Tipsheet: Amazon Prime 200M | Amer. Eagle Sees Mall Boom | New Stitch Fix CEO Iview

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American Eagle Outfitters CEO expects ‘Roaring 20s’-like boom for malls post-pandemic at CNBC. “Schottenstein is one of many hopeful figureheads who predict the current decade will mirror the growth of a century ago…“The sales we’re doing, like this quarter, … all the stores are comping and we’re doing it at a 50% capacity,” Schottenstein said.” Read more

 

March US home construction: 19.4% increase over February when housing construction fell by 11.3% at AP. Read more

 

Incoming Stitch Fix CEO says the ‘timing felt right’ for executive transition after Covid at CNBC. “In the last two quarters, we added more clients in those quarters than we did in all of fiscal [2020],” said Spaulding, who joined San Francisco-based Stitch Fix in January 2020 after more than two decades at Bain & Company.” Read more/Video

 

Amazon now has 200 million Prime members at GeekWire. “It’s the latest update since January 2020, when Amazon hit the 150 million milestone. Amazon reached 100 million Prime members in April 2018.” Read more

 

Read Jeff Bezos’ shareholders letter at GeekWire. “Despite what we’ve accomplished, it’s clear to me that we need a better vision for our employees’ success. We have always wanted to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company. We won’t change that. It’s what got us here. But I am committing us to an addition. We are going to be Earth’s Best Employer and Earth’s Safest Place to Work.” Letter

 

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

 

Walmart flagged for failing cage-free chicken test in Latin America at Reuters/Yahoo. “Walmart is among the worst offenders in a new ranking of companies in Latin America that sell eggs from caged chickens, part of a new list of firms from Mexico to Argentina that aims to encourage more humane supply practices.” Read more

 

H-E-B visiting schools across Texas to show their appreciation at KRIS 6 News. “On Thursday, the bus was in Corpus Christi to surprise teachers and staff…”It’s fantastic, it’s so exciting, and we’re all just thrilled,” said Barnes Elementary teacher Kim Juneau. “We just want to thank them. It’s great.” Read more/Video

 

Costco Bumps Up Quarterly Dividend By 12.9% at Yahoo. Read more

 

Walmart executive speaks to DeSales University students about the future of retail at Lehigh Valley Regional News. “Scott Eckert, the Senior Vice President, Next Generation Retail with Walmart, says the pandemic has pushed shoppers online faster than ever. Eckert spoke as part of the Meet the Experts series, hosted by the Council for Retail and Sales at DeSales University.” Read more/Video

 

Billionaire Reveals His ‘Secret’ To Beating China At Manufacturing at Forbes. “Plant managers sit above the factory floor on a mezzanine platform Solon calls Pride Rock, after the prominent slab in The Lion King. They rarely get involved; teams help one another sort out problems, because if one person slows down for too long, the next in line runs out of parts. “Don’t yell at anyone; let them have a self-win,” Solon says. “I don’t need to squeeze another 10 seconds out of them. If the green light is on, we’re making money.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

TreeHouse Foods COO to depart

Schnucks Teams With St. Louis Restaurants for New Food Hall

NFL inks sports bet deals with Caesars, FanDuel, DraftKings

Aldi testing self-serve loose pasta stations to reduce packaging waste

Strained supply chains creating backlog in furniture industry

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

 

Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

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Website: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: Top 100 Reputable | D.Tree Media Network | Target’s New Way to Deliver

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Walmart investing in GM’s Cruise self-driving car company at CNBC. “The decision to invest comes about five months after the companies started working on a pilot program to use Cruise self-driving vehicles for deliveries in Scottsdale, Arizona.” Read more

 

Retail sales increased 9.8% last month at Reuters. “…receipts at auto dealerships surging 15.1% after falling 3.5% in February. Sales at clothing stores soared 18.3%. Consumers also boosted spending at restaurants and bars, leading to a 13.4% jump in receipts.” Read more

 

How Amazon Strong-Arms Partners Using Its Power Across Multiple Businesses at Wall Street Journal. “Amazon last year told smart-thermostat maker Ecobee it had to give the tech giant data from its voice-enabled devices even when customers weren’t using them. The Canadian company said no…Amazon responded that if Ecobee didn’t serve up its data, the refusal could affect Ecobee’s ability to sell on Amazon’s retail platform, the person said.” WSJ subs.

 

Target is testing a new approach to get packages to customers’ doors even faster at CNBC. “Target is testing a new way to deliver online orders in the Minneapolis area with a special facility that sorts packages and contract workers from Shipt that help drop them off at customers’ homes.” Read more

 

CORPORATE REPUTATION – 2021 Global RepTrak® 100 (Ikea #36, Aldi #65, Costco #78, Amazon #92) Top 100 list

 

Walmart to convert majority of US hourly jobs to full-time positions at The Hill. “Drew Holler, senior vice president of Walmart’s U.S. People Operations, outlined the plans in a blog post, writing that two-thirds of the Walmart roles that are currently hourly will eventually be “full-time with consistent schedules from week to week.” Read more

 

Tapestry, Inc. appoints Todd Kahn CEO and Brand President of Coach “…reporting to Joanne Crevoiserat, Chief Executive Officer of Tapestry, Inc. Mr. Kahn joined the Company in January 2008 and has held a number of leadership roles within the organization…” Press release

 

**Find the future of the candy and snacks industries at the Sweets & Snacks Expo’s Innovation Avenue! Innovation Avenue delivers the leading brands of tomorrow for retailers truly looking for something cutting-edge to wow their shoppers. Indianapolis, June 23-25 2021. Most innovative new products 2019 & 2018 | Register now

 

American Eagle Outfitters says its business is exceeding expectations with Q1 revenue on track to over $1 billion, a mid-teens increase compared to pre-COVID 2019 first quarter reported revenue Press release

 

Here’s Kroger’s big bet to fight Amazon at CNN. “Kroger this spring is opening a $55 million, 375,000 square-foot fully automated distribution center outside Cincinnati in partnership with Ocado…It’s the first of 10 such facilities that Kroger, the largest US supermarket chain, plans to complete over the next two years.” Read more

 

Dollar Tree builds its own media network “The Company’s Family Dollar brand also announced its partnerships with Swiftly and Aki Technologies to support the new digital platform…” Press release

 

Amazon sets 2021 diversity goals and releases new workforce data on gender and race at GeekWire. “As of Dec. 31, women make up 31.4% of U.S. corporate employees, up 1.4% from 2019. Black employees make up 7.2%, up from 5.4%. White employees make up 47%, down from 48.4%; Asian employees make up 34.8%, down from 36.2%; and LatinX workers make up 7.5%, up from 6.6%.” Read more

 

REI releases its 2020 financials and annual impact report Press release

 

U.S. Housing Market Is Nearly 4 Million Homes Short of Buyer Demand at Wall Street Journal. “The estimate represents a 52% rise in the nation’s home shortage compared with 2018, the first time Freddie Mac quantified the shortfall…“We should have almost four million more housing units if we had kept up with demand the last few years,” Mr. Khater (Freddie Mac) said. “This is what you get when you underbuild for 10 years.” WSJ subs.

 

The Home Depot Opens Three New Florida Distribution Centers Press release

 

Mike Lindell says Costco has stopped selling My Pillow products at NY Post. “The decision will cost My Pillow between $4 million and $10 million in annual sales, according to Lindell. It will also affect some 40 salespeople who would travel to Costco stores to hawk the company’s products, he said.” Read more

 

Almost half of Shopify’s top execs to depart company: CEO at Fox Business. Read more

 

Flipkart to acquire online travel firm Cleartrip at TechCrunch. “Flipkart has been rumored to be working on introducing flight tickets purchase feature on its marketplace for over a year.” Read more

 

Walmart ordered to pay startup $115 million for trade secret infringement at Talk Business. “Ecoark sued Walmart in August 2018 after Walmart filed two patents on technology to improvement the freshness of produce. Ecoark claimed it shared information with Walmart between 2014 and 2017 during a pilot of Zest Labs, a subsidiary of Ecoark.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Jeff Bezos shows off NS-15 rocket on social media

Hy-Vee names data head

Why Some Grocers Say Amazon Fresh Isn’t a Competitive Threat

Gucci heirs worry over family depiction in Ridley Scott film

Walmart Moves to Protect Pollinators From Pesticides

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Tipsheet: Kohl’s Agrees w/Activists | WM Compliance Chief Out | Bed Bath +4%

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Kohl’s says it has reached an agreement with activists, plans to bring new members to board at CNBC. “Margaret Jenkins and Thomas Kingsbury, will join Kohl’s board…Jenkins was previously chief marketing officer of the restaurant chains Denny’s and El Pollo Loco, and Kingsbury previously served as the CEO of Burlington Stores…will also at the same time be adding an additional independent director, Christine Day. Day served as CEO of the athletic apparel chain Lululemon from 2008 to 2013.” Read more

 

Grocery workers died feeding the nation. Now, their families are left to pick up the pieces. at NBC News. “Many of these cases are going to be challenging even if the employer was screwing up and didn’t have the right procedures,” Levin said. “But how do we know how you got Covid? How do we know you didn’t get it at home or at a party? Where the infection came from — that is a factual legal challenge.” Read more

 

How the pandemic helped Walmart battle Amazon Marketplace for sellers at Reuters. “A year or two ago, every brand on Walmart.com would be trustworthy but now it’s getting very similar to Amazon and that’s a huge risk,” said Cal Chan, who sells supplements and skincare products on both Walmart and Amazon. “Amazon let everyone under the sun in – that helped them grow, but now they’re trying to clean up the riff-raff and it’s very hard to close Pandora’s Box.” Read more

 

Bed Bath & Beyond Q3 comp sales +4.0% Press release

 

Walmart Compliance Chief to Depart at Wall Street Journal. “Daniel Trujillo, will depart the Bentonville, Ark., company on Friday, according to an internal memo shared with The Wall Street Journal. Walmart has yet to identify a replacement for Mr. Trujillo, a company spokeswoman said.” WSJ subs.

 

Dollar General to hire up to 20,000 workers as economy rebounds at Reuters. “But the number was lower than the more than 50,000 workers the company hired around the same time last year, which was nearly double its normal hiring rate, to support a surge in sales at its stores at the height of COVID-19 lockdowns.” Read more

 

Dollar Tree appoints Ex-Pier 1 CEO Alasdair James EVP, Merchandising and Supply Chain 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

 

Millennials reveal their 105 favorite brands, from Gucci to Amazon at Business Insider. Ranked list

 

Stitch Fix CEO Katrina Lake steps down as CEO “…will transition to the role of Executive Chairperson of the Board…appointing President, Elizabeth Spaulding, to the role of CEO of Stitch Fix.” Press release

 

Lowe’s introduces enhanced shopping experience for Pro customers “Free Phone Charging Stations located at the Pro Desk…Convenience Rack with several never-before-sold items such as pain relievers, personal care items such as sun and hand care, and more.” Press release

 

Ex-Amazon leader Jeff Wilke joins Scale AI as advisor to CEO at GeekWire. Read more

 

Wayfair Announces Way Day 2021, April 28-29 Press release

 

Canadian retail magnate W. Galen Weston dies at age 80 at Financial Post. “His contemporaries describe Weston as one of the most formidable and visionary leaders in Canadian business, a man of style and substance who turned Loblaw supermarkets into the biggest player in the country’s food chain.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Walmart shoppers can rent lawn mowers and tools at some Charlotte stores

Buying diamonds in lockdown? WhatsApp can be your best friend

SpartanNash Announces New Supply Chain Officer

‘Zoom in a Room’? California’s schools lag in reopening push

Bezos Earth Fund again poaches the leader of a grant recipient

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Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

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Tipsheet: Best to Work for: Wegmans #4/Target #14 | GameStop CEO Search | Ace CEO Honest |

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100 Best Companies to Work For (Wegmans #4, Target #14, Publix #42) Top 100 list

 

Gap to Replace Longtime Credit-Card Issuer Synchrony With Barclays at Wall Street Journal. “Barclays will take over Gap’s private-label and co-branded credit cards, including Athleta, Banana Republic and Old Navy, the people said. The portfolio includes some 11 million open card accounts, some of the people said, with total balances of roughly $3.8 billion at the end of March.” WSJ subs. | MarketWatch

 

GameStop initiates search for new CEO – sources at Reuters. “GameStop Corp is looking for a new chief executive to replace George Sherman…Sherman’s 25 years of experience have been largely with brick-and-mortar retailers, such as Advance Auto Parts Inc and Home Depot Inc, and his experience is seen as less relevant to the digital transformation, two of the sources said.” Read more

 

As retailers like Walmart, Macy’s woo customers back, some have to clean up shop at CNBC. “Walmart shares were downgraded by a research firm earlier this year because of its sloppy stores, and Macy’s has been criticized for its poor presentation. Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, said it’s time for retailers to clean up their act — or risk losing customers.” Read more

 

China’s March exports rise 30.6% as global demand revives at AP News. Read more

 

Retailers look to innovate and tempt customers back to physical stores at CNBC. “For some time now, retailers have tried to attract customers by creating experiences in store, but they now need to get creative as shopping habits change and customers become more demanding.” Read more

 

Bed Bath And Beyond Launches “Home, Happier” Brand Campaign “The fully integrated campaign will be anchored by a :30 anthem TV spot airing nationally beginning April 14 and features a suite of creative assets supported by an omni-channel paid media plan…” Press release

 

**Find the future of the candy and snacks industries at the Sweets & Snacks Expo’s Innovation Avenue! Innovation Avenue delivers the leading brands of tomorrow for retailers truly looking for something cutting-edge to wow their shoppers. Indianapolis, June 23-25 2021. Most innovative new products 2019 & 2018 | Register now

 

Walmart Owes $115M For Stealing Startup’s Food Tech Law 360 subs.

 

Nike launches shoe refurbishment program with focus on saving the environment at Fox Business. “The company released videos on its website illustrating how it was going to clean, repair and resell shoes if a consumer returns their product within 60 days…The campaign will launch in 15 Nike stores in the U.S. with plans to expand to retail-based destinations through the year.” Read more

 

How Ace Hardware beat Covid-19 – and Amazon at Fast Company. “(CEO) Venhuizen is brutally honest about the crisis of motivation that afflicts so many organizations…“The vast majority of the people who do the heavy lifting in business are aimless, purposeless, bored, and disengaged,” he says. “They hate their job; they hate their boss; they hate their pay. It breaks your heart, but that’s where leaders have to begin their quest.” Read more

 

Retailers urged to re-think police calls for low-level crimes after George Floyd’s death at Star Tribune. “I think maybe years ago when companies started implementing diversity programs, it was because maybe there was a reaction to incidents, [but] now the frame of mind is that we have to be proactive to implement programs,” said Leon Buck, (NRF’s) vice president for banking and financial services. Buck chairs a group of about 90 major retail brands that meets virtually once a month to talk about diversity and inclusion including recruiting and retaining diverse employees as well as retail racism and implicit bias.” Read more

 

Signet Jewelers raises Q1 and full year guidance – Updated Q1 comp sales guidance +97% – 99% vs. prior guidance of +80% – 84% Press release

 

Amazon data center targeted in Texas man’s foiled bomb plot, FBI says at Fox Business. “Authorities said Pendley targeted an Amazon web service data center in Ashburn, Va., according to a criminal complaint. In conversations with a confidential source, Pendley said he planned to attack the servers and that his goal was to overthrow “the oligarchy” in the United States, authorities said.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

MyPillow’s products have disappeared from Costco’s site

A former Target exec is transforming Banner into the ’employer of the future’

Short-seller hits Porch Group, questions its accounting for Lowe’s stock sale

Kraft Heinz ‘Mayochup’ dispute revived by US appeals court

Electric vertical aircraft maker Beta expands to passenger flights in a deal with Blade

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Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

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

 

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Tipsheet: BJ’s CEO Dies | Prime Day Mid-June? | Inside Dick’s House of Sport

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McDonald’s will close hundreds of locations in Walmart stores at CNBC. “…as customers increasingly shop online and opt for the drive-thru window. The big-box retailer confirmed Friday that the fast-food chain will have some 150 locations that remain across its 3,570 SuperCenters. That has gradually fallen over the years from a peak of about 1,000 locations.” Read more

 

BJ’s Wholesale Club CEO Lee Delaney dies unexpectedly at Fox Business. “BJ’s Wholesale Club chief executive Lee Delaney has died, the company announced on Friday…BJ’s executive vice president and chief financial officer, Bob Eddy, has been named interim CEO, effective immediately.” Read more

 

It looks like Amazon is changing the dates for Prime Day again at Recode. “Multiple internal and external sources told Recode that Amazon is currently targeting June to hold the 2021 Prime Day event. If Amazon moves ahead with this plan, the Prime Day multi-day sales event will most likely happen in the middle to latter part of the month, multiple sources said…Multiple sources said Amazon has also considered adding another shopping event around the fall, even with the return of Prime Day to summertime.” Read more

 

Wholesale prices up 1% in March, energy leads the way again at AP News. Read more

 

A peak inside Dick’s Sporting Goods’ biggest store it’s ever built, called House of Sport at CNBC. “The more than 100,000-square-foot space is at the Eastview Mall in the Rochester suburb of Victor, New York. It includes an indoor rock climbing wall, golf driving bays, a putting green and a health-and-wellness shop, as well as an outdoor track and a turf field…Dick’s is already planning to open its second House of Sport this year in Knoxville, Tennessee.” Read more/Pics

 

The Buckle March net sales +240.2% Press release

 

**Find the future of the candy and snacks industries at the Sweets & Snacks Expo’s Innovation Avenue! Innovation Avenue delivers the leading brands of tomorrow for retailers truly looking for something cutting-edge to wow their shoppers. Indianapolis, June 23-25 2021. Most innovative new products 2019 & 2018 | Register now

 

Amazon on verge of thwarting union vote in Alabama at GeekWire. “With 1,100 workers choosing against representation by the Retail, Wholesale Department Store Union compared to 463 in favor of unionization, the attempt to hand Amazon its first unionized group of workers appears to be falling well short of success. Approximately 1,630 votes remain to be counted Friday by the National Labor Relations Board which is overseeing the vote.” Read more

 

Floor & Decor appoints William Giles, former CFO & EVP AutoZone t,o Floor & Decor’s Board of Directors Press release

 

Amazon to open its first grocery stores on the East Coast at CNBC. “The company plans to open two grocery stores in the Washington, D.C., area…Two other grocery stores are planned for the Philadelphia suburb of Warrington, Pennsylvania, and for Chevy Chase, Maryland, Amazon confirmed Thursday.” Read more

 

Walmart, Aldi, Kroger and Amazon named top retailers for value: dunnhumby study “Thirty-three percent of respondents mentioned Walmart first when asked which stores provide the best value, followed by Kroger and Aldi both tied at 10%, and then by Amazon at 6%.” Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra

Walmart trademark filing offers new details on its fintech startup

Consumers now average 4.2 hours per day on apps on their smartphones, up 30%

Tucker Carlson says Ark. Gov. did ‘exactly’ what Walmart scion ‘wanted him to do’

Biden’s green goals face a power grid reckoning

Facebook will use part of its headquarters as a public vaccination site

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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: Costco +11.1% | Target TikTok Hoax | Amazon ‘No More Smiles’ Protest

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Costco March comp sales (ex. gas & f/x) +11.1% : U.S. +11.3% / Canada +13.0% / Other Int’l +7.7% “Costco…reported net sales of $18.21 billion for the retail month of March, the five weeks ended April 4, 2021, an increase of 17.6 percent from $15.49 billion last year.” Press release

 

Best Buy launches a new $200 membership program to fight Amazon at CNN. “… piloting a $199.99 annual membership program with free device installations, a concierge service for tech support and other perks. The program, Best Buy Beta, will be available at around 60 Best Buy stores in six states by the end of this month. It also includes free shipping without order minimums, extended return windows and exclusive sales.” Read more

 

Instacart and DoorDash Plan to Launch Their Own Credit Cards at Wall Street Journal. “The Instacart credit card isn’t expected to launch until next year, one of the people said. Cardholders will likely earn 5% cash back on their Instacart purchases…JPMorgan is also bidding for the DoorDash card, people familiar with the matter said. DoorDash is currently reviewing bids, which also include an offer from fintech company Deserve, which would work with another fintech firm, Marqeta.” WSJ subs.

 

Amazon union drive in Alabama sees 55% voter turnout at CNBC. “Hundreds of ballots were challenged, mostly by Amazon, according to the RWDSU. If the margin of victory ends up being less than the total number of challenged ballots, the final tally will be temporarily halted until those challenges are resolved via a hearing held by the NLRB.” Read more

 

GameStop plans to elect activist investor Cohen as chairman at Reuters. Read more

 

Sneaker reseller StockX’s valuation jumps to $3.8 billion at CNBC. “The company that once billed itself as the “Stock Market of Sneakers” has extended its offerings to collectibles, handbags, electronics and more. But the core business remains the same, users can buy or sell goods on an open market, with StockX providing the platform, authentication and niche content related to what it calls “current culture.” Read more

 

Target CIO Mike McNamara makes a cloud declaration of independence at Protocol. “Just to confirm, are you completely off of AWS at this point? Yes, we are. How much of that was a result of the fact that Amazon is Amazon? All of it was a result of Amazon.” Q&A

 

Saks Fifth Avenue Commits to Going Fur-Free “Shearling, goatskin, cattle hide, down, feathers, leather and faux fur products will continue to be sold online and in stores.” Press release

 

Amazon driver leaving packages upside down as part of ‘No More Smiles’ protest at GeekWire. “In a post on Reddit, user AugustaSummerz discussed what they called their own movement — “No More Smiles With Amazon.” The post is accompanied by a collage of images showing packages in front of doorways.” Read more/Pics

 

Tencent’s main shareholder Prosus nets $15 billion from record stock sale at CNN. Read more

 

A Target Sex-Trafficking Hoax Is Going Viral on TikTok at Rolling Stone. “The harrowing story, told in two parts, is hashtagged #sextraffickingawareness and #target, and has a combined 1.2 million views…anti-trafficking experts are highly skeptical of these reports. “I have never heard a case of anyone being abducted from Target in my 20 years in this field,” says Jean Bruggeman, executive director of Freedom Network USA.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

People who got the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine say they have more side effects

How FedEx & Otter solved the packing puzzle of cooled, secure wine shipping

Raley’s to transform all stores to O-N-E Market concept

Jeff Bezos-National Enquirer Drama Takes a Bizarre New Turn

Global Food Costs Keep Climbing

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Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

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

 

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Tipsheet: Target +$2B w/Black-owned Biz | Teen Spend Ticks Up | WM Poaches Disney

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Target says it will spend more than $2 billion with Black-owned businesses by 2025 at CNBC. “…the retailer said it will more actively seek out advertising firms, suppliers, construction companies and other kinds of businesses that are Black-owned. It said it will create a program called Forward Founders for early-stage start-ups led by Black entrepreneurs to help them develop, test and scale products to sell at mass retailers like Target.” Read more

 

A ‘System of Espionage’ Reigned at Ikea, a French Prosecutor Charges at NY Times. “Ikea came to France touting an image as a homespun retailer with humanist values,” Ms. Tabardel told the judges before a packed courtroom last week, as the trial wrapped up. Instead, she said, Ikea France illegally surveilled at least 400 people and used the information to its advantage.” Read more

 

Amazon comes out in support of Biden’s infrastructure plans – including tax increases at Fox Business. “We’re supportive of a rise in the corporate tax rate,” Bezos said. “We look forward to Congress and the Administration coming together to find the right, balanced solution that maintains or enhances U.S. competitiveness.” Read more

 

Walmart hires Disney in-house agency leader as first Chief Creative Officer at Ad Age. “Walmart is adding some high-profile hires to its marketing team, including bringing in the former head of Disney Parks’ in-house creative agency as its first chief creative officer. The retail giant also lured a top Under Armour’ marketing exec to head category marketing.” Ad Age subs.

 

Lowe’s Canada Launches Pick-Up Locker Service at Select Lowe’s Locations “48 Lowe’s stores will offer this new contactless pick-up option by the end of April.” Press release

 

Amazon Is the Target of Small-Business Antitrust Campaign at Wall Street Journal. “The effort is being launched Tuesday by trade groups that represent small hardware stores, office suppliers, booksellers, grocers and others, along with business groups from 12 cities, organizers say. Merchants plan to push their congressional representatives for stricter antitrust laws and tougher enforcement of existing ones.” WSJ subs.

 

Signet Jewelers Acquires Rocksbox, the Leading Jewelry Rental Subscription Platform Press release

 

New Seasons Market, a chain of 19 stores primarily based in Oregon, and New Leaf Community Markets, its California-based subsidiary, will no longer sell standard single-use bottled water at Fast Company. Read more

 

**Find the future of the candy and snacks industries at the Sweets & Snacks Expo’s Innovation Avenue! Innovation Avenue delivers the leading brands of tomorrow for retailers truly looking for something cutting-edge to wow their shoppers. Indianapolis, June 23-25 2021. Most innovative new products 2019 & 2018 | Register now

 

UK Deliveroo riders strike over pay, gig work condition at AP News. “The “success they claim to have had during the pandemic was built on our backs,” said Wave Roberts, a Deliveroo rider in Reading and chair of the union’s couriers branch. “It’s not sustainable. It’s got to the point where they’ve hired too many people. They’ve lowered the fees too much.” Read more

 

Teen spending is slowly ticking up from a two-decade low, according to Piper Sandler’s 41st biannual “Taking Stock with Teens” report at CNBC. “Teens plan to spend about $2,165 this year…That’s still down about 5% from a year earlier, but up 1% from last fall, when teen spending hit a low not seen in two decades…girls are leading the recovery in teen spending, the survey found.” Read more

 

Nordstrom Expands BEAUTYCYCLE to Canada “Nordstrom aims to take back 100 tons of hard-to-recycle beauty packaging by 2025…Many local recycling centres do not accept beauty materials and packaging, as they often contain a mix of materials that are not locally recyclable.” Press release

 

UPS agrees to buy electric vertical aircraft to speed up package delivery in small markets at CNBC. “You can see a future where it’s carrying, let’s say 1,000 pounds, 1,500 pounds to rural hospitals,” and landing on a helipad instead of an airport, UPS’ Bala Ganesh said.” Read more

 

Amazon is snapping up disused shopping malls and turning them into fulfillment centers at NBC News. “In March, Amazon won approval to turn a mall in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, into a 3.4 million-square-foot distribution building, and a mall in Knoxville, Tennessee, into a 220,000-square-foot distribution center. In December, the local planning board in Worcester, Massachusetts, signed off on Amazon’s request to convert the city’s Greendale Mall into a 121,000-square-foot distribution center.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Florida Gov. blasts CBS’ ’60 Minutes’ for ‘deceptively edited’ Publix-COVID clip

Former Amazon exec gives Chinese firms a tool to fight cyber threats

Amazon union vote: Here’s how the ballots will be counted this week

eBay’s app will soon be able to scan Pokémon cards to sell them more easily

Ikea and Sonos start to tease the next products they’ve collaborated on

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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: Lebron Mom & WM | Kroger Empathy | GameStop Eyes $1B Stock Sale

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GameStop plans $1 billion stock sale at Reuters. “The company said it would sell up to 3.5 million shares and use the proceeds to speed up the shift in its business model to e-commerce in an overhaul being led by top shareholder and board member Ryan Cohen.” Read more

 

Pharmacies score customer data in vaccine effort. Some are crying foul. at Politico. “Privacy experts said that some retail pharmacies have been better than others at separating vaccine appointments from marketing efforts. The grocery chain Albertsons, at the point of securing a vaccine slot, allows people to opt-in to receive Covid-related marketing information about vaccines or general marketing outreach, rather than register them automatically.” Read more

 

Labor board finds Amazon illegally fired activist workers: NYT at Reuters. “Last year, Amazon fired two user experience designers, Maren Costa and Emily Cunningham, for what it called repeated violations of internal policies.” Read more

 

Watch: Walmart enlists Lebron James’ mom to talk about how community helped put food on their table at Ad Age. “FCB work backs hunger relief effort by focusing on how eliminating food insecurity creates opportunities for other things.” Video

 

Amazon apologizes for lying about pee at The Verge. Read more

 

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Walgreens announces “This Is Our Shot” campaign with John Legend to remind Americans that the vaccine is the nation’s opportunity to help bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic Press release

 

Stores in Greece open amid virus surge to help save economy at AP News. Read more

 

U.S. service sector activity index jumps to record high in March – ISM survey at Reuters. “…to a reading of 63.7 last month…That was the highest in the survey’s history and followed 55.3 in February. A reading above 50 indicates growth in the services sector…Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the index rising to 59.0 in March.” Read more

 

Netflix Lost 31% of Market Share in the Last Year as Streaming Rivals Gained Ground at The Wrap/Yahoo. Read more

 

Korean American shopper, moved by Kroger employees’ empathy, gives them each $100 at Tennessean. “Ro recorded her Instagram video and returned to the story an hour later with thank you cards with $100 cash each for Bassham and Davis…”People don’t realize words can hurt a person,” Davis said, “and some simple words can cheer up a person. And that’s apparently what we did for her.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Unopened Super Mario Bros. game from 1986 sells for $660,000

Analysts applaud Walmart’s effort to raise fashion credibility

Uber will pay a blind woman $1.1 million after drivers stranded her 14 times

How Home Depot and Lowe’s will grab share in the outdoor living market

Sprouts livestream to celebrate school gardens

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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