Tipsheet: Bezos @ Bollywood | Housing +16.9% | New WM HQ Update

 

US housing construction jumps 16.9% in December at AP. “Construction of new homes surged in December to the highest level in 13 years…Housing construction has been rising since July…For the year, builders started work on a total of 1.29 million homes, the best showing since 2007.” Read more

 

U.S. manufacturing output rises unexpectedly at Reuters. “The Federal Reserve said on Friday that manufacturing production rose 0.2% last month after a downwardly revised 1.0% increase in November. Overall industrial output fell 0.3% in December after a downwardly revised increase of 0.8% in November.” Read more

 

Procrastinators abounded this Christmas at CNBC. “Target CEO Brian Cornell said one of the biggest trends he spotted this holiday season was the fact that more shoppers were “comfortable shopping later in the season.”…On Dec. 24, for example, Cornell said Target prepared nearly five times the number of products for curbside pickup of e-commerce orders compared with a year ago.” Read more

 

Barneys Workers Feel Used as They March Store Toward Death by Sapna Maheshwari at NY Times. “Frank Elbling, a sales associate at Barneys for 16 years…has started to send out job applications. “I’ve had some interviews over the phone and they want to offer around 30, 40 percent less pay,” he said, adding, “I can’t afford to do that.” Tiered subs.

 

New Walmart headquarters campus to be ‘part of the neighborhood’ by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Dan Bartlett, executive vice president of corporate affairs at Walmart, told members of the Northwest Arkansas Council that the retailer’s new corporate headquarters will not be one grand structure, but will be a “functional campus” that will look more like a college campus. Bartlett spoke Wednesday (Jan. 15) at the Northwest Arkansas Council’s winter meeting in Bentonville and shared details about the retail giant’s new corporate campus taking shape in Bentonville.” Read more/Pic

 

NRF Says 2019 Holiday Sales Were Up 4.1% “Down: Sporting goods stores were down 0.4 percent…clothing and clothing accessory stores were down 1.6 percent…electronics and appliance stores were down 2 percent year-over-year.” Press release

 

Signet Jewelers holiday comp sales +1.6% / North America +2.0% Press release

 

China’s Economic Growth Slows to Near 30-Year Low at +6.1% at CNBC. “Other Chinese economic data released alongside the GDP numbers showed growth in industrial output and retail sales for the month of December.” Read more

 

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

 

Gap Inc. No Longer Pursuing Separation of Old Navy Press release

 

Adidas is banking on Beyonce for growth with Ivy Park athleticwear line debut at CNBC. “Initially, Ivy Park will be smaller than Yeezy, but Ivy Park has the potential to be larger, if managed properly,” says Matt Powell, a senior footwear analyst at NPD Group. Powell says similar to the Yeezy line, he expects Adidas to keep the quantities tight on Ivy Park.” Read more

 

Canadian Tire Corporation Appoints New CFO Press release

 

Luxury retailer Louis Vuitton buys world’s second-largest rough diamond by Noah Manskar at NY Post. “Louis Vuitton’s acquisition of the diamond marks another step into luxury jewelry for its parent company, LVMH. The French luxury conglomerate agreed to buy storied New York jeweler Tiffany & Co. in November for about $16.2 billion.” Read more

 

Amazon is #1 ‘Evil’ Tech Company, According to Experts at Slate. List

 

Why a ban on Vaporfly shoe could boost Nike’s bottom line at Reuters. “Controversy is good for sales,” said Matt Powell, senior sports industry adviser at NPD Group. “Nike has not made a lot of pairs here, so (there is) no real financial impact. Amateur runners can still run in these shoes.” Read more

 

98.6 Degrees Fahrenheit Isn’t the Average Any More by Jo Craven McGinty at Wall Street Journal. “In a new study, researchers from Stanford University argue that Wunderlich’s number was correct at the time but is no longer accurate because the human body has changed. Today, they say, the average normal human-body temperature is closer to 97.5 degrees Fahrenheit.” WSJ subs.

 

Jeff Bezos hangs out with Bollywood stars during India trip at Fox Business. “Jeff Bezos has been rubbing shoulders with some of India’s top entertainers during a trip to the country this week. Bezos and his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, posed for photos at a blue carpet event in Mumbai organized by Amazon Prime Video on Thursday.” Pics/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Walmart in hot water over Paul Walker car accident joke

The U.S. govt knows some household items aren’t safe but won’t tell you

Coke trade secrets case highlights U.S.-China tension

Did Jeff Bezos Buy His Neighbor’s D.C. Mansion?

Judge halts CA gig work law that threatened 70,000 truckers’ jobs

WinCo shooter insane. He says he was poisoned, now he’s been committed.

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Tipsheet: H.Dep Mex Strike? | Bose Close 119 | Amazon HQ Pop Up

 

Mexico union threatens Home Depot strike at Reuters. “Spurred on by labor protections in the new North American trade deal, a top Mexican trade union has accused Home Depot of blocking union activity and threatened strikes next week if the U.S. home improvement chain does not improve pay and benefits for workers.” Read more

 

Peter Navarro puts Amazon and eBay on notice: The China trade deal cracks down on counterfeits at CNBC. “The Amazons and the Alibabas, Shopify, they have been facilitators of the Chinese counterfeiting. So, if we’re going to enforce this deal, it’s going to be a big part of that is scrutinizing this,” the White House trade advisor warned.” Read more

 

U.S. retail sales rise steadily; labor market tightening at Reuters. “The Commerce Department said retail sales increased 0.3% last month. Data for November was revised up to show retail sales gaining 0.3% instead of rising 0.2% as previously reported…Compared to December last year, retail sales accelerated 5.8%.” Read more

 

Advocate, the largest Chicago-area physicians group, is closing immediate care clinics at seven Walgreens pharmacies due to “unsustainable” patient volumes by Stephanie Goldberg at Crain’s Chicago Business. Read more

 

Amazon Sought $1 Billion in Incentives on Top of Lures for HQ2 by Shayndi Raice & Dana Mattioli at Wall Street Journal. “As Amazon.com Inc. began a search for a second headquarters in 2017, and billions in economic incentives that would go with it, Chief Executive Jeff Bezos and senior executives set another goal: to secure an additional $1 billion for other real-estate projects…The unusually large goal was due to high capital investment costs that year, said one of the people.” WSJ subs.

 

Bose is closing all of its retail stores in North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia by Chris Welch at The Verge. “That adds up to a total of 119 stores (closing), according to a spokesperson. “In other parts of the world, Bose stores will remain open, including approximately 130 stores located in Greater China and the United Arab Emirates; and additional stores in India, Southeast Asia, and South Korea,” the company told The Verge by email.” Read more

 

Groupon Names TBWA\Chiat\Day New York Creative Agency of Record Press release

 

**A message from Sweets & Snacks Expo. Save the date: May 19-21, 2020 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Your year starts here. Website/Register

 

India’s trade minister isn’t impressed with Amazon’s new $1 billion investment in the country by Manish Singh at TechCrunch. Read more

 

mcguffin: The 25 Best-Known Unicorn Brands: DoorDash #5 / Postmates #11 / Instacart #12 List

 

Amazon Picks Manchester Over London for New U.K. Corporate Office at Bloomberg/Yahoo. Read more

 

Payless ShoeSource emerges from bankruptcy—again at CNBC. “…with a renewed focus on its international operations…Payless is still operating in Latin America, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. It has more than 710 stores, including those with franchises, in more than 30 countries.” Read more

 

Amazon to open new ‘themed’ pop-up store at Seattle HQ by Nat Levy at GeekWire. “The Seattle location will be the sixth in a new generation of Amazon Pop Up stores… The website for the company’s retail stores calls the new Pop Up concept “a physical extension of Amazon.com,” with inventory regularly swapped out as part of rotating themes. The Las Vegas location is focused on cameras, for example, and other stores offer a Food Network theme.” Read more

 

NRF Welcomes Phase One Trade Deal with China but Says Remaining Tariffs Must End Press release

 

Sears Advisers Have Racked Up $200 Million in Fees as Vendors Await Payment by Soma Biswas at Wall Street Journal. “Of the more than $200 million in fees and expenses already billed by restructuring professionals, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, Sears’s main bankruptcy law firm where top partners charge $1,695 an hour, billed the estate more than $65 million through October. Paul Weiss, where top restructuring lawyers charge $1,560 an hour, billed Sears more than $20 million through October.” WSJ subs.

 

Jeff Bezos: Anyone who denies reality of climate change is ‘not being reasonable’ at CNBC. “We have sent robotic probes to every planet in the solar system — this is the good one,” he said. “There are no other good planets in this solar system. We have to take care of this one.” Read more

 

The merger of the National Grocers Association (NGA) and Retailer Owned Foods Distributors & Associates (ROFDA) falls through at Progressive Grocer. Read more

 

Publix promotes Norman Badger to VP of Product Business Development for Bakery and Meat Press release

 

Amazon’s Patrick Gauthier says retailers should prepare for voice commerce by Lisa Lacy at Adweek. Adweek subs.

 

Tipsheet Extra

Inside Armslist, the Craigslist of Guns

SXSW Film Festival Full Lineup

E-com boom means delivery emissions could increase 30% by 2030

Starbucks aims for local economic boost with ‘community store’ plan

America’s favorite Valentine’s Day candy is back

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Tipsheet: Target Miss | Build-A-Yoda | Low CO2 Labeling

 

Target, like other retailers, did not have a Merry Christmas at AP. “Comparable sales climbed 1.4% in the November-December period, compared with a very strong 5.7% increase a year earlier. Digital sales rose 19%, also down from last year’s jump of 29%.” Read more

 

…Target said it found strength in apparel and beauty, while lackluster performance in key holiday categories like electronics, toys and parts of its home business offset those gains. at CNBC. Read more

 

Holiday sales may have been better-than-expected, up nearly 5%, Bank of America economists say at CNBC. “The lowest income group, with annual household income lower than $20,000, continued to lead in spending growth. The three-month moving average for the income group was up 4.7% year-over-year.” Read more

 

Amazon to invest $1 billion into India to help small and medium-sized businesses in the country come online at TechCrunch. “Bezos said the company is also eyeing making exports of locally produced goods from India…to be of $10 billion in size on Amazon platform by 2025.” Read more

 

…Pics and video from Bezos trip to India at Daily Mail. See here

 

H-E-B’s digital outpost in Austin is changing the company by Dwight Silverman at Houston Chronicle. Tiered subs.

 

Now Stores Must Tell You How They’re Tracking Your Every Move by Tom Simonite at Wired. “There’s a feeling of resignation about data collection,” (Professor) Turow says. “People think it’s just the way of the world in the 21st century.” CCPA warnings, he says, could end up like California’s ubiquitous Prop 65 notices, affixed to buildings, cars, phone chargers, and countless other products to warn that they contain chemicals “known to the State of California to cause cancer.” Read more

 

Most Inventive Companies of 2019 Based on Patent Activity by Bill Hankes at Sqoop. “Design Patents: Apple #4, Amazon #13, Target #38” Ranked lists

 

**A message from Home & Outdoor cookware – High quality cookware made for the cabin, camping, and the great outdoors. 3X stain and scratch resistance. Retail ready packaging. Sales deck | Samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Amazon removes FedEx Ground ban for third-party sellers at GeekWire. Read more

 

Baby Yoda is coming to a Build-A-Bear near you at CNN. “The news was announced at an investment conference on Tuesday by Build-A-Bear CEO Sharon Price John. “I’m excited to share that we’ll be one of the first companies to be able provide the new digital and internet phenomenon who is trending higher than all of the presidential candidates combined,” she said. “We now will have The Child, also known as Baby Yoda.” Read more

 

Khalil Mack’s Walmart Christmas donation was improperly handled at Fox Business. “A representative from Mack’s charity made the donation by paying more than $60,000 in layaway accounts at the store, according to NBC Chicago. However, the spokesman said that at least $20,000 of the funds possibly went to store associates.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Low-CO2 food labeling will be the next ‘low fat’ craze

Amazon seeks to block Microsoft from working on JEDI contract

Glassdoor: 50 Best Jobs in America for 2020

Steve Case’s ‘Rise of the Rest’ bus tour plans stop in Bentonville

US-China phase one trade deal: What Beijing has agreed to buy

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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: H.Dep #24 Trust | Instacart Holds 5% | RH CEO New Pad

 

Instacart holds firm on its tipping policy as contract workers call for national boycott at CNBC. “Nilam Ganenthiran, Instacart’s president, said the current 5% rate is appropriate as the default, though customers have the option of giving more. “I truly think it’s right for our shoppers, right for our customers and right for the ecosystem,” Ganenthiran told CNBC.” Read more

 

Walmart Expands Its Robotic Workforce to 650 Additional Stores by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. “…bringing its fleet to 1,000. The six-foot-tall Bossa Nova devices, equipped with 15 cameras each, roam aisles and send alerts to store employees’  handheld devices when items are out of stock, helping to solve a vexing problem that costs retailers nearly a trillion dollars annually, according to researcher IHL Group.” Tiered subs.

 

Morning Consult: The 25 Most Trusted Brands in America – Amazon #2 / Home Depot #24 / Walmart #25 Ranked lists

 

CVS CEO Larry Merlo says 600 remodeled HealthHUBs will be opened by the end of 2020 at CNBC. “Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth, North Carolina and Ohio are among the next markets that CVS is targeting for its HealthHUB expansion this year. With its HealthHUBs, CVS wants to offer more health services and products to customers, which is tailored around the company’s $70 billion acquisition of Aetna.” Video/Read more

 

Target and Lowe’s Tech Execs Credit Talent, Culture for Insourcing Success by Jared Council at Wall Street Journal. “Not everything needs to be done in-house, but companies should opt to build technologies that are core to their businesses, said Seemantini Godbole, chief information officer at Lowe’s. “Wherever you have secret sauce that you want to put your fingerprints on, for your customer experience or for your own associates,” she said, “I’ve always believed that you should build your own technology.” WSJ subs.

 

Iain Nairn Named President of Hudson’s Bay “Most recently, Mr. Nairn was CEO of kikki.K, a global Swedish design and stationery business…Previously, Mr. Nairn was CEO of David Jones, Australia’s leading premium omnichannel department store chain.” Press release

 

Kohl’s CEO Michelle Gass: ‘Amazon is working’ at CNBC. “Some say it is benefiting Amazon more than it is Kohl’s. “We’re getting a younger customer,” Gass said Sunday. “And to what we expected, some of them were buying. … You’re never going to get 100%. But some of them are buying.” Read more

 

**A message from Sweets & Snacks Expo. Save the date: May 19-21, 2020 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Your year starts here. Website/Register

 

The Container Store Group prelim Q3 comp sales +3.0% Press release

 

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to Face Protests From ‘Enraged’ Local Merchants During India Visit by Saritha Rai at Bloomberg via Fortune. “More than half-a-million traders representing thousands of trading bodies grouped under the Confederation of All India Traders plan to organize sit-ins and public rallies in 300 cities to protest Bezos’s visit, the group said.” Read more

 

J.Jill increases Q4 2019 guidance  “…now expects total comp sales to decrease 6% to 8%… (vs.) previous guidance for total comp sales to decrease 8% to 10%.” Press release

 

GameStop holiday sales down 27.5% at Hollywood Reporter. Read more

 

Tilly’s comp sales decreased by 2.0% for the holiday period Press release

 

The former Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is now officially the Consumer Brands Association (CBA) at The Hill. “CBA’s main goals will involve championing smart regulations for the industry, building frictionless supply chains, enhancing packaging sustainability, and building consumer trust.” Read more

 

Stage Stores reports 1.4% comp sales increase for holiday period Press release

 

Amazon Publishes Books by Top Authors, and Rivals Fret by Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg at Wall Street Journal. “When Dean Koontz’s book contract expired last year, his stature as one of the country’s top-selling authors made him a hot target for several major publishing houses. He  chose Amazon.com Inc. It was a surprising move because it means his new books likely won’t appear in retail stores, which generally boycott Amazon-published titles.” WSJ subs.

 

At Home Group updates Q4 and fiscal 2020 outlook “…expects fiscal 2020 net sales and comparable store sales toward the high end of its previously provided outlook of $1,352.0 million to $1,360.0 million and (2.6)% to (2.0)%.” Press release

 

Lowe’s expands Google Cloud ties “Lowe’s is in the early stages of a large-scale, multiyear technology transformation, investing more than $500 million annually through 2021 and hiring up to 2,000 engineers to continue to build out future retail experiences.” Press release

 

Walmart sacks 56 executives in India as part of restructuring at Reuters. “It’s happening because focus is shifting to e-commerce rather than physical (stores),” according to one of three people, who spoke to Reuters ahead of the company announcement.” Read more

 

Barneys accused of leaving staff in the dark during liquidation by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Among the grievances is that Barneys has not informed them of their last day of work or assured them that they will receive severance or their pensions, the filing said.” Read more

 

RH CEO Gary Friedman Buys $37 Million Beverly Hills Estate by James McClain at Variety. “Friedman’s new $37 million palace lies just two doors away from an even larger compound that was sold back in 2018 for a whopping $41.5 million to Walmart heiress Paige Laurie.” Pics/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Ad Age Best Places to Work 2020

Casey’s won’t avoid small metro markets

The New Beer Barons

Oscars: Full List of Nominations

NRF names new chairman, board members

U.S. bike firms face uphill slog to replace Chinese supply chains

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: H.Dep #24 Trust | Instacart Holds 5% | RH CEO New Pad

 

Instacart holds firm on its tipping policy as contract workers call for national boycott at CNBC. “Nilam Ganenthiran, Instacart’s president, said the current 5% rate is appropriate as the default, though customers have the option of giving more. “I truly think it’s right for our shoppers, right for our customers and right for the ecosystem,” Ganenthiran told CNBC.” Read more

 

Walmart Expands Its Robotic Workforce to 650 Additional Stores by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. “…bringing its fleet to 1,000. The six-foot-tall Bossa Nova devices, equipped with 15 cameras each, roam aisles and send alerts to store employees’  handheld devices when items are out of stock, helping to solve a vexing problem that costs retailers nearly a trillion dollars annually, according to researcher IHL Group.” Tiered subs.

 

Morning Consult: The 25 Most Trusted Brands in America – Amazon #2 / Home Depot #24 / Walmart #25 Ranked lists

 

CVS CEO Larry Merlo says 600 remodeled HealthHUBs will be opened by the end of 2020 at CNBC. “Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth, North Carolina and Ohio are among the next markets that CVS is targeting for its HealthHUB expansion this year. With its HealthHUBs, CVS wants to offer more health services and products to customers, which is tailored around the company’s $70 billion acquisition of Aetna.” Video/Read more

 

Target and Lowe’s Tech Execs Credit Talent, Culture for Insourcing Success by Jared Council at Wall Street Journal. “Not everything needs to be done in-house, but companies should opt to build technologies that are core to their businesses, said Seemantini Godbole, chief information officer at Lowe’s. “Wherever you have secret sauce that you want to put your fingerprints on, for your customer experience or for your own associates,” she said, “I’ve always believed that you should build your own technology.” WSJ subs.

 

Iain Nairn Named President of Hudson’s Bay “Most recently, Mr. Nairn was CEO of kikki.K, a global Swedish design and stationery business…Previously, Mr. Nairn was CEO of David Jones, Australia’s leading premium omnichannel department store chain.” Press release

 

Kohl’s CEO Michelle Gass: ‘Amazon is working’ at CNBC. “Some say it is benefiting Amazon more than it is Kohl’s. “We’re getting a younger customer,” Gass said Sunday. “And to what we expected, some of them were buying. … You’re never going to get 100%. But some of them are buying.” Read more

 

**A message from Sweets & Snacks Expo. Save the date: May 19-21, 2020 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Your year starts here. Website/Register

 

The Container Store Group prelim Q3 comp sales +3.0% Press release

 

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to Face Protests From ‘Enraged’ Local Merchants During India Visit by Saritha Rai at Bloomberg via Fortune. “More than half-a-million traders representing thousands of trading bodies grouped under the Confederation of All India Traders plan to organize sit-ins and public rallies in 300 cities to protest Bezos’s visit, the group said.” Read more

 

J.Jill increases Q4 2019 guidance  “…now expects total comp sales to decrease 6% to 8%… (vs.) previous guidance for total comp sales to decrease 8% to 10%.” Press release

 

GameStop holiday sales down 27.5% at Hollywood Reporter. Read more

 

Tilly’s comp sales decreased by 2.0% for the holiday period Press release

 

The former Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is now officially the Consumer Brands Association (CBA) at The Hill. “CBA’s main goals will involve championing smart regulations for the industry, building frictionless supply chains, enhancing packaging sustainability, and building consumer trust.” Read more

 

Stage Stores reports 1.4% comp sales increase for holiday period Press release

 

Amazon Publishes Books by Top Authors, and Rivals Fret by Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg at Wall Street Journal. “When Dean Koontz’s book contract expired last year, his stature as one of the country’s top-selling authors made him a hot target for several major publishing houses. He  chose Amazon.com Inc. It was a surprising move because it means his new books likely won’t appear in retail stores, which generally boycott Amazon-published titles.” WSJ subs.

 

At Home Group updates Q4 and fiscal 2020 outlook “…expects fiscal 2020 net sales and comparable store sales toward the high end of its previously provided outlook of $1,352.0 million to $1,360.0 million and (2.6)% to (2.0)%.” Press release

 

Lowe’s expands Google Cloud ties “Lowe’s is in the early stages of a large-scale, multiyear technology transformation, investing more than $500 million annually through 2021 and hiring up to 2,000 engineers to continue to build out future retail experiences.” Press release

 

Walmart sacks 56 executives in India as part of restructuring at Reuters. “It’s happening because focus is shifting to e-commerce rather than physical (stores),” according to one of three people, who spoke to Reuters ahead of the company announcement.” Read more

 

Barneys accused of leaving staff in the dark during liquidation by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Among the grievances is that Barneys has not informed them of their last day of work or assured them that they will receive severance or their pensions, the filing said.” Read more

 

RH CEO Gary Friedman Buys $37 Million Beverly Hills Estate by James McClain at Variety. “Friedman’s new $37 million palace lies just two doors away from an even larger compound that was sold back in 2018 for a whopping $41.5 million to Walmart heiress Paige Laurie.” Pics/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Ad Age Best Places to Work 2020

Casey’s won’t avoid small metro markets

The New Beer Barons

Oscars: Full List of Nominations

NRF names new chairman, board members

U.S. bike firms face uphill slog to replace Chinese supply chains

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: Analyst Warns on WM | Target/Kohl’s Best @ Returns | Bezos @ India

 

Grubhub insists it’s not exploring a sale by John Pletz at Crain’s Chicago Business. “Grubhub: ‘In fact, we believe that given the current pressure on profits across our public and private competition, there will likely be strategic opportunities to acquire share this year— given that our profitability is secure.'” Read more

 

…Walmart, other grocers are considering acquiring Grubhub by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Insiders at Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons and Ahold-Delhaize, the owner of Hannaford and Stop & Shop, have been reviewing how buying the Chicago company could help them with food delivery and groceries, according to ex-Amazon executive and supply-chain consultant Brittain Ladd.” Read more

 

Target, Kohl’s receive top product return scores in Field Agent survey by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “The average return at Target took 2.7 minutes from start to finish. At Walmart, the average return took 6.1 minutes. Kohl’s had the longest time at 9.4 minutes on average. Field Agent said the average time at Kohl’s was hampered by a single return that took 34 minutes to complete.” Read more

 

Cato December comp sales flat Press release

 

Jim Cramer says ‘hold your nose and buy’ Bed Bath & Beyond on 19% plunge at CNBC. “With a new mass promotions strategy, the retailer managed to grow same-store sales more than 7% from the year prior during the five-day shopping frenzy surrounding Thanksgiving. “It is unbelievable to me that so many people are overlooking that spectacular number,” Cramer said.” Read more

 

**A message from Sweets & Snacks Expo. Save the date: May 19-21, 2020 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Your year starts here. Website/Register

 

Target is taking the market share in women’s clothing that Kohl’s is losing at MarketWatch. Read more

 

…‘Kohl’s is just roadkill,’ says Cramer. ‘I’m speechless’ after ‘a terrible holiday season’ at CNBC. Read more

 

Tiffany & Co. and Costco’s 7-Year Long Fight Over “Counterfeit” Rings Is One to Watch in 2020 at The Fashion Law. Read more

 

First cashier-less Walmart Neighborhood Market in FL opens by Rob Wile at Miami Herald. “The West Miami-Dade store will have the same number of workers, about 100, as a traditional neighborhood market. But instead of swipers and baggers, the checkout lane will feature roving employees assisting shoppers when they need it.” Read more

 

In just 3 years, Amazon has amassed nearly 3M square feet of real estate in Bellevue, Wash. by Nat Levy at GeekWire. Read more

 

Target looks to gain market share with new activewear brand by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “All in Motion, an activewear brand developed by Target’s in-house designers, will replace C9 by Champion, a licensed brand from Hanesbrands that Target has carried exclusively for more than 15 years.” Tiered subs.

 

Cleveland Research warns on Walmart Q4 at Seeking Alpha. “Overall holiday sales seemed to come in softer than we were previously expecting,” says the team at Cleveland Research, “with sales performance during December not appearing as strong compared to peers.” Read more

 

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Makes Stop In Bentonville To Visit Walmart HQ at 5 News Online. “…he is traveling across the country with his Teremana Tequila team to meet and sit with customers and buyers…Teremana Tequila is The Rock’s new tequila brand launching in March…” Read more

 

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to visit India next week, likely to meet PM Modi at Business Standard. Read more

 

‘I Felt Very Powerful’: 10-Year-Old Boy Returns $900 To Woman Who Lost Envelope In Target at KCAL 9 CBS. “Target made the event a special occasion as Foster met Ball for the first time and gave her the envelope with the $900. The two shared a hug and a smile. Parisa shared several images of the celebration on her Facebook page.” Video/Pics/Read more

 

‘Not on my watch’: Best Buy employee who stopped a crook gets Women’s Football League offer at WILX 10 NBC. “The clip has been viewed millions of times online, sparking positive and negative reactions as well as some job offers…Tapasa has experience playing several sports, including football and rugby.” Video/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Lime is laying off about 100 people

The 3 biggest design trends at CES 2020

How the dairy industry plans to save milk

More brands are leaving Amazon, but the strategy could backfire

After Super Bowl, sports books preparing for XFL bets

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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: Costco +9% | HEB #1 Grocer | WM +134 Mex | JCP -7.5%

 

Costco December comp sales +9.0% / E-com +43.1% “For the 18 weeks ended January 5, 2020, the Company reported net sales of $56.99 billion, an increase of 7.5 percent from $52.99 billion during the similar period last year.” Press release

 

Bed Bath & Beyond Q3 comp sales -8.3% Press release

 

…Bed Bath & Beyond still plans to close 60 stores but officials say 20 closures will be delayed by Charisse Jones at USA Today. “It’s clear we have some heavy lifting to do,” (Mark) Tritton said. “We’re experiencing short-term pain, some of which has been self-inflicted.” Read more

 

JC Penney says holiday same-store sales fell 7.5% at CNBC. “The retailer said that its adjusted same-store sales — which exclude the impact of its exit from major appliance and furniture categories — were down 5.3%.” Read more

 

H-E-B Dethrones Trader Joe’s as Top U.S. Grocery Retailer by dunnhumby. “2) Trader Joe’s, 3) Amazon, 4) Market Basket, 5) Wegmans, 6) Costco, 7) Aldi, 8) Sam’s Club, 9) Walmart, 10) Publix, 11) WinCo Foods…” Press release

 

Kohl’s shares tank on dismal holiday sales results, lowered outlook at CNBC. “Kohl’s said same-store sales during November and December fell 0.2% due to weakness in its core women’s apparel business, leading it to lower the bar for its full-year outlook.” Read more

 

Walmart opened 134 stores in Mexico in 2019, biggest expansion in six years at AP. “Walmart now runs 3,407 stores in Mexico, where it has more locations than in any other country outside the United States…Nearly all the new units belong to the Bodega Aurrera family of stores, including the small, no-frills Bodega Express that is cheaper and quicker to build than Walmart’s bigger formats.” Read more

 

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PriceSmart December comp sales -0.1% Press release

 

Inside Amazon’s CES media event by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. “To add a little starpower to the experience, it brought out celebrity chef Guy Fieri, who talked about the Food Network Kitchen integration with Alexa…Fieri needed some help, so he called out “a buddy of mine.”…(then) Shaquille O’Neal stepped out.” Read more/Pics

 

Target to sell fake beef from meatless turkey maker Tofurky at Fox Business. Read more

 

Welcome to Walmart. The Robot Will Grab Your Groceries. by Sarah Nassauer at Wall Street Journal. “A store worker can collect around 80 products from store shelves an hour, estimated John Lert, founder and chief executive of Alert Innovation, the startup that has worked with Walmart to design the system dubbed Alphabot. It is designed to collect 800 products an hour per workstation, operated by a single individual, Mr. Lert said.” WSJ subs.

 

Diapers and feminine hygiene products are now tax-free in California at The Hill. Read more

 

eBay exec David Doctorow will become chief executive of Move Inc., operator of realtor.com at NY Post. Read more

 

lululemon Appoints Nikki Neuburger Chief Brand Officer “Ms. Neuburger joins lululemon from Uber…Previously, Ms. Neuburger spent 14 years at Nike, most recently serving as the company’s Global Vice President of Nike Running.” Press release

 

Lowe’s Names Marisa Thalberg Chief Brand and Marketing Officer “Thalberg joins the company most recently from Taco Bell where she served as global chief brand officer. Thalberg brings to Lowe’s more than 25 years of marketing and branding experience….She also founded Executive Moms, an organization for working mothers.” Press release

 

Home improvement marketplace Porch raises $21M by Nat Levy at GeekWire. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Jeff Bezos throws Lauren Sanchez two 50th birthday parties

New Mexico to host world’s largest meeting on chili peppers

Amazon and Discovery cook up ‘Food Network Kitchen’ streaming service

Vicks New No. 1 Radio Advertiser

Woman’s bulldog crushed beneath grooming table at PetSmart

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: Barney’s Hack | Macy’s Beats | Wgreen Earnings Miss

 

Macy’s holiday same-store sales fall 0.6%. Smaller-than-expected decline sends shares higher at CNBC. Read more

 

…Macy’s is closing at least 19 stores in the next couple months at USA Today. Read more

 

Walgreens’ shares fall after company misses earnings expectations at CNBC. “Earnings per share: $1.37 adjusted, vs. $1.41 expected. Revenue: $34.34 billion, vs. $34.6 billion expected…Same store sales increased by 1.6% from the same period a year earlier.” Read more | Press release

 

Alibaba undercuts Amazon in Europe to woo wary brands at Reuters. “A flood of small businesses have joined its European platform, AliExpress, in recent months but some larger brands are holding back…AliExpress has approached well-known brands including Mango, Benetton and Spanish fashion group Tendam…Some of the brands did not feel the site, whose fashion offerings include an imitation leather miniskirt for about $18 and an acrylic batwing sweater for $14, was the right showcase for their products, sources said.” Read more

 

Kroger launches private-label vegan beef as demand for meat substitutes soars at CNBC. “The new meat-free ground beef and burger patties made with pea protein will be a part of Simple Truth Emerge, a plant-based meat extension of its organic Simple Truth line, which grossed more than $2.3 billion in sales in 2019.” Read more

 

Walmart veteran JP Suarez recounts how the retailer embarked on fixing its stores by Maria Halkias at Dallas Morning News. “Greg Foran was the first one to tell me that the stores weren’t good enough and they had to get better,” said Suarez, who in during the past five years oversaw the building of 1,100 new stores and the addition of curbside grocery pickup to 3,200 Walmart stores. “We were a $400 billion company, but he pushed us to be great,” he said. “Good retailers were going away fast, and great ones would stay around.” Read more

 

Jewel-Osco president Paul Gossett quietly steps down just over a year into the job; former exec steps in by Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz at Chicago Tribune. Tiered subs.

 

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Target, Dick’s, Walmart, Amazon and others recognized for ads by Tanya Gazdik at MediaPost. Read more

 

Barneys staffers going without pay after cyberattack by Carlos Greer at NY Post. “No one got paid last week,” an insider told us. “We were told a group of cyber hackers took over one of our subsequent systems, the system we use to get paid…The source claimed the payments are “being held at ransom and the current owners don’t want to pay the ransom, so we’re not getting paid. No one knows when we’ll get paid.” Read more

 

Loblaw’s Provigo to shut Laval warehouse in 2021, axing 545 jobs by Frederic Tomesco at Financial Post. Read more

 

U.K. Gas-Station Billionaires Weigh Biggest-Ever Deal in Caltex at Bloomberg. “EG Group, the U.K. company led by Mohsin and Zuber Issa, is working with a financial adviser as it evaluates making a bid for Caltex Australia Ltd., people with knowledge of the matter said. Any offer for the $6 billion company could start a takeover battle with Canadian convenience-store giant Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., whose initial bid for Caltex was rejected.” Tiered subs.

 

Facebook, eBay crack down on fake reviews at UK request at AP. Read more

 

Sprouts Farmers Market names new CFO at MarketWatch. “Sprouts Farmers Market named Denise Paulonis its new chief financial officer, effective Feb. 21. Paulonis most recently served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Michaels Cos.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

How Ikea plans to be climate positive by 2030

This specialty pencil shop is one of a kind

Private payroll growth surges in December to end 2019 strong

Amazon apologizes after man allegedly received ‘new’ waffle maker with crusty waffle

MN company fires worker who criticized holiday gift via Twitter

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