Tipsheet: Thailand/Mex. City Bag Ban | Jan 18 Gift Card Day | C-Store Hell @ Japan

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How 7-Eleven Struck Back Against an Owner Who Took a Day Off by Hisako Ueno at NY Times. “The company that controls the 7-Eleven chain, Seven & I Holdings, terminated Mr. Matsumoto’s franchise last week after he decided to close his store on New Year’s Day, and it has stopped supplying him.” Tiered subs.

 

Pier 1 Imports to close up to 450 stores, nearly half of its locations by Kelly Tyko at USA Today. Read more

 

Placer.ai lists the retail chains it sees winning the war for foot traffic in 2020: Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, CVS, Ulta… “Target isn’t just crushing, it is defining a segment with potential for ongoing success. Moves to include higher-priced offerings, like Disney or Toys-R-Us locations on-site, speak to a move upmarket.” Read more

 

Ikea to pay $46 million to family of toddler crushed by dresser at CNN. Read more

 

Walmart store is facing a bedbug infestation after someone released the parasitic insects in a men’s changing room at KDKA 2 CBS. “A Walmart in Pennsylvania is facing a bedbug infestation after someone released the parasitic insects in a men’s changing room, state police said…The bottle was found inside a boy’s jacket which was for sale.” Read more

 

Topgolf could IPO as soon as this year with a $4 billion valuation at Markets Insider. 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

 

Jan. 18 has been dubbed National Use your Gift Card Day by Kim Souza to Talk Business. “…retailers from Kohl’s to Saks Fifth Avenue are giving extra perks to consumers who cash in gift cards on that day. Thus far, 16 retailers have signed on to the program offering discounts and other bonuses in connection with spending on Jan. 18.” Read more

 

Amazon is considering opening offline retail stores in Germany, newspaper Die Welt reported, citing an interview with Ralf Kleber, head of the company’s operations in the country at Bloomberg. Tiered subs.

 

Hallmark Cards will cut 400 jobs – of the jobs lost, 325 will be in the Kansas City headquarters at CNN. Read more

 

Shoppers in Thailand are getting creative after a new plastic bag ban by Justine Kalma at The Verge. “Creative shoppers brought in wheelbarrows, fishing nets, and even what looks like an impressive piece of pottery to haul their groceries home…Mexico City also rang in the New Year with a new ban on plastic bags. There, the law is expected to bring back traditional ways of packaging and carrying goods, like using straw baskets and paper rolled up in cones.” Read more

 

Illinois marijuana dispensaries sold more than $10.8 million worth of recreational weed in the first five days of sales. Now, some have halted recreational sales amid product shortages. by Ally Marotti at Chicago Tribune. “Customers made more than 271,000 purchases during that time.” Tiered subs.

 

Tipsheet Extra

Thousands of camels in Australia to be killed as they drink too much water amid wildfires

How Cameo makes tens of millions from selfie videos and D-list celebrities

Professional sports leagues finally cash in on sports betting by selling data

White House proposes guidelines for regulating the use of AI

Elizabeth Warren unveils plan to overhaul bankruptcy laws

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: Bed Bath/PE Deal | Amazon/BMW Screens | WM Leverages Data

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Amazon to showcase its transportation drive at CES at Reuters. “Until now, Amazon has shown its transportation strategy to investors – and rivals – one piece at a time…The Seattle company will share the CES stage with partners such as virtual reality firm ZeroLight, electric vehicle startup Rivian, Canada’s BlackBerry Ltd and video game software development company Unity Technologies.” Read more

 

…Amazon Fire TV seatback screens are coming to BMW and FCA vehicles at The Verge. Read more

 

Hudson’s Bay Co minority shareholders win victory as Richard Baker sweetens bid at Bloomberg via Financial Post. “Hudson’s Bay…agreed to a new bid by Baker and a group of allies, who together control the company. The offer was increased for a second time to $11 a share from $10.30. Baker’s first offer was for $9.45 apiece in June. The new take-private bid values the owner of Saks Fifth Avenue at about $2 billion.” Read more

 

Ikea’s CEO says the company is testing ‘everything you can dream of’ by Stephanie Mehta at Fast Company.  “FC: As you’ve tried to get closer to the customer and tested new things, what hasn’t worked? What are the lessons you’ve learned? JB: We have rediscovered some core things. One of them is that we actually provide everything [for a home] under one roof, so when we’ve been fragmenting our offer, then people are also getting frustrated. “Here you have kitchens, but not bedrooms, why is that?” Q&A

 

Bed Bath & Beyond Strikes Real-Estate Deal by Suzanne Kapner at Wall Street Journal. “Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has signed a deal to sell roughly half its real estate to a private-equity firm and lease back the space in a transaction that will generate more than $250 million in proceeds for the troubled home-goods retailer, according to people familiar with the situation.  The 2.1 million square feet of space sold to Oak Street Real Estate Capital LLC includes the company’s Union, N.J., headquarters, a distribution facility and an undisclosed number of its roughly 1,500 stores, the people said.” WSJ subs.

 

…Bed Bath & Beyond shares jump on real estate deal at CNBC. 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

 

Amazon partners with India’s second largest retailer to sell its good online by Manish Singh at TechCrunch. “Future Retail operates more than 1,500 stores across India, but until now, it has not aggressively explored sales online. As part of the agreement, Amazon India will become the authorized online sales channel for Future Retail stores including department and grocery stores chain Big Bazaar and lifestyle food superstore Foodhall.” Read more

 

Marks & Spencer names former Tesco exec David Surdeau as interim CFO at Reuters. Read more

 

New York offered Amazon $800 million more in incentives than was previously known to win its second-headquarters contest and were even prepared to pay part of some employees’ salaries by Jimmy Vielkind at Wall Street Journal. WSJ subs.

 

Golden Globes: The Complete Winners List at Hollywood Reporter. List

 

…Ricky Gervais blasts Apple’s Tim Cook over China ‘sweatshops’ at CNBC. Read more

 

Walmart leverages offline data in its latest bid to take on Amazon by George P. Slefo at Ad Age. “The company’s ad tech arm, Walmart Media Group, introduced Advertising Partners, a new unit that includes third-party vendors Flywheel Digital, Kenshoo, Pacvue and Teikametrics. The move will potentially allow advertisers to tap into Walmart’s trove of consumer data to offer advertisers better targeting and measurement tools.” Tiered subs.

 

Save A Lot gets capital infusion “Save A Lot will receive $138 million in new capital…In addition, the agreement provides for a reduction of indebtedness of over $400 million.” Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra

‘Fortnite’ Revenue Dropped 25% in 2019

Mark Zuckerberg goes shopping at Costco

Oil price keeps rising as industry eyes Iran-US conflict

McDonald’s CEO promises an end to partying culture

Black News Channel delays launch again

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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: Buffett Passed on Tiffany | WaPo Hits Amazon | Returns Day +26%

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Amazon threatens to fire critics who are outspoken on its environmental policies by Jay Greene at Washington Post. “An email sent to Maren Costa, a principal user-experience designer at the company, and reviewed by The Post warned that future infractions could “result in formal corrective action, up to and including termination of your employment with Amazon.” Tiered subs.

 

Hudson Bay, owner of Saks, up 17 percent on deal reports by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “A deal that would allow the company to go private is expected to be reached this week, according to WWD, a fashion trade publication that first reported the talks.” Read more

 

Warren Buffett reportedly passed on buying Tiffany at CNBC. “The jeweler approached Buffett after receiving a takeover bid from LVMH, but the Oracle of Omaha — who previously bought $250 million worth of the company’s bonds in 2009 — declined, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Buffett confirmed to the Financial Times that the conversation took place.” Read more

 

Amazon is opening a homeless shelter – inside its HQ by Aria Bendix at Business Insider. “When the shelter opens, it will have the capacity to serve 275 people each night. That’s a small portion of the local homeless population — about 12,500 people in King County, where Seattle is located — but it’s expected to be the largest family shelter in Washington state.” Read more

 

India’s richest man is ready to take on Amazon and Flipkart by Manish Singh at TechCrunch. “If there is anyone in India who is positioned to compete with heavily backed Amazon and Walmart,  it’s Ambani. Reliance Retail, which was founded in 2006, is the largest retailer in the country by revenue. It serves more than 3.5 million customers each week through its nearly 10,000 physical stores in more than 6,500 Indian cities and towns.” Read more

 

ILLINOIS: The first day of recreational marijuana sales featured long lines, some glitches — and mostly happy customers at Chicago Tribune. “The Collinsville location, which is drawing customers from the St. Louis area, had served nearly 600 people by 11 a.m., Stone said. “We’re the only dispensary for adult-use within 80 miles,” he said. The shops gave out doughnuts and coffee, and is planning to give pizza to people waiting in line for lunch.” Tiered subs.

 

ONTARIO: ‘There’s just no money coming in’: Cannabis sector bracing for wave of insolvencies in 2020 at Financial Post. “There are currently more than 200 cannabis companies either in the cultivation, processing or extraction businesses…Although cannabis sales have been increasing on a monthly basis since legalization in October 2018, inventory has been growing much more quickly, resulting in oversupply and declining prices.” Read more

 

Today is ‘National Returns Day’ and UPS anticipates nearly 2 million unwanted gifts to ship at CNBC. “United Parcel Service on Thursday expects to ship 1.9 million gifts and other items back to U.S. retailers as e-commerce fuels an anticipated 26% year-over-year volume surge on “National Returns Day.” Read more

 

CHARLOTTE: Should malls have curfews? Debate arises after girl shot, killed at Concord Mills at Charlotte Observer. “Following the shooting death of a 13-year-old girl at Concord Mills mall Saturday, Charlotte area residents are debating whether malls should require teens to have adult supervision…In March, a man was shot and suffered non-life threatening injuries 15 minutes into the “Us” movie …In September 2017, the mall was evacuated after a melee erupted among what police said was a large group of juveniles and young adults.” Tiered subs.

 

Walmart eCommerce exec named CEO of Michaels at Talk Business. “In an email from Marc Lore, President and CEO of Walmart eCommerce U.S., to employees obtained by Talk Business & Politics, Lore said he “appreciated” Buchanan’s skills and contributions. “It is with mixed emotions that I’m letting you know Ashley Buchanan, will be leaving the company effective Jan. 3, to become President and CEO of Michaels…” Read more

 

Trump suggests some flavored vapes may be pulled from market at AP. “The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration would ban the sale of most flavored e-cigarettes…Trump suggested a ban of flavored e-cigarettes might be temporary. “Hopefully, if everything’s safe, they’re going to be going very quickly back onto the market.” Read more

 

No one is ready for California’s new consumer privacy law by Kim Lyons at The Verge. “The crux of the CCPA is this: if your company buys or sells data on at least 50,000 California residents each year, you have to disclose to those residents what you’re doing with the data, and, they can request you not sell it.” Read more

 

…Walmart, Target Rush to Comply With New Privacy Law at Progressive Grocer. “A Walmart source told Reuters that the Bentonville, Ark.-based company is “working through a lot of ambiguities in the law, for example, the language around loyalty programs and if retail companies can offer them going forward.”…Target spokeswoman Jessica Carlson told Reuters that a “Do Not Sell” button on its website will be visible to all U.S. shoppers, and that California residents will have access to information outlined under the new law.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

The 7 big Supreme Court cases to watch in 2020

Robots at CES 2020: Robo-cats, sex tech, pizza makers and more

Bird flu kills 25,000 turkeys in eastern Poland

Denmark sources record 47% of power from wind in 2019

Google veterans: The company has become ‘unrecognizable’

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