Tipsheet: 50% of States Up Min Wage | Port Strain | 25% of Female CEOs @ Retail |

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Half of U.S. states will raise their minimum wage in 2021 at CNBC. “There’s growing evidence that voters on both sides of the aisle support a $15 minimum wage. In November, Florida became the eighth state to choose to phase in a pay floor at that rate, thanks to a ballot referendum approved by 60% of voter in an election in which Donald Trump won.” Read more

 

Surge in online shopping is straining America’s busiest port, official says at CNBC. “Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka in an appearance Monday on CNBC said cargo volume is up 50% in the second half of 2020 from what arrived at docks through the first six months of the year, and it’s common for loaded ships to anchor at sea waiting for a dock to open up.” Read more

 

Amazon eyes launching its computer science education program in India at TechCrunch. “The childhood-to-career program is currently operational in the United States, where the company serves more than 5,000 schools and 550,000 students with computer science coursework…” Read more

 

China fines JD.Com, Alibaba’s Tmall, Vipshop for irregular pricing at Reuters. Read more

 

Barnes & Noble Education CFO Eyes More Cuts as Campuses Remain Closed at Wall Street Journal. “While he doesn’t expect additional job cuts, Mr. Donohue said he is scrutinizing other costs such as fees the company pays to schools. Barnes & Noble Education shares revenues with the colleges that house its stores, and rent payments are usually rolled into the agreements.” WSJ subs.

 

**A message from Comfy Sacks bean bag chairs – stuffed with furniture-grade memory foam that cradles your body and resists compression. The premium bag category has seen amazing growth! Booklet | Video | Website | Request sample bag: info@eyeonretail.net

 

FAA issues safety rules that could smooth the way for drone deliveries “Remote ID is a major step toward the full integration of drones into the national airspace system. Remote ID provides identification of drones in flight as well as the location of their control stations…” FAA Press Release

 

UK’s Hut Group to buy online retailer Dermstore from Target for $350 million at Reuters. Read more

 

Save A Lot sells 51 Tampa Bay stores as it pursues wholesale model at Tampa Bay Times. “The Tampa Bay stores will still operate under the Save A Lot banner, but are now owned and operated by Ohio grocery company Fresh Encounters, Inc. Fresh Encounters has a licensing and wholesale grocery agreement with Missouri-based Save A Lot.” Read more

 

Dunkin’ releasing new Extra Charged Coffee with 20% more caffeine at USA Today. “The chain launches “Extra Charged Coffee” on Wednesday…The new coffee is served hot or iced and includes green coffee extract, which gives the extra caffeination.” Read more

 

The retail industry is leading the way as women take over CEO roles at CNBC. “A record 41 female CEOs are soon going to be leading Fortune 500 companies, barring any additional appointments or departures, as Hobart takes over for current Dick’s CEO Ed Stack in February. Ten will be in charge of retailers.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Wind powers more than half of UK electricity for first time

Kroger employee plays violin in-store to spread Christmas cheer

‘Dark period’: Killings spike in NYC amid pandemic, unrest

Diet industry getting fat off of the pandemic

Nashville bombing exposed ‘Achilles’ heel’ in regional network

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: Put your product or service in front of the most powerful retail execs in the world, send advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

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Tipsheet: Britain Food Shortage? | Con. Store New CEO | Pharmacists Popular Again

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Drugmakers rush to test whether vaccines stop coronavirus variant at Reuters. “Ugur Sahin, chief executive of Germany’s BioNTech…said on Tuesday he needs another two weeks to know if his shot can stop the mutant variant of the virus.” Read more

 

Q3 gross domestic product increased 33.4% at Fox News. “A bump of 0.3 percentage points from the second estimate and ahead of the 33.1% that analysts surveyed by Refinitiv were expecting.” Read more

 

Britain tells shoppers food is plentiful but supermarkets fret about next week at Reuters. “Interior minister Priti Patel said Britons should not be concerned despite Tesco and Sainsbury’s, Britain’s two biggest supermarket groups, raising the alarm on Monday that gaps could start to appear on fruit and vegetable shelves within days. Freight from France is being disrupted as part of a wider suspension of travel links with Britain to try to curb a new faster-spreading strain of COVID-19.” Read more

 

…UK strives to end French ban on trucks at AP. “Given that around 10,000 trucks pass through the Dover every day, accounting for about 20% of the country’s trade in goods, retailers are getting increasingly concerned if there is no resolution soon.” Read more

 

Container Store Group, Inc. names Satish Malhotra next CEO “Will succeed Melissa Reiff as CEO and President on February 1, 2021…Malhotra most recently served as the Chief Retail and Operating Officer for Sephora.” Press release

 

Shopper traffic to stores on the final Saturday before Christmas dropped 40.9% from a year ago, according to RetailNext at CNBC. “That wasn’t as steep of a decline as Black Friday, when traffic fell 48%.” Read more

 

Hiring Frenzy for Pharmacists as Covid-19 Vaccines Roll Out at Wall Street Journal. “The job market for pharmacists has been bleak for years…“I’m not really interested in going back just to give shots,” said Michael West, a pharmacist who was laid off with a severance package in July from Walgreens in North Carolina. Pharmacies “made these cuts and now they’re begging for people to come back,” he said.” WSJ subs.

 

Apple targets car production by 2024 and eyes ‘next level’ battery technology at Reuters. “Central to Apple’s strategy is a new battery design that could “radically” reduce the cost of batteries and increase the vehicle’s range, according to a third person who has seen Apple’s battery design.” Read more

 

**A message from Readywise, the leader in emergency food supplies – Consumers are looking for emergency food supplies – are you offering the selection they want? Up to 25-year shelf life. High quality and great taste. Website | Catalog | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Walmart, Thrive launch health and behavior program at Talk Business. “Walmart and Thrive created Thrive ZP, which includes the Thrive ZP Challenge and the Thrive ZP Stars program. The 21-day challenge has been relaunched with an expanded prize pool of $1 million per year.” Read more

 

Hugh Jackman Beats Ryan Reynolds in Sam’s Club Contest at Comicbook. Read more

 

Companies Have Promised $35 Billion Toward Racial Equity. Where Is the Money Going? at The Wall Street Journal. “At Walmart, CEO Doug McMillon said he has identified a team of seven people, including himself, to track and report on progress on the company’s racial equity and diversity initiatives.” WSJ subs.

 

Barnes & Noble Education shares spike on investment from Fanatics, Lids at NY Post. “Billionaire Fanatics owner Michael Rubin, who is also a co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, said Fanatics will take the lead on running the college bookstores e-commerce business while Lids will lend its merchandising expertise to the partnership.” Read more

 

Costco is selling an autographed Ty Cobb baseball bat for $160,000 at M Live. Pic/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Woman finds apparent COVID test in Kohl’s package

Mediaite’s most influential in news media 2020

Americans’ readiness to take the COVID vaccine spikes after the start of shots

When retailers are open on Christmas Eve

Former Macy’s CEO expects retail closures to continue into 2021

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

 

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Website: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: WM Home Pickup | Publix #1 Trust | Post Malone Loves Costco

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Walmart will pick up items shipped and sold by Walmart.com from customers’ homes through a new partnership with FedEx at CNN. “Walmart said the “incredibly convenient” option is free and will remain in place beyond the busy holiday shopping season.” Read more

 

Amazon closes New Jersey warehouse after workers test positive for coronavirus at CNBC. Read more

 

Nike Q2 revenues were $11.2 billion, up 9% / Nike direct sales were $4.3 billion, up 32% Press release

 

Walmart using ‘pop-up’ option to meet online holiday demand at Talk Business. “The pop-up space will be inside 42 of the company’s regional distribution centers that typically ship pallets of goods to stores…“We anticipate up to 30% of our holiday volume being shipped from our pop-up e-commerce DCs. A true transformation of our assets through technology,” (Walmart supply chain executive) Venkatesan said.” Read more

 

Apple temporarily closes all 53 stores in California and over a dozen in London at The Verge. Read more

 

Kentucky man to spend life in prison for shooting two Black shoppers at Kroger store at Louisville Courier Journal via USA Today. Read more

 

Rent-A-Center to buy Acima Holdings in $1.65 bln deal at Reuters. “Acima has more than 15,000 retail partner locations and e-commerce platforms, and is expected to generate in 2020 revenue of about $1.25 billion…” Read more

 

Amazon donating 2,000 tropical plants like those in Spheres for sale to benefit Seattle zoo at GeekWire. “Amazon raises its plants in a 40,000-square-foot greenhouse facility in Redmond, Wash., before they find a home in the Spheres…More than 75 different species of plants will be available.” Read more

 

**A message from Comfy Sacks bean bag chairs – stuffed with furniture-grade memory foam that cradles your body and resists compression. The premium bag category has seen amazing growth! Booklet | Video | Website | Request sample bag: info@eyeonretail.net

 

CANADA – Michael Medline has returned a grocery powerhouse back to health; now he’s turned his eye to the horizon at Financial Post. Read more

 

Man indicted for stealing $2.6M in diamonds claimed connection to Costco at AMNY. “According to Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr., Modi allegedly posed as a middleman with ties to the mega-mart Costco in order to obtain the jewels from LLD Diamonds USA…Instead of selling them to Costco, law enforcement sources said, Modi allegedly pawned off the diamonds he obtained for his own illicit profit.” Read more

 

2020’s Most Trusted Grocery Retailers at Winsight Grocery Business. “It was almost too close to call, but Publix Super Markets has nosed out last year’s Most Trusted American grocer—H-E-B—to take the top honor in WGB and BrandSpark’s fourth annual report on the supermarkets winning the consumer confidence race.” List/Read more

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods teams with Instacart for same-day delivery at 150 stores at CNBC. “We’re planning on rolling this out to more stores. But with the holidays, we just wanted to make sure to get something up and running for a considerable amount of our customers,” said Joe Pietropola, senior vice present of e-commerce at Dick’s.” Read more

 

Kroger Shares Top 10 Trending Foods of 2020 Press release

 

Post Malone Loves Costco at The Wrap. “One day, I woke up and I had an epiphany. I was just like, ‘Let’s go to Costco.'”…”“I’m not a sample guy. I’m not a very patient guy,” Malone told Kimmel, who was in full agreement. “I think we should get rid of the samples completely, or let you just sample stuff off of the shelf.” Video/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Americans will get stimulus checks as soon as next week, Mnuchin says

Peter Jackson gives fans a sneak peak of Beatles documentary

McDonald’s sells ‘Spam burger’ with cookie crumbs in China

Q&A: Ahold VP talks food transparency

How hip hop’s love of the Timberland boot helped turn it into a billion-dollar company

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: Put your product or service in front of the most powerful retail execs in the world, send advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: WM/TikTok Tonight | CVS #25 Culture | At Home +380 Stores?

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TOO LATE – NRF: A record number of people plan to shop the Saturday before Christmas at CNBC. “Over 150 million Americans plan to shop the Saturday before Christmas this year, up slightly from 147.8 million in 2019, according…42% are planning to do so online only, avoiding crowded malls and stores.” Read more

 

At Home CEO says retailer can increase its store count almost threefold at CNBC. “While the home decor superstore invests in building out its digital presence, the company continues to see opportunity in physical stores, which Bird called the “center of our universe.” Currently operating about 220 stores in 40 U.S. states, the chief executive sees headroom for a roster of 600 locations, almost three times its current footprint.” Video/Read more

 

TONIGHT – Walmart is bringing shoppable fashion to TikTok at TechCrunch. “The fashion items themselves will be featured in content from 10 TikTok creators…All will be participating in a special event hosted on TikTok called the “Holiday Shop-Along Spectacular,” which will take place on Friday, December 18 at 8 PM ET on Walmart’s TikTok profile.” Read more

 

Best Company Culture 2020 (CVS #25, Chewy #37, Rent-A-Center #50) at Comparably  Top 50 list

 

FedEx Earnings Beat Wall Street Estimates at Yahoo Finance. Read more

 

**A message from Sweets & Snacks Expo – The 2021 Sweets & Snacks Expo is June 22-25 in Indianapolis! Learn more about the new date and location

 

Home Depot to pay $20M fine for lead paint violations at Fox Business. “The $20.75 million settlement, “the highest civil penalty obtained to date for a settlement under the Toxic Substances Control Act,” according to a release from the DOJ, will go partly toward Utah, Massachusetts and Rhode Island…” Read more

 

Guitar Center Announces Court Approval of Restructuring Plan Press release

 

Home Depot opens new DC in Georgia “It is one of three new facilities that will open in the Atlanta market over the next 14 months, which will eventually create over 700 new jobs.” Press release

 

CVS Health, Walgreens start to provide Covid vaccines at thousands of hard-hit nursing homes at CNBC. “Residents of long-term care facilities account for nearly 40% of all U.S. Covid deaths, even though less than 1% of the U.S. population lives in them, according to data from the COVID Tracking Project as of Dec. 10.” Read more

 

Meijer Joins Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag Press release

 

How Bravo Sierra’s Founders Built A Military Testing Ground For Consumer Products at Forbes. “There’s been no shortage of new consumer-products startups over the last few years. But many of them have targeted the same coastal, well-heeled Millennials. Bravo Sierra…took a different approach…Their idea: consumer products—shaving cream, lip balm, face moisturizer, deodorant—that would be developed with the military and sold to active-duty service members and veterans.” Tiered subs.

 

Chewy’s in-house comms team pens an ode to our pets PR Week subs.

 

What Kroger Learned a Year After Launching a Big Brand Refresh Adweek subs.

 

Tipsheet Extra

How Amazon’s cloud and satellite internet ventures mesh

Tropicana apologizes for ad campaign showing celebrity parents sneaking mimosas

Techies create bracelets to let people signal they’re vaccinated against COVID-19

Bezos’ Blue Origin to deliver first flight-ready rocket engines next summer

Microsoft identifies more than 40 organizations targeted in massive cyber breach

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: Put your product or service in front of the most powerful retail execs in the world, send advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: Rite Aid Rockets | Impulse Buy Bye | Amazon 1st in US Union?

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Rite Aid Q3 comp sales +4.3% (6.1% increase in pharmacy sales / 0.7% decrease in front-end sales) Press release

 

…Rite Aid’s stock rockets after big profit beat, raised outlook at MarketWatch. “For fiscal 2021, the company revised its revenue guidance to $23.9 billion to $24.2 billion from $23.5 billion to $24.0 billion, its same-store sales growth view to 3.5% to 4.5% from 3.0% to 4.0%.” Read more

 

Amazon asks U.S. to include warehouse, grocery staff in vaccine rollout at Reuters. “The U.S. National Retail Federation made a similar request on the industry’s behalf Wednesday as well.” Read more

 

BarkBox to Go Public in $1.6 Billion Deal at MarketWatch. Read more

 

Amazon Alabama Workers Get Chance for First-in-U.S. Union at Bloomberg via Yahoo Finance. “An organizing drive became public last month when representatives of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union filed paperwork for an election to represent 1,500 frontline workers at the warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama. None of Amazon’s hundreds of thousands of employees in warehouses across the U.S. is represented by labor unions.” Read more

 

FDA says Pfizer vaccine vials hold extra doses – using every drop from overfilled vials could boost available doses by up to 40 percent at Politico. Read more

 

Amazon Has Turned a Middle-Class Warehouse Career Into a McJob at Bloomberg. “A Bloomberg analysis of government labor statistics reveals that in community after community where Amazon sets up shop, warehouse wages tend to fall.  In 68 counties where Amazon has opened one of its largest facilities, average industry compensation slips by more than 6% during the facility’s first two years, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.” Tiered subs.

 

**A message from the Kitchenology 4-In-1 Scrub Bar™ –  Featuring a different abrasive strength on each of the four sides. Regular sponge, medium-duty, heavy-duty & super-duty. See the ergonomic perfection | Samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Fed raises its economic outlook slightly, sees 4.2% growth next year and 5% unemployment rate at CNBC. “Core PCE inflation is expected to come in at 1.4% this year, down slightly from September’s projection of 1.4%. Next year, core PCE inflation is estimated to reach 1.8%, up from September’s forecast of 1.7%.” Read more

 

Forbes: These Are The Richest Families In America – #1 Walton Family, #15 Butt Family Top 50 list

 

New Ad Fraud Scheme Highlights a Growing Problem for Streaming TV at Wall Street Journal. “Based on an estimated average cost of $20 to deliver a thousand consumer impressions in connected TV viewing, the swindlers likely stole $14.5 million over the last four months, according to Derek Wise, chief product officer of Oracle Data Cloud.” WSJ subs.

 

Study Shows Rebound In Grocery Shopping Satisfaction at Retail Feedback Group. “Compared to April, nearly all the core experience factors for supermarkets improved, with the sharpest increases seen on a five-point scale, where five is highest, in variety/selection (4.25, up from 4.00) and value for money (4.10, up from 3.93). Overall satisfaction improved to 4.23 from 4.08.” Press release

 

Amazon’s Project Kuiper reveals details on customer terminals for satellite internet at GeekWire. “The $10 billion project, which aims to put more than 3,200 satellites into low Earth orbit, will use an innovative type of phased-array antenna that overlays one set of tiny elements on top of another set, Amazon said today in a blog posting.” Read more

 

As holiday shoppers pull back on impulse buys, online retailers are forced to crack a retail riddle at CNBC. “Impulse shopping usually drives 25% of overall holiday spending, according to The NPD Group. This year, it’s expected to drive 18% to 20% — a potential loss of $5 billion to $7 billion in sales for the season, the market research firm estimates.” Read more

 

Amazon extends time and increases places for returns at MarketWatch. “For items shipped between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, customers can make returns until Jan. 31. And at more than 500 Whole Foods Market stores nationwide, Amazon is offering a “box-free, label-free” return option.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

A new satellite can peer inside buildings, day or night

Mom killed on the job by illegally installed elevator at Manhattan supermarket

Lab-grown meat to make historic debut at Singapore restaurant

53% of consumers report pandemic permanently changed shopping habits

Five Below teams up to give 1,000 holiday gifts to Philly kids in need

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: Put your product or service in front of the most powerful retail execs in the world, send advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: Amazon Eyes Israel | Ecom 25% ’24 | WM PlayStation Fight

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U.S. Retail Sales Fell 1.1% in November at CNN. “Sales were expected to be down 0.3% month-over-month in November, according to a survey of analysts compiled by Refinitiv.” Read more

 

NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index drops from record high as rising prices hit buyers at CNBC. “Of the index’s three components, current sales conditions dropped 4 points to 92. Sales expectations in the next six months fell 4 points to 85. Buyer traffic also decreased 4 points to 73.” Read more

 

E-Commerce to Total a Quarter of Global Retail by 2024, GroupM Forecasts at The Wall Street Journal. “After a year of sitting at home, a lot of our behaviors are going to be permanently oriented toward these direct- and digital-commerce behaviors,” said Jay Pattisall, a principal analyst at research company Forrester Research Inc.” WSJ subs.

 

Walmart will use fully driverless trucks to make deliveries in Arkansas starting in 2021 at The Verge. “And they plan on expanding to a second location in Louisiana, where trucks with safety drivers will begin delivering items from a “live” Walmart Supercenter to a designated pickup location where customers can retrieve their orders. Those routes, which will begin next year, will be longer than the Arkansas operation — 20-miles between New Orleans and Metairie, Louisiana.” Read more

 

Amazon encourages California warehouse and Whole Foods workers to get weekly Covid tests at CNBC. “The notice to Amazon employees told them to get tested outside of their scheduled working hours, and said they will receive up to 1.5 hours of compensation as reimbursement for costs associated with “time and travel.” The separate notice to Whole Foods employees said the costs of the tests will be covered.” Read more

 

Wish announces pricing of IPO at $24 per share Press release

 

Amazon: Trump corruption the only plausible explanation for Microsoft winning $10B cloud deal at GeekWire. “(Amazon) calls the errors so egregious that they “can only be explained by the impact of the President’s anti-Amazon bias on DoD decisionmakers.” Microsoft responded quickly, effectively calling Amazon a sore loser, twice over.” Read more

 

Swiss running shoe On opens first store in NYC at NY Post. Read more

 

**A message from Readywise, the leader in emergency food supplies – Consumers are looking for emergency food supplies – are you offering the selection they want? Up to 25-year shelf life. High quality and great taste. Website | Catalog | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Robomart launches its mobile c-store in beta for West Hollywood residents at TechCrunch. “The offering is launching as a mobile pharmacy, offering 500 packs of 50 products…The eventual plan is to make deliveries via autonomous vehicles when all of the necessary regulatory and technological hurdles have been cleared.” Read more

 

Amazon said weighing shipping goods to Israel from UAE at The Times of Israel. “Doing so would allow Amazon to supply goods to Israelis directly, rather than through third-party sellers.” Read more

 

How Walmart Ensures Real People, Not ‘Grinch Bots,’ Buy PlayStation 5, Xbox at Yahoo Finance. “(CIO) Geisler noted that more consoles are coming soon and they are working hard to “get them into the hands of as many customers as possible.” The retail giant’s executive called on lawmakers to “do more” to prevent bots from accessing retail sites so customers have equal access.” Read more

 

…Fight Over Sold-Out PlayStation 5 at Walmart Ends With 3 in Jail at NBC 6 Miami. “The debacle began inside the store moments after Valeria Aguilar and her relatives say they waited in line for the Sony Playstation 5 for more than eight hours. “A guy from Walmart come to us and he said apparently there’s not 30 PS5’s, so people started to get mad,” Aguilar said.” Read more/Video

 

Tyson joins growing list of companies hiring chief medical officers amid pandemic at The Hill. “Tyson Foods joins companies including Royal Caribbean, Constellation brands and Salesforce in bringing in an in-house health care professional tasked with overseeing the safety and wellbeing of its employees.” Read more

 

Parole officer charged in ‘ticket switch fraud’ scheme at Target, prosecutor says at The Jersey Journal. “…an investigation determined that between July and October, Ortega used what’s called “ticket switch fraud” to change the labels on various higher value items for lower value items at the Target on Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen.” Read more

 

A high school in Texas opened a grocery store for struggling families where good deeds are accepted as payment at CNN. “The high school partnered with First Refuge Ministries, Texas Health Resources and the grocery store Albertsons to open the store, which is completely run by students who manage the inventory, stock the shelves and help other students find and bag the products they need.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Amazon Fashion launches a custom clothing service

Neiman Marcus CEO may cut pricey perk for top execs: report

MacKenzie Scott is giving away $1 billion a month to charity

Top 25 companies on the S&P 500 for gender equality

Pink Dot delivery robots cruise West Hollywood

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: Put your product or service in front of the most powerful retail execs in the world, send advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: Dash Cart Downer | Jelinek @ CNBC | Lead Toy Risk

/in

 

Costco CEO says company is doubling down on brick-and-mortar, even as it invests in e-commerce at CNBC. “Jelinek: “It’s still important to get people physically in the stores. I still think brick-and-mortar is not going to go away. We want to continue to get people in the stores, and there’s no better way to do it than a $1.50 hot dog and a rotisserie chicken” for $4.99, he said.” Read more/Video

 

FedEx, UPS are managing surge in packages with strict limits on shippers at Fox Business. “Richard Galanti, Costco’s finance chief, said that some days UPS and FedEx aren’t picking up all the packages the retailer wants to ship, which is causing delays. “We, like others, are figuring out other things to do, not on a big scale,” he said. Costco recently started using Instacart to ship items like Apple Inc. AirPods and Instant Pots for same-day delivery, instead of just offering grocery items through that service.” Read more

 

U.S. FDA staff raises no new concerns with Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine at Reuters. Read more

 

Bed Bath & Beyond sells Cost Plus World Market at MarketWatch. “…(sold) to Los Angeles-based private-equity firm Kingswood Capital Management. The deal includes 243 bricks-and-mortar stores, two distribution facilities, an e-commerce business and a corporate office in Alameda, Calif.” Read more

 

Buy now, pay later plans are booming in the Covid economy at CNBC. “Nearly half, or 44%, of consumers said the use of buy now, pay later is somewhat or very important in determining how much they spend during the holidays…Further, 48% said buy now, pay later will allow them to spend at least 10% to 20% more than they would using a credit card.” Read more

 

Amazon plans to open its seventh Amazon Go store location in Seattle at GeekWire. Read more

 

**A message from Readywise, the leader in emergency food supplies – Consumers are looking for emergency food supplies – are you offering the selection they want? Up to 25-year shelf life. High quality and great taste. Website | Catalog | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

As Amazon’s Zoox unveils passenger robotaxi, CEO acknowledges potential for package delivery at GeekWire. “First, we’re going to move people around…” (CEO Evans) said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. “But yes, I will admit that if we can move people, especially with this footprint, at some point, we could move packages.” Read more

 

Foot Locker, Inc. Appoints Himanshu Parikh As SVP, Chief Information Officer “Most recently, he served as SVP, Chief Technology Officer at The Michaels Companies, Inc.” Press release

 

Toys at risk for lead, poison after US stopped inspections amid COVID-19 at USA Today. “The CPSC did not flag a single toy at the ports between June and July for poisonous lead levels, one of the most frequent violations, internal records show. In August, port inspectors reported their total monthly activity amounted to 47 screenings for all hazards – less than 2% of a typical month before the pandemic hit.” Read more

 

Britain’s biggest sportswear retailer JD Sports buys retailer Shoe Palace for $325 million at Reuters. Read more

 

GameStop Employees Surprised by New Shipment of PS5, Xbox at Yahoo Finance. “One GameStop manager on the East Coast shared an email from the company, sent just a few minutes before the public announcement, saying that their store would have about 15 new consoles available for pre-order. Minutes after the announcement, the manager said, the store had a crowd of about 40 people, violating social-distancing requirements and overwhelming their clerks.” Read more

 

Plug Power expands hydrogen and fuel cell solutions into Walmart ecommerce applications Press release

 

Chewy’s CFO to Expand Pet Products, Explores Monetizing Telehealth Services at The Wall Street Journal. “…now offers about 65,000 items on its online shop, after adding about 20,000 in the past two years, Chief Financial Officer Mario Marte said. The idea is to build out Chewy’s online catalog so pet owners don’t need to shop elsewhere…” WSJ subs.

 

DASH CART DOWNER – Visiting the first Chicagoland Amazon Fresh store at Chicago Tribune. “At the customer service counter, you can return not only groceries but any items purchased on Amazon.com, without the need for packaging or shipping labels…You can’t take the Dash Carts out to your car. You have to carry the bags, which shouldn’t be a big deal because there are just two, right? Well. As I walked across the parking lot to my car, the handle to one of the bags broke and sent my Tide and Califa Farms milk scattering. I rearranged and within a few feet, the other bag broke.” Tiered subs.

 

Tipsheet Extra

Here’s why it might be too late to order your holiday gifts online

‘I can’t handle it anymore’: COVID fatigue is winning

CNN and MSNBC Fret Over Post-Trump Future

By 2025, 36.2 million Americans will be working remotely, up 87% from pre-pandemic levels

U.S. Treasury, Commerce Depts. Hacked Through SolarWinds Compromise

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: Put your product or service in front of the most powerful retail execs in the world, send advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: Target HQ Arsonists Charged | Tall Xmas Tree Shortage | QuickChek Acquired

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Holiday retail workers seek “temporary lifeline” in warehouse jobs, if they can find one at Reuters. “Lidl took an opportunistic approach to finding candidates this season in Germany, where a partial lockdown is likely to be toughened in coming days. “Bar work is so yesterday,” read a November 30 recruitment ad. “Look forward to a secure job for €12.50 an hour – switch industries and get into retail.” Read more

 

Amazon’s self-driving company Zoox unveils autonomous robotaxi at CNBC. “Zoox said it’s currently testing in three cities — Las Vegas, Nevada; Foster City, California; and San Francisco, California. The company plans to launch an app-based ridesharing service in urban areas like Las Vegas and San Francisco, Bloomberg reported.” Read more

 

Walgreens chief medical officer explains company’s plan for vaccine rollout at Today. “Walgreens chief medical officer Dr. Kevin Ban explains how Walgreens will handle the logistics of distributing Pfizer’s vaccine throughout the U.S…” 5:40 video

 

…Walgreens may begin Covid vaccinations at nursing homes before Christmas at CNBC. Read more

 

Target extends store hours for holiday shopping ahead of Christmas, reduces coronavirus senior hours at USA Today. “Most (Target) stores will open at 7 a.m. and close at midnight starting this week, officials confirmed to USA TODAY…Most Walmart stores nationwide close at 11 p.m. local time after hours were extended ahead of the shopping season in November.” Read more

 

Amazon Sidewalk rollout shows the future of ‘forced opt-in’ at GeekWire. “Another step Amazon has taken, in the interest of transparency, is releasing a white paper going into more technical details about Sidewalk, including discussions of security and privacy protections. Again, there is nothing like this from Comcast even after six years.” Read more

 

Murphy USA acquires convenience store chain QuickChek in $645 million deal at Talk Business. “QuickChek is a family-owned chain of 157 stores located in central and northern New Jersey and the New York metro area.” Read more

 

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How Tight Is the Christmas Tree Supply? An 8-Footer Can Sell for $2,000 at The Wall Street Journal. “The Christmas tree shortage has its roots in the global recession of more than a decade ago. During those years, a glut of Christmas trees caused prices to tumble, and some farmers planted fewer or switched to other kinds of crops…industry players say people are excited that buying a real tree can come with an outing to a farm.” WSJ subs.

 

Consumers outraged after Petco removes cat and dog from logo at PR Week. PR Week subs.

 

Three Men Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Arson of Target Corporation Headquarters at Department of Justice. “According to allegations…JACKSON used a construction sign to break through one of the glass doors into the Target Corporation building. JACKSON, EDWARDS, and WILLIAMS, along with unidentified others, breached the doors and entered the Target Corporation building. Once inside, JACKSON intentionally set a fire on a counter inside the mailroom…” Press release

 

Payment Processing Giant TSYS: Ransomware Incident “Immaterial” to Company at Krebs on Security. “TSYS suffered a ransomware attack earlier this month. Since then reams of data stolen from the company have been posted online…Total System Services Inc. is the third-largest third-party payment processor for financial institutions in North America, and a major processor in Europe.” Read more

 

The Best-Managed Companies of 2020 at The Wall Street Journal. “In the 2020 lineup, Microsoft Corp. unseated Amazon.com Inc…“You have to have strength across the board to hold your own at that level,” Drucker’s Mr. First says of Amazon’s 2020 ranking. “It’s what makes Microsoft’s ranking so impressive, that they are not just innovation at all costs. They are excellent across the board.” WSJ subs.

 

British stores stockpile food on Brexit no-deal concerns at CNBC. “Both sides have until Dec. 31 to agree on a deal, and although talks are continuing at this late stage, they have warned that a no-deal is the likelier outcome.” Read more

 

New York City business owners haunted by Amazon loss amid pandemic at Fox Business. “The site just sits there empty. It’s terrible,” said Donna Driver, owner of the Matted LIC art gallery and gift store. “We’re in the middle of a pandemic. People say, ‘If we only had Amazon.’ We got nothing.” Read more

 

Iconic ‘World’s Smallest Target Store’ demolished in remote West Texas at KLTV 7 ABC. “The ‘Tiny Target,’ which had not affiliation with the national retailer, had become a pilgrimage destination for curiosity seekers and art enthusiasts alike. Swarms of bees and vandals seemed to target the building in recent months.” Video/Pics/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Neiman Marcus CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck blasted over pay, lavish perk

Workers riot at India iPhone factory over ‘exploitation’ claims

Hy-Vee Providing Same-Day COVID Tests at 47 Locations

Adidas mulls strategic options for Reebok brand

Loss of Canadian snowbirds due to pandemic another hit to US tourism

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