Tipsheet: WM WFH Extended | Amazon Delivers 66% Of Its Own | Simon Buys Lucky

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Amazon is delivering nearly two-thirds of its own packages at CNBC. “Amazon shipped 415 million packages in July, topping its three-month average between April and June. Amazon delivered 66% of its own packages in July, compared with 54% in July 2019.” Read more

 

US retail sales regain pre-virus level but slowdown likely at AP. “Americans increased their retail purchases by 1.2% in July, with solid gains in appliances and clothing helping restore sales to their level before the viral pandemic erupted in March.” Read more

 

Walmart corporate employees will continue working remote until January 2021 at Talk Business. “Teams across the business are working with increased speed, productivity and a focus on innovation,” Donna Morris, chief people officer at Walmart, noted in an internal email to employees on Wednesday (Aug. 12). “For those of you with children at home, you are in the process of adapting to your kids returning to school. The status of the pandemic across the country remains dynamic, and we are continuing to actively monitor developments to slow the spread of the virus.” Read more

 

Amazon can be held liable for defective products sold on its Marketplace in California at The Verge. “The California Fourth District Court of Appeals reversed a 2019 trial court ruling and reinstated claims from a woman who says she suffered third-degree burns when a defective laptop battery she bought from a third-party seller on Amazon caught fire.” Read more

 

Walmart’s Flipkart eyes alcohol delivery foray with Indian startup at Reuters. “Flipkart has partnered with a startup backed by spirits giant Diageo to deliver alcohol in two Indian cities, according to government letters seen by Reuters, months after Amazon planned a similar foray.” Read more

 

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Dillard’s Q2 net sales down 35% Press release

 

Amazon Considers Relocating Some Employees Out of Seattle at Bloomberg. “In a message to employees Thursday, Amazon asked which communities near Seattle — including Tacoma and Redmond, Washington — they’d prefer. The title on the message, which was shared on Reddit and later deleted, was “office workplace options.” Amazon declined to comment on the matter.” Read more

 

Limits on U.S., Mexico, Canada border crossings to stay until Sept. 21 at Reuters. Read more

 

Amazon starts online drug sales in Indian city at Reuters. “…to serve the southern city of Bengaluru…The service, Amazon Pharmacy, has begun and will soon offer deliveries across the city, Amazon said. It offers both over-the-counter and prescription-based drugs as well as basic health devices and traditional Indian herbal medicines.” Read more

 

‘We do it because it’s important’: How grocery store employees are enforcing mask rules at Indianapolis Star via USA Today. “It’s sort of like being thrown in a pool without a life jacket and just being told, like, ‘You know how to swim, right?'” (Target employee) Jordan said. “It’s like, yeah, I can figure it out I guess, but it would have been cool if you told me before you threw me into the deep end.” Pfoutz said she hasn’t received any guidance for talking with Meijer customers about mask use.” Read more

 

Amazon Faces Antitrust Probe in Canada at Wall Street Journal. “Canada’s Competition Bureau said Friday its probe is under way and “there is no conclusion of wrongdoing at this time.” In revealing the investigation, it also welcomed input from market participants regarding its civil investigation.” WSJ subs.

 

Mall owner Simon, Authentic Brands to acquire denim retailer Lucky out of bankruptcy for $140.1 million at CNBC. “This acquisition will boost the value of our portfolio to more than $13 billion in global retail sales annually,” ABG founder and Chief Executive Jamie Salter said in a statement.” Read more

 

Hudson’s Bay Company appoints Culhane CFO at Home World Business. “Previously, Culhane held the role of CFO for The Bon-Ton Stores and Fareportal Inc., an online travel agency. Culhane also served as CFO for HBC and held senior finance roles with The May Department Stores Company.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Retailers launch coalition to fight counterfeits on Amazon

An old, dangerous drug has made a comeback with a new generation of users

Home prices climb to record in coronavirus pandemic as buyers seek space

Philly: Residents plans to rent trucks from Home Depot to get rid of trash

US consumer sentiment largely unchanged in August

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Tipsheet: REI HQ For Sale | Lowe’s Hero Employees | Kroger Offers Covid Test

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REI looks to sell brand new Seattle-area HQ at GeekWire. “The dramatic events of 2020 have challenged us to reexamine and rethink every aspect of our business and many of the assumptions of the past. That includes where and how we work,” REI President and CEO Eric Artz told employees in a video…” Read more

 

Amazon cuts more than 1,200 delivery contract jobs, even as that part of its business booms at CNBC. “While Amazon continues to cull poor-performing delivery partners, the program has grown quickly since it launched two years ago. There are now more than 1,300 DSPs across five countries that have added 85,000 jobs and delivered more than 1.8 billion packages worldwide…” Read more

 

Tapestry shares jump as retailer posts narrower-than-expected loss at CNBC. “Coach sales fell 53%, while sales at Kate Spade dropped 51%, and sales at its Stuart Weitzman brand plunged 61% during the quarter.” Read more

 

J.C. Penney Plods On In Talks Toward Sale Deal at WWD via Yahoo. “The retailer’s advisers told a Texas bankruptcy court on Wednesday that constructive negotiations are still ongoing, and that the company believes it is close to an agreement.” Read more

 

Amazon removes non-disparagement clause from podcast agreement after backlash at GeekWire. “Although the non-disparagement clause has been removed, the standard agreement still includes a provision requiring participants to refrain from disclosing information that Amazon considers confidential.” Read more

 

Shoppers Drug Mart pilots first managed medical clinic in Toronto Press release

 

With test delays across country, Kroger and CVS Health say they can help businesses, college campuses at CNBC. “With a nasal swab and a test tube, hundreds of Kroger employees have given themselves a Covid-19 test at home. The nation’s largest supermarket chain said Thursday it wants to sell the at-home test kits to employers trying to reopen or stay open as the coronavirus pandemic continues.” Read more

 

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Dr. Martens repays UK COVID-19 aid after sales boom at NY Post. Read more

 

A back-to-school shopping season like no other has parents, retailers scrambling at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA Today. “What retailers have to do is understand the downdraft of back to school and catch the updraft of selling more goods related to living, learning and working from home,” Flickinger added…” Read more

 

Metro Q3: Food comp +15.6% / Pharmacy comp +1.0% Press release

 

Retailers like Nordstrom hiring influencers to boost in-store foot traffic, promote safe shopping at Fox Business. “Nordstrom worked with style blogger Wendy Nguyen, who boasts a following of 1.1 million on Instagram, for a sponsored post highlighting the store’s new health and safety measures. In it, she posed with a handbag, and alongside shoes from Manolo Blahnik in the store’s shoe department.” Read more

 

PVH’s new Chief Human Resources Officer comes from Nike Press release

 

Lowe’s recognizes employees who thwarted man with an ax at WANE 15. “…’Then I’m laying on the guys back, slobbered all over my arm. I’m laying on his back, Nick is laying on his legs, Greg’s laying on his arm, and we were laying like that for like it felt like ten minutes until the cops got there.” Video/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Target store manager kicks police off premises

Stop & Shop phasing out Peapod app

Unlike Amazon, eBay won’t pass along UK tax to sellers

College students trapped at home are redecorating childhood bedrooms

Costco employees save woman with defibrillator

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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: Amazon Wins WM Shoppers | Harlem Target | Amazon Accelerate

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Amazon Wins Loyal Walmart Shoppers as Americans Stampede Online at Bloomberg. “Walmart Inc. shoppers are a pretty loyal bunch. But when virus-spooked Americans began avoiding stores earlier this year and shifting spending online, far more Walmart customers went to Amazon.com Inc. than Walmart.com…In the first week of February, for every dollar shoppers spent with the two rivals, 66 cents went to Walmart and 34 cents to Amazon, according to Facteus, which tracks credit and debit-card spending for millions of shoppers. In the first week of August, that gap narrowed to 55 cents to Walmart and 45 cents to Amazon.” Tiered subs.

 

Grocery workers say morale is at an all-time low: ‘They don’t even treat us like humans anymore’ at The Washingston Post via San Francisco Chronicle. “In the last month, we’ve lost our hazard pay, and people are quitting every day,” said Manners, 43, who processes vendor deliveries at a Meijer store in northern Kentucky. “Those of us who are left are really stretched thin – working so much harder for $11.50 an hour.” Read more

 

US consumer prices rose 0.6% in July, matching June uptick at AP. Read more

 

Amazon to hold virtual seller conference as lawmakers examine its power over third-party merchants at CNBC. “Amazon is hosting a virtual conference for third-party sellers from Sept. 1 through 3, called Amazon Accelerate. The three-day event will give third-party sellers tips on how to grow their businesses and features a keynote address from Jeff Wilke, CEO of Amazon’s retail division.” Read more

 

Stein files for chapter 11 bankruptcy – will close most, if not all, of its stores at MarketWatch. Read more

 

Sycamore Partners’ bid for bankrupt JCPenney opposed by workers’ group at NY Post. “A group of current and former retail workers from Toys ‘R’ Us, Kmart, Sears and other bankrupt retailers are sounding the alarm about the Big Apple-based private equity firm’s plans…” Read more

 

Walmart teams up with Instacart to rival Amazon for same-day grocery delivery at The Verge. “Walmart customers in four pilot markets spanning California and Oklahoma can now choose Walmart’s grocery options when putting together an Instacart order.” Read more

 

Amazon plans $400M Detroit distribution center at site abandoned for a decade at Fox Business. Read more

 

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Walmart’s chief health, wellness officer exits the company at Talk Business. “Sean Slovenski, SVP of health and wellness at Walmart U.S., is exiting the company after just two years…Furner said in the memo Slovenski’s departure has been in the works for the past several weeks. He gave no date nor reason for the departure. Furner said a health, wellness officer will be named in the coming weeks.” Read more

 

Women publish novel loosely based on their experiences working at Neiman Marcus and other luxury retailers by Maria Halkias at Dallas Morning News. Read more

 

Amazon’s ruthless business model meets Sweden’s labor unions at Politico. “The Swedish labor market is regulated by collective agreements between companies and unions, giving workers plenty of power over corporate decisions. Approximately 70 percent of Swedish workers belong to a union.” Read more

 

Vertical farming company Plenty will provide 430 Albertsons grocery stores in California with four types of greens at CNBC. Read more

 

Kroger launching online marketplace with 50,000 more products for customers at WLWT 5. “The marketplace will offer 50,000 more products from third-party sellers through software program Mirakl.” Read more

 

Amazon reveals ‘confidential’ podcast plan in mass email at GeekWire. “Then came the real mess. Podcasters who clicked through to submit their shows discovered this clause in the content license agreement that’s a requirement to participate in the program: “Your Content may not (a) include advertising or messages that disparage or are directed against Amazon or any Service…” Read more

 

US mall owner Simon says still looking to salvage other distressed retailers at CNBC. “Simon said Monday it collected roughly 73% of its rents from retailers in July, with about 91% of its tenants back open for business today amidst the coronavirus pandemic.” Read more

 

Amazon has amassed at least 1 million subscribers for its Prime loyalty program in India at TechCrunch. “This is the first time Amazon has even vaguely disclosed how many of its users in India have signed up for the Prime subscription that costs $13.30 a year in the country (compared to $119 in the U.S.).” Read more

 

Retail Chains Abandon Manhattan: ‘It’s Unsustainable’ at DNYUZ. “For four months, the Victoria’s Secret flagship store at Herald Square in Manhattan has been closed and not paying its $937,000 monthly rent. “It will be years before retail has even a chance of returning to New York City in its pre-Covid form,” the retailer’s parent company recently told its landlord in a legal document.” Read more

 

Lowe’s: Over the next 18 months, Lowe’s plans to open 50 cross dock delivery terminals, seven bulk distribution centers and four e-commerce fulfillment centers Press release

 

Dick’s expected to post strong Q2 report on exercise-at-home surge at Seeking Alpha. “We anticipate 2Q20 results will be much stronger than Street expectations particularly due to increased demand for high-ticket (albeit low-margin) hardlines product (e.g., bikes, exercise/golf/fishing equipment)…writes analyst Sam Poser.” Read more

 

Foot Locker Q2 comp sales +18% Press release

 

Harlem development boom to bring new Target to 125th Street at NY Post. “The ever-growing Target brand will be part of an ambitious new 17-story project between Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell boulevards named the Urban League Empowerment Center. The mini-tower designed by Beyer Blinder Belle will house a new headquarters for the venerable nonprofit dedicated to advocacy and economic empowerment for African Americans.” Read more

 

For the third time, Hy-Vee has pushed back the opening of Twin Cities store at Star Tribune. “Hy-Vee also has no updates on the timelines for other planned Twin Cities area stores…Hy-Vee has added 12 stores in the Twin Cities since 2015. When the St. Peter location opens next week, the grocery chain will have 274 stores in eight states.” Read more

 

Amazon Project Zero launches in seven new countries “Launched in 2019, Project Zero builds on Amazon’s long-standing work and investments to ensure that customers always receive authentic goods when shopping on Amazon.” Press release

 

Publix Named United Way’s No. 1 Global Corporate Leader Press release

 

Brooks Brothers poised to be acquired by Authentic Brands-Simon venture at Fox Business. “That “stalking horse” offer includes a commitment to keep 125 Brooks Brothers stores open. The retailer has roughly 200 stores in North America. The Sparc offer had been subject to better bids, but the deadline for rival offers passed last week.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Parents slam Hasbro over Trolls doll that has a hidden button between its legs

Apple goes after meal-prep company over its ‘similar’ logo

Aldi plans to launch Amazon Go-style cashierless stores

Instacart Adds Federal Affairs Firepower

Lidl takes the win in NRF/Kantar Hot 100 Retailers list

Costco adds corporate capacity with Barnes & Noble purchase

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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