Tipsheet: Oct Home Sales -1.1% | B.Fri In Store -52% | Can. Grocery Probe

 

October pending home sales fall unexpectedly, as high prices take their toll on buyers at CNBC. “Pending home sales fell 1.1% month-to-month in October but were 20.2% higher compared with October 2019…“The housing market is still hot, but we may be starting to see rising home prices hurting affordability,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors.” Read more

 

Black Friday shopping in stores craters 52% at CNBC. “For the six key weeks of the holiday season this year, traffic in retail stores is expected to be down 22% to 25% year over year, an earlier forecast by Sensormatic Solutions said.” Read more

 

Adobe: Black Friday 2020 online shopping up 22% to record $9 billion at TechCrunch. “Smartphones continued to account for an increasing proportion of online sales, with this year’s $3.6 billion up 25.3%, while alternative deliveries…also continued to grow, with in-store and curbside pickup up 52% on 2019.” Read more

 

…Adobe predicts Cyber Monday 2020 will see spending of between $10.8 billion and $12.7 billion

 

Cyber Monday set to be biggest online shopping day in U.S. history at Reuters. “New consoles, phones, smart devices and TVs that are traditional Black Friday purchases are sharing online shopping cart space this year with unorthodox Black Friday purchases such as groceries, clothes and alcohol, that would previously have been purchased in-store.” Read more

 

The Luxury E-Commerce Wars Heat Up at NY Times. “According to data released last week by Bain & Company, online luxury purchases were worth $58 billion in 2020, compared with $39 billion in 2019, nearly doubling the sector’s share of the market for global luxury sales to 23 percent from 12 percent. “Luxury e-commerce is now in an environment of rapid mutation,” said Claudia D’Arpizio, a luxury consultant at Bain.” Tiered subs.

 

Canada’s Ag ministers to launch probe into grocery store fees on suppliers at Financial Post. “Bibeau said the working group will “circumscribe the issue, consult experts and industry, and identify actions that can be taken, both at the federal and provincial level,” with a report on recommendations delivered by July 2021.” Read more

 

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

 

Mexico opens anti-monopoly probe against Wal-Mart de Mexico at AP. “It was not clear what the supposed practices involved, but as Mexico’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart has significant leverage with suppliers.” Read more

 

NY authorities fine Total Wine over out-of-state gift cards at NY Post. “Total Wine is owned by the Trone family, whose members include US Rep. David Trone (D-Maryland). It has had an especially bumpy ride in New York, getting shot down by the agency as it has tried to open several stores.” Read more

 

Whole Foods CEO slams socialism as ‘trickle-up poverty’: ‘It doesn’t work’ at Fox Business. “Mackey: ‘They talk about trickle-down wealth, but socialism is trickle-up poverty. It just impoverishes everything. That’s my fear, that the Marxists and socialists, the academic community is generally hostile to business. It always has been. This is not new.” Read more

 

Amazon workers at German warehouse to strike again at Reuters. “Scheduled to begin on Monday’s night shift and finish at the end of Tuesday’s late shift, the strike follows a three-day walkout between Thursday and Saturday last week in which more than 500 workers took part, Verdi said.” Read more

 

Topshop retail empire of tycoon Philip Green may die amid COVID-19 at AP/NY Post. Read more

 

Group of Black Atlanta entrepreneurs pays for over $40k in groceries at Kroger at Fox 5 Atlanta. “We all just took our own individual lanes,” Brad Giles said. “Each of us took a lane to take up as many registers as we can and let people know, ‘Look, groceries are on us.'” The takeover lasted about two hours, leaving shoppers in tears and others dancing with joy.” Read more/Video

 

‘Porch pirate’ dresses in Amazon driver garb to steal packages from stoop at Fox News. Read more

 

‘Costco Queen’ loses her job, but keeps neighbors’ shelves stocked at Vancouver Sun. “It started when I was laid off in late March or early April. I had nothing to do, and I thought this was something I could do to help people.” — Katlyn Carter, who does a Costco run for up to 100 people every week.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Sales of chess sets have spiked by 87 percent in the United States

Amazon prevails over eBay in lawsuit accusing Amazon of poaching third-party sellers

Walter Isaacson likens Bezos to Einstein and Jobs

As Americans avoid flying, airport shops face economic disaster

Tecate beer masquerading as Mexican, lawsuit claims

Snoop Dogg’s commentary won the Mike Tyson fight

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: Dick’s +23.2% | B.Buy +23% | Wegmans #1 Workplace

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods Q3 comp sales up 23.2% / Ecom +95% Press release

 

…Lauren R. Hobart named President and CEO “Ms. Hobart brings more than 25 years of finance, consumer and retail experience and spent 14 years at PepsiCo in various leadership roles before she joined Dick’s as Chief Marketing Officer in 2011. She was appointed President in 2017…Edward W. Stack, Chairman and CEO, will assume the role of Executive Chairman and continue as Chief Merchant on February 1, 2021.  He also will oversee key strategic growth initiatives for the company.” Press release 

 

Walmart de Mexico says under investigation for antitrust behavior at Reuters. “Walmart’s Mexico unit said on Monday it was notified by Mexico’s federal competition authority that it is being investigated for possible antitrust behavior in the supply and distribution market of wholesale goods and retail of these goods and services.” Read more

 

Dollar Tree Q3 enterprise comp sales +5.1% / Family Dollar +6.4% / Dollar Tree +4.0% Press release

 

Home prices see biggest spike in 6 years in September, according to S&P Case Shiller at CNBC. “The 10-City Composite was up 6.2% year-over-year, up from 4.9% in the previous month. The 20-City Composite posted a 6.6% gain, up from 5.3% in the previous month.” Read more

 

Best Buy Enterprise Q3 comp sales up 23% Press release

 

…Best Buy tops estimates on strong online sales, but shares fall on lack of holiday forecast at CNBC. “Earnings per share: $2.06, adjusted, vs. $1.70 expected…Revenue: $11.85 billion vs. $11.00 billion expected…Same-store sales growth: 23% vs. 13.6% expected…” Read more

 

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

 

Amazon warehouse workers in Alabama file to hold unionization vote at Washington Post via Seattle Times. “While much of Amazon’s warehouse staff in Europe are members of unions, the company has successfully fought off labor at its U.S. facilities. A small group of equipment maintenance and repair technicians at the company’s Middletown, Del., warehouse rejected union representation from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in 2014, after a hard-fought battle with the company.” Read more

 

Burlington Stores Q3 comp sales down 11% Press release

 

Tiffany Q3 worldwide comp sales up 3% Press release

 

…Tiffany beats profit estimates on soaring China demand at Reuters. “Tiffany said sales in the Asia-Pacific region rose 30%, while sales in the Americas region declined 16% – much smaller than the 46% drop seen in the preceding quarter.” Read more

 

Petco adopts Droga5 as its new artistic company at Zet Business. Read more

 

The U.S. government’s National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center and Amazon launch joint operation to prevent counterfeit goods from entering the U.S. Press release

 

Fortune Best Workplaces in Retail™ 2020: Wegmans #1 / Publix #3 / REI #4 / Sheetz #6 / Target #8 / Burlington #10 Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Sherwin-Williams criticized for firing of TikTok star employee

Netflix commits $1B to make New Mexico home to one of the world’s largest studios

Rich New Yorkers are hiring line-waiters to sit in COVID-19 testing queues

Peloton buyers sick of months-long delays

Bitcoin at $100,000 in 2021? Outrageous to some, a no-brainer for backers

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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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

 

Website: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: WM New WFH Date | Amazon Sidewalk Bot | Retailers Edit Choices

 

Walmart corporate employees to work remotely until July 5, 2021 at Talk Business. “According to the memo, (Chief People Officer) Morris said its longer-term view is that it is important for employees to work together in campus offices for the majority of the organization. Morris said working on campus is important to the culture and it aids in collaboration, innovation and speed.” Read more | Corporate memo

 

Retailers Cut Back on Choices; ‘We Don’t Need Three Types of Red’ at Wall Street Journal. “The wider the assortment, the more confused the customer is,” Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. Chief Executive Mark Tritton said in an interview…In one example, (a) study found that people bought more jam when they were shown fewer choices. Only 3% of consumers who were shown 24 types of jams made a purchase. The purchase rate increased to nearly 30% when consumers were shown just six varieties.” WSJ subs.

 

Loblaw and Gatik to deploy Canada’s first self-driving delivery fleet at Financial Post. “Beginning in January, Gatik will transport goods from its automated picking facility to Loblaw’s retail locations across the Greater Toronto Area. Five self-driving vehicles will operate on five fixed routes on public roads seven days a week, 12 hours a day, with fixed pick-up and drop-off locations.” Read more

 

A Day in the Life of an Amazon Warehouse Worker at Wall Street Journal. “Before Covid, she was an accountant. Now she works 11-hour shifts sorting Lysol wipes and Christmas decorations; ‘it has been more exhausting than ever’” WSJ subs.

 

Amazon robot maps sidewalks north of Seattle, laden with cameras and sensors at GeekWire. “While I was out on an ordinary drive through Everett, Wash., on Saturday morning, in between grabbing a donut for my daughter and a coffee for my wife, I spotted something interesting: An unmarked, six-wheeled robot being driven down the sidewalk on Broadway…” Pics/Read more

 

Walmart is buying JoyRun assets to add ‘peer to peer’ product delivery at TechCrunch. “Walmart EVP Srini Venkatesan notes that the app has amassed a network of 540 third-party merchant partners and north of 30,000 people who have delivered goods with the service since its launch half-a-decade ago. JoyRun’s service is a bit of twist on more standard delivery apps like Seamless and Uber Eats.” Read more

 

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Former Chewy CEO tries to push GameStop to become the Amazon of the video-game industry at CNBC. ” Cohen urges the company to cut excessive real estate costs, streamline or sell non-core operations in Europe and Australia and hire the right talent. While Cohen does not specifically target CEO George Sherman, he does note that Sherman has substantial experience working for large brick-and-mortar retailers such as Advance Auto Parts, Best Buy and Target and is committed to a twentieth century focus on physical stores…” Read more

 

Ann Taylor to ditch alpaca wool after PETA probe at NY Post. “Ascena was among dozens of major retailers that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals urged to ditch the fabric after publishing grisly findings from its undercover investigation of Mallkini, the world’s largest privately owned alpaca farm.” Read more

 

Amazon’s Sneak Peek to Cyber Monday Press release

 

Hedge fund trying to make American Apparel founder’s ‘life miserable’ at NY Post. “He’s so down on his luck, his dad told The Post, that he’s been living out of the LA Apparel warehouse in South-Central LA. “Dov does not have his own address or bank account,” said the senior Charney in a phone interview.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

The Apple TV remote is so awful that cable companies will give you a better one

Alibaba chairman says China’s antitrust rules ‘necessary’

Moderna to charge $25-$37 for COVID-19 vaccine

Barcelona bars spring back to life after five-week coronavirus closure

Tourists are few, but gift shops still ❤️ N.Y.

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: BJ’s +18.5% | Ace +28.9% | Bath & Body +55% | DoorDash Gifting

 

BJ’s Wholesale Club Q3 comp sales (ex-gas) up 18.5% “Adjusted EBITDA increased by 57.1% year-over-year to $242.2 million, for the third quarter of fiscal 2020.” Press release

 

October existing home sales see ‘spectacular’ 26.6% annual gain even with short supply and surging prices at CNBC. “There were 1.42 million existing homes on the market at the end of October, a 19.8% drop compared with October 2019. At the current sales pace, that represents a 2.5-month supply, the lowest on record.” Read more

 

Macy’s Q3 comp sales down 21% Press release

 

Ace Hardware Q3 US comp sales up 28.9% Press release

 

Shoe Carnival Q3 comp sales up 0.9% Press release

 

Metro Q4 comp sales: Food up 10% / Pharmacy up 5.5% Press release

 

Walgreens to offer same-day pickup for online shoppers at Reuters. “Walgreens said its customer loyalty program has more than 100 million members and the new services will be in addition to at-home delivery and discounts.” Read more

 

Ahold Delhaize is buying the online grocery service FreshDirect at CNN. “The deal is expected to close next year. FreshDirect will retain its name and continue to operate out of New York City, where it was launched in 2002.” Read more

 

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

 

Amazon restructures drone program, cuts jobs at Business Insider. “The jobs would be lost in research and development as well as in manufacturing, the Financial Times reported…(Amazon) has reached tentative deals with Spain’s Aernnova Aerospace and Austria’s FACC Aerospace to manufacture component parts of its drone, the FT reported.” Read more

 

Bath & Body Works posts a 55% jump in quarterly sales at Fox Business. Read more

 

How Home Depot plans to grow its media network at Ad Age. “(Home Depot) scaled the program last month and will further expand to include outside advertisers and channels in 2021.” Ad Age subs.

 

Forrester estimates that US online holiday sales will grow 24% year over year in 2020 Press release

 

Retail Entrepreneurs Buy Twice-Bankrupt RadioShack With Plans for Online Revival at Wall Street Journal. “The deal marks REV’s latest purchase of a retail brand since Covid-19 began spreading in the U.S. Earlier this year, the company bought the e-commerce business of Pier 1 Imports Inc. and the trademark assets of Modell’s Sporting Goods out of bankruptcy.” WSJ subs.

 

Target Q3 2020 earnings call transcript at Seeking Alpha. Full transcript

 

Walmart will deliver your Christmas trees and hang your lights for you this year at Business Insider. “Walmart has partnered with Handy for its lights installation program, which is limited to single or double-story homes. Installation on single-story homes costs $129, while the service for double-story properties is more expensive at $199.” Read more

 

Lowe’s Q3 2020 earnings call transcript at Seeking Alpha. Full transcript

 

DoorDash launches gifting feature in time for the holidays at The Verge. “Ordering works the same way it traditionally does…only now at checkout, you can select to “send as a gift,” launching the new interface. From there, you can schedule the delivery, select from a collection of cards to personalize with a message, enter in the gift recipient contact information, and send.” Read more

 

TJX Companies, Inc. Q3 2021 earnings call transcript at Seeking Alpha. Full transcript

 

Tipsheet Extra

Big Tobacco gets a pandemic pick-me-up

Zillow surfing is the escape we all need right now

Farmstead, a grocery startup with a focus on software, raises $7.9M

Staples seeks suppliers for community concept store

10 jobs that could disappear or decline because of COVID-19

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: Sam’s Agency Review | Cornell @ ‘Squawk Box’ | Lowe’s +30.4%

 

Target Q3 comp sales +20.7% / Store +9.9% / Digital +155% Press release

 

…Target blows past expectations at Fox Business. “Sales increased across all categories with electronics growing more than 50%, home up in the mid-20% range and apparel increasing by almost 10%. The average ticket rose 15.6% from a year ago. Overall, the company said it won $6 billion of market share.” Read more

 

…Brian Cornell @ CNBC’s “Squawk Box” this morning “Cornell would not name retailers that it’s taking market share from, but pointed to the company’s numbers saying they “compare very favorably to our peers.” “It has been broad based,” he said. “We’re picking up share from our traditional competitors as well as specialty competitors.” Read more / 3:05 video

 

Lowe’s Q3 US comp sales +30.4% / Digital +106% Press release

 

…Lowe’s shares tumble as earnings fall short despite robust sales gains at CNBC. “For the quarter ended Oct. 30, net income fell to $692 million, or 91 cents a share, from $1.05 billion, or $1.36 per share, a year earlier.” Read more

 

TJX Companies Q3 overall open-only comp store sales down 5% Press release

 

Sam’s Club launches agency review after incumbent Mono heads back to Target at Ad Age. “Consultancy Select Resources International is handling the review. Mono earlier this year was dropped from the roster of Sam’s bigger corporate sibling Walmart, the retailer said. Subsequently, according to a person familiar with the matter, Mono renewed its relationship with Target, for which it had worked prior to beginning work for Walmart in 2017.” Tiered subs.

 

U.S. housing starts beat expectations; building permits flat at Reuters. “(October) housing starts rose 4.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.530 million units…Data for September was revised up to a pace of 1.459 million units from the previously reported 1.415 million.” Read more

 

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

 

Bain: Global luxury sales forecast to plunge 23% this year due to pandemic at AP. “Still, the drop is narrower than the 35% collapse forecast in the spring, thanks largely to a market recovery in China, which is generating nearly a third of all sales.” Read more

 

How to make millions from Bezos’ billions at Forbes. Tiered subs.

 

Instacart Launches Same-day Delivery of Best Buy Products Nationwide “Customers across the U.S. can now shop from hundreds of Best Buy products at www.instacart.com/best-buy or by downloading the Instacart app on their mobile device.” Press release

 

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon on Q3 Results at Seeking Alpha. Earnings Call Transcript

 

Home Depot CEO Craig Menear on Q3 Results at Seeking Alpha. Earnings Call Transcript

 

Dollar General Announces Approximately $50 Million in Additional Employee Appreciation Bonuses Press release

 

Giant Food says it made a mistake with ‘Super Spreader’ ad at TMZ. “Hosting? Plan a super spread.” That’s the tone-deaf holiday advertisement that’s got an East Coast supermarket chain bending over backward to say sorry for its brain fart.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Bud Light made a video game console that also cools two beers

Krebs: Be very sparing in allowing website notifications

Inside IGA’s store brand refresh

China defends food import controls to curb virus

Dow Jones could hit the 40,000-point level next year, analyst says

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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.Depot +24.1% | WM +6.4% | Sam’s +11.1% | Cornell Zooms Biden

 

Home Depot Q3 comp sales up 24.1% (!) / US comp +24.6% Press release

 

…Home Depot is building a banner year, 3Q numbers stun at AP. “Revenue totaled $33.54 billion for the three months ended Nov. 1, topping the $31.83 billion that analysts polled by FactSet predicted…making temporary financial support programs for its frontline, hourly employees, such as a weekly bonus program, permanent. The value of that program is being put at about $1 billion on an annualized basis.” Read more

 

Walmart Q3 comp sales up 6.4% / Sam’s Club comp +11.1% / Walmart Int’l net sales +1.3%  Press release

 

…Walmart beats same-store sales estimates on buoyant online demand at Reuters. “…79% surge in its online business powered overall rises in spending on electronics, apparel and groceries. Analysts had estimated (a comp) increase of 4.16%…Total revenue rose 5.2% to $134.71 billion, beating estimates of $132.23 billion.” Read more

 

Amazon opens online pharmacy at Fox Business. “Amazon said it will offer commonly prescribed medications starting Tuesday, including creams, pills, as well as medications that need to stay cold, like insulin. Shoppers have to set up a profile on Amazon’s website and have doctors send prescriptions to the Seattle-based e-commerce giant.” Read more | Press release

 

U.S. retail sales miss expectations in October at Reuters. “Retail sales rose 0.3% last month, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday. Data for September was revised down to show sales surging 1.6% instead of shooting up 1.9% as previously reported. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales would gain 0.5% in October.” Read more

 

**A message from Comfy Sacks bean bag chairs – Comfy Sacks are filled with superior quality furniture grade foam. Offer your consumer something unique & comfortable. Booklet | Video | Website | Request sample bag: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Costco declares a special cash dividend on Costco common stock of $10 per share Read more

 

CVS becomes first national retailer to offer support for PayPal and Venmo QR codes at checkout at TechCrunch. “The entire transaction can be touch-free, as it involves QR code scanning as opposed to using a card that has to be swiped or inserted into a terminal or numbers punched into a keypad.” Read more

 

Kohl’s Q3 comp sales down 13.3% Press release

 

…Kohl’s sales fall 13% as shoppers shift spending away from apparel at CNBC. “Analysts, on average, were calling for (a comp decline of) 11.39%…But the company said it did report positive sales growth in three categories — athleisure, lounge and sleepwear — which it has been investing in heavily.” Read more

 

…‘We were making it up as we went.’ Kohl’s CEO on weathering the COVID storm at Fortune. “Everything was set for Kohl’s investor day on March 16 in New York…But on the evening of March 12, with the pandemic gaining a foothold in the U.S. and Kohl’s customers starting to sequester at home, Gass canceled the event entirely. “What we’re going to tell investors when we didn’t even know what the world was going to look like?” 29:51 podcast

 

Target CEO among business chiefs meeting with Biden-Harris at CNBC. Read more

 

Amazon Named “Low Price Leader” in New Study “Amazon proved to be the lowest priced option in all categories, with the largest potential customer savings, on average, in Home Furniture (35% more affordable than other options in the category), Vitamins and Supplements (34%), Health and Personal Care (26%) and Beauty (22%).” Press release | Study

 

Tipsheet Extra

How A 70-Year-Old Entrepreneur Reinvented The Invisible Fence

Average person starts feeling old at the age of 47

Pepsi unveils first 2-liter bottle redesign in nearly 30 years

Casper Sleep sales dip

Three detained in Germany over $1B jewel heist

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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: HD Supply Acquired | Guitar Center Deal | Amazon & WM Ad

 

Home Depot Announces Agreement to Acquire HD Supply “The Home Depot will commence a cash tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of HD Supply common stock for $56 per share, for a total enterprise value (including net cash) of approximately $8 billion.” Press release

 

Amazon Black Friday Deals Week Starts Friday, November 20 “Starting Friday, November 20 through Black Friday on November 27, Amazon will release tens of thousands of deals with deep discounts and incredibly low prices, including thousands of holiday deals from small businesses.” Press release

 

Walmart releases Black Friday ad at USA Today. “The new Sony PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Xbox Series X are listed as online-only offers at the regular price of $499. Additional items will go on sale at midnight ET online and in stores at 5 a.m. local time Nov. 27, which is Black Friday.” Read more

 

Walmart retreats from Japan by selling most of its stake in Seiyu supermarkets at CNN. “…giving up on a near 20-year attempt to crack the grocery market in the world’s third largest economy. Walmart is selling most of its stake in Japanese supermarket chain Seiyu to KKR and Rakuten in a deal that values Seiyu at 172.5 billion yen ($1.6 billion).” Read more

 

…Walmart expects $2 billion non-cash loss from stake sale in Japan’s Seiyu at Reuters. Read more

 

Mall owners Simon and Taubman revise merger terms, with $800 million price cut at CNBC. “Under the new deal, Simon will now pay $43 per share for Taubman, down roughly 18% from an original price of $52.50.” Read more

 

Guitar Center enters restructuring deal to cut debt by $800M at Fox Business. “Guitar Center, which owns nearly 300 stores across the country, said business operations will continue without any interruption under the deal.” Read more

 

Drug makers offer Canada $1 billion to scrap some pending pricing rules at Financial Post. “The pharmaceutical industry has made a last-ditch $1 billion proposal to the Canadian government in hopes of fending off parts of a drug pricing crackdown set to go into effect on Jan. 1, according to industry documents reviewed by Reuters.” Read more

 

**A message from the Kitchenology 4-In-1 Scrub Bar™ – Don’t settle for a sponge that can’t scrub the dirtiest dishes. Introducing the Scrub Bar – the kitchen sponge with a different abrasive strength on each side!  See it | Samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Why Varsity Tutors’ president left Amazon for Sears at GeekWire. “It didn’t go well. Clarkson had taken for granted Amazon’s laser-focused leadership and largely smooth operations, thinking that’s just how companies are run. At Sears, the company’s top leaders encouraged internal competition, which led to a mess of conflicting goals and priorities, he said. “It was like the worst manifestation of corporate culture.” Read more

 

Reliance Retail said it has acquired a 96% stake in Urban Ladder for about $24.43 million at TechCrunch. “Founded in early 2012, Urban Ladder sells home furniture and decor products online. It also operates a chain of physical retail stores in several Indian cities. The deal size suggests that it was a fire sale.” Read more

 

Costco selling $17.5K private jet membership that lasts 1 year at Fox Business. “Although the $17,499.99 membership is quite a hefty fee, it also comes with a $3,500 Costco Shop Card and $4,000 worth of flight credit.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

The mushroom gold rush returns to B.C. forests

New Waffle House collaboration brew smells like bacon

Bezos names first recipients of his $10 billion fund for combating climate change

How to make a billion dollars from a junkyard

Man hides behind Sam’s Club freezer – steals over $13K of jewelry

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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: Instacart & DoorDash Eye IPO | Food Costs +2.4% | Loblaw +6.9%

 

Walmart is placing “pop-up” e-commerce fulfillment centers inside dozens of its regional distribution facilities at Fox Business. “The 42 sites will hold fast-moving items in sections of warehouses that are traditionally used to ship pallets of goods to Walmart stores. The network of pop-up sites will ship up to 30% of Walmart’s online holiday volume…” Read more

 

Instacart taps Goldman Sachs to lead IPO at $30B valuation at Fox Business. “Instacart is accelerating its IPO plans after voters in California backed a ballot proposal last week that upheld the status of app-based delivery drivers as independent contractors.” Read more

 

DoorDash releases filing to go public, reports $149 million in losses on revenue of $1.9 billion through September at CNBC. “The company said it has 1 million Dashers (delivery workers) and more than 18 million customers. It also had over 5 million customers on its $9.99 per month DashPass service as of Sept. 30. The offering gives customers free delivery from restaurants part of the program.” Read more

 

Wholesale prices rise 0.3%, but inflation not the worry now at AP. “Food costs rose 2.4%, the biggest increase since a 5.6% surge in May that was tied to shortages caused by the pandemic.” Read more

 

Costco updates mask policy, requires members with medical conditions to wear face shields – the policy goes into effect on Nov. 16 at Fox Business. Read more

 

Grocery shoppers trade up from dried beans and rice to premium foods as Covid cases rise at CNBC. “Sales of premium and super premium packaged goods grew by 1.7% at retailers year over year for the 26 weeks ended Oct. 4, according to IRI data. The percentage may sound like a small one, but it is a notable shift in the multibillion-dollar consumer packaged goods industry…” Read more

 

How Walmart, Kroger Plan to Become Advertising Giants at Wall Street Journal. “Market research firm eMarketer estimates (Walmart) will grow 73% this year to $849.4 million. The firm also estimates Walmart will command 7% of total U.S. e-commerce ad spending by 2022, a share worth roughly $2 billion.” WSJ subs.

 

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Loblaw Q3 comp sales up 6.9% / Shoppers Drug Mart up 6.1% Press release

 

…Loblaw raises dividend after big gains in sales and online orders at Financial Post. “But the success has not been without angst. Loblaw is in the midst of a fight with food manufacturers after the grocer increased the fees it charges suppliers in an attempt to help cover the costs of its $6-billion upgrade to e-commerce and store infrastructure.” Read more

 

Amazon expands its in-garage delivery to 4,000 cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York at The Verge. Read more

 

EBay touts sale of rare Air Jordan sneakers as it looks to solidify its place with collectors at CNBC. “In recent days, it has been rolling out 60 sneakers per day from seller “shoezeum,” owned by Jordy Geller, the Guinness World Record holder for largest collection of sneakers and owner of the former Las Vegas shoe museum. The auction, which ends Friday, spans Michael Jordan shoes through the ages.” Read more

 

Wayfair adds Johnson & Johnson EVP to its Board of Directors Press release

 

Dillard’s Q3 comp sales down 24% Press release

 

Hibbett Sports Announces New Merchandising Leadership Team

Jared Briskin, SVP & Chief Merchant, Hibbett | City Gear
Alicia Kahn, VP of Planning, Hibbett | City Gear
Varetta Banks, VP/GMM Men’s, Hibbett
Lauren Portera, VP/GMM Kid’s & Team Sports, Hibbett
Stephani Smith, VP/GMM Women’s, Hibbett
Brooke Frankel, VP/GMM, City Gear

Press release

 

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