Tipsheet: Amazon Visits +32% | OOS HEB #1/Target #2 | Lowe’s #3 Radio

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Walmart/Sam’s Club will start taking employees’ temperatures before shifts at CNBC. “If an employee has a temperature of 100.0 degrees or more, he or she will be paid for reporting to work and asked to return home or get medical care. Employees with a high temperature won’t be allowed to return to work until they’re fever-free for at least three days.” Read more

 

…6-20-100 guidance “6 feet is the among of space people should keep from others…20 seconds is the among of time people should take to wash their hands…And 100 is the temperature that someone should stay home with.” Press release

 

Whole Foods Employees Are Staging a Nationwide ‘Sick-Out’ Today at Vice. “On March 31, Whole Foods employees will call in sick to demand paid leave for all workers who stay home or self-quarantine during the crisis, free coronavirus testing for all employees, and hazard pay of double the current hourly wage for employees who show up to work during the pandemic.” Read more

 

Amazon Struggles to Find Its Coronavirus Footing. ‘It’s a Time of Great Stress.’ by Dana Mattioli & Sebastian Herrera at Wall Street Journal. “The company’s website had 639,330,722 visits for the week of March 9, according to data from Comscore, up 32% from the year earlier. From Feb. 20 to March 23, Amazon’s sales of toilet paper increased 186% from the year-earlier period, according to analytics firm CommerceIQ…sales of cough and cold medicine grew by 862%, compared with a forecast growth rate of 110%, and children’s vitamins by 287%, compared with a forecast rate of 49%.” WSJ subs.

 

Simon Property, furloughs 30% of workforce at CNBC. Read more

 

IKEA making masks to help fight coronavirus at Reuters. “Having started off with masks for staff in China in early stages of the pandemic, the Swedish group is working with several suppliers to ramp up output of masks for health workers, as well as hand sanitizers, visors and single-use aprons.” Read more

 

Macy’s to furlough most of 130,000 employees as stores stay shut at Reuters. Read more

 

OpenTable will allow people to reserve shopping times at supermarkets by Taylor Lyles at The Verge. “Currently, seven partners across Los Angeles and San Francisco — six restaurants turn pop-up markets plus one local grocery store are using the new feature, but OpenTable told The Verge it is in “active talks with other national grocers/retailers.” Read more

 

**A message from Gusto kitchenware. High quality – value priced – colorful kitchenware from the #1 cookware brand in Mexico. Information | Samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Amazon fires worker who led New York strike over coronavirus safety worries at Fortune. “Amazon confirmed it fired Smalls, saying he violated safety regulations, including failing to abide by a 14-day quarantine required after being exposed to an employee with a confirmed case of Covid-19.” Read more

 

…Amazon worker speaks out after firing at Fox Business. “It was retaliation,” Christian Smalls told FOX Business. “There’s no way around it. The truth will come out.” Read more

 

According to IRI, sales of meat increased 91% during the week ended March 22 at Progressive Grocer. “In absolute dollars, the five biggest winners for the week of March 22 were ground beef ($180 million more versus the comparable week in 2019), chicken breasts ($75 million), pork loin ($40 million), beef short loin (nearly $40 million) and beef chuck ($35 million), according to IRI.” Read more

 

Field Agent: H-E-B is leading the pack when it comes to out-of-stocks – but Target is a close #2 “In all, 22% of shelves audited at H-E-B (N = 160) were completely OOS. That’s good enough for first place among 12 total retailers audited, though, it should be stressed, neck-and-neck with Target (23%).” Read more

 

LOWE’S #3 IN RADIO SPOTS – Moved from 22nd to 3rd on the Media Monitors chart last week. Lowes aired 42,612 spots on radio stations all across the country. Radio Ink

 

Amazon Is Struggling to Pay Workers in Quarantine by Olga Khazan at The Atlantic. “In line with Amazon’s new policy, the company said it would pay her for the length of her quarantine. But there is a catch: She was told she won’t be paid until after she returns to work.” Read more

 

Williams-Sonoma fined $1 Million for misleading ‘Made in USA’ claims at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “The FTC’s complaint involves numerous Williams-Sonoma Goldtouch Bakeware products, Rejuvenation-branded products and its Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids-branded upholstered furniture.” Read more

 

In chaotic times, gardening becomes therapy at AP. “At the Almaden Valley Nursery in San Jose, California, rose expert John Harp has seen a mix of new gardeners and regulars….“Around town everyone is gardening right now,” Harp said. “They’re looking to be a little bit more self-sufficient.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Microsoft’s Skype struggles have created a Zoom moment 

ESPN moving up highly anticipated Michael Jordan documentary

5th ShopRite employee in N.J. tests positive for coronavirus

Why Walmart is seeing increased sales for tops, but not bottoms

Dollar General offers 10 percent discount for first responders

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: Baby Chicks Sold Out | Amazon Walkout | Instacart Workers Strike?

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Instacart workers seek strike as jobs get busier, riskier at AP. “Instacart said Sunday it would soon provide workers with a new hand sanitizer upon request and outlined changes to its tip system. The group said the measures were too little too late. While some workers say they intend to join the strike for at least a day — or have stopped filling orders already for fear of getting the virus — other, newer workers are content to have a paying job at a time of mass layoffs in other industries.” Read more

 

Amazon workers at Staten Island warehouse to stage walkout today over coronavirus at NY Post. “Some 200 employees are expected to walk out at around 12:30 p.m. in protest of Amazon’s decision to keep the Bloomfield warehouse open for business as usual. “We want the business closed down and sanitized before we return,” said Chris Smalls, a management assistant at the facility who is leading the walkout.” Read more

 

Costco cutting hours at stores, gas stations as of March 30 by Kelly Tyko at USA Today. “Stores will close at 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and gas stations will close at 7 p.m…On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 to 9 a.m., Costco “will temporarily implement special operating hours for members who are 60 and older.” Read more

 

America stress-bought all the baby chickens by Tove Danovich at NY Times. “People are panic-buying chickens like they did toilet paper,” said Tom Watkins, the vice president of (a hatchery). Down at your Tractor Supply Company…long lines snake out the door into the parking lot before the store opens on the morning of a chick delivery. Many feed stores report they are selling out of chicks almost as fast as they can get new orders in.” Tiered subs.

 

Mall owner Taubman is telling tenants they must pay rent amid coronavirus at CNBC. Read more

 

**A message from Gusto kitchenware. High quality – value priced – colorful kitchenware from the #1 cookware brand in Mexico. Information | Samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Rent the Runway lays off all retail employees due to coronavirus uncertainty at The Verge. “The company, which primarily operates online, has brick and mortar locations in California, New York, Chicago, and Washington DC…During a Zoom meeting with retail staff, a company executive said the business has been forced to “dramatically reassess” its current operations in order to sustain the business.” Read more

 

Amazon to begin taking employees’ temperatures daily in attempt to slow coronavirus by Benjamin Romano at Seattle Times. “…(will) begin screening employees for elevated temperatures each day, starting at sites in Seattle and New York City, as “an additional preventive measure.”…it intends to expand daily temperature screenings to other sites as quickly as possible.” Read more

 

Walmart asking suppliers to focus on ‘new, innovative ways’ to serve customers by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Walmart updated suppliers on the progress that’s been made with OTIF (on time, in full). Last year, Walmart said 81% of orders were on time, and 93.4% were in full. The expectations for this year will be 87% on time for full truckload with 80% minimum expected by less than truckload. On the in full metric, Walmart said general merchandise and health and wellness would have a 95% minimum expectation. Food and consumables will have a 97.5% expectation.” Read more

 

Belk furloughs workers, cuts senior staff pay 50% during wave of coronavirus closings by Catherine Muccigrosso at Charlotte Observer. “Belk has about 22,000 employees, including around 20,000 working in stores, Anderson said. It was not immediately clear how many workers were being furloughed.” Read more

 

Target pauses plans for grocery pickup amid COVID-19 outbreak by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “Although groceries via Order Pickup and Drive Up would be valuable services at a time when people are being asked to distance themselves from others to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, Target says it won’t have time to train employees on these new processes right now.” Read more

 

America’s department stores can make it as much as 8 months with closed stores before liquidity troubles mount, analyst says at CNBC. “J.C. Penney and Nordstrom…have enough cash to last eight months with their stores closed, Cowen said. Kohl’s and Macy’s have enough for five months, it said. Cowen made these forecasts assuming all of these retailers are bringing in $0 in revenue from their bricks-and-mortar stores.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Grocery worker in San Diego County tests positive for COVID-19

Restaurant accused of reselling Costco pizzas at a 700% markup

Lucky’s auctions off stores to Publix, Aldi, Others

Postmates couriers are eligible for unemployment benefits, rules New York court

Publix’s senior shopping hour has mixed results

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 DOJ Strategy | lulu +20% | 40% Retail Sq Ft Closed

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It may be a while before many of America’s stores open again as coronavirus crisis worsens by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “GlobalData Retail has been tracking the closings and by Thursday morning estimated that 40.9% of retail square footage in the U.S. is currently closed. The firm now expects retail sales to be down 12.4% this month, 11.6% in April, and 6.1% in May, when the crisis should start easing.” Read more

 

lululemon Q4 comp sales +20% Press release

 

Amazon warehouse workers are outraged after a coworker tested positive for COVID-19 and they weren’t notified by Josh Dzieza at The Verge. “They should have closed that building down and sanitized that whole building before they let us come in,” Johnson tells The Verge. “And they should have given everyone a robocall, because you never know if you bumped into that person in the bathroom or anything…” Read more

 

Inside the Story of How H-E-B Planned for the Pandemic by Dan Solomon & Paula Forbes at Texas Monthly. “The grocer started communicating with Chinese counterparts in January and was running tabletop simulations a few weeks later. (But nothing prepared it for the rush on toilet paper.)” Read more

 

Walmart Was Almost Charged Criminally Over Opioids. Trump Appointees Killed the Indictment. by Jesse Eisinger & James Bandler at ProPublica. “In its dealings with the DOJ, Walmart pursued a classic strategy. It relied on Jones Day, an influential law firm that has salted officials throughout the Trump administration. Walmart conceded mistakes and opened the door for a civil settlement. But the company consistently denied that any of its employees committed crimes.” Read more

 

Retailers shift production to make masks, gowns for health-care workers in coronavirus pandemic by Courtney Reagan at CNBC. “Gap has built a small team with members from its different brands and functions, in conjunction with California hospitals, to use Gap’s connections in the global supply chain to get protective masks and gowns.” Read more

 

Kroger converts store to ‘pickup-only’ by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. Read more

 

Amazon says it unintentionally hid some competitors’ faster delivery options by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “Amazon surprised millions of customers last weekend when it confirmed it had pushed back delivery of many nonessential items until late April…But Recode has learned it’s been possible to get some of these nonessential items much faster — it’s just that Amazon has hidden listings from competing sellers on its marketplace…” Read more

 

**A message from Gusto kitchenware. High quality – value priced – colorful kitchenware from the #1 cookware brand in Mexico. Information | Samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

WASHINGTON – Nearly all construction in Washington state is a nonessential activity under new stay-at-home order at Seattle Times

 

WhatsApp has seen a 40% increase in usage due to pandemic by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. Read more

 

NEW ORLEANS – Orleans Parish has highest per-capita coronavirus death rate of American counties — by far by Gordon Russell at The Times-Picayune. “New Orleans has recorded more deaths than Manhattan — generally seen as America’s epicenter of the pandemic — with a population less than a quarter as large.” Read more

 

NOT MY FAULT – New Orleans would not have had Mardi Gras if coronavirus ‘red flags’ were given, mayor says by Jeff Adelson at The Times-Picayune. “Mayor LaToya Cantrell blasted federal leadership Thursday night and appeared to take aim at President Donald Trump for failing to warn the city of the potential disaster.” Read more

 

Jeff Bezos pledges to help WHO flood the world with coronavirus test kits by Alan Boyle at GeekWire. Read more

 

Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison says customers are buying appliances and doing home projects as they hunker down at home at CNBC. “Ellison said some customers are buying new water heaters as homes fill up with kids home from college, or additional refrigerators and freezers as they stock-up on food. He said customers are buying items related to “safety and security,” too.” Read more

 

Walmart installs coronavirus floor decals to keep people apart at Fox Business. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Grocery delivery worker returns, crawls through woman’s window in sex-assault attempt

Faster Payments Council taps Walmart exec as new executive director

Consumer use of pay-advance services rises amid layoff fears

Amazon delays boost sales for gourmet grocers in wealthy enclaves

Scooter companies find dockless riding and pandemics don’t mix

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: Target March 20%+ | “Begging” Dillard’s To Close | Cornell @ CNBC

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Target CEO @ CNBC “In an interview with CNBC’s Becky Quick on “Squawk Box,” Cornell said he meets with his leadership team every day to adapt to new shopping patterns and discuss ways to keep shoppers and employees safe from the highly contagious virus…In order to minimize disruptions, Target will wrap up remodels already underway but won’t start new ones.” Video/Read more

 

Target’s month-to-date March comp sales are up more than 20 percent above last year

  • Essentials and Food & Beverage up more than 50 percent
  • Apparel & Accessories are down more than 20 percent 

Press release

 

Dillard’s is still open for business despite coronavirus at CNBC. “CNBC spoke to multiple employees, one of which said they were “begging” for the company to close. The workers all requested anonymity to protect their jobs.” Read more

 

Retailers want to stop paying rent to offset coronavirus closures at Fortune. “Mattress Firm, with about 2,400 stores, sent landlords a letter last week saying it would cut rent in exchange for longer leases and offering two options to do so. This week, it sent a more urgent note revoking its earlier offer.” Read more

 

CVS CEO Larry Merlo: Lack of protective gear for workers has slowed rollout of drive-thru testing at CNBC. “Workers at the drive-thru tests must wear gowns, masks and gloves as they swab a patient for a sample. They must change that gear after each person to avoid getting the next person sick.” Read more

 

Delivery drivers face pandemic without sick pay, insurance, sanitizer at Reuters. “Alvarado said the van he drove wasn’t cleaned before or after his 10-hour shift, nor were the bins holding packages handled by warehouse workers and delivery drivers. Yet his company offered no gloves or masks, and only sporadically provided hand sanitizer.” Read more

 

Amazon employees test positive for coronavirus at 6 US warehouses at Fox Business. “Just last week, warehouse workers sounded alarms that the company is not doing enough to protect them from the virus…Since then, more than 1,500 workers from around the world have signed a petition that calls on the company to take additional steps to ensure safety in the workplace.” Read more

 

** The Sweets & Snacks Expo, originally scheduled for May 18-21, 2020, in Chicago, has been canceled

 

Target X: Inside the Customer Experience at Super Target at Field Agent. Download report

 

A Time to Lead with Purpose and Humanity by Hubert Joly at Harvard Business Review. “I became CEO of Best Buy in 2012 when the company was supposed to go under — there is no obvious blueprint to follow. But perhaps, the same principles of purposeful, human leadership — such as putting people and customers first, treating profit as an outcome rather than the goal — that we used then can be applied now.” Read more

 

Fifteen percent of shoppers said they are more likely to shop at convenience stores for groceries due to the pandemic at Convenience Store News. Read more

 

Neiman Marcus partners with Joann Stores to sew masks, gowns and scrubs by Maria Halkias at Dallas Morning News. “The work is happening at Neiman Marcus alterations facilities in California, New Jersey and Florida. The first shipment will go out to health care providers later this week.” Tiered subs.

 

Walmart installing sneeze guards at regular registers over the next 2 to 3 weeks Press release

 

24 Hour Fitness faces public backlash for blocking membership cancellations during coronavirus pandemic at San Diego Union-Tribune. Read more

 

‘Who’s scared of coronavirus?’ Man licks Walmart deodorant in video by Dawson White at The Kansas City Star. “Police in Warren County said the man has been arrested, according to a statement posted to Facebook Monday. Charges are pending, but police have not revealed the nature of the charges.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

McDonald’s slammed for separating Golden Arches to promote social distancing

Amazon calls DoD review of Microsoft JEDI win too narrow

UPS partners with Wingcopter  to develop a new type of delivery drone

What it’s like to be a delivery worker during the COVID-19 pandemic

2 more publishers withdraw from BookExpo convention

Working from home? Switch off Amazon’s Alexa (say lawyers)

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: N.Marcus Bankruptcy Talks | JIT Jeff | H.Lobby Vision Changes

/in

 

Trump says businesses could reopen — soon — while fighting coronavirus at CNBC. “At some point we’re going to open up our country, and it will be fairly soon,” Trump said during an evening press briefing on the fast-spreading virus. Asked whether “soon” could be a matter of weeks or of months, Trump replied, “I’m not looking at months.” Read more

 

These Drugs Are Helping Our Coronavirus Patients by Jeff Colyer & Daniel Hanthorn at Wall Street Journal. “Our experience suggests that hydroxychloroquine, with or without a Z-Pak, should be a first-line treatment. Unfortunately, there is already a shortage of hydroxychloroquine. The federal government should immediately contract with generic manufacturers to ramp up production.” WSJ subs.

 

JUST IN TIME JEFF – Jeff Bezos sold a total of $3.4 billion in Amazon shares in the first week of February allowing him to avoid paper losses of roughly $317 million if he had held the stock through March 20 at Wall Street Journal. WSJ subs.

 

Neiman Marcus in bankruptcy talks with lenders: Report at Fox Business. “Bloomberg reported Neiman Marcus has held initials talks with lenders about a potential bankruptcy loan that would help keep the company running while it works out a recovery plan.” Read more

 

Trump signs executive order to prevent price gouging, hoarding of medical supplies by Morgan Chalfant at The Hill. Read more

 

Grocers Stopped Stockpiling Food. Then Came Coronavirus. at Wall Street Journal. “Kraft Heinz Co. Chief Executive Miguel Patricio said there was potential for the whole system to buckle under the pressure. “My biggest fear is that, what if the supply chain collapses?” he said.” WSJ subs.

 

Amazon fights coronavirus price-gouging, suspends 3,900 accounts at Fox Business. Read more

 

Hobby Lobby is slowly closing its stores after wife of the devout Christian chief exec had a vision from God telling the chain to stay open at Daily Mail. “Calls to stores around the country show some are open, some are closing…The confusion follows a letter sent to stores last week by chief executive David Green, who said his wife Barbara had had a heavenly vision about the coronavirus.” Read more

 

Instacart plans to hire 300,000 more workers at CNN Business. Read more

 

Nordstrom suspends dividend, halts buybacks and taps credit at CNBC. “The company is now targeting cutting expenses by more than $500 million this year, up from an initial savings target of $200 million to $250 million in fiscal 2020. “This includes ongoing efforts to realign inventory to sales trends,” it said.” Read more

 

Schnucks, Dierbergs installing plexiglass panels at checkouts to protect workers by Leah Thorsen at St. Louis Post Dispatch. “Schnucks said shoppers also can expect to see some of the partitions at pharmacy and service counters, and installation is set to be complete within a week.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Blue Apron stock soars more than 500%

Here’s what Walmart’s first drive-thru coronavirus testing sites look like

This is the end of an era for job interviews for hourly workers

Retailers are dangling deals online amid coronavirus

3M CEO: ‘Disappointing’ to see respirator masks at retail stores instead of hospitals

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: Plastic Bags Back | B.Buy Curb Only | Pay Hikes & Bonuses

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CVS to hire 50,000 workers, gives bonuses to employees amid coronavirus pandemic at USA Today. “CVS is giving workers bonuses of up to $500. Eligible recipients include pharmacists, store employees and managers.” Read more

 

Best Buy shifts stores to curbside pickup only at CNBC. “Customers will also still be able to order online or on the app and have their items shipped directly to their homes. However, all in-home installations and repair services have been suspended.” Read more

 

Loblaws to install Plexiglas shields to protect cashiers from coronavirus at Montreal Gazette. “The company also announced that existing employees will receive a two-dollar premium to their hourly pay.” Read more

 

Walgreens, Walmart to begin COVID-19 testing in Chicago at Crain’s Chicago Business. “Everything is ready to go,” Dan Bartlett, Walmart’s executive vice president of corporate affairs, said on a call with reporters. “We have the tents. It should be up and running soon.” He said that the company is talking to governors’ offices to get permission to expand testing sites to other states.” Read more

 

Apple has dropped a two-device limit on online purchases of iPhones at Fox Business. Read more

 

Bed Bath & Beyond will temporarily close all its retail banner stores across the US and Canada until April 3, 2020 “buybuy BABY & Harmon Face Values stores to remain open.” Press release

 

GameStop reverses stance – will now temporarily close all storefronts to customers at The Verge. Read more

 

**A message from Gusto kitchenware: Made in Mexico. Mexico’s #1 cookware brand. Diversify your kitchenware supply chain today. PowerPoint | POG | Request samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Macy’s taps $1.5 billion credit line, suspends earnings outlook and dividends amid coronavirus at CNBC. “And while February results met our expectations, we are now operating in an environment with a high degree of uncertainty,” (CEO Gennette) said.” Read more

 

What Helena Foulkes learned about retail and leadership as CEO of HBC by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “What’s next for Foulkes? She’s clearly a retailer at heart and says she hopes her next gig will be in the field—or at least one that is consumer-focused…“I loved being a CEO, and I’d do it again,” she says. “I’ve always believed you should play to your strengths. And I love building teams.” Read more

 

Jeff Bezos memo tells Amazon employees he’s ‘wholly focused’ on the COVID-19 crisis at GeekWire. Memo/Read more

 

Walmart ups minimum wage in e-commerce warehouses by $2 at Reuters. “Walmart said the hike will increase entry wages for workers in e-commerce fulfillment centers or warehouses to between $15 and $19 an hour effective immediately through Memorial Day, a holiday in the United States that falls on May 25 this year.” Read more

 

Target pays bonuses, hikes pay by $2 an hour at Forbes. “The raise will be in effect at least until May 2. Target currently pays its employees a minimum wage of $13, with plans to increase that to $15 by the end of 2020.” Read more

 

Kroger associates receive one-time bonus of $300 for full time and $150 for part time Press release

 

Walgreens announces bonus payment of $300 for full-time and $150 for part-time hourly team members in stores and distribution centers Press release

 

H&M scraps dividend due to coronavirus as all costs under review at Reuters. Read more

 

…H&M weighs tens of thousands of job cuts because of coronavirus at CNBC. “As of Monday morning, H&M said a total of 3,441 of its 5,062 stores worldwide are closed.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Coronavirus pushes states to delay plastic bag bans

Store audit: 92% of stores completely or almost out of toilet paper

Due to COVID-19, many Amazon orders won’t be delivered for a month

Lowe’s Commits $25 Million, Updates Operations in Response to COVID-19

Hasbro shares soar as CEO cites ‘great demand’ for toys

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: Tome UPS CEO | WM China Cucumbers | Ulta +4%

/in

 

How China Kept Its Supermarkets Stocked as Coronavirus Raged by Julie Wernau at Wall Street Journal. “By targeting soon-to-expire foods that might ordinarily have been thrown away by suppliers, Walmart was able to locate a massive batch of cucumbers in Yunnan province. Staff members worked through the night at a distribution center to test and sort the cucumbers for delivery to stores the next morning.” WSJ subs.

 

7-Eleven owner allegedly sold homemade hand sanitizer that burned four kids at CNN. “Let me be perfectly clear: If you try to take advantage of our residents during a public health emergency, we will hold you accountable,” New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said. “Retailers who try to make a quick buck by exploiting others will face civil and criminal consequences.” Read more

 

Ulta Beauty Q4 comp sales +4.0% Press release

 

Canadian Tire appoints retail head Greg Hicks as new CEO at Montreal Gazette. “Hicks most recently served as president of Canadian Tire’s retail unit, the company’s largest business with about 500 stores across Canada.” Read more

 

Q4 comp sales: Gap Inc -1.0% / Old Navy Global Flat / Gap Global -5.0% / Banana Republic Global Flat / Athleta +2.0% Press release

 

…Gap’s earnings, sales beat, retailer names new CFO at CNBC. “Revenue: $4.67 billion vs. $4.55 billion expected. Same-store sales: down 1% vs. a drop of 3.8% expected.” Read more

 

**A message from Sweets & Snacks Expo: With more than 15,000 industry professionals in attendance, the Sweets & Snacks Expo is the largest show in North America representing the confectionery and snack industries. Register/Website

 

UPS picks former Home Depot exec Carol Tomé as its next CEO at Atlanta Business Chronicle. “United Parcel Service Inc. said Thursday it named Tomé as the company’s CEO effective June. She will replace David Abney, the current chairman and CEO…” Read more

 

Apple says reopening all its branded stores in China at Reuters. Read more

 

UNFI sells the real estate of 15 Cub Foods locations by John Ewoldt at Star Tribune. “Unable so far to sell the 79 Cub Foods stores it owns, United Natural Foods Inc. has found an alternative to glean cash from the supermarket chain. UNFI Chief Executive Steve Spinner announced on Wednesday that it will sell the real estate of 15 Cub stores for $170 million. The sale represents 1.1 million square feet of retail space. It is expected to close by August.” Read more

 

The Buckle Q4 comp sales +3.3% Press release

 

Amazon Buys Lord & Taylor Building On Fifth Avenue by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Amazon is shelling out $1.15 billion in cash to acquire the former Lord & Taylor flagship in Midtown Manhattan, The Post has learned. The Fifth Avenue landmark, which spans 11 stories and 660,000 square feet, will serve as Amazon’s New York City headquarters, housing several thousand employees in the coming years, a source close to the situation said.” Read more

 

Etsy is trying to get bigger, and it’s pushing away small sellers by Jacob Kastreanakes at The Verge. “I feel strongly that the writing is on the wall, and I need to get out before it gets worse,” Luu told The Verge. Late last month, Etsy announced that it would start automatically advertising on sellers’ behalf — and charging them when it led to a sale…” Read more

 

Amazon moves shareholder meeting online, cancels in-person event where investors and protestors gather in Seattle annually by Monica Nickelsburg at GeekWire. “In some ways, this could increase access to the meeting. For years, Amazon has not offered a live stream or full audio or video of the meeting online, making it accessible only to shareholders who are able to come to the meeting in Seattle…The meeting is typically held in May. The exact date and details on how to participate will be included in Amazon 2020 proxy statement.” Read more

 

In a California town called Cool, gentrification means a Dollar General store at LA Times. “At a meeting last month in the Holiday Market grocery store, Loomis pointed to a mural depicting the nearby American River, with gold miners clutching pans and modern-day hikers and mountain bikers. “That’s us then and us now,” she said. “I don’t see a Dollar General!” Tiered subs.

 

Note: Eye on Retail Tipsheet will not be published next week but will return 3/23/20!

 

Tipsheet Extra

Hibbett names new SVP Operations

Why Build.com partnered with unexpected influencers

Amazon’s cashierless checkout technology coming to Newark Airport

Hold a bear cub at Cabela’s this weekend

The story behind ‘flatten the curve,’ the defining chart of the coronavirus

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

 

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Tipsheet: Costco: No Work From Home | D. Gen +3.2% | Joly Steps Down

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Costco says equity is why it can’t allow office work from home by Carolyn Adolph at KUOW. “In an email Costco CEO W. Craig Jelinek reminds workers that the vast majority of Costco employees are in stores and warehouses, and don’t have the option to work from home. “This decision may be unpopular with some, but we consider it a matter of equity and fairness.”…One worker told KUOW…(that) even meetings being streamed on the internet must only be viewed at the office.” Read more

 

Dollar General Q4 comp sales +3.2% Press release

 

Party City names Brad Weston as new CEO /  Q4 comp sales -5.1% “Mr. Brad Weston who has served as President of PCHI and CEO of the Party City Retail Group…(served) as CEO of Petco prior to joining Party City in July 2019.” Press release

 

Hubert Joly will step down as Best Buy chairman by Carrigan Miller at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. “He will continue as consultant for Best Buy on a one-year, renewable basis. He will be paid $150,000 per year and will have a hand in building out Best Buy’s Teen Tech Centers…” Read more

 

Walmart is cutting hours at stores open overnight to allow for extra cleaning at Business Insider. Read more | Co. memo

 

Modell’s to close all its remaining stores after bankruptcy filing “Modell’s stores will initiate store closing liquidation sales…and will continue its online sales during this process.” Press release

 

Why Neiman Marcus Is Ditching Discount by Andria Cheng at Forbes. “…it will shut the majority of its 22 Last Call stores, cutting about 500 jobs…“What’s right for TJX or anyone else isn’t right for us,” Neiman Marcus Group CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck said in an interview.” Read more

 

**A message from Gusto kitchenware: Made in Mexico. Mexico’s #1 cookware brand. Diversify your kitchenware supply chain today. PowerPoint | POG | Request samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Airport retailer OTG will use Amazon’s cashierless technology starting next week by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Longtime Amazon Executive Departs for Online Lender SoFi at Wall Street Journal. “Maria Renz, who joined the then five-year-old Seattle-based company in 1999, rose through the ranks and, most recently, was vice president of delivery experience, putting her in charge of making sure goods make it into customers’ hands.” WSJ subs.

 

Fuel, flour, diapers: Cubans turn to social media for basics by Andrea Rodriguez at AP. “Cubans are forming online chat groups to share tips about where to find dish detergent, chicken, diesel fuel and other scarce essentials…Some of the groups have waiting lists of people anxious to get the benefits of being a member.” Read more

 

Chick-fil-A will sell its sauces at Walmart and Target stores in Florida at MarketWatch. Read more

 

10th largest food distributor in the US has been hacked at Krebs on Security. “…this intrusion leveraged a sneaky new domain that hides quite easily in a hacked site’s source code…domain was hidden inside the checkout and login pages for grandwesternsteaks.com, a meat delivery service owned by Cheney Bros. Inc., a major food distributor based in Florida.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Super-rich jet off to disaster bunkers amid coronavirus outbreak

GameStop investors seek board seat

Italy closes bars, restaurants and most shops

Consumers snap up PhoneSoap to sanitize cell phones

Princess Cruises suspends operations for 60 days

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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