Tipsheet: Costco +17.1% | Dick’s Top 100 Intern | WM 3X India Exports

 

Costco Q1 comp sales (ex. gas & f/x) +17.1% / US +17% / Canada +16.8% / Other Int’l +17.7% / Ecom +86.2% Press release

 

Lululemon earnings, sales top estimates on strong demand for workout gear at CNBC. “Lululemon on Thursday reported sales of $1.1 billion, up 22% from a year ago and beating analysts’ estimates…Same-store sales…were up 19%.” Read more

 

Almost 40% of Americans plan to spend less this holiday season as the Covid pandemic lingers at CNBC. “Just 11% plan to spend more…The average American plans to spend just $886, down 10% from their planned spending last year, according to the survey.” Read more

 

Academy Q3 comp sales +16.5% Press release

 

Amazon is reportedly eyeing a $100 million investment in the Apollo Pharmacy chain at Business Insider. “The company is looking to face up to Reliance Industries Ltd and Tata Group in India’s fast-growing drug market, the Economic Times reported…” Read more

 

Walmart is Preparing to Administer the COVID-19 Vaccine Once Approved by Dr. Tom Van Gilder, Chief Medical Officer, Walmart Read more

 

Tractor Supply Names Noni Ellison SVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary “Most recently, Ellison served as Carestream Dental’s General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary…” Press release

 

**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 | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Walmart to triple exports of India-made goods to $10B each year by 2027 at Fox Business. “Moving forward, Walmart said it plans to help develop hundreds of new suppliers in key Indian export categories such as food, pharmaceuticals, consumables, health and wellness, and general merchandise, along with apparel and homeware.” Read more

 

Amazon Wants to Train 29 Million People to Work in the Cloud at The Wall Street Journal. “While some participants might find jobs at Amazon, it is more likely they would get hired at other companies, including many that use Amazon Web Services…Teresa Carlson, a vice president at Amazon Web Services, says the company hears almost daily from its clients that they can’t find the right people to fill technical jobs…” WSJ subs.

 

Hudson’s Bay takes Ontario to court, calling retail lockdown ‘unreasonable’ and ‘irrational’ at Financial Post. “Of all months to impose a full lockdown, this is by far the most crippling,” HBC said in its application for a judicial review.” Read more

 

Shopify is ready for the holiday season. Just don’t call it the ‘anti-Amazon’ at Fortune. “Padelford joined Fortune Brainstorm, a podcast about how technology is changing our lives, where he spoke to Fortune’s Michal Lev-Ram and Brian O’Keefe about these changing consumer habits.” Podcast/Read more

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods named to Top 100 Internship Program list at National Intern Day. Top 100 list

 

U.S. producer prices increase modestly in November at Reuters. “The producer price index for final demand edged up 0.1% last month after increasing 0.3% in October, the Labor Department said on Friday. That was the smallest gain since April.” Read more

 

Gorillas, a grocery delivery startup in Berlin, has raised $44 million in Series A funding at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Retailers urge shoppers to buy early amid shipping crunch at AP. “The warnings on earlier deadlines are needed, said Moody’s Charlie O’Shea, because if an item arrives late, frustrated shoppers blame the retailer — not the shipping company. And retailers can ill-afford to lose business at a time when many people have already cut back on their spending.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Amazon driver dumped packages in woods, claimed was tossing feces, cops say

Apple Airpods Max first look: Lots to prove

Here are all the new projects Disney announced at its investor day

More shoplifting troubles for “Bud Light Mike”

US consumers would rather give up alcohol than food delivery

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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: Amazon’s “Overbearing” Bracelet | RH +25% | Cookie & Container Shortage

 

RH Q3 net revenue +25% Press release

 

CVS Health CEO says it has 10,000 staffers ready to vaccinate seniors at nursing homes at CNBC. “CVS Chief Executive Larry Merlo said the company is ready to administer “vaccines into the arms of some of our most vulnerable populations” within 24 to 48 hours upon receiving its share of Covid-19 vaccines.” Video/Read more

 

Jeff Bezos’ Day 1 Families Fund awards $105.9M to 42 non-profits in third year of initiative Award list/Read more

 

Target employees claim the chain will wait to arrest shoplifters until thieves steal enough to get felony charges. at Business Insider. “Seven former and current Target employees across the US confirmed that it is common for the retailer to not immediately apprehend certain shoplifters and wait for the total value of the stolen items to reach a certain amount.” Read more

 

J.Jill Q3 total net sales down 29.4% Press release

 

Pepperidge Farm parent company warns cookies in short supply this holiday season at The Hill. Read more

 

‘People are flocking to music.’ Instrument stores are trying to keep up. at St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “The sales of musical instruments have been one of the few bright spots for stores. Foot traffic has crashed. In-person lessons have stalled. And rentals — without school programs — are almost nonexistent. Repair work is up, as are online sales, but they haven’t always compensated for the other losses. Guitar Center, the largest musical instrument retailer in the United States, reported an 85% jump in business in August, moving almost three times as many guitars as usual.” Read more

 

Google and Amazon fined for cookies breach by French privacy regulator at CNBC. Read more

 

**A message from Comfy Sacks bean bag chairs – stuffed with furniture-grade memory foam that cradles your body and resists compression. The premium bag category has seen amazing growth! Booklet | Video | Website | Request sample bag: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Amazon has a new health-tracking bracelet with a microphone that tells you everything that’s wrong with you at Greenwich Time. “Your body has too much fat, the Halo’s app shows in a 3-D rendering of your near-naked body. And even: Your tone of voice is “overbearing” or “irritated,” the Halo determines, after listening through its tiny microphone on your wrist.” Read more

 

Petco partners with DoorDash to provide same-day U.S. delivery at Reuters. Read more

 

…DoorDash soars 85% in Wall Street debut at CNN. “DoorDash opened at $182 per share, valuing the company at around $70 billion, or almost as much as FedEx. The company had priced its stock at $102 per share late Tuesday, up from its original proposed price range of between $75 to $85, a signal of strong investor demand. DoorDash shares finished the day at nearly $190.” Read more

 

Suzy Monford, Former Kroger, HEB exec named president, CEO of PCC Community Markets at Produce Blue Book. Read more

 

China’s exports pinched by global run on shipping containers at Reuters. “We have so many orders but just cannot ship things,” said Charles Xu, a mirror salesman in the export manufacturing hub of Yiwu in Zhejiang province who supplies U.S. retailers such as Walmart and Home Depot. “Boxes are piling up at our factory and we don’t have much space left. It’s just hard to book containers, and everyone is bidding for them with high prices,” he said.” Read more

 

Dollarama Q3 comp sales +7.1% Press release

 

Holiday Wine Shopping: How to Win the ‘Costco Treasure Hunt’ at Wall Street Journal. “We don’t have any more wine Advent calendars!” said a harried Costco staffer as he rushed by me. I’d just set foot in the Wayne, N.J., Costco, and he’d overheard me say “wine” to my husband. The Costco Advent calendar contains 24 half bottles of various wines and sells for under just $100—if you can find it. Neither wine nor desirable bottles last long on Costco shelves.” WSJ subs.

 

Tipsheet Extra

Michael Jordan’s golf course has a beer delivery drone

Hollywood Insiders Defend “Essential” Worker Status Amid Growing Criticism

Wakefern Expands Data Partnership With Catalina

Jessica Simpson Signs Multi-Media Rights Deal at Amazon

People washing hands so much during COVID it’s ruining their skin

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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: Lowe’s Eyes +22% | Wasted WM Wait | H.Depot +H.Decor

 

Lowe’s expects sales to rise about 22% in fiscal 2020 as turnaround efforts gain traction at CNBC. “In the year ahead, (Ellison) said the company will have a “total home” strategy. It will expand its online only assortment from kitchen appliances to home decor. It will test ways to speed up and lower the cost of fulfilling online orders by freeing up more space in the back of its stores. And it will localize products on shelves in different markets, so it doesn’t have snow blowers at stores in warm climates or riding lawnmowers in big cities.” Read more

 

Chewy Q3 net sales of $1.78 billion grew 45 percent year-over-year Press release

 

…Chewy CEO claims 45% revenue growth was driven by pet industry trends, despite a pandemic online boom at CNBC. “We don’t really believe the growth that we’re delivering right now is pandemic driven,” Singh said. The 45% surge in sales is nearly double the 24.5% growth that Chewy reported in the final quarter of its 2019 fiscal year.” Read more

 

United Natural Foods Q1 net sales +6.0% Press release

 

Court approves sale of DressBarn parent company to private equity firm: WSJ at Fox Business. “Ascena Retail Group Inc. has won court approval to sell its Ann Taylor, Lane Bryant, Loft and Lou & Grey retail brands out of bankruptcy to private-equity firm Sycamore Partners in a deal valued at about $1 billion.” Read more

 

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

 

Home Depot adds furniture, more home decor to its online inventory at USA Today. “(President Ted) Decker said the home decor market has been hit by store closings, including department stores, which he says is where shoppers previously turned to for decor. “The traditional outlets that a customer would go to literally are closing their doors and this type of product selection is increasingly moving online,” Decker said.” Read more

 

Gap closing three-story flagship on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile at Chicago Tribune. “Experts fear it could take years for vacant retail spaces to fill up and rents to return to pre-pandemic levels. Yet re-leasing efforts could be helped by Gap’s location in the heart of the Mag Mile, once foot traffic returns.” Read more

 

Tesco’s Asia deal paves way for 5 billion pound shareholder windfall at Reuters. Read more

 

Inside the cottage industry trying to revive Aunt Jemima and other brands with racist roots at Fortune. “The fact that the companies were dropping these iconic brand names meant that someone else could eventually obtain and use them instead. After the food giants made their announcements, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) received three trademark applications apiece for Aunt Jemima and Eskimo Pie and one for Uncle Ben’s, with the applicants indicating they wanted to use the marks on food items.” Read more

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods name Todd Spaletto to lead the Public Lands business at Footwear News. “They have somebody there who knows the entire industry really well, and I think it was a good hire. It tells me that they’re taking this really seriously and there could be a lot more than two doors down the road,” Susquehanna Financial Group analyst Sam Poser told FN.” Read more

 

Walmart shoppers wait up to 7 hours for PlayStation 5 consoles that were never there at WWJ 950. “It was like a stampede Monday morning when the doors opened at Walmart in suburban Troy, Mich. About 100 shoppers making a mad dash…But as it turns out, the store didn’t have any units in stock. Shoppers who spent the night outside, walked away empty handed.” Video/Read more

 

Sheriff Woody from ‘Toy Story’ is latest Home Depot employee at CNN. “It started when a Home Depot employee in Plaistow, New Hampshire, found a Woody doll in the store parking lot last week. A team member decided to post a photo of the toy doll on Facebook to help find its owner.
“My coworker thought it’d be funny to put an employee of the month apron on him, and upload it to Facebook. And we’ve been having fun with him ever since,” Sarah Hurberdeau, an associate at The Home Depot, told CNN.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Q&A with Lowe’s CMO Marisa Thalberg

FTC wants to stop P&G from buying razor startup Billie

Amazon driver busted creepily breathing on window and writing message

Golf publication “very impressed” with Costco Kirkland golf glove

No drinking for two months after COVID-19 vaccine, Russia tells citizens

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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: Bots Beat Retail | McKenna #17 Power | AutoZone +12.3%

 

Walmart and other retailers battle ‘bots’ snatching up PlayStation 5 at Reuters. “Scalper bots have become increasingly mainstream, easily found by entering phrases like “Nike bot” or “PS5 bot” into online search engines. People can buy limited-time access to them for as little as $10 to $20.” Read more

 

The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women (Tome #11, McKenna #17, Brewer #48) at Forbes. Top 100 list

 

Stitch Fix shares skyrocket more than 30% on Q1 earnings beat, upbeat outlook at CNBC. “…reported a surprise profit and revenue growth of 10% from a year ago…reported earnings of 9 cents per share on revenue of $490.4 million, topping estimates for a loss of 20 cents per share on revenue of $481.2 million, according to Refinitiv data.” Read more

 

Kroger edges ahead of Costco to land in the top 10 of U.S. e-commerce companies at MarketWatch. Read more

 

Casey’s Q2 inside comp sales +3.5% Press release

 

Amazon’s warehouse storage policy causes small businesses to run out of holiday products at CNBC. “For Lautenschleger, it means he can only send in roughly 230 units per shipment of his fast-selling “Anchorman: The Game,” whereas he would’ve sent in thousands of units of a hot-selling item in years past.” Read more

 

AutoZone Q1 comp sales +12.3% Press release

 

Walgreens Appoints Pamela Puryear as Global Chief Human Resources Officer “Puryear joins WBA from Zimmer Biomet, a global leader in musculoskeletal healthcare, where she has served as senior vice president and chief human resources officer…” Press release

 

**A message from Comfy Sacks bean bag chairs – stuffed with furniture-grade memory foam that cradles your body and resists compression. Tap into amazing sales growth in premium bag category! Booklet | Video | Website | Request sample bag: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Ingles Markets Q4 net sales +11.3% Press release

 

Walmart shuts down its VR shopping subsidiary Insperience at Protocol. “Walmart was just one of many companies to bet on location-based VR as a way to give consumers who don’t yet own VR devices access to immersive experiences. However, the prospect of sharing VR headsets with strangers has been a lot less appealing to consumers since the beginning of the pandemic, with VR centers and arcades shutting down for months across the globe.” Read more

 

Covid-19, Remote Work Make Austin a Magnet for New Jobs at Wall Street Journal. “For every person who moved to the Bay Area from Austin between April and October, 2.9 people moved in the other direction, according to an analysis from LinkedIn. That is a 39% increase from a year earlier. For New York, the ratio was 2.2, up 45% from a year earlier.” WSJ subs.

 

PriceSmart November net merchandise sales +7.9% Press release

 

First glimpse of Amazon’s new robotaxi: Zoox autonomous vehicle spotted during video shoot at GeekWire. “The car was photographed outside the Fairmont San Francisco hotel this weekend as crews captured footage. Pictures were posted on Reddit and Twitter.” Pics/Read more

 

U.S. needs more warehouses to handle record returns this holiday and in coming years at CNBC. “As much as 400 million square feet of additional warehouse space could be needed in the next five years just to process returns, CBRE said.” Read more

 

Facebook adds carts to WhatsApp to make shopping easier at TechCrunch. “In recent months, WhatsApp has added a number of features to supercharge the commerce experience on its app. It has unveiled QR codes, a dedicated shopping button, and the ability to share catalog links in chats.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Documentary that examines the 2019 El Paso Walmart mass shooting premieres

‘Parents are desperate.’ Zoom Santas are cashing in

Medical schools call 18 percent increase in applications ‘Fauci effect’

Nielsen plans TV-ratings overhaul by 2024 w/focus on multi-screen audience

In a year, we ingest the amount of plastic in a fireman’s helmet

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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: WM Readies Flipkart IPO | JCP Exits 11 | Target Cookie Fail

 

Walmart readies for $10 bn Flipkart IPO at Mint. “Work on the IPO (initial public offering) is on in full swing and the advent of the pandemic has only hastened the process, given the spectacular surge in demand on e-commerce platforms,” said one of the two people cited above.” Read more

 

J.C. Penney’s retail and operating assets to exit Chapter 11 at Reuters. “We … are very pleased to help preserve this iconic institution and save tens of thousands of jobs,” Simon Property Group Chief Executive David Simon said.” Read more

 

Costco extends special senior shopping hours indefinitely due to COVID spike at Fox Business. “Currently, Costco’s designated senior shopping hour is from 9 to 10 a.m., Monday through Friday. However, there are some exceptions at various locations..” Hours/Read more

 

A robot is now making Jamba smoothies in a California Walmart in less than 3 minutes at Business Insider. “The Jamba by Blendid kiosk is located in a Walmart in Dixon, California. However, this isn’t Blendid’s only kiosk. The company, founded in 2015, has four other locations: one in a different Walmart in Fremont, California…” Read more

 

Apparel retailer Francesca’s plans to shut another 97 stores after filing for bankruptcy at CNBC. “The Houston-headquartered company, which filed for Chapter 11 last week, had previously said it planned to close about 140 of its 700 stores — roughly half of which are in U.S. shopping malls.” Read more

 

Barnes & Noble’s new boss tries to save the chain — and traditional bookselling at Fox Business. “…the company is empowering store managers to curate their shelves based on local tastes. In recent months, (CEO) Daunt has cut the ranks of once-powerful staffers who supervised large groups of stores and fired nearly half of the company’s New York-based book buyers, powerful tastemakers who decided which titles stores should carry.” Read more

 

Walmart holiday drone light show launches in 8 U.S. cities for the holidays at Fox Business. “The drone light show will kick off in Kansas City Friday…” Dates/Locations/Read more

 

David’s Bridal CEO says wedding dress demand is resilient even as Covid forces smaller celebrations at CNBC. “Although spending on other merchandise, such as homecoming and prom dresses, has dropped off, brides still spend an average of $600 on their gown — the same amount before the pandemic.” Read more

 

**A message from Readywise, the leader in emergency food supplies – Consumers are looking for emergency food supplies! Up to 25-year shelf life. High quality and great taste. Website | Catalog | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Missing dog turns up at Walmart where her owner works at NY Post. “It’s not exactly clear how Abby, who had been missing for 20 days, knew where to find Rountree. She has worked at that Walmart, about 1.5 miles from their home and across two heavily-traveled roads, for 10 years. She had walked the lab-pitbull mix in the parking lot and nearby woods, but Abby had never before been inside the store.” Read more

 

Native Americans, Micanopy residents gather in protest of proposed Dollar General location at The Independent Florida Alligator. “The store would be located on the site where the Battle of Micanopy was fought in 1836 during the Second Seminole War. Led by Osceola, an influential leader of the Seminole tribe in Florida, the Seminoles retreated from U.S. soldiers after a battle that lasted an hour and 20 minutes.” Read more

 

Wish plans to price between $22 and $24 per share at up to $14 billion valuation at CNBC. Read more

 

Florida attorney general announces arrests in ‘brilliant’ multi-million dollar Walmart crime spree at Fox 8. “…the suspects would purchase large, expensive televisions from Walmart for cash, replace the TV in the box with a salvaged TV, return them to the store for cash, and re-sell the new (stolen) televisions.” Read more

 

CEO of online fashion retailer Zalando resigns to prioritize wife’s career at AP. “…one of the world’s top online fashion retailers with 14,000 employees and net profit of almost 100 million euros ($121 million) in 2019.” Read more

 

Target’s ‘kinky’ Christmas cookies have moms boycotting — and giggling at NY Post. “I would not send these to school,” mom of two Suzie Fromer told The Post. “Definite design fail!” The jewelry maker from Irvington, NY, added: “I think it might even be disgruntled employee sabotage.” Pics/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Hundreds in Miami wait in line to receive Publix gift cards

Jeff Bezos shows off Blue Origin’s BE-7 engine — and makes a bold prediction

Ikea ends publication of iconic printed catalog

George Clooney has caused the hair-cutting Flowbee to completely sell out

Panic buyers storm San Francisco Costco amid coronavirus surge

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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: Kroger +10.9% | @ C-store 15 Min. | Costco +14.6% | D.Gen +12.2%

 

Costco November comp sales (ex. fuel & f/x) +14.6%

…Costco US +14.2% / Canada +15.8% / Other Int’l +16% / Ecom +70.9% “…reported net sales of $15.67 billion for the retail month of November, the four weeks ended November 29, 2020, an increase of 15.1 percent from $13.62 billion last year.” Press release

 

Kroger Q3 ID sales (ex. fuel) +10.9% / Digital +108% Press release

 

2020 Holiday Sales: How, Where and When Consumers Are Buying at Wall Street Journal. “On Black Friday, electronics stores saw almost four times as much revenue from online credit-card purchases as they did in 2019. Other data trackers say U.S. shoppers are spending less than last year. According to a survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics, consumers spent an average of just under $312 on holiday-related purchases from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday, down 14% from 2019 but on par with 2018.” WSJ subs.

 

Dollar General Q3 comp sales +12.2% “Net sales increased 17.3% to $8.2 billion in the third quarter of 2020 compared to $7.0 billion in the third quarter of 2019.” Press release

 

Michaels Q3 comp sales +16.3% / Digital +128% Press release

 

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon says Walmart+ will focus on experience and gradually add perks as it scales up at CNBC. “One of the worst things we could do would be to sell a bunch of Walmart+ memberships and then have them be dissatisfied because they can’t get fast delivery times or spots,” he said Wednesday at the Morgan Stanley Virtual Global Consumer & Retail Conference.” Read more

 

UPS places shipping cap on some of its largest retailers as holiday shopping booms at CNN. “The new limits were first reported by the The Wall Street Journal, which said the retailers included brands such as Nike and Gap. “Knowing the unique constraints the industry is facing this peak season, we worked with our carriers early on to collectively build a strategic plan of execution,” Gap said in a statement.” Read more

 

Burlington Stores sends offline media account to Lockard & Wechsler Direct at Ad Age. “The retailer hands its media business to the performance marketing shop only two years after enlisting Horizon Media as its lead agency.” Ad Age subs.

 

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

 

Walgreens Introduces Walgreens Advertising Group “wag is more than a media network. In addition to shopper activation points, wag offers brands enhanced audience and shopper insights, creative services, and robust optimization and measurement…” Press release

 

Fortune Future 50 (Shopify #13, Lululemon #20, Amazon #37, Alibaba #40) List

 

Big Oil bets on retail networks in an electric era at Reuters. “Paying at the pump to fill up with petrol may only take a few minutes, but even with the fastest electric vehicle (EV) chargers, customers would have at least 10 to 15 minutes to kill – plenty of time to grab a coffee and do some shopping.” Read more

 

FedEx to Acquire ShopRunner to Expand E-Commerce Capabilities Press release

 

Walmart Announces More Than $700 Million in Additional Associate Bonuses, Tops $2.8 Billion in Total Cash Bonuses to Associates in 2020 Press release

 

A Rapid Covid Test That’s Also Accurate? The NFL Says It Has One at Wall Street Journal. “The NFL and a pair of biotech companies, BioReference Laboratories and Mesa BioTech, believed they had a solution. In recent weeks, they have quietly studied a different kind of Covid test: one that they say delivers on-the-spot results, in 30 minutes, with as much accuracy as existing tests that are sent out to labs for processing that can take days.” WSJ subs.

 

Duluth Trading Q3 net sales +13.2% Press release

 

The Buckle November comp sales +8.4% Press release

 

Field Agent Black Friday survey: half purchased their gifts online / 26% visited a brick-and-mortar store to shop. Brick and mortar stores visited? Walmart 64%, Target 44%, Best Buy 23%Top 10 list

 

Express, Inc. Q3 comp sales down 30% Press release

 

PVH Corp Q3 revenue down 18% / Tommy Hilfiger revenue down 12% / Calvin Klein revenue down 18% Press release

 

Guess?, Inc. Q3 revenues down 8% Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra

Maskless shopper at Target store arrested for pulling gun on employees

Amazon’s safety claims fail to convince critics in government

Amazon, Walmart and other firms, call on Biden, Congress to address climate change

Ciara and ex-Lululemon CEO launch new clothing brand with ‘more to it than fashion’

Amazon in talks to acquire indie podcast company Wondery in $300M-plus deal

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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: WM Ditches Min | At Home +44% | WM Bumps Amazon App

 

Walmart ditches online shipping minimum for Walmart+ members at AP. “Walmart+ members will receive free next-day and two-day shipping on non-perishable items shipped by Walmart, no matter the purchase amount…However, delivery directly from Walmart’s brick-and-mortar stores on basic items like fresh groceries will still carry a $35 minimum and can come as soon as the same day.” Read more

 

Pier 1 owner buys bankrupt Stein Mart for $6 million, to relaunch brand online next year at CNBC. “Miami-based Retail Ecommerce Ventures has emerged as the winner of a bankruptcy court auction for the intellectual property of Stein Mart, the company announced Wednesday. It will pay $6.02 million for the Stein Mart nameplate, as well as its private-label brands, domain names, social media assets and other customer data.” Read more

 

Amazon is laying the groundwork for its own quantum computer at Bloomberg via Seattle Times. “One person briefed on Amazon’s plans, but not authorized to discuss them, says the company is using a superconductor model, a similar approach to that used by Google and IBM, among others. The person said Amazon has been on a hiring spree to staff its quantum computing group.” Tiered subs.

 

U.S. private payrolls miss expectations in November: ADP at Reuters. “Private payrolls increased by 307,000 jobs last month, the ADP National Employment Report showed on Wednesday. Data for October was revised up to show 404,000 jobs added instead of the initially reported 365,000. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast private payrolls would rise by 410,000 in November.” Read more

 

At Home Group Q3 comp sales +44.1% Press release

 

Amazon edged out by Walmart for first-time app downloads on Black Friday at Fast Company. “Amazon saw 106,000 installs on November 27 versus Walmart’s 131,000, Sensor Tower reports.” Top 10 app downloads

 

Seattle U names $100M Center for Science and Innovation after Costco co-founder and wife at GeekWire. Read more

 

**A message from Comfy Sacks bean bag chairs – stuffed with furniture-grade memory foam that cradles your body no matter what position you’re in. Amazing sales growth with nest at home trend! Booklet | Video | Website | Request sample bag: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Fashion retailer Tailored Brands emerges from bankruptcy protection at Reuters. Read more

 

Shopify Merchants Break Records with $5.1+ Billion in Worldwide Sales over Black Friday/Cyber Monday Weekend “From November 27 through November 30, total sales grew by 76% from the $2.9+ billion reported for Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend in 2019…” Press release

 

BigCommerce Merchants Experience Highest Ecommerce Sales Ever During Cyber Week Press release

 

Jay Schmidt named president of Caleres “Schmidt will assume responsibility for all of the consumer and brand strategy for Caleres’ entire portfolio, which includes Famous Footwear, Allen Edmonds, Dr. Scholl’s, Naturalizer, Sam Edelman and Vionic, among others.” Press release

 

Rite Aid Hires Texanna Reeves to Lead Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Efforts Press release

 

Refrigerators, Ovens Get a Hygiene Makeover During Covid-19 Pandemic at Wall Street Journal. “Samsung Electronics Co. is scooping up scientists who specialize in water and air quality, and Beko Electrical Appliances Co., a Turkish manufacturer, recently rolled out “HygieneShield,” a range of appliances such as refrigerators and ovens equipped with disinfection drawers…According to Mark Choe, a senior vice president at Samsung’s digital appliances business division, “all of our product development now is being done through the lens of hygiene.” WSJ subs.

 

Bars, restaurants may never fully recover from pandemic, Molson Coors CEO says at Fox Business. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

How Francis Ford Coppola Got Pulled Back In to Make ‘The Godfather, Coda’

Biden says will not kill Phase 1 trade deal with China immediately: NYT

‘E-commerce as entertainment’: An investor behind Goop predicts the wild future of retail

Amazon delves deeper into voice recognition, call-center work as COVID-19 drives cloud

Trader Joe’s workers in ‘state of terror’ over NY’s coronavirus surge

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.

 

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Tipsheet: Cyber Mon +15.1% | Kohl’s/Sephora +850 | F.Locker CFO Search

 

Online sales reach $10.8 billion on Cyber Monday, the biggest U.S. e-commerce day ever, Adobe says at CNBC. “Cyber Monday spending rose 15.1% year over year, according to Adobe, which analyzes website transactions from 80 of the top 100 U.S. online retailers. That came in short of Adobe’s original forecast of $12.7 billion. The firm had been revising the estimate downward in recent days.” Read more

 

Sephora will open mini shops inside 850 Kohl’s stores by 2023 at CNBC. “Some 200 Sephora at Kohl’s locations will open by next fall, rising to at least 850 sites by 2023…Sephora will also launch on Kohl’s website next year, offering more than 100 beauty brands, some of which are exclusive to Sephora.” Read more

 

Amazon says this year’s holiday shopping period has been the biggest in its history at CNBC. “Self-care, “nesting at home”, and “cozy comfort” were among the most popular trends during the period.” Read more

 

…Amazon says sellers racked up $4.8 billion in global sales over holiday weekend at Reuters. Read more

 

Digital ads to account for more than half of year’s U.S. advertising expenditures for first time at Wall Street Journal. “GroupM expects marketers to spend $110.1 billion on digital ads this year, or 51% of the total $214.6 billion total U.S. advertising-spending forecast, excluding political ad outlays. Next year, it expects U.S. ad spending to grow 12% to $240 billion, and digital advertising to account for $130 billion, or 54% of the total.” WSJ subs.

 

Retailers seize on pandemic fallout to become property owners at Fox Business. “Other retailers are taking advantage of the times to upgrade their rental space. Home Depot Inc. is planning to relocate its basement store in Manhattan’s Upper East Side a few blocks away to a four-story store currently occupied by Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.” Read more

 

Walmart Announces Dr. Cheryl Pegus as EVP of Health & Wellness “Dr. Pegus joins Walmart from her most recent role as Cambia Health Solution’s President of Consumer Health Solutions and Chief Medical Officer…Additionally, Dr. Pegus is co-founder of A New Beat, an organization dedicated to improving the cardiovascular health and careers of women and under-represented minorities.” Press release

 

**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 | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Canada to force tech giants like Netflix, Amazon and Spotify to charge and remit tax at Financial Post. “The federal government will soon force foreign digital vendors like Netflix and Amazon to collect sales taxes on a bevy of products and services sold to Canadians, while also promising a much-requested new tax on web giants by 2022.” Read more

 

Blue Apron Names Charlean Gmunder Chief Operating Officer “Most recently, Gmunder was the vice president of catering operations with United Airlines…” Press release

 

‘Personalized gifts’ is the No. 1 search term on Etsy this year, CEO says at CNBC. “It is even more popular than queries for masks, a category that was virtually nonexistent on Etsy this year before the coronavirus pandemic caused a boom in sales, Silverman said in a “Closing Bell” interview. In the second and third quarters alone, Etsy sold more than $600 million in face masks…” Read more/Video

 

The Home Depot Expands Skilled Trades Initiative with “Path to Pro” Program “The company recently sponsored its first weeklong boot camp to teach essential industry skills like job site safety, tool usage, material handling as well as communication and professional skills. The boot camp is piloting in the Atlanta area and is planned to expand into additional markets next year.” Press release

 

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. Hires John Welling To Lead Merchandise Planning Team “He was SVP for Planning and Allocation at JC Penney, before which he held senior merchandising, planning and operations roles at The Michaels Companies and Walmart…” Press release

 

Forbes 30 Under 30: Retail & Ecommerce Read more

 

Foot Locker CFO Lauren B. Peters To Retire In April 2021 “Foot Locker has initiated a comprehensive search process with the assistance of Crist|Kolder, a leading executive search firm, to identify Ms. Peters’ successor.” Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra

Costco Facebook Scam Claims to be Giving Away Free Christmas Food Boxes

Target inks another lease in Manhattan

Average person spending an additional four hours a day sitting down

‘Vikings’ Creator Developing Plague Miniseries for History

In dark day for UK retailing, 242-year-old Debenhams to shut

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

**

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