partners to explore a possible sale at Bloomberg via Internet Retailer. “The private equity firms Sycamore Partners and Apollo Global Management are GameStop’s two main suitors, DealReporter said.” Read more

 

Lands End retail segment net revenue -25.8% “…primarily attributable to the reduction of 57 of our Lands’ End Shops at Sears locations combined with a same store sales decline of 5.8%. Same store sales in Lands’ End Shops at Sears locations declined 6.7% for the quarter while same store sales in our Company operated stores declined 0.6%.” Press release

 

Forbes: Best Employers for New Grads (Kwik Trip #27, BJ’s #42, Wawa #55, Whole Foods #81, Wegmans #101, Costco #103…) Top 250 list

 

Tom Ward, VP of digital operations at Walmart, featured speaker at Chamber event held at Sam’s Club HQ Thursday by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “He said areas where there is already high brand affinity will likely not be slated for the (Spark) delivery services unless demand dictates. But he did say the retailer plans in the next few years to put grocery pickup in nearly every store that has the space and parking available.” Read more

 

The Buckle August comp sales -0.7% Press release

 

Walmart Canada Commits To 100% Alternatively Powered Fleet Vehicles By 2028 “…plans to acquire an additional 30 Tesla 18-wheeler semi-trucks, building on its original order of 10 trucks in November 2017.” Press release

 

Cato August Comp Sales +5.0% Press release

 

WALMART PREMIUM OUTDOOR BRAND EXODUS – Walmart Just Wanted to Sell Pricey Outdoor Gear. Then ‘All Hell Broke Loose.’ by Sarah Nassauer at Wall Street Journal. “We launched, and then all hell broke loose a little bit within the outdoor industry,” Moosejaw Chief Executive Eoin Comerford said in an interview. “I didn’t expect the reaction to be quite so vehement.” About a third of the premium outdoor brands have left walmart.com, Mr. Comerford said.” WSJ Subscription

 

Amazon’s ‘Artist in Residence’ builds his cardboard tour van creation by Kurt Schlosser at Geek Wire. “Cardboard is my preferred medium for large-scale objects…” Petersen said. “[Amazon] provided me with an entire closet full of cardboard and then I purchased some large cardboard as well that was unused. They are cardboard kings…” Read more

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water – The Brazilian Coconut Water is Sweeter than the Rest! Organic & Natural, PL & Branded. Sell sheet | Website | Request samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Pending California Law Curbing Truck Driver Abuses Could Impact Retailers by Brittany Shoot at Fortune. “The bill, SB1402, which cleared the California state assembly on Wednesday, would hold retailers jointly responsible for state labor and employment violations at shipping ports where port trucking companies fail to pay wages, unlawfully pass on expenses to employees, and misclassify employees as independent contractors, among numerous other labor law violations.” Read more

 

FreshDirect Founder Jason Ackerman Steps Down as CEO – Co-Founder David McInerney Takes on the CEO Post Press release

 

Economy adds more jobs than expected in August at CNBC. “Nonfarm payrolls grew by 201,000 in August. Economists surveyed by Reuters expected a 191,000 increase. Average hourly earnings jumped by 2.9 percent, above the 2.7 percent increase expected. The unemployment rate held near a generational low of 3.9 percent.” Read more

 

Kroger’s prescription drug safety program for teens expected to grow to over 270 schools in the new academic year Press release

 

YOUNG SHOPPERS – Love List Brand Affinity Index from Goldman Sachs and Conde Nast (Nordstrom #5, Luxury; Target #12, Haircare; Walmart #22, Beauty retail) at CNBC. Top 25 list/Read more

 

Groupon Announces Sarah Butterfass as Chief Product Officer Press release

 

This Christmas, Where Will Toys “R” Us Shoppers Buy Their Toys? (Walmart 40%, Amazon 34%, Target 21%) at Field Agent. Read study

 

Costco members are apparently buying snorkels, flip-flops, and alcohol in Hawaii and returning them used or half-empty at the end of their vacation by Mary Hanbury at Business Insider. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Les Moonves Was Obsessed With Ruining Janet Jackson’s Career

Study suggests that intermittent fasting could be the key to longevity

J.D. Power Joins The Internet of Things Consortium

Amazon’s online advertising catching up to Google, Facebook

Where did the trash in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch come from?

Lululemon wins battle against patent troll in less than 24 hours

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison at Goldman Sachs Retailing Conference

Q: What led you to take this role at Lowe’s?

A: I had really no intention on doing anything, but spending the next couple of years working on trying to turn around an iconic retailer, but as I tell people, God laughs at our plans and this opportunity presented itself…to have an opportunity to run a company this large, this prestigious is the American dream. So how do you pass it up?

When I joined Lowe’s and the opportunity of the stores opened up Joe (McFarland) was the first one to raise his hand that want to come back into this space because he knows this so well.

There are no engineered standards at Lowe’s.

…one of the first things that Joe McFarland has done is we have started to put time and motion studies in place.

The negative comps in paint and lighting were the results of a very poorly executed reset…they were self-inflicted negative comps.

We are in the process of making sure that when we do and execute something like a reset that all of those activities are in one location under one leader, not in three different functions where it stands today.

…people like to win. And when they see changes occurring and results improving, it’s a lot easier to convince people to get on-board.

If you give an associate on the sales floor a choice between doing a task list of 15 things or serving the customer they are going to do the task list because you can measure if the task was done or not.

Joe is working with Don Frieson…to try a different (freight-in) model. And the different model, which I won’t go into ton of detail on has reduced the time by 60% to 70% that it takes to unload the truck.

You can’t improve service until you simplify what the associates are doing.

I was in a store earlier this week in Memphis, TN and we are looking at an end cap that was not very productive…the associates (said) I love it, because we never have to touch it…but if you are not touching it, wouldn’t that send a message that nothing is selling.

…we are looking at every end cap, every bay, every swing area, every drop zone, we are asking the question what’s the productivity that’s currently being generated.

I think the biggest supply chain initiative that we will talk in much more detail about at our upcoming Investor and Analyst Meeting is the ability to shift all of our customer delivery from the store to more of a central model.

Full transcript via Seeking Alpha

 

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Tipsheet: W.Foods Union? | Burberry Ends Burn | Bern’s BEZOS Act

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Burberry to stop burning unsold items at CNBC. “The company also said it will no longer use real fur in its products.” Read more

 

Amazon orders 20,000 Mercedes vans for Delivery Service Partners program, more than quadrupling initial order by Todd Bishop at GeekWire. “…reflecting what the company calls a “tremendous response” from people applying to own their own Amazon delivery businesses as part of the program. With the order, the company becomes the largest Sprinter customer in the world.” Read more

 

Walmart Tests New Last-Mile Grocery Delivery Service “Spark Delivery is a crowd-sourced delivery platform…The pilot uses an in-house platform that provides drivers with the ability to sign up for windows of time that work best for their schedule as well as Grocery Delivery order details, navigation assistance and more.” Press release

 

…Spark Delivery is similar to Amazon Flex where a fleet of drivers use their own cars to make fast deliveries at Reuters. Read more

 

Bon-Ton is ready for its comeback as new company buys its brand by Charisse Jones at USA Today. “The agreement will need to get the green light from the Delaware Bankruptcy Court to become final. The new Bon-Ton will emphasize its online shopping experience. But CSC says it is “also in advanced discussions with landlords about reopening stores in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.” Read more

 

eBay expands authentication program to luxury watches by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Apeel’s Edible Produce Coating Could Save Supermarkets Billions by Maggie McGrath at Forbes. “Kroger…wants in too. The company announced Thursday that it will carry Apeel avocados in 109 stores in the Cincinnati area. It’s technically a six-month test, but if it goes well, Kroger could quickly expand to carrying the long-lasting veggies throughout the Eastern half of the U.S.” Read more

 

Starbucks just opened its first location in Italy at CNBC. “The Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Milan is the third of its kind after Seattle and Shanghai.” Read more

 

H-E-B announces plans to develop a world-class tech facility in Austin Press release

 

Bernie Sanders introduces the BEZOS Act, slamming Amazon’s low wages at CNBC. “…he and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., introduced legislation to tax corporations for every dollar that their low-wage workers receive in government health-care benefits or food stamps.” Read more

 

Couche-Tard Q1 profits surges 25 per cent despite lag in Esso loyalty program via Montreal Gazette. Read more

 

**A message from the Megaphone sound enhancing case – Why tolerate average smart phone sound when you can have Loud + Clear Megaphone sound? No wires or batteries, boosts sound 2X and filters the sound for a smoother “stereo” listening experience. Website/Video | Sample

 

J. Crew sets up shop on Amazon with new dedicated online shop at CNBC. “Amazon is giving J. Crew Mercantile, a line of less expensive clothes from J. Crew, its own dedicated storefront.” Read more

 

Whole Foods Workers Push to Unionize by Heather Haddon at Wall Street Journal. “A group of workers plans to send an email Thursday to workers at most of the 490 Whole Foods stores urging them to back their unionization drive. A copy of the group’s message to fellow employees, reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, said organizers want to “collectively voice our concerns to Whole Foods Market and Amazon leadership.” Subscription

 

Saks Teams with Julia Louis-Dreyfus to Fight Cancer Press release

 

Pay packages disclosed for Lowe’s new CFO and executive vice president at Charlotte Business Journal. “The new executive vice president of home-improvement retailer Lowe’s Cos. Inc. will be paid a base annual salary of $750,000, with a bonus opportunity equal to 100% of his salary.” Tiered subs.

 

Home Depot helping Detroit home buyers by Robyn A. Friedman at Wall Street Journal. “Under the “Rehabbed and Ready” program, the Authority selects properties in its inventory for Home Depot to rehab, Quicken preapproves interested buyers for mortgage financing and the homes are sold. The ultimate goal is to stabilize the market and create comparable sales to help future buyers.” Subscription

 

Loblaw rallies after selling Choice Properties REIT assets to George Weston via Financial Post. Read more

 

This will be seen as ‘the lost decade of retailers,’ RH CEO says at Mad Money on CNBC. “Traditional retailers racing to stake their claim in the e-commerce market are causing “clutter” in the broader retail industry, Gary Friedman…told CNBC…adding that with “the capital allocation over the last 10 years and people creating an unnatural shift to move their business online, there’s massively deteriorating operating margins.” Video/Read more

 

Hy-Vee on a roll in Minneapolis: 12 metro stores likely by end of next year by Bob Shaw at Pioneer Press. Read more

 

Walgreens to offer Auvi-Q as EpiPen shortage challenges parents at CNBC. Read more

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods Names Ex-Walmart Exec as Chief eCommerce & Supply Chain Officer “Vidya (Jwala) joins Dick’s from Overstock.com, where he most recently served as SVP Merchandising, Supply Chain, Technology & Customer Service…Previously, he was VP of Merchandising & Operations at Walmart Stores, Inc.” Press release

 

Home Depot CEO Craig Menear Presents at Goldman Sachs Retailing Conference Transcript via Seeking Alpha

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

The 25 most attractive start-ups to work for, according to LinkedIn

The liquor stores attached to two Wichita Sam’s Clubs are closing

Snap introduces new $200 Spectacles that look more like regular sunglasses

Python found at Sheetz in Lancaster County to be reunited with owner

Dunkin’ Donuts Has Given Up On Canada

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 Halts Fetch | HD Supply +10.1% | RH +5.0%

/in

 

RH Q2 comp brand revenue +5.0% Press release

 

HD Supply Q2 organic sales +10.1% Press release

 

Jeff Bezos making $10 million contribution to a super PAC that aims to elect military veterans to Congress by Reid J. Epstein at Wall Street Journal. “They perceive themselves to be pretty nonpartisan,” Mr. Barcott said. “The idea of doing something different and disruptive appealed to them, along with our focus on values and integrity in our national discourse.” Subscription

 

Target Fetch Program halted by Ashlee Clark Thompson at CNET. “Target Fetch would have included a toilet spindle (the springy thing that holds the roll), paper towel holder and soap pump that are all Bluetooth-enabled and equipped with sensors. The sensors in each product would have kept track of how much of each item you use, and the app would have sent you an alert when you were about to run out.” Read more

 

Third Amazon Go location opens a week after second store by Nat Levy at GeekWire. “The new location is in one of Amazon’s office buildings at 300 Boren Ave. N. in the South Lake Union neighborhood. It is the biggest of the three stores — 2,100 square feet versus 1,800 for the original store and 1,450 square feet for the second location.” Read more

 

How do you know the economy is great? Customer service is terrible. by Danielle Paquette at Washington Post. Tiered subs.

 

E-commerce driving need for more warehouse workers by Erica E. Phillips at Wall Street Journal via Toronto Star. “U.S. warehouses and distribution centers need an additional 452,000 workers in total this year and next, commercial real-estate brokerage CBRE Group Inc. writes in a new report, a steep acceleration from hiring in the sector in recent years.” Read more

 

**A message from BK Resources – The Best Kept secret for commercial and food service kitchen equipment. Leading supplier of stainless steel: commercial faucets, sinks, work tables, bar equipment, ice bins and more. Catalog | Website | Contact

 

Amazon enlists Prime Air jet in cancer fight by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. “During an event Tuesday at Seattle’s Museum of Flight, Amazon raised its philanthropic profile by bestowing financial gifts on two institutions working toward better awareness of childhood cancer.” Read more

 

Target’s 2018 toy list at A Bullseye View

 

Amazon expands San Diego Tech Hub – plans to create 300 high tech jobs Press release

 

Inditex, the world’s largest clothing retailer and owner of the Zara chain, will sell products from all its brands on the Internet around the world by 2020 at Reuters. Read more

 

How Amazon and eBay became a tax haven for Chinese sellers by Wolfgang Verler at The Verge. “Now, the UK, Germany, and the EU Commission are stepping forward to hold marketplace operators accountable for tax fraud amounting to around $5 billion a year across Europe, according to estimates by the EU Commission.” Read more

 

The Amazon-Berkshire-JPM health venture led by Atul Gawande has a COO: Jack Stoddard at CNBC. Read more

 

Arrest of JD.com CEO Came After Night of Wine and Japanese Food in Minneapolis at Wall Street Journal. “Mr. Liu and the woman, a Chinese student attending the University of Minnesota, sat at the same table Thursday at Origami, a Japanese restaurant in Minneapolis, the person said.” Subscription

 

2ND TIMES A CHARM – Bass Pro wants skin from giant 1,000 pound alligator nabbed in Florida at Fox 13 “Dalton explained the trio initially hooked the gator around 1 a.m., then lost it after a 45-minute struggle…They spotted the large alligator in about two feet of water, and after a couple of hours, they hooked it again.” Pics/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Girl hospitalized with life-threatening sepsis after trying on shoes without socks

Huge crowds line up before Wawa demolishes this ’50s restaurant

Netflix snags Disney executive to head consumer products

CDC Begs Consumers Not to Buy Kellogg’s Honey Smacks

Unilever confronts the ‘chairdrobe’ as consumers rethink laundry

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