Tipsheet: Singles Day Surge | Leno Recreates Walton’s Truck | Mackey ‘Daddy’

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Alibaba, JD set new records to rack up record $115 billion of sales on Singles Day at CNBC. “Alibaba said its total gross merchandise value over the 11-day period totaled 498.2 billion yuan…nearly double last year’s 268.4 billion yuan…JD.com’s transaction volume over the same period totaling 271.5 billion yuan ($40.97 billion), more than the 204.4 billion yuan it recorded in 2019.” Read more

 

Walmart Launches New Pet Care Services “…will also include new pet sitting and dog walking services through Rover…Walmart customers will receive a $20 Walmart gift card for their first completed service and another $20 Walmart gift card if they complete their fifth services within six months.” Press release

 

Target is re-opening its looted Minneapolis store at Business Insider. “Company executives met with Black residents and employees to take suggestions on how to improve the store to meet their needs, Bloomberg reported. Updates stemming from these conversations include adding more spice varieties and bringing the pharmacy to the front of the store to aid elderly customers.” Read more

 

SpartanNash Q3 retail comp store sales +10.6% Press release

 

Whole Foods CEO John Mackey: How to ‘devastate employee morale’ in a single blow at CNBC. “Because I am the founder, the CEO, I have a larger-than-life impact on the team members. They want ‘daddy’ to really love the store, and they don’t want criticism,” Mackey says. “I know this. So, what I do is I give nothing but praise when I’m in the store. And if I see some problems, I might tell the store team leader, kind of one on one. But I try to not offer criticisms when I’m there, because they’re just too powerful.” Read more

 

Caleres names Michael Edwards President of Famous Footwear Press release

 

CIO of Walgreens Boots Alliance Shares Lessons from CMO Partnership at CIO. “Both executives are fairly new to the company, and they joined roughly around the same time. They were less tied to legacy, and more focused on the future as a result. There would be no territorial turf wars between the marketing and IT organizations.” 5:20 video

 

Amazon sues two influencers for peddling counterfeit goods on Instagram and TikTok at CNBC. 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

 

Elizabeth Warren calls out CEOs for ‘weak and meaningless’ climate commitments at CNN. “In Warren’s letter to Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, who chairs the Business Roundtable, the Senator urged the group to provide detailed information to her office by November 23 about “concrete actions to require corporations to meet these demands,” including specific policies that the CEOs will commit to supporting.” Read more

 

Pfizer coronavirus vaccine expected to protect patients for a year: BioNTech founder at Fox Business. Read more

 

Jay Leno Recreates Sam Walton’s 1979 Ford Pickup Truck With New F-150 at The Drive. “It wears an inspired two-tone paint job with white sandwiched between Ruby Red, a modern Ford color that’s a bit darker than the ’79. It also wears off-white wheels with understated chrome hubcaps to match the original, and shod in Bridgestone tires with white lettering on the side. Sam’s had General Grabbers, but hey, you do what you can with what you have.” Read more/Pics/Video

 

Carlyle invests $250 million in U.S. e-commerce firm Pharmapacks at Reuters. Read more

 

An Amazon driver got his truck stuck in a golf cart tunnel at Detroit Free Press/USA Today. “Golf carts were rerouted around the crash, but golfers still stopped to take their phones out to snap a photo, Offer said. Luckily, a nearby wedding paid no notice to the commotion.” Read more/Pics

 

SATIRE ALERT – Jeff Bezos Wears Disguise To Secretly Assess Whole Foods Employees at The Onion. “Painting green stripes across his face and crouching down at the bottom of a wooden produce crate, Jeff Bezos reportedly disguised himself as a medium-sized watermelon Wednesday in order to secretly assess Whole Foods employees…nestled covertly in a pile of watermelons, opening his eyes briefly and scowling on several occasions before mumbling the words “too slow” and “breach of dress code” into a recording device.” Read more/Pic

 

Tipsheet Extra

Black market for negative COVID-19 tests pops up across the globe

New device puts music in your head — no headphones required

Microsoft: ‘please do not blow vape smoke into your Xbox Series X’

Ticketmaster exploring negative COVID-19 test or vaccination to attend concerts

Vista Outdoors reports “over a year’s worth” of backlogged ammunition orders

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Tipsheet: Online SNAP Up 50X | H.Depot Agency Search | Amazon Palm-Scan +3

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Alibaba boasts over $70 billion sales as first post-virus Singles’ Day nears end at Reuters. “The world’s biggest sales event – eclipsing Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the United States – spans four main days this year, and so far has brought sellers 20 times as many orders by value than Amazon.com Inc’s two-day global Prime Day last month.” Read more

 

…overshadowed by 10% stock plunge as China proposes new regulation at CNBC. “Beijing released draft rules on Tuesday that, for the first time, defines what constitutes anti-competitive behavior.” Read more

 

…China Targets Alibaba, Other Homegrown Tech Giants With Antimonopoly Rules at Wall Street Journal. “Regulators are sending a message to online platforms to behave themselves,” said He Jing, a lawyer at Beijing-based GEN Law Firm, who said the draft rules were likely meant to help advance a recent push from China’s top leaders to encourage domestic consumption over the next five years.” WSJ subs.

 

Eta regains hurricane strength as Florida prepares for hit at AP. “Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami issued a hurricane watch for a 120-mile (193-kilometer) stretch that includes Tampa and St. Petersburg. The storm has been in the Gulf of Mexico since crossing over South Florida on Sunday.” Read more

 

Amazon Lures Food-Stamp Shoppers as Online Buying Surges 50-Fold at Bloomberg. “Babcock is among one million-plus U.S. households now using government benefits each month to buy groceries online. Their numbers spiked 50-fold this year after the spread of Covid-19 prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make it easier for food-stamp recipients to shop on the web.” Tiered subs.

 

Home Depot issues RFI to agencies as it moves ahead with creative review at Ad Age. “Roth Ryan Hayes is running the review, which comes after the retailer fired The Richards Group following racist remarks by founder Stan Richards.” Ad Age subs.

 

Amazon expands palm-scanning payment technology to 3 more Seattle-area stores at Seattle Times. “The company will roll out Amazon One devices at the Amazon Go Grocery in Redmond on Wednesday, followed by the Amazon Books in University Village and the Amazon 4-Star store in Southcenter in coming weeks, said Dilip Kumar, Amazon’s vice president of physical retail and technology, in an interview.” Read more

 

**A message from the Kitchenology 4-In-1 Scrub Bar™ – The 4-sided kitchen sponge that tackles every dirty dish in the sink. A different abrasive strength on each side – regular sponge, medium-duty, heavy-duty & super-duty. 1 sponge/4 surfaces | Samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Amazon accuses Future of insider trading as it seeks to block Reliance deal at Reuters. Read more

 

Biden’s agency review teams include tech employees from companies like Amazon, Airbnb and Uber at CNBC. Read more

 

The Covid-Winter Backyard: Fire Pits, Pizza Ovens and Patio Heaters at The Wall Street Journal. “About one-fourth of 900 consumers surveyed in September by Boston marketing software firm Klaviyo said they would buy furniture to make outdoor living more comfortable this fall. Lowe’s says items such as heat lamps, fire pits and patio heaters have become increasingly popular.” WSJ subs.

 

Planes, dry ice, pharmacies: the logistical challenges of Covid-19 vaccines at Yahoo. “Poorer countries that lack storage capacity for large quantites of vaccines that need super-cold storage have little hope of benefiting from the first doses, said Prashant Yadav, an expert in global health supply chains at the Center for Global Development.” Read more

 

Amazon’s Ring recalls 350,000 video doorbells for fire hazard at Fox Business. “…at least 85 incident reports of incorrect doorbell screws installed with 23 of those doorbells igniting, resulting in minor property damage. The Amazon-owned firm has also received eight reports of minor burns.” Read more

 

Volunteers who took Pfizer vaccine say it felt like suffering a ‘severe hangover’ at NY Post. “Texan Glenn Deshields, 44, said his “severe hangover” symptoms soon cleared up…another volunteer…said she suffered a headache, fever and aches all over her body after her first shot — symptoms that were even more severe after the second one, Metro UK said.” Read more

 

Whole Foods, Progressive team up to offer Thanksgiving turkey insurance at Fox Business. “In order to redeem the insurance “just in case you commit a turkey cooking fail,” the homes chefs will need to provide their Whole Foods Market receipt, a picture of the turkey fail and an explanation of what went wrong to the grocery store claims adjustor. If the claim is approved, Whole Foods will send the customer a $35 gift card to the store.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Chipotle doesn’t want you to eat at its newest restaurant

Health benefits of multivitamins ‘may all be in the mind’

Southeastern Grocers Debuts Four New Winn-Dixie Stores

38% of college students worry they won’t have enough money to last the semester

Online exam software sparks global student revolt

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Tipsheet: WM/GM Team | Lowe’s Denies HD Supply Rumor | Target/Ulta Team

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Walmart partners with GM’s Cruise on self-driving delivery pilot in AZ at Reuters. “Cruise has been testing its self-driving vehicles for several years in San Francisco, as well as Phoenix. In addition to robotaxis, it has provided automated grocery delivery services to residents in San Francisco.” Read more

 

Lowe’s says not in talks to buy HD Supply at Reuters. “Bloomberg News first reported the discussion, citing people familiar with the matter. The news sent shares of HD Supply surging 17% after the bell, while those of Lowe’s gained 1%.” Read more

 

China gears up for world’s largest online shopping festival at AP. “To help merchants cope with the impact from the coronavirus, online platforms have extended the shopping festival period this year in hopes of boosting sales. Both Alibaba and JD.com, the country’s two biggest e-commerce companies, began offering discounts on Oct. 21, three weeks ahead of Nov. 11.” Read more

 

…Singles Day sales to get tremendous lift from livestream events, as U.S. retailers play catch-up at CNBC. “This year marks the 11th edition of the annual Singles Day event…but some U.S. companies will be making a debut and using livestreaming to market their goods. “Within five years in America, if you don’t do livestreaming, your company will just disappear and get left behind,” Yuan said.” Read more

 

Ulta Beauty to open hundreds of “shop-in-shops” at Target stores “Ulta Beauty at Target will debut at more than 100 Target locations starting in 2021, with plans to scale to hundreds more over time.” Press release

 

Advance Auto Parts Q3 comp sales +10.2% Press release

 

Europe lays out Amazon antitrust charges, targeting its use of merchants’ data at Fortune. “The Commission is specifically worried about how Amazon uses its data about third-party sellers’ activities—such as their revenues on the platform, how many units they ship, past performance and so on—to adjust its own offerings that compete with those merchants.” 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. Website | Samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

PriceSmart October net sales +10.4% Press release

 

J.C. Penney rescue deal approved in bankruptcy court, saving close to 60,000 jobs at CNBC. “Lenders led by H/2 Capital Partners will forgive $1 billion in debt in exchange for 160 properties and six distribution centers. Mall operators Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners will acquire the company’s slimmed-down retail operations for $1.75 billion in cash and debt.” Read more

 

Casey’s General Stores to Acquire Buchanan Energy and its 94 Bucky’s C-stores Press release

 

Grocery store purchase limits are back at Fox Business. “Starting Monday, Kroger will enforce limits on key items like bath tissue, paper towels, disinfecting wipes and hand soap. “To ensure all customers have access to what they need, we’ve proactively and temporarily set purchase limits to two per customer on certain products,” a Kroger spokesperson said…” Read more

 

Shipt will pay bonuses of $50 to $300 this Thanksgiving Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra

These are the brands that actually make Costco’s Kirkland products in Canada

How Pfizer vaccine could be cold comfort for some Asian nations

Amazon has opened three more logistics centers in Brazil

NBA player settles civil rights lawsuit with Milwaukee re: arrest at Walgreens

Star-studded benefit concert to honor nurses on Thanksgiving

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Tipsheet: Rite Aid Future Store | Pet Christmas | W. Foods Reverses Ban

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Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine is looking 90% effective at AP. “Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top-infectious disease expert, said the results suggesting 90% effectiveness are “just extraordinary,” adding: “Not very many people expected it would be as high as that.” Read more

 

…Behind Pfizer’s vaccine, an understated husband-and-wife “dream team” at Reuters. “The market value of Nasdaq-listed BioNTech, which the pair co-founded, had ballooned to $21 billion as of Friday’s close from $4.6 billion a year ago, with the firm set to play a major role in mass immunization against the coronavirus. “Despite his achievements, he never changed from being incredibly humble and personable,” said Matthias Kromayer, board member of venture capital firm MIG AG.” Read more

 

…A Covid vaccine could mean a slowdown in growth for grocers: Bain & Co. at CNBC. “U.S. grocery sector revenue has risen by as much as 10% year over year in 2020, according to the consulting firm. That rate may shrink to 2% to 5% next year — or could even drop by as much as 7 percentage points if a Covid-19 vaccine is widely available and diners return to restaurants in early 2021.” Read more

 

Walmart CEO led Business Roundtable congratulates President-elect Joe Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris at Fox Business. Read more

 

Whole Foods reverses ban of Remembrance Day poppies amid outrage at NY Post. “Whole Foods has canned a controversial rule barring employees from wearing poppies in honor of Remembrance Day, Canada’s holiday for fallen soldiers, following a cascade of criticism.” Read more

 

Pandemic pet boom puts dogs, cats and other critters at the top of the holiday gift list at CNBC. “Pet merchandise is expected to be one of the top gift-giving categories, according to a survey by consulting firm Deloitte. About half of the more than 4,000 people surveyed by the firm said they plan to purchase pet foods and supplies during the holiday season. On average, they plan to spend $90 on pet items, such as gifts for their own dog or for a family member or friend’s pet.” Read more

 

Rite Aid is betting that new stores that put pharmacists at the front instead of the back will help it draw customers at CNN. “The company opened a “store of the future” Monday in Moscow, Pennsylvania. It includes lower shelves to improve visibility and more natural light, with signs and display fixtures moved away from windows. In addition to a new location for the pharmacist that makes the person more accessible to customers, the store has a “wellness room” where customers can schedule a visit with a licensed clinician.” Read more

 

Amazon disavows Mississippi police program that plans to use Ring cameras for real-time surveillance at GeekWire. Read more

 

**A message from Comfy Sacks bean bag chairs – Consumers want stay at home comfort! 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

 

Walmart’s 98% OTIF requirement remains a work in progress at Talk Business. “Joe Metzger, senior vice president of supply chain transportation for Walmart, recently spoke virtually at the WalStreet speaker event hosted by the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce. Metzger said customers want what they want when they want, how they want it and across all assortments…” Read more

 

Amazon’s new rewards program gives frequent delivery drivers easier access to work at The Verge. “Of particular use to drivers is the reward program’s “preferred scheduling” feature, which includes easier access to shifts. These are often hotly contested between drivers, and there have even been reports of some using bots to access in-demand shifts.” Read more

 

Crate and Barrel Pairs Up With Dr. Jane Goodall to Create Kids’ Furniture at Wall Street Journal. “When it comes to her own habitat, the world’s foremost expert on how chimpanzees live doesn’t fret about aesthetics….But give her a chance to excite children about nature through home décor—as in her new collaboration with the Crate and Barrel brand Crate and Kids—and the eminent primatologist will opine precisely about which animals make the best throw pillows.” WSJ subs.

 

Softbank-backed delivery startup goPuff enters the California market with its deal to buy alcoholic beverage chain BevMo! at CNBC. Read more

 

How Peloton Could Beat Nike and Lululemon at Apparel at Wall Street Journal. “…co-founder and CEO John Foley delegated the apparel business to his wife and vice president Jill Foley. She now has 24 people working under her. “Just this year I hired eight more people because of our growth and I think the greater Peloton brand realized, ‘Oh, geez, we need to invest more in this apparel,” said Ms. Foley. “They’re selling like hot cakes.” WSJ subs.

 

Tipsheet Extra

Vans owner VF Corp to buy streetwear brand Supreme for about $2.1 billion

DVD rental chain Family Video makes last stand against COVID-19

Superstore finds a way to laugh about the pandemic

DC liquor stores sell more champagne after Trump loss than on last two New Years combined

Apple puts major supplier Pegatron on probation for labor violations

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Tipsheet: WM Sells Argentina Operations | CVS New CEO | 60% to Stockpile

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Walmart to sell Argentina retail operations at Reuters. “Walmart Inc said on Friday it would sell its retail operations in Argentina to supermarket chain owners Grupo de Narváez. The company did not disclose the size of the deal.” Read more

 

CVS Health reported a better-than-expected 3.5% jump in Q3 revenue at CNBC. “Prescriptions filled increased 4.6% on a 30-day equivalent basis in the quarter compared with the prior year. Front store revenues increase 2.7% in the quarter compared with the prior year.” Read more

 

…CVS names female CEO at CNN. “Karen Lynch will be elevated to CEO, making her the 40th female chief executive on the Fortune 500 list…Lynch will replace the current CEO, Larry Merlo, on February 1…Lynch is currently the executive vice president of CVS Health and president of Aetna, the insurance company it bought in 2018.” Read more

 

Amazon launches its first European Amazon Air hub at TechCrunch. “…based out of the Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany. The new facility spans 20,000 square meters and will host two Amazon-branded Boeing 737-800 aircraft, bringing the company’s total operational air fleet to more than 70 aircraft.” Read more

 

Some grocery stores are limiting toilet paper and disinfecting wipe purchases again at CNN. “…nearly 60% of shoppers say they plan to stock up again as winter approaches, according to a survey of 1,000 shoppers by market research firm Inmar Intelligence conducted during the week of October 14.” Read more

 

**A message from Comfy Sacks bean bag chairs – Consumers want stay at home comfort! 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

 

Walmart faces growth hurdles as India caps payments transactions at TechCrunch. “(India) will enforce a cap to ensure that no single payments app processes more than 30% of UPI transactions in a month… will severely impact Google and Walmart,  whose respective apps already process more than 35% of UPI transactions each.” Read more

 

Groupon Q3 revenue down 39% Press release

 

Alibaba, Richemont to invest $1.1 billion in luxury fashion retailer Farfetch with focus on China at Reuters. “Meanwhile, Farfetch will cease operations with JD.com. after receiving the investment from Alibaba and Richemont…JD.com and Farfetch reached a strategic partnership in 2017 that saw JD.com invest $397 million in Farfetch.” Read more

 

Husband of ex-Amazon finance manager pleads guilty in $1.4M insider trading case at GeekWire. Read more

 

Price Check: Thanksgiving Dinner at Field Agent. “Whole Foods is most expensive – but most nutritious. Walmart is 2nd most expensive and 2nd most nutritious.” Read more

 

San Francisco voters pass ‘Overpaid Executive Tax’ at NBC. “The “Overpaid Executive Tax,” formally known as Proposition L, will charge any company that does business in San Francisco and has a top executive earning over 100 times more than their “typical local worker,” according to the tax’s author, Matt Haney, a member of the city’s Board of Supervisors.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Study: 1 in 5 grocery store workers have tested positive for COVID-19

Rare Patrick Mahomes sports card collection hits eBay for whopping amount

Vermont senators say Walmart ‘cruel’ not seeking hazard pay

Why Germany’s coronavirus strategy doesn’t appear to be working this time around

WhatsApp finally begins rolling out payment service in India

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Tipsheet: Costco +14.4% | Online Down Election Day | Pet Valu Shutters

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Costco October comp sales +14.4% / Ecom +91.1% Press release

 

Election uncertainty taking toll on online shopping at NY Post. “Spending on Election Day typically dips compared to the rest of the holiday shopping season. Online sales were down 14 percent the day after the 2016 election, and they dropped 6 percent the day after the 2018 mid-term election. But this year, prolonged uncertainty about the presidential voting tally could prolong the decline, Adobe said, estimating that online retail sales could drop by $300 million on Thursday alone.” Read more

 

Pet Valu will wind down operations and close all of its 358 stores and warehouses across the U.S. at CNBC. Read more

 

Former Walmart Exec’s Startup Uses AI To Battle Spoiled Produce Deliveries at Forbes. “As Director of Supply Chain, Syed Aman spent several years making sure when produce reached Walmart stores, it wasn’t rotten. Now, as CEO and co-founder of Hwy Haul, he’s using what he learned to give other supermarkets the same insurance, because it’s not just a few bad apples spoiling the whole bunch.” Read more

 

Amazon, Williams-Sonoma, reach settlement in legal fight over West Elm IP at Fox Business. “The settlement was revealed in a dismissal order filed in the district court on Nov. 2. “The Parties stipulate that they have entered into a confidential final, binding, and fully executed settlement agreement,” the order, which is signed by Judge Alex Tse, states.” Read more

 

Comcast reportedly eyes deal to sell smart TVs with Walmart at NY Post. “The deal being discussed would see the nation’s largest retailer promote TV sets outfitted with Comcast software allowing viewers to sort through their various streaming apps, like similar offerings from Roku and Amazon’s Fire TV, according to The Wall Street Journal.” Read more | WSJ subs.

 

The Buckle October comp sales +12.7% Press release

 

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Supermarkets Get New Looks as Shoppers Adapt to Pandemic at Wall Street Journal. “Hy-Vee…is redesigning its stores to handle more pickup orders, converting parts of the customer-service area and building lanes of canopies outside its stores. The company is also fast-tracking plans to add self-checkout kiosks…Cub Foods…hadn’t previously provided a place for collecting online purchases in parking lots but now have four to eight slots at many locations. The Minnesota chain is also devoting 7% to 10% of its square footage for staging online orders, doubling the previous allocation.” WSJ subs.

 

Dollarama announces the appointment of Jean-Philippe (J.P.) Towner as chief financial officer, effective March 1, 2021 Press release

 

Retailers Use AI to Improve Online Recommendations for Shoppers at Wall Street Journal. “Wayfair has 37,173 kinds of coffee mugs for sale. Factor in different colors, sizes or materials, and the range of options rises above 70,000…In the past five years, the company’s success rate has jumped 50%, measured by the number of clicks it takes for a customer to add an item to their carts and how often they buy those items…” WSJ subs.

 

Alimentation Couche-Tard Announces Entry Into Asia with Acquisition of Hong Kong C-Store Network Press release

 

Gap removes election-inspired tweet after backlash: ‘Hopelessly naive’ at Fox Business. “In a tweet that has since been deleted, the Gap seemingly tried to promote togetherness amid the presidential election by showing off a sweatshirt that was half red, half blue. Things being the way that they are, however, the post seemingly sparked a negative response from social media users.” Read more

 

Jeff Bezos’ annual Amazon stock sales eclipse $10B for the first time at GeekWire. Read more

 

Yeti Q3 net sales +29% Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra

GameStop made a TikTok contest for employees where the prize is more hours to work

Congress considers sending antitrust law back to the Middle Ages

What Roz Brewer of Starbucks Taught the Founder of Walker & Company Brands

Amazon to display piece of Seattle history on its campus

Alibaba Reports Strong Results for the First Sales Window of the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival

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Tipsheet: WM Nixes Robots | Wayfair +67% | Publix +16.5%

/in

 

Walmart ends contract with robotics company, opts for human workers instead at CNBC. “The report, which cited unnamed people familiar with the situation, said Walmart recently cut ties with Bossa Nova Robotics. A Walmart spokesperson told the Journal that about 500 robots were in Walmart’s more than 4,700 stores when the contract ended.” Read more

 

…Walmart ended the partnership because it found different, sometimes simpler solutions that proved just as useful…In addition, Walmart U.S. chief executive John Furner has concerns about how shoppers react to seeing a robot working in a store at Wall Street Journal. Subs.

 

Publix Q3 comp sales +16.5% Press release

 

Wayfair Q3 Net Revenue up 67% Press release

 

PayPal gets pandemic boost, Venmo to hit $900M in revenue at Fox Business. “Approximately $44 billion in total payment volume was processed by Venmo, growing 61 percent, while PayPal’s merchant services grew 40 percent.” Read more

 

Camping World Q3: Revenue +21% / Gross profit +57.5% Press release

 

NRF: Americans show they’re eager to shop even as pandemic stretches on at CNBC. “Retail sales rose 1.9% in September, higher than economists surveyed by Dow Jones anticipated. Clothes and accessories jumped by 11%, while sporting goods, music and books grew 5.7%.” Read more

 

IKEA owner’s profit growth accelerates at The Globe & Mail. “…pretax profit grew 13 per cent to 2.02 billion euros ($2.36 billion)…their sales shrank 4 per cent…” 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

 

Home Depot returns as radio’s number one national advertiser with nearly 50,000 commercials at Radio Ink. Read more

 

Amazon reportedly planning new service for its rural deliveries at The Verge. “Several since-deleted job postings The Information discovered described “a new delivery business … that will support Amazon’s rural communities.” Read more

 

Ad Age speaks with CVS chief marketing officer Norman de Greve Podcast

 

NBA Store landlord seeks $4M in unpaid rent from league at NY Post. “The three-level, 25,000-square-foot store at the East 45th Street corner opened in 2015 after moving from several other Manhattan locations. Famed for its interactive features and video-screen live game displays, it drew legions of tourists, hoops fans and NBA stars…” Read more

 

Pinterest names Walmart’s Meredith Klein head of consumer, product comms PR Week subs.

 

Inside Saks’s pandemic protection plan at Vogue Business. “It’s something I learned after 9/11 and after ‘08,” says (CEO) Metrick, who worked as a retail executive during the World Trade Center attacks and the 2008 financial crisis. “You never return to normal. [Soon] you’re going through TSA lines and you’re not bringing liquids onto the plane and it’s normal.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

What’s the germiest surface in a supermarket? You might be surprised

Nike to cut 700 jobs at its Oregon headquarters by 2021

Teen missing for two weeks after being fired from Home Depot

Amazon restricts toy sellers during the Holidays

Target customer slammed as ‘entitled’ for decorating aisle in viral TikTok

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Contact us: Put your product or service in front of the most powerful retail execs in the world, send advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

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Tipsheet: H.Depot Can. Breach | WM Gun Backtrack | Health Influencer 50

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Walmart brings back gun displays day after ordering them hidden at NY Post. “After civil unrest earlier this week resulted in damage to several of our stores … we asked stores to move firearms and ammunition from the sales floor,” the company said in a statement. “As the current incidents have remained geographically isolated, we have made the decision to begin returning these products to the sales floor today,” the company said.” Read more

 

America’s malls under pressure: CBL, Pennsylvania REIT, file for bankruptcy at CNBC. “CBL operates 107 properties, totaling 66.7 million square feet across 26 states, including outlet centers. In its bankruptcy filing, CBL listed its estimated assets and liabilities in the range of $1 billion to $10 billion.” Read more

 

US construction spending up again, rises 0.3% in September at AP. “Spending on residential construction was strong yet again, with single-family home projects jumping 5.7%…Total residential construction was up 2.7%, while government construction spending fell 1.7%.” Read more

 

Why France’s lockdown could turn into a sales bonanza for Amazon at MarketWatch. “…supermarkets will now be banned from selling  items such as clothes, shoes, beauty products, toys, jewels or household equipment, because small independent specialist stores will be forced to close. Online retailers are not included in the restrictions…” Read more

 

British online supermarket Ocado acquires two U.S. robotics start-ups at CNBC. “Ocado has acquired San Francisco-headquartered robotics firm Kindred Systems for $262 million and Las Vegas firm Haddington Dynamics for $25 million.” Read more

 

U.S. will ‘vigorously defend’ TikTok executive order despite ruling at Reuters. Read more

 

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Home Depot Canada exposes private customer data following systems error at ThreatPost.  “One affected customer posted a screenshot of his inbox on Twitter, filled with random people’s order confirmations, tweeting: “Hey um… I’m pretty sure I received a reminder email for literally every online order that is currently ready for pick up at literally every Home Depot store in Canada. There are 660+ emails. Something has gone wrong.” Read more

 

Health Influencer 50 2020 (CVS #31 / Rite Aid #48) at PR Week.  Ranked list

 

Factories Bounce Back as Consumers Snap Up Goods at Wall Street Journal. “The Institute for Supply Management said its purchasing managers index rose to 59.3 in October from 55.4 in September, the sixth straight month of expansion. Firms also reported increased hiring for the first time in 14 months.” WSJ subs.

 

Amazon’s first $100B quarter? Jeff Bezos says signs point to ‘unprecedented’ holiday sales at GeekWire. “To help meet demand, Amazon has been on a hiring spree, adding 400,000 jobs this year and 100,000 already in the month of October…and now employs a whopping 1.13 million people worldwide, up 50% from this time last year. It is inching closer to retail rival Walmart, the nation’s largest employer with more than 2.2 million people.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

See inside one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores

Santa Claus returns to Bass Pro and Cabela’s but with changes

Bass Pro CEO to transform former La Quinta Inn into new Angler’s Lodge

AWS to Open Data Centers in Switzerland

iPhones can now tell blind users how far away people are

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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