Tipsheet: Best Buy New CEO | FDA Threatens | Amazon Sweeps

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Best Buy names Corie Barry as its new CEO, Hubert Joly to become board’s executive chairman at CNBC. “Corie Barry, currently the company’s chief financial and strategic transformation officer, will become its new chief executive officer, effective June 11…current U.S. chief operating officer Mike Mohan will be promoted to president and COO, while the company conducts an internal and external search for a new CFO.” Read more

 

FDA threatens to fine Walmart, Kroger and c-stores for selling tobacco to minors at CNBC. “The agency cited high rates of violations in nearly identical letters sent to retailers last week. In addition to the retailers above, 7-Eleven, BP, Casey’s General Stores, Chevron, Citgo, Exxon, Marathon Petroleum, Shell and Sunoco (and Family Dollar) all received the letters.” Read more

 

Amazon Finds It’s Hard to Run a Real Sweepstakes in the Robocall Era by Brad Stone at Blooomberg. “Shockingly, it is real,” (an Amazon spokesman) wrote. “Congrats!” I was gobsmacked. I called Max back to ask him a few more questions: “What are the odds of winning this?” “Astronomical,” he replied.” Tiered subs.

 

What do shoppers think of Walmart Voice Order? by Chris Medenwald at Field Agent. “15-of-21 Google Home owners in this user-experience study said they’re completely likely to use Walmart Voice Order again (i.e., to “add” groceries).” Read more

 

Amazon workers go on strike in Germany, demand better pay and working conditions at Reuters via CNBC. “Trade union Verdi said workers at warehouses in Rheinberg, Werne, Bad Hersfeld and Koblenz had stopped work, with the strike set to last until Thursday in some centers, and others potentially joining over the Easter holiday period.” Read more

 

Mainstream retailers embrace marijuana’s less taboo cousin by Anne D’Innocenzio at AP News. “Walmart says it doesn’t have plans to carry CBD-infused products at this time and Target…said it’s monitoring the situation.Meanwhile, online behemoth Amazon is staying clear of the stuff.” Read more

 

Walmart started talks for investment, ended in acquisition: Flipkart co-founder at Times of India. 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

 

The ‘Amazon of Africa’ soars more than 75% on its first day of trading at CNBC. “The largest e-commerce operator in Africa, Jumia Technologies…has 4 million active customers as of the fourth quarter of 2018… Jumia operates in 14 African countries, including Ghana, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Morocco and Egypt.” Read more

 

Grocery consolidation likely to continue in challenging market by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “I am betting on the player [Walmart] who has been there [in grocery] longer,” she said. Schoeder said Walmart and Amazon are both giants and will likely continue their successes in the markets they serve. “I don’t think one will knock out the other, but others will fall out of the race,” he said.” Read more

 

The value of Tiger Woods’ Sunday victory at the 2019 Masters for Nike is roughly $22,540,000, according to Apex Marketing. at CNBC. Read more

 

…Did gum help Tiger Woods win? at USA Today. “Well, I’m chomping on this gum because I usually get hungry, I keep eating so much,  and it curbs my appetite a little bit, which is nice,” Woods said.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

‘Land Lordz’ Service Powers Airbnb Scams

Deaf man turns tables on crook in Walmart parking lot

30 best cities for older Americans in retirement

HQ Trivia replaces Quiz Daddy

Capitol custodial staff report harassment from lawmakers

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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

 

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Website: eyeonretail.net

 

Tipsheet: Stop & Shop Strike | Ross COO Out | Ma Defends ‘996’ | Black Homes Trend

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Walmart acquires adtech startup by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “Polymorph’s technology includes a high-speed ad server, a self-serve interface and server-side header bidding. This, says Walmart, will make advertising easier for thousands of brands and will deliver more relevant ads to consumers.” Read more

 

J. Crew is considering an IPO for its Madewell clothing brand at CNBC. Read more

 

Stop & Shop supermarket workers in 3 states go on strike via Boston Herald. “Stop & Shop…has 415 stores across the Northeast but the strike affects 240 stores in the three states…According to broadcast reports, managers were keeping stores open and allowing customers to use self-checkout lanes.” Read more

 

‘How about paying your taxes?’: Walmart responds to Amazon’s challenge over pay at NBC News. Read more

 

Macy’s CEO responds to Jeff Bezos: We put our tax savings back into our employees at CNBC. Video/Read more

 

Ross Stores President and Chief Operating Officer Resigns Press release

 

Amazon’s original birthplace sells for $1.5M, but fate of legendary mailbox remains unclear by Nat Levy at GeekWire. “The mailbox was removed from the curb as a security precaution after the home was put on the market earlier this year. It’s not clear if the mailbox will be passed along to the new owner of the home or remain the property of the previous owners.” Read more

 

Bed Bath & Beyond plans to close at least 40 stores this year but open 15 new locations by Kelly Tyko at USA Today. “Robyn D’Elia, CFO: “This number will grow unless we are able to negotiate more favorable lease terms with our landlords.” Read more

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water: Brazilian Coconuts = Sweeter Taste.  Available in bottles, cans, and Tetra Pak. PL & Branded. Sell sheet | Website | Samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Amazon confirms that employees listen to Alexa conversations to help improve digital assistant by Nat Levy at GeekWire. Read more

 

Rite Aid will stop selling e-cigarettes in all stores at CNBC. “However, Rite Aid will continue to sell cigarettes.” Read more

 

Mattress Firm’s relationship with major supplier likely cost CEO his job by Paul Takahashi at Houston Chronicle. “Stagner…was the “last remaining hurdle” keeping Tempur Sealy from inking a deal with Mattress Firm to sell high-end Tempur-Pedic sleep systems.” Read more

 

Campbell Soup nears $500M deal to sell Bolthouse Farms at NY Post. Read more

 

Alibaba founder defends overtime work culture at Reuters. “Ma defended the industry’s ‘996’ work schedule, which refers to the 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. workday, six days a week. “I personally think that being able to work 996 is a huge blessing,” he said in remarks posted on the company’s WeChat account.” Read more

 

Black for homes is trending, inside and out by R. Daniel Foster. “From 2017 to our most current data, we saw a nearly 30% increase in the usage of blacks” for interior and exterior use, said Benjamin Moore color and design expert Hannah Yeo. “What was really interesting — in 2017, the No. 1 and No. 2 blacks were actually a really deep gray. But in the recent report, the No. 1 color in blacks was just pure black.” Tiered subs.

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Shops and sports bars could be coming to planes soon

There’s a major helium shortage affecting a host of industries

Bill Murray Shares His Best Drinking Stories

F-words and T-shirts: U.S. Supreme Court weighs foul language trademarks

Jeff Bezos jabs eBay in shareholder letter over third-party sales

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Tipsheet: Fred’s Shutters 159 | Ollie’s Eyes +950 | Costco +5.7% | Bed Bath -1.4%

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Costco March comp sales +5.7% (U.S. +6.9%, Canada +3.8%, Other Int’l +1.6%, Ecom +20.6%) Press release

 

Fred’s to close 159 stores and start clearance sales at 360 locations by Kelly Tyko at USA Today. “The closing stores represent nearly 29% of Fred’s 557 stores and are located in 13 states with Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee losing the most stores…Only 37 stores or 7% of stores are not included in either the clearance or liquidation sales.” Read more

 

Bed Bath & Beyond Q4 comp sales -1.4% Press release

 

‘Jeff Bezos challenges rival retailers to match Amazon’s pay and benefits by Lauren Thomas at CNBC. “Better yet, go to $16 and throw the gauntlet back at us. It’s a kind of competition that will benefit everyone,” Bezos wrote in the letter.” Read more

 

…Here’s Jeff Bezos’ annual shareholder letter at CNBC. Read

 

Rite Aid Q4 Retail Pharmacy comp sales +0.7% (+2.1% pharmacy, -1.9% front-end sales) Press release

 

Walgreens will soon open primary care doctors offices in some Houston stores by Angelica LaVito at CNBC. “VillageMD will operate primary care clinics in five Walgreens stores, working with social workers, nurses and Walgreens’ pharmacists. The 2,500-square-foot offices will be inside the Walgreens stores, though they will have a separate storefront and a door connecting the two spaces.” Read more

 

Wegmans Tries Its Magic in New York City by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. “…perhaps the biggest challenge will be convincing New York’s notoriously finicky shoppers that Wegmans, unfamiliar to many locals, offers something unique. “I’ve been to Wegmans in Rochester,” says Ariel Lauren Wilson, editor-in-chief of Edible Brooklyn magazine. “Did I feel it was anything I couldn’t get in New York City? No.” 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

 

Shopko optical business going up for auction this weekend by Jeff Bollier at Green Bay Press-Gazette. “The auction documents identify as many as 80 locations that would become free-standing optical stores not tied to existing Shopko locations…Bidders will have until 4 p.m. Friday to submit bids for the optical business.” Read more

 

How Boxed saved women millions by eliminating the “pink tax” by Ben Paynter at Fast Company. “Earlier this week, (Mehta, Boxed’s director of marketing) shared the company’s experience during the introduction of a federal bill to eliminate the unequal pricing…The legislation is called the Pink Tax Repeal Act,  and it earned co-sponsorship from 28 representatives.” Read more

 

Nielsen: Share of click-and-carry sales grew from 4% to 11% of all CPG e-commerce sales in just two years by Kim Souza at Talk Business. Read more

 

Kohl’s CEO: Planet Fitness, Amazon partnerships are critical to right-sizing our stores at CNBC. “[Active and wellness] has doubled over the course of the last four years. It’s now 20% of our business,” Gass told “Mad Money’s” Jim Cramer. “As we look ahead, it’s going to be even more important.” Video/Read more

 

Court Deals Another Blow to Marble Ridge in Neiman Fight by Soma Biswas at Wall Street Journal. “On Tuesday, Judge Tonya Parker of the Dallas County District Court denied Marble Ridge’s request to dismiss Neiman Marcus’s countersuit against it for spreading false statements alleging the company had defaulted on its debt.” WSJ subs.

 

Amazon workers study conversations recorded by Alexa: report at The Hill. “The practice has exposed Amazon employees to recordings that would otherwise be private, according to Bloomberg. The outlet reported that Amazon employees have discussed in internal chat rooms amusing audio clips recorded by the Echo systems, as well as hearing recordings that are shocking or possibly criminal, such as possible sexual assaults, which two workers reported having heard.” Read more

 

REI made a record $2.78 billion, grew 6% and added more than 1 million new members in 2018 Press release

 

Japan’s convenience stores scale back as minimum wage rises by Elizabeth Shim at UPI. “…as a rising minimum wage could be impacting the bottom line of companies like 7-Eleven and FamilyMart…7-Eleven may be stepping back from a plan to add 150 stores across Japan, according to the report.” Read more

 

TechCrunch visits the startup behind Walmart’s shelf-scanning robots by Brian Heater at TechCrunch. ““If you think about it, what’s the last innovation that’s happened in a store?,” CTO and co-founder Sarjoun Skaff asks rhetorically. “I can think of self-checkouts and barcodes, really…” Read more

 

Amazon acquires Canvas Technology to bolster warehouse robotics capabilities by Nat Levy at GeekWire. “The company’s technology essentially boils down to driverless cars for warehouses. Canvas Technology uses “spatial artificial intelligence” and state-of-the-art cameras to help vehicles autonomously navigate through areas with a lot of moving parts.” Read more

 

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet CEO: We’ll open 950 stores at CNBC. “Brick and mortar isn’t dead. Ollie’s is thriving,” Butler said in a one-on-one with Jim Cramer on “Mad Money.” “Our shopping experience, it’s absolutely un-duplicable online. It just ain’t gonna happen.” Video/Read more

 

DHL launches Africa eShop app for global retailers to sell into Africa by Jake Bright at TechCrunch. “The platform goes live today and brings more than 200 U.S. and UK retailers—from Nieman Marcus to Carters—online in 11 African markets: South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya,  Mauritius, Ghana, Senegal, Rwanda, Malawi, Botswana, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.” Read more

 

Stitch Fix’s head of men’s clothing is leaving to become CEO of online retailer Mizzen+Main by Lauren Thomas at CNBC. “Mizzen+Main is the favorite on-course dress shirt for three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson, giving it a boost among golfers and other sports enthusiasts.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

The 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media 2019

Patagonia sues Anheuser-Busch over use of name for new beer

California proposed ban on ‘Big Gulp’-style sodas is shelved

Under Armour is attracting older customers while teens prefer Nike and Vans

Canada Goose announces plans to open six new stores including two in Europe

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Tipsheet: Amazon Go +Cash | JD Job Cuts | Hemp Beats Kale

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Amazon exec tells employees that Go stores will start accepting cash to address ‘discrimination’ concerns at CNBC. “The spokesperson described the process as “you’ll check out, pay with cash, and then get your change.” “We are working to accept cash at Amazon Go,” the spokesperson said.” Read more

 

Walmart Puts Reusable Bags at Store Checkouts to Reduce Plastic by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. “…rolling out ten new designs, each available for 98 cents, at the bagging stations of its 4,756 Walmart-branded stores. That’s more expensive than the previous version of reusable bags that it sold — but those bags weren’t as eye-catching and had been scattered throughout the store.” Tiered subs.

 

Macy’s will open 36 Story shops within its stores across the U.S. at CNBC. “One year ago, Macy’s bought Story, a New York retail store founded by Rachel Shechtman that curates merchandise around a theme or set of ideas…will include items from makeup retailer MAC Cosmetics, crayon maker Crayola, denim brand Levi’s and more than 70 small business owners…” Store list/Read more

 

Alibaba-Rival JD Targets Deep Job Cuts as Morale Sags by Lulu Yilun Chen & David Ramli at Bloomberg. “JD has come under increasing pressure from a more-diversified Alibaba as Chinese consumption succumbs to a decelerating economy, while upstart rivals such as Pinduoduo Inc. draw customers away.” Tiered subs.

 

Rising gasoline, rents boost U.S. consumer prices in March at Reuters. “U.S. consumer prices increased by the most in 14 months in March, but underlying inflation remained benign…Apparel prices fell 1.9 percent, the biggest drop since January 1949, after two straight monthly gains.” Read more

 

I went to Ikea’s first “small” store in Manhattan, and it answered all my prayers by Katharine Schwab at Fast Company. “Ikea employees spent months doing extensive consumer research in Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs and found, unsurprisingly, that most New Yorkers live in tiny apartments and don’t have enough space for their stuff.” Read more

 

Topgolf unveils Topgolf Lounge – a combination of sports bar and virtual driving range, with the first location to open in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland by Nat Levy at GeekWire. Read more

 

Hemp farmers are making a killing on the CBD industry at CNN Business. “Mann has been fielding multiple calls a day from farmers around the country….”They want advice on how to grow hemp,” he said. Blue Forest charges $35 to $40 per pound for the high-quality hemp it sells for CBD extraction. That compares to about $1 a pound for the kale it sells.” Read more/Video

 

20 best U.S. cities to live in (Austin #1, Denver #2, Colorado Springs #3) at U.S News & World Report via NBC Today. List/Read more

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water – 100% Pure Coconut Water. Your source for private label organic coconut water in Tetra Pak. Sell sheet | Website | Samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Kroger retools senior management for ‘Restock’ strategy by Russell Redman at Supermarket News. “…promoted Mary Ellen Adcock to senior vice president of retail operations and Joe Grieshaber to senior vice president of merchandising. Grieshaber takes over from Robert Clark, who has been named senior vice president of supply chain, manufacturing and sourcing.” Read more

 

Yogurt Sales Sour as Options Proliferate by Heather Haddon at Wall Street Journal. “I don’t even know what I’m looking for most of the time,” said Sara Gray, a 47-year-old teacher and mother in McKinney, Texas. She said she was stumped by the blizzard of yogurts that confronted her at her local Kroger Co. store. “Can I just get some strawberry?” WSJ subs.

 

Amazon Expands Grocery Delivery from Whole Foods to Asheville, Charlottesville, Columbia, Lexington, Little Rock, Manchester, Mobile, Naples and Savannah Press release

 

Here’s why Elon Musk is trolling Jeff Bezos with a cat emoji at Fast Company. “So why does Musk think Bezos is a copycat for his constellation of 3,000 satellites? Because SpaceX has previously announced that it would do the exact same thing via its Starlink program, though with 12,000 satellites. Moreover, Bezos recently hired a SpaceX vice president to run Amazon’s satellite internet project after Musk fired him.” Read more

 

$4 gas returns to California at KTLA 5. Read more

 

Inside the Battle for the Future of Sports Betting by Rey Mashayekhi at Fortune. “…the NHL’s Washington Capitals and the NBA’s Washington Wizards, recently announced a physical on-site sports book at (their) arena…Despite opposition from state gaming lobbies across the country, most people in the sports betting industry agree that mobile sports betting is the way of the future, if not the present.” Read more

 

POLLEN-POCALYPSE: Massive amounts of pollen turn North Carolina sky yellow at NY Post. “Stunning aerial photos show a haze of pollen so thick over Durham, North Carolina, it turned the sky yellow this week — as doctors in the region have reported an uptick in patients complaining about their allergy symptoms.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Chip and Joanna Gaines reveal new TV plans

It’s only a mater of time before Amazon starts selling prescription drugs online

Peabody Awards Announces 2019 Nominees

Plans in the works to rid area of problematic Bradford pear trees

Gillette photo of plus-sized model in bikini ignites outrage

‘Serious global health threat’: At least 587 cases of deadly fungus reported

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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: 75K Stores Need to Close | Winter Returns | WM Ups Robots

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75,000 more stores need to close across the US, UBS estimates at CNBC. “Assuming online sales’ share of total retail sales in the U.S. grows to 25% by 2026, from 16% today…about 21,000 clothing stores, 10,000 consumer electronics stores, 8,000 home furnishing stores and 1,000 home improvement stores should close, UBS says.” Read more

 

Walmart Is Rolling Out the Robots by Sarah Nassauer & Chip Cutter at Wall Street Journal. “…at least 300 stores this year will add machines that scan shelves for out-of-stock products. Autonomous floor scrubbers will be deployed in 1,500 stores to help speed up cleaning, after a test in hundreds of stores last year. And the number of conveyor belts that automatically scan and sort products as they come off trucks will more than double, to 1,200.” WSJ subs.

 

Long-delayed NJ mall featuring helicopter transport from NYC seeking luxury tenants by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “American Dream — the long-delayed mega-mall that’s slated to open this fall off the New Jersey Turnpike — will have an indoor ski slope and water park, a giant Ferris wheel and even a fleet of helicopters to fly in shoppers from Manhattan.” Read more

 

WINTER ISN’T DEAD YET – Minneapolis: At least 8 inches of snow in Thursday’s forecast at Pioneer Press. Read more

 

…200 million of us face weather mess of snow, heavy rain, wind and flooding at USA Today. Read more

 

Instagram is the best way to market to teens, says Piper Jaffray survey at CNBC. “Snapchat comes in second place for branding, with just under 50% of teens preferring that brands use it to reach out to them. Twitter and Facebook fared much more poorly, coming in behind email (about 38%), text messaging (about 35%), and website ads (about 30%). Only 20% of teens preferred hearing from brands on Twitter, and only about 12% preferred Facebook.” Read more

 

…Teens favorite website for shopping is Amazon at CNBC. Read more

 

Cooklist wants to put your pantry in your pocket with Target’s help by Maria Halkias at Dallas Morning News. “Cooklist has been in beta testing since October and kicks off this week with Target’s 47 Dallas-Fort Worth stores and its delivery service Shipt. A shopper using the app can search more than a million recipes to find a dish. When one is found, a list of ingredients is displayed and any not on hand can be ordered with same-day delivery through Target.com.” Tiered subs.

 

BJ’s opens its 217th club Press release

 

Patagonia Triggers a Market Panic Over New Rules on Its Power Vests by Akane Otani at Wall Street Journal. “Patagonia said last week it was keeping new orders of the torso-hugging showpieces reserved for “mission-driven companies that prioritize the planet.” Off the bat, that excludes oil companies, mine operators and other outfits deemed ecologically damaging, one certified Patagonia seller said.” WSJ 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

 

Walmart Acquires More of Hometown Bentonville by George Walson at Arkansas Business. “Walmart Inc. has expanded its real estate interests in Bentonville beyond the western boundary of the future location of its new headquarters. The retailing giant has invested more than $18 million along the west side of J Street in the months leading up to and since the new home office news.” Map/Read more

 

Sears’ Eddie Lampert looks to regain full ownership of Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores by Kelly Tyko at USA Today. “Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores announced Monday that it received a proposal Friday from its largest shareholder and Sears Holdings chairman Eddie Lampert’s hedge fund ESL Investments to purchase the remaining shares of the company for $2.25 per share.” Read more

 

Debenhams, once Britain’s biggest department store group, falls into administration at CNBC. Read more

 

Ghost of Toys R Us still haunts toy makers by Anne D’Innocenzio at AP. “Maybe the world only needs one kind of ant farm, but in the day, you had a choice,” said Jay Foreman, president and CEO of Basic Fun, a Boca Raton, Florida-based company that purchased the assets of Uncle Milton, K’Nex and Playhut over the past year. He is now evaluating his overall lineup.” Read more

 

Don’t get too excited about those Whole Foods price cuts by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “A single Clif Bar, meanwhile, now costs $1.35 — or 40 cents more than in August. A 32-ounce tub of Stonyfield organic yogurt now costs $4.29, 30 cents more than in August…Overall price cuts that are “hardly heroic,” according to Grom. A shopping cart of 106 key grocery items at a Whole Foods location in Princeton, NJ, now costs $396.88 — just $3.81 lower than it did before.” Read more

 

Activist investors are turning up the pressure on Build-A-Bear by David Nicklaus at St.Louis Post Dispatch. “Florida investor David Kanen disclosed March 26 that he owns 9.7 percent of Build-A-Bear and wants to talk about a board seat. J. Carlo Cannell, a hedge fund manager from Wyoming with a 5.66 percent stake, chimed in last week that he also might want to shake up the board.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Welly’s first aid kits celebrate bumps and scrapes – exclusive to Target

Walmart ranks highest with Gen Z, men, rural consumers

Chicago Cubs remove ‘No Women Admitted’ art

Consumer Reports says this sleeper should be recalled after 32 babies died

‘Dumpster diver’ charged with arson behind Family Dollar store

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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: Lowe’s HQ +600 | McMillon @ CNBC | Barneys Lifeline | D.Tree #9 Brand

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Lowe’s to cut over 200 jobs in Charlotte, relocate hundreds more to nearby HQ by Katherine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “On Thursday morning, roughly 600 full-time employees at the Lowe’s corporate offices in Wilkesboro were informed that their jobs would be shifting to the retailer’s headquarters in Mooresville, about an hour away. About another 80 Wilkesboro-based tech jobs will be moved to the Lowe’s data center in Winston-Salem.” Tiered subs.

 

Walmart CEO McMillon interviewed on CNBC: “I think … the consumer is in pretty good shape. I think the customer is in about the same shape they were in [the fourth quarter].” 3:43 video

 

Hit by rent hike at New York flagship, Barneys New York gets lifeline with $50 million in credit at CNBC. “Rent at Barneys’ flagship on Madison Avenue jumped from roughly $16 million to approximately $30 million in January, the people said. Barneys says the extended credit line will support business growth, including new store openings and international growth initiatives.” Read more

 

Amazon’s Rise in Ad Searches Dents Google’s Dominance by Suzanne Vranica at Wall Street Journal. “WPP PLC, the world’s largest ad buyer, spent about $300 million on behalf of its clients on Amazon search ads last year, and about 75% of that money came from Google search budgets, according to people familiar with the matter. It spent between $100 million and $150 million on Amazon search in 2017, the people said.” WSJ subs.

 

Walmart Loses Another Senior Female Executive as Katie Finnegan Leaves by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. “Finnegan, who joined Walmart when it acquired Jet.com in 2016, is leaving June 7 to “begin a new adventure outside the company,” according to a blog post from Walmart Senior Vice President Lori Flees. During her tenure, Finnegan helped launch Store No. 8.” Tiered subs.

 

Amazon reportedly making AirPods competitor with built-in Alexa and better audio quality by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. Read more

 

Walmart agrees to pay $495,000 for selling products with misleading packaging at ABC 30 News. “Basically had what is referred to as nonfunctional side fill, false sidewalls false bottoms in the packaging,” said Fresno County Deputy DA Ty Murphy. Murphy says the investigation began in 2015… Prosecutors found 14 products that could be considered deceptive. “Antiaging cream moisturizers there were some eye drops…” Murphy said.” Video/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

 

Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos finalize divorce; Amazon CEO keeps 75% of couple’s stock by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. Read more

 

…Jeff Bezos keeps Amazon voting power in divorce settlement at AP. Read more

 

GrubMarket raises $25M more for its farm-to-table food delivery service by Ingrid Lunden at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Amazon wants to launch thousands of satellites so it can offer broadband internet from space at CNBC. “Project Kuiper” is Amazon’s plan to launch 3,236 satellites to build a network to provide global high-speed internet.” Read more

 

America’s favorite brands (Amazon #1, Home Depot #5, Dollar Tree #9) by Morning Consult via Business Insider. Top 25 list

 

…favorite brands of college-educated consumers making over $75K a year (Amazon #1, Costco #2, Home Depot #3) at Business Insider. Top 15 list

 

Nike to add perks to customer loyalty program by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “The shoemaker is testing a slew of extra perks to its Nike Plus app — including vending machines that disperse free stuff — as it finds that those users spend 40 percent more than other customers, according to Nike’s global vice president of direct stores, Cathy Sparks.” Read more

 

57% of Americans say social media sites like Facebook and Twitter do more to divide the country than unite it at NBC News. Read more

 

Wayfair will have its second “Way Day” sale on April 10 by April Berthene at Internet Retailer. “Last year, Wayfair said Way Day was its largest sales day ever in terms of revenue, and data from Rakuten Intelligence estimates that sales during the week of Way Day increased 91.2% for Wayfair compared with a week earlier.” Read more

 

How Casper’s founders went from $100,000 in debt to building a billion-dollar mattress start-up at CNBC. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

One in five people are eating themselves to an early death

The tooth fairy is now leaving only $3.70/tooth – down 50 cents from last year

NYPD’s secret weapon in standoffs – a simple length of rope

Shoplifter caught on camera stuffing chain saw down his pants

QuikTrip’s 800th Store Opens in San Antonio

Beyonce, Adidas team up on sneakers, clothes and Ivy Park

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

 

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Tipsheet: Target Ups Min | CVS Same-Day Rx | Costco #8 Reputable

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Target raises its minimum wage to $13 an hour, with goal of reaching $15 by end of 2020 at CNBC. Read more

 

Walmart upgrades its baby registry at CNBC. “Online traffic to Walmart’s babies pages is up 30% year over year, according to the retailer…Walmart is adding “thousands” of new baby products online and “dozens” of new baby brands in-store.” Read more

 

Amazon quietly removes promo spots that gave special treatment to its own products by Catherine Shu at TechCrunch. “As lawmakers pay more attention to the most powerful tech companies, Amazon has begun quietly removing some of the more obvious promotions, including banner ads, for its private-label products.” Read more

 

CVS expands same-day prescription delivery nationwide at CNBC. “CVS will partner with Shipt, a Target company, to deliver prescriptions the same day they’re filled. The service will cost $7.99.” Read more

 

Best Buy suspends ties to Care.com – halting an emergency child care benefit for employees at Reuters. “Care.com’s stock tumbled last month after the Wall Street Journal reported that the company listed U.S. caregivers who had police records and were later accused of committing crimes while caring for clients’ children or elderly relatives.” Read more

 

HBC Q4 Sales: Saks Fifth Avenue comp +3.9% | DSG (Hudson’s Bay, Lord & Taylor and Home Outfitters) comp -5.2% | Saks OFF 5TH comp -2.1% Press release

 

Walmart, Other Employers Get Choosier About Workers’ Doctors by Melanie Evans at Wall Street Journal. WSJ subs.

 

America’s Most Reputable Companies 2019 by Reputation Institute via Forbes. 

Barnes & Noble #6 | Costco #8 | Bass Pro #12 | Menards #27 | Ace Hardware #35 | Lowe’s #36 | Kroger #45

Top 100 list

 

Amazon moving thousands of employees out of Seattle, relocating key division to Bellevue by Monica Nickelsburg at GeekWire. “Amazon plans to relocate its entire Seattle-based worldwide operations team to Bellevue, Wash., by 2023, adding thousands of employees to its new campus just across Lake Washington, according to an internal email obtained by GeekWire.” Read more

 

…Bellevue mayor lauds company’s ‘transition’ from Seattle by Taylor Soper at GeekWire “Amazon currently has 700 employees in Bellevue, where it opened its first office in 2017, and more than 45,000 at its Seattle headquarters…Bellevue was actually (Amazon’s) original birthplace…” Read more

 

Luxury Brands Snub Amazon but Cosy Up to Alibaba by Carol Ryan at Wall Street Journal. “In 2018, 26% of luxury fashion brands tracked by digital research outfit Gartner L2 had a store on Tmall, up from 21% a year earlier.” WSJ subs.

 

Target’s Drive Up service is now available at more than 1,100 stores at A Bullseye View. Read more

 

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Sears is opening new stores for home goods at CNBC. “…will open three “Sears Home & Life” stores in May, in Anchorage, Alaska; Layette, Louisiana; and Overland Park, Kansas. These shops will be smaller in size — up to 15,000 square feet.” Read more

 

Lidl CEO Quits Unexpectedly at Progressive Grocer. “…only a few weeks previously, the head of a Lidl sister banner, the hypermarket chain Kaufland, had abruptly resigned.” Read more

 

Home improvement marketplace Porch makes another acquisition as headcount hits 500 by Nat Levy at GeekWire. “Porch said it acquired Kandela, a Los Angeles-based company that aims to simplify the moving experience by setting up installation of home services like TV, internet and security systems.” Read more

 

Staples new logo includes a staple icon that can also be used as a desk by Adrianne Pasquarelli at Ad Age. “Staples’ new brands include Tru Red, for notebooks and pens, Nxt Technologies, for internal tech services, Coastwide Professional, which provides facility supplies, Union & Scale, a furniture collection, and a soon-to-be-released brand Perk, which will sell products for office breakrooms.” Tiered subs.

 

Signet Jewelers, parent company of Kay, Zales and Jared, to close another 150 stores by Kelly Tyko at USA Today. “By the end of the fiscal year in February 2020, “the company expects it will have reduced its store base by 13% over a three-year period.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Female lobbyists change face of beer industry

Field Agent report shows Gen Z brand preferences, cooking habits

Fossilized snapshot of mass death found on North Dakota ranch

‘Game of Thrones’: Inside the Lavish Final Season Premiere

Condé Nast Appoints Former Pandora Chief As Its New CEO

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: GameStop -7.6% | Target’s New Furniture | Loblaw Ad Biz

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GameStop Q4 total global sales -7.6% Press release

 

Loblaw looks to leverage loyalty data with online advertising business by Jake Emiston at Financial Post. “The pilot project, to launch Wednesday, will see Loblaw ask members of its PC Optimum loyalty program agree to become the audience for online ads that Loblaw itself will serve up across the internet, based on what it knows about its customers. In exchange, those members will get rewards points for each ad they see.” Tiered subs.

 

These are the 25 most attractive employers in America, according to LinkedIn (Amazon #3) at CNBC. List/Read more

 

Walgreens already angered store managers by slashing bonuses. Now it’s cutting even more costs. by Lisa Schencker at Chicago Tribune. “With the revised earnings outlook, “the estimated bonus payout for the year has been substantially reduced,” said James Kehoe (global CFO & EVP)…Walgreens may reduce its information technology spending by $500 million to $600 million, Kehoe said.” Tiered subs.

 

Blue Apron appoints Linda Findley Kozlowski as CEO – Most recently served as COO of Etsy Press release

 

Target’s newest furniture is for kids with sensory sensitivity by Mark Wilson at Fast Company. “Available online now with prices that range from $20 to $100, the approximately 20-item collection includes the sorts of adorable items you’d expect in Pillowfort, like a pineapple rug or an indoor tent built to hold a desk.” Read more

 

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Dollar General and Western Union launch money transfer service at more than 15,400 Dollar General locations Press release

 

Smaller profit from the sale of generic drugs is squeezing Walgreens and CVS by Sharon Terlep & Joseph Walker at WSJ. “The pharmacy trends are not only impacting our business,” Walgreens CEO Stefano Pessina said Tuesday on a conference call. “They are impacting the overall market and will likely continue to do so over the coming months.” WSJ subs.

 

Online shopping officially overtakes brick-and-mortar retail for the first time ever at CNBC. Read more

 

eBay to shutdown the eBay Commerce Network, its third party ad network by Ingrid Lunden at TechCrunch. “…as it puts more of an emphasis on some of its other advertising efforts, namely affiliate marketing and advertising on eBay itself.” Read more

 

Walmart-Backed Eko to Launch FBE’s Interactive Series ‘Epic Night’ by Todd Spangler at Variety. Read more

 

P&G Faces Backlash Over Diaper, Sanitary Waste by Saabira Chaudhuri at WSJ. “Procter & Gamble is facing mounting pressure to deal with the waste generated by used diapers and sanitary pads, forcing the owner of Pampers and Always to find ways to collect and recycle these products. The pressure is particularly acute in India…” WSJ subs.

 

Cramer: My sources at Amazon indicate to me they’ll do whatever it takes to undercut Walmart at CNBC. “They hate, hate, hate Walmart. Walmart is the biggest grocery chain in the country,” Cramer said on “Squawk on the Street. ” “Amazon will stop at nothing to take away the share that Walmart has gained.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Target store remains open despite man dying inside

Nearly Half of Men Believe the Pay Gap Is ‘Made Up’

Philly mom-and-pop pizzerias see sales surge with online ordering

Brain Corp. expands its robot beyond floor cleaning to autonomous delivery

Amazon and Alibaba save the Boeing 757

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