Tipsheet: WM Bankrolls TV | Bulletproof Bezos | Bear Buys Target

 

U.S. consumer spending posts biggest gain since 2009 at Reuters. “Inflation pressures were benign in March. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index excluding the volatile food and energy components was unchanged after edging up 0.1 percent in February.” Read more

 

Walmart Bets on TV Shows for Families, Date Night in Media Push by Lucas Shaw & Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. “The retailer plans to bankroll at least a half-dozen original programs over the next year, and will unveil the first few to advertisers in New York this week, people familiar with the plans said. Walmart has talked with several Hollywood studios about rebooting family-friendly projects from years ago, said the people…” Tiered subs.

 

‘Biggest bear’ on Target upgrades the stock, says shares to rally nearly 50% at CNBC. “Barclays’ Matthew McClintock upgraded Target to overweight from equal weight and raised his 12-month price projection to $115 a share from $85. The new target represents a 49% surge from Friday’s close of $77.12.” Read more

 

Big-box retailers set their sights on digital NewFronts by Garett Sloane at Ad Age. “The NewFronts, a time for YouTube, Twitter and Hulu to showcase their best content and ad products for the coming year, were conceived as an alternative to the dusty mode of TV upfront ad presentations. And this year, advertisers expect an especially dynamic NewFronts thanks to the retailer invasion, and the internet ad landscape converging with commerce, content and data.” Tiered subs.

 

Labor union raises concern over Amazon’s move to one-day shipping at MarketWatch. “The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, a longtime critic of Amazon’s workplace practices and a backer of unionization at Amazon warehouses, said in a statement Friday that it worries the increased workload could be bad for fulfillment-center employees.” Read more

 

Walmart Hints It Will Match Amazon 1-Day Delivery at eCommerce Bytes. “One-day free shipping…without a membership fee. Now THAT would be groundbreaking. Stay tuned,” Walmart tweeted on Friday.” Read more

 

Mom and pop grocery stores are dying off in San Diego. Can this tech entrepreneur save them? by Brittany Meiling at San Diego Union-Tribune. “Mercato’s software integrates with an independent grocer’s point-of-sale system…This allows small shops to quickly get their inventory online (through Mercato’s marketplace), allowing them to offer customers online grocery shopping.” Tiered subs.

 

Amazon on pace to spend $7 billion on video and music content this year at CNBC. Read more

 

**A message from 2019 Sweets & Snacks Expo – 800+ exhibitors, 2,000+ new product launches, 45 new product awards. The can’t miss show of the year is nearly here! Join us at Chicago’s McCormick Place May 21-23 to discover the latest innovations in products, merchandising and retail solutions. Register Now | Website

 

Hedge funds accuse Bed Bath & Beyond of rampant nepotism by Carleton English at NY Post. “A trio of hedge funds seeking to take over Bed Bath & Beyond’s board published a 168-page presentation Friday blasting the ailing retailer for overly cluttered stores, “excessive compensation” and self-dealing.” Read more

 

The Millions Amazon Spends to Protect Jeff Bezos by Casey Coombs at Daily Beast. “Earlier this year, Amazon installed bulletproof panels in founder and CEO Jeff Bezos’ Seattle office, perched in a glittering high-rise on the company’s urban campus. Designed to withstand multiple shots from a military assault rifle, the inch-and-a-half thick fiberglass panels meet the highest level of bullet and blast resistance, according to the manufacturer.” Read more

 

Indian fashion has local, global retailers ‘mesmerised’ by Rasul Bailay at The Economic Times. “Fashion accounted for about 24% of sales at Big Bazaar around five-six years ago, but the category now accounts for 37% of the chain’s annual revenues, said Rakesh Biyani, joint MD of Future Group.” Read more

 

Vacasa has partnered with Wayfair to bring interior decorating services to vacation rental property owners by Ruth Reader at Fast Company.  Read more

 

TikTok Is the Latest Reason Teens Are Addicted to Their Phones by Christopher Mims at Wall Street Journal. “The app, owned by Chinese startup Bytedance, is growing in popularity with young people at a rate that could make it the next Snapchat.” WSJ subs.

 

The Dollar General Draft Cart shuttled fans around during NFL draft at The Tennessean. “Nashville’s got a new ride in town…The ride, AKA the Dollar General Draft Cart, has been spotted jetting around the city this week while the 2019 NFL Draft is in town. From the looks of it, the shopping buggy seats six including the driver.” Pics/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

McConnell plan to hike smoking age could be win for tobacco companies

Sinus surgery wait list now four years for many in Canada

T-shirt recycling is here, and it could transform fashion

E. coli outbreak grows with 177 people now reported sick

Bruce Springsteen Makes Surprise Appearance at Film Festival

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

 

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

 

Website: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: US +3.2% | Ex-Gap CMO to Juul | SNAP Likes BOPIS

 

US economy grew at strong 3.2% rate in first quarter at AP News. “The advance in the gross domestic product…marks an acceleration from a 2.2% gain in the previous October-December period.” Read more

 

Amazon to make one-day delivery the new standard for Prime by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. “The company plans to spend $800 million on the effort in Q2 and in the past month has expanded both its one-day eligible selection of goods and the number of zip codes eligible for one-day shipping.” Read more

 

Amazon.com Announces First Quarter Sales up 17% to $59.7 Billion Press release

 

…Amazon smashes earnings expectations at CNBC. “EPS: $7.09 vs. $4.72, according to analysts surveyed by Refinitiv.” Read more

 

Food Stamp Users Surveyed about BOPIS, Grocery Delivery by Chris Medenwald at Field Agent. “More than half of SNAP users (51%) in our survey said they’d be “completely likely” to use click-and-collect or grocery-delivery…52% would prefer to buy from Walmart.” Read more

 

Starbucks Q2 Comparable Store Sales +3% Press release

 

Walmart to test autonomous cars in Bentonville in the next six weeks by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “He said Walmart worked to get Arkansas law changed to allow for the testing of autonomous Class 4 full-size pickup trucks and Class 5 passenger cars. Shaeffer said Walmart wanted to study the vehicles at home in a suburban setting.” Read more

 

Columbia Sportswear Q1 net sales +8% Press release

 

Walmart adds Washington, D.C. litigator to legal department at Talk Business. “Walmart has hired Kerri L. Ruttenberg to join the company’s legal department as senior vice president of litigation, effective July 1. Ruttenberg is a partner and head of litigation for the Washington, D.C. office of Jones Day.” Read more

 

U.S. slams Alibaba and its challenger Pinduoduo for selling fakes by Rita Liao at TechCrunch. Read more

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water: Brazilian coconuts = Sweeter taste. 100% pure coconut water. PL or branded organic in Tetra Pak. Sell sheet | Website | Samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Juul Names Gap Marketing Veteran Craig Brommers as Its First CMO by Nat Ives at Wall Street Journal. “Mr. Brommers was most recently chief marketing officer at Gap Inc.’s flagship brand and previously held senior marketing posts at Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and Calvin Klein Inc.” WSJ subs.

 

Sobeys brings FreshCo to British Columbia at Financial Post. “The FreshCo store in Mission, B.C., is the first of a dozen shops under that banner promised by Sobeys Inc. by the end of this year in an effort to grow market share in the west following a years-long fallout from its troubled acquisition of the Safeway chain.” Read more

 

Honestbee, the online grocery delivery service in Asia, is nearly out of money and trying to offload its business by Jon Russell at TechCrunch. Read more

 

How Amazon automatically tracks and fires warehouse workers for ‘productivity’ by Colin Lecher at The Verge. “One of the things that we hear consistently from workers is that they are treated like robots in effect because they’re monitored and supervised by these automated systems,” Mitchell says…The system goes so far as to track “time off task,” which the company abbreviates as TOT.” Read more

 

Pier 1 pushes back on S&P global ratings report Press release

 

Toys ‘R’ Us plans to return for the holidays with downsized stores by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Tru Kids Brands, a licensing firm…plans to open a handful of US stores in time for the holidays that will span about 10,000 square feet each, The Post has learned…“We are a little startup company now,” Tru Kids Chief Executive Richard Barry said, confirming the pint-size store plans.” Read more

 

Aaron’s Q1 comp revenue +0.7% Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Hundreds audition for extra roles in the “Sopranos” movie prequel

Judge: Jussie Smollett gets a break, so why not Home Depot worker?

PepsiCo sues Indian farmers for growing trademarked potatoes

Kiwi’s food delivery bot are rolling out to 12 more colleges

Weis Markets Embarks on $109M Cap Ex Plan

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

 

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

 

Website: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: Lowe’s Gen T | WM AI Store | Stop & Shop Strike Cost $110M

 

UK regulator blocks Sainsbury’s merger with Walmart-owned Asda at Reuters. “(CEO) Coupe made unwanted headlines when he was caught on camera singing: “We’re in the money” shortly after the deal was announced last April. Analysts said questions will be raised over his future after it failed to win approval.” Read more

 

Pier 1 Imports may be headed toward bankruptcy, S&P warns by Nathan Bomey at USA Today. “The negative outlook reflects that we do not see a path for Pier 1 to return to profitability in the coming six months to one year, even when factoring in the full impact of planned performance improvements,” S&P said.” Read more

 

At Walmart, using AI to watch the store by Anne D’innocenzio at AP. “The thousands of cameras are a key feature of the lab, which officially opens inside this 50,000-square-foot store on Thursday…The technology…will also be able to track when shelves need to be restocked or if shopping carts are running low. It can spot spills on the floor and even detect when cash registers need to be opened up before long lines start forming.” Read more

 

Stop & Shop says strike cost company upwards of $110 million by Jonathan Ng at Boston Herald. “For us, it’s a rather unfortunate and unusual situation,” said (CEO) Muller to analysts. “In all the years with Stop & Shop in the last 25 years, we’ve done a very good negotiation process and a fruitful process with the unions. So it’s very unfortunate that this happened, this big strike impact.” Read more

 

Walmart creates Angus beef supply chain, cutting out meat processors at Reuters. “Normally, Walmart would buy Angus beef from companies like Tyson Foods Inc and Cargill Inc. Walmart has now arranged to source cattle from Texas rancher Bob McClaren of Prime Pursuits and 44 Farms…The cattle will be fed at a feedyard that specializes in avoiding hormones, slaughtered in Kansas and packaged in Georgia before the beef hits shelves in about 500 Walmart stores in the southeastern United States.” Read more

 

CVS will bring hundreds of SmileDirectClub shops to its stores, offering a cheaper way to straighten teeth at CNBC. “…with plans to open more than 1,000 locations over the next two years…Called a SmileShop, customers can receive a 3D scan of their teeth that will be used to create a pair of invisible braces.” Read more

 

Toy sellers fed up with popular dolls and CEO behind them by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Retail sales of the LOL Surprise franchise, which also includes revenue from licensed products, topped $4 billion last year and are expected to expand to $5 billion in 2019. “We are struggling to meet the demand,” Larian said.” Read more

 

**A message from 2019 Sweets & Snacks Expo – 800+ exhibitors, 2,000+ new product launches, 45 new product awards. The can’t miss show of the year is nearly here! Join us at Chicago’s McCormick Place May 21-23 to discover the latest innovations in products, merchandising and retail solutions. Register Now | Website

 

Amazon lets some Alexa workers see exactly where you are by Jared Newman at Fast Company. “In some cases, the Alexa audit team can see precise geographic coordinates, which they could easily look up in an app like Google Maps to determine someone’s whereabouts. Two sources apparently blew the whistle after concluding that Amazon was giving its workers overly broad access to personal data.” Read more

 

Loan documents deteriorate further following Neiman Marcus lawsuit at Reuters. Read more

 

Lowe’s launches workforce training network to address skills gap, economic mobility by Katherine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “Lowe’s is launching a workforce development network that has a two-pronged purpose: To educate young people on jobs in trades like construction, and to help build a pipeline of skilled workers who make up an important part of its customer base. Generation T, or Gen T…is a consortium of 60 member organizations, from appliance maker Bosch to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, according to Mike Mitchell, Lowe’s skilled trades director.” Tiered subs.

 

Here’s how Amazon innovation guru Paul Misener uses machine learning at home by Alan Boyle at GeekWire. Read more

 

PayPal Ventures invests $11 million in retail start-up Happy Returns at CNBC. “Happy Returns operates more than 350 Return Bars in malls, on college campuses and even inside stores like Cost Plus World Market and Paper Source for shoppers to return items bought online when the brand doesn’t have its own physical store.” Read more

 

Pinterest employee #1 launches blockchain art market MakersPlace by Josh Constine at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Penn campus’ independent bookstore is fighting a losing battle against Amazon, but there’s hope by Sam Wood at Philly Inquirer. “Daily rallies this week on the Penn campus have attracted dozens of placard-wielding faculty members, graduate students, undergrads and local residents demanding the university engage with the store’s owners to help find a solution that will keep Book Center from dying.” Read more

 

Millennials Tried to Kill the American Mall, But Gen Z Might Save It by Jordyn Holman at Bloomberg. “Around 95 percent of (Gen Z) visited a physical shopping center in a three-month period in 2018, as opposed to just 75 percent of millennials and 58 percent of Gen X, according to an International Council of Shopping Centers study. And they genuinely like it; three-quarters of them said going to a brick-and-mortar store was a better experience than online, ICSC found.” Tiered subs.

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

HGTV Names New President

Walmart’s top five executives earned $68.73 million last year

Kroger’s Louisville division ratifies new labor agreement

Home Depot could have been called ‘Bad Bernie’s Buildall’

Jimmy Carter bags a wild turkey at age 94

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

 

Website: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: Amazon Nips Warren | Lulu Eyes Shoes | B.Pro Get WM Exec

 

Amazon, Walmart in online grocery pilot in NY involving food stamps by Jeff Daniels at CNBC. “The government’s pilot program will focus initially on the Empire State, before expanding to Alabama, Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington in coming years, according to USDA.” Read more

 

Walgreens, Rite Aid raise minimum age to buy tobacco to 21 at ABC News. Read more

 

Coming to store shelves: cameras that guess your age and sex by Joseph Pisani at AP. “Kroger…is testing cameras embedded in a price sign above shelves in two stores in the suburbs outside Cincinnati and Seattle. Video screens attached to the shelves can play ads and show discounts. Kroger said the cameras guess a shopper’s age and sex but the information is anonymous and the data is not being stored.” Read more

 

Pier 1 Imports wants shareholders to help it stay on NYSE with reverse stock split by Maria Halkias at Dallas Morning News. Tiered subs.

 

Bill Groves, chief data and analytics officer for Walmart, has been named chairman of the Northwest Arkansas Technology Council at Talk Business. Read more

 

In first interview as Lululemon CEO, Calvin McDonald says he will open more stores and launch new personal-care items but won’t budge on price by Khadeeja Safdar at Wall Street Journal. “Mr. McDonald, 46, said Lululemon plans to launch new products from deodorant to sneakers. He also said he wants to increase awareness of a brand he says still isn’t well-known to many customers and push into international markets like Europe and China.” WSJ subs.

 

…Lululemon wants to double its men’s and online sales over next 5 years at CNBC. Read more

 

Amazon claps back at Elizabeth Warren over claims of anti-competitive behavior by Monica Nickelsburg at GeekWire. “Amazon’s response via tweet: “we don’t use individual sellers’ data to launch private label products” and contending that “Walmart is much larger; Amazon is less than 4% of U.S. retail.” Read more

 

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon releases his annual letter to shareholders at Business Insider. Read more

 

**A message from X1 Ebike – Up to 37 miles on a single 4-hour charge. Folds into the size of a golf bag in 1 second. GPS tracking, VIN # & alarm for security. Video | Website | Contact

 

Forbes: America’s Best Large Employers (Trader Joe’s #1, Costco #4, Wegmans #19) List

 

EBay raises forecast as redesign draws customers, boosts ad revenue via Yahoo Finance. “Net revenue rose 2.4 percent to $2.64 billion in the first quarter ended March 31, beating analysts’ average estimate of $2.58 billion.” Read more

 

Amazon’s migration to Bellevue continues as tech giant set to scoop up key development site by Nat Levy at GeekWire. Read more

 

Bass Pro hires Walmart exec to head marketing “In her most recent role as VP, marketing, customer experience at Walmart U.S., Jamie Sohosky was responsible for end-to-end customer experience strategy…” Read more

 

New York Officially Bans Plastic Bags by Trevor Nace at Forbes. Read more

 

Amazon hiring alcohol lobbyist at The Hill. “The post is for a manager of public policy to help lead the company’s state and local engagement and policy efforts related to alcohol regulation.” Read more

 

Shoppers Drug Mart launches ecommerce platform for medical cannabis in Alberta Press release

 

Stop & Shop workers return to empty shelves after 11-day strike at Telegram & Gazette. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Airbnb has ambitions to develop a slate of original TV shows 

Lululemon plans 580,000-square-foot headquarters in Vancouver

Amazon patents a ‘gust resistant location marker’ for drone deliveries

America’s Weirdest Historical Fad Diets

Burglars smash school bus into Dollar General store

CDC confirms girl was bitten on the face by a treacherous ‘kissing bug’

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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: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: Amazon @ Garage & Kohl’s | H.Dep #1 Radio | Wing FAA Approval

 

Kohl’s is going to accept Amazon returns in all of its stores across the country, starting in July at CNBC. “…it will be accepting Amazon returns at all of its stores — more than 1,150 — across the country. This option is available at just 100 Kohl’s stores today.” Read more

 

Google Spinoff’s Drone Delivery Business Gets FAA Approval by Alan Levin at Bloomberg. “Wing, now has the same certifications that smaller airlines receive from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportation. It plans to begin routine deliveries of small consumer items in two rural communities in Virginia within months, the company said.” Tiered subs.

 

Amazon strengthens ties with French food retailer Casino at Reuters. “…will see Amazon lockers installed in 1,000 locations across France in nine of Casino’s brands, including Monoprix, Monop, Geant, Hyper Casino, Casino Supermarche, Leaderprice, Viva and Spar by the end of the year.” Read more

 

JCPenney explains why it dropped Apple Pay by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “The retailer now claims the move was necessitated by the April 13, 2019 deadline in the U.S. for supporting EMV contactless chip functionality…JCPenney was not ready to comply, it seems, so it switched off all contactless payment options as a result.” Read more

 

Grainger Q1 net sales +1.0% Press release

 

Amazon can leave packages in your garage now by Jared Newman at Fast Company. “If you have a MyQ garage door opener or control hub from LiftMaster or Chamberlain, you can link it through the Amazon Key app for iOS or Android, then choose “in-garage delivery” when placing an order on Amazon.” Read more

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water: Brazilian coconuts = Sweeter taste. 100% pure coconut water. PL or branded organic in Tetra Pak. Sell sheet | Website | Samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Bed Bath & Beyond’s board overhaul fails to please hedge funds by Carleton English at NY Post. “…hedge funds, which together control 5% of the company’s stock, quickly pooh-poohed the company’s slate…“We will therefore continue to move forward with our campaign to install fresh, experienced and independent oversight and management at the company.” Read more

 

Starbucks is installing needle-disposal boxes in at least 25 US markets by Kate Taylor at Business Insider. Read more

 

Teen’s $1B suit claims Apple’s facial recognition software led to false arrest via Fox News. “Ousmane Bah, 18, claims someone used a stolen ID to pass themselves off as him when they were busted stealing $1,200 worth of merchandise from an Apple store in Boston on May 31, 2018, according to papers filed in Manhattan federal court.” Read more

 

A Dominant Week for Home Depot at Radio by Adam Jacobson at Radio Ink. “The Home Depot…dominates again thanks to 83,638 spins on the stations tracked by Media Monitors…” Top 10 list

 

These drive-thru convenience stores are made out of recycled shipping containers at CNN Business. “Over the next seven years, he hopes to have as many as 600 new Farm Stores under development. More than half of those are already underway in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.” Read more

 

Apple reportedly spending $30 million a month on Amazon Web Services by Tom Krazit at GeekWire. Read more

 

How the Kleiner Perkins Empire Fell by Polina Marinova at Fortune. “Twenty years ago, Kleiner was at the pinnacle of venture capital. These days it’s just one of many firms trying to compete.” – Ilya Strebulaev, Stanford finance professor.” Read more

 

Starbucks’ China challenger Luckin to raise up to $800 million in U.S. IPO: sources at Reuters. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Inside Apple’s plan to protect a 27,000-acre forest in Colombia

Hy-Vee buys YMCA in West St. Paul for $3.8M

The Best Places to Work in Consulting and Professional Services

$1K reward for return of kitten stolen from Petco store

The big deal that helped two coffee entrepreneur brothers partner with Walmart

50 products under $10 with a cult following on Amazon

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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: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: Kroger ‘Struggles’ | Ex-H.Dep Exec Eyes Congress | Stop & Shop Agreement

 

Kroger Struggles With Online Grocery Upheaval by Heather Haddon at Wall Street Journal. “You are in Cincinnati. You are a conservative bunch of people,” said Bill Smead, chief executive of Smead Capital Management and a Kroger investor. “Does anyone’s blood pulse through their veins with an entrepreneurial bent?” WSJ subs.

 

Bed Bath & Beyond refreshes board, co-founders step down at Reuters. “Bed Bath & Beyond said it appointed five new independent members to its board, replacing some directors including co-founders Warren Eisenberg and Leonard Feinstein, after facing pressure from a trio of activist investors…” Read more

 

Stop & Shop supermarket workers and company officials reached a tentative contract agreement Sunday at NY Post. “…includes wage increases for all associates and maintains health coverage, according to news releases from both parties…subject to ratification votes by members of each of the union locals.” Read more

 

Kraft Heinz names Anheuser-Busch executive as new CEO at CNBC. “CEO Hees will be replaced by Miguel Patricio, who worked for two decades at beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev, including as chief marketing officer from 2012 through last year.” Read more

 

Target caters to shoppers looking for ‘clean’ products with new brand by Lauren Thomas at CNBC. “…all of the items — be it the cleaning wipes, the dish soap or an all-purpose cleaner — are either biobased, meaning they’re derived from plants and other renewable agricultural, marine and forestry materials. Or they’re made from recycled materials and natural fibers, according to the company.” Read more

 

**A message from 2019 Sweets & Snacks Expo – 800+ exhibitors, 2,000+ new product launches, 45 new product awards. The can’t miss show of the year is nearly here! Join us at Chicago’s McCormick Place May 21-23 to discover the latest innovations in products, merchandising and retail solutions. Register Now | Website

 

Danish retail billionaire loses 3 children in Sri Lanka attacks at CNN. “Three children of retail billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen were killed in the attacks in Sri Lanka on Sunday…The Danish entrepreneur owns clothing company Bestseller, which is the biggest shareholder in British fashion retailer Asos with a stake of over 26%. He also owns a 10% stake in German online retailer Zalando.” Read more

 

Chicago: Kroger companies join Old Main Post Office growing tenant list by Danny Ecker at Crain’s Chicago Business. “Kroger, meal-kit maker Home Chef is relocating by the end of this year to the 2.8 million-square-foot building at 433 W. Van Buren St…Neighboring Home Chef on the building’s sixth floor will be 84.51, which provides data analytics services…” Tiered subs.

 

HBR: 4 Questions Retailers Need to Ask About Augmented Reality “Where does this belong on our technology backlog? Let’s face it: The technology systems of most retailers are dreadful. As a result, they become the choking points for almost every important innovation that retailers need to succeed. Yet the number of projects heaped onto this creaking infrastructure is growing fast.” Tiered subs.

 

Walmart is testing LED-projected floor ads in Bentonville store by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “The signs draw attention to special price rollbacks or everyday low prices of specific toys such as Hot Wheels and Nerf products, with the prices highlighted on the floor ad. The projectors are mounted in the ceiling above the aisles.” Pic/Read more

 

HappyFresh raises $20M for its online grocery service in Southeast Asia by Jon Russell at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Report: Bottled water made by Whole Foods has unsafe amounts of arsenic by Ryan Felton at Consumer Reports. “Whole Foods’ internal testing showed results that were just under the federal limit but still at levels that pose risks if regularly consumed, according to growing research and independent experts, including Consumer Reports’ scientists.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Meet The Mastermind Bringing Marijuana To The Modern Mall

Low ABV, Fruit-Flavored Beers Are Having a Moment

Ex-Home Depot executive enters Congressional race

Total Wine fighting for store in New York county

The shockingly simple way to make packaging more sustainable

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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: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: McMillon/Woods #10 Leaders | U.S. Retail +1.6%/Canada +0.8% | Pier 1 Shutter up to 145

 

U.S. retail sales increased by the most in 1-1/2 years in March at Reuters. “The Commerce Department said retail sales surged 1.6 percent last month…Economists polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales would accelerate 0.9 percent in March. Retail sales in March advanced 3.6 percent from a year ago.” Read more

 

…Canadian retail sales jump 0.8 per cent in February – the first increase since October at Globe & Mail. Read more

 

Amazon.com plans to close its domestic marketplace in China by mid-July at Reuters. “Consumer insights firm iResearch Global said Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s Tmall marketplace and JD.com Inc controlled 81.9 percent of the Chinese market last year.” Read more

 

Pier 1 Imports Q4 comp sales -13.7% Press release

 

…Pier 1 Imports to close up to 145 stores at MarketWatch. “Pier 1 shares tanked in after-hours trading, but they don’t have much farther left to fall after declining 81.9% in the past year…Wednesday’s closing price (was) less than 65 cents a share.” Read more

 

To Woo Shoppers, Stores Are Accepting Competitors’ Returns by Sarah Nassauer at Wall Street Journal. “For example, when shoppers want to return a product purchased on Levi.com they can choose to ship it to Levi, drop it off at a Levi store, or take it to a Walgreens store. “The main thing is this will drive more footfall into Walgreens,” using the chain’s convenient locations as an asset, said Alex Gourlay, co-chief operating officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance.” WSJ subs.

 

Barnes and Noble offers free download of Mueller report at The Hill. Read more

 

Chewy to create 1,200 jobs at new $55 million fulfillment center near Charlotte by Katherine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “Chewy announced Wednesday it will open a new fulfillment center in Rowan County…Chewy has eight other fulfillment centers around the U.S.” Tiered subs.

 

**A message from 2019 Sweets & Snacks Expo – 800+ exhibitors, 2,000+ new product launches, 45 new product awards. The can’t miss show of the year is nearly here! Join us at Chicago’s McCormick Place May 21-23 to discover the latest innovations in products, merchandising and retail solutions. Register Now | Website

 

The World’s 50 Greatest Leaders (Doug McMillon #10) at Fortune. List

 

J.C. Penney fills key spots on corporate team with Walmart, Target, Macy’s hires by Maria Halkias at Dallas Morning News. “Steve Whaley becomes senior vice president, principal accounting officer and controller…Whaley joins Penney from Walmart…Laurene Gandolfo takes over as senior vice president for home product design and development. She spent more than 20 years in the home business at Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s. Trish Adams, who retired recently from Target, comes to Penney as a strategic adviser.” Tiered subs.

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods will sell $350 Nike Adapt BB shoes at two U.S. stores on Friday by Tonya Garcia at MarketWatch. Read more

 

Neiman Marcus Pushes Into Growing Market for ‘Preloved’ Handbags by Suzanne Kapner at Wall Street Journal. “Neiman Marcus Group is taking a minority stake in Fashionphile, an online seller of preowned designer handbags and accessories…The RealReal, a larger competitor to Fashionphile, is preparing for an initial public offering…And on Monday, a retail chain owned by H&M Group began allowing shoppers in Sweden to buy and sell previously owned goods.” WSJ subs.

 

Smart & Final markets bring $500 million in sale to an investment firm at MarketWatch. Read more

 

Best Buy Continues To Bet On Digital Health With New TytoHome Deal by Andria Cheng at Forbes. “It’s the first U.S. retailer to sell exclusively a telehealth device kit that allows consumers to perform medical tests on areas including heart, lungs, throat and ears and connect with physicians to remotely diagnose symptoms.” Read more

 

Kroger and Nuro Launch Autonomous Grocery Delivery Service in Houston Press release

 

French supermarket tests robot delivery at Reuters. “Casino’s Franprix chain will test the delivery robots on the streets of Paris’s 13th arrondissement for a year.” Read more

 

Metro Q2 food comp sales +4.3% / pharmacy comp sales +1.1% Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

U.S. Church Membership Down 20% in Past Two Decades

Forbes: America’s Best Midsize Employers

Lilly Pulitzer Launches A New Collaboration With Pottery Barn

Gluten found in 32% of food labeled gluten-free

Meet the 45-year-old executive helping Kroger take on the competition

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: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: Walmart/Kidbox Team | Midway Mall | Blockchain 50

 

Walmart announces partnership with Kidbox – a clothing subscription box company for kids at AP News. “Walmart customers will get access to more than 120 premium children’s brands. The style box will include about five fashion items for $48, about 50% off the suggested retail price of the bundled items.” Read more

 

Chicago’s Midway Airport is becoming more like a mall. And there’s more to come. by Lauren Zumbach at Chicago Tribune. “Retailers that do well in airports tend to be those addressing needs the Internet can’t fill, like a gadget store where a traveler can replace a lost charger or shops selling products people want to see before buying, like jewelry and apparel, said Darren Perry, managing director at L.E.K. Consulting.” Tiered subs.

 

Amazon ‘flooded by fake five-star reviews’ by Tom Belger at Yahoo Finance. “Which? found more than 10,000 reviews from unverified users on just 24 pairs of headphones in a couple of hours. It said 71% of products on the first headphones page had perfect five-star reviews, and 87% of products were not confirmed as Amazon purchases.” Read more

 

Best Buy’s new CEO designed the retailer’s revival at Bloomberg via LA Times. “The (Corie) Barry-led push into services has helped Best Buy buck the trend of legacy retailers succumbing to the shift online…“They make as much money around the product as the product itself,” Johnson said. “They’ve done an excellent job on that.” Tiered subs.

 

Amazon reportedly exploring free, ad-supported music streaming service by Nat Levy at GeekWire. “Citing sources familiar with the plans, Billboard reported that Amazon is in talks to launch the music service as soon as this week. Amazon plans to market the service, which would offer a limited catalog of music at first, through its network of Echo smart speakers, according to Billboard.” Read more

 

J.Jill names Mark Webb as new CFO “Most recently, Mr. Webb was SVP, Chief Financial Planning & Analysis and Treasury Officer at Hudson’s Bay Company. He previously was with Gap, Inc. from 1995 through 2017…” Press release

 

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon in India to discuss strategy by Peerzada Abrar at Business Standard. “He (McMillon) would be visiting the Flipkart campus and would be meeting the employees,” said a person.” Read more

 

What Retail Recovery? Malls Under Pressure as Stores Close by Esther Fung at Wall Street Journal. “S&P also signaled more turbulence ahead. Analysts say about 12 of the approximately 136 retailers it rates would default this year, compared with three a year historically.” WSJ subs.

 

Forbes Blockchain 50 (Walmart, CVS, Amazon) by Michael del Castillo at Forbes. List/Read more

 

Ro, a direct-to-consumer online pharmacy, reaches $500M valuation by Kate Clark at TechCrunch. “Its latest infusion of capital will likely be used in part to support its third personalized health brand, Rory, a purveyor of women’s health products…“Right now, we have [millions] of women experiencing menopause,” Rory co-founder Rachel Blank told TechCrunch last month. “They are walking around and frankly, their vagina hurts and they are uncomfortable.” Read more

 

Rite Aid Appoints Elizabeth Burr and Katherine Quinn to Board “…Burr most recently served as chief innovation officer and vice president of healthcare trend and innovation at Humana, and Quinn, who currently serves as vice chairman and chief administrative officer of U.S. Bancorp…” Press release

 

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

 

Champion Accidentally Hit the Fashion Jackpot by Jordyn Holman & Kim Bhasin at Bloomberg. “Champion is a benefactor of three swirling style trends that converged to create a teen and millennial fashion craze: Logo apparel is in vogue; throwback gear has returned; and streetwear—the casual style derived from skateboard and sports culture—is having a moment.” Tiered subs.

 

Bellevue accelerates self-driving transit plans as Amazon moves major team from Seattle by Monica Nickelsburg at GeekWire. Read more

 

JD will scrap basic salary for couriers by Rita Liao at TechCrunch. “Alibaba’s arch-foe JD.com  has long prided itself on owning and controlling its logistics services: couriers are treated as in-house staff and paid a basic income. But that will end soon as costs keep piling up for the ecommerce giant.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

The 5th Avenue Apple store is crawling with bed bugs

Target quietly rolls out order consolidation

Playboy bunnies display rebuilt even bigger after neighbor tears it down

Swiss government says coffee ‘not essential’, stockpiling to end

Hy-Vee Opens Minnesota HealthMarket Rx, Pharmacy Locations

H&R Block CEO Jeff Jones Shakes up Tax Season

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: eyeonretail.net