Tipsheet: Amazon #2 Lobbying | ShopRite Shutters Pharmacies | Amazon Worker Delivers Baby

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Boot Barn Q3 comp sales +4.6% Press release

 

Belk reportedly nears a deal to file for bankruptcy, give lenders an equity stake at CNBC. Read more

 

Tractor Supply names ex-Michaels exec to SVP/GM of Petsense business “Matthew Rubin…served as Senior Vice President of Business Development & Growth at The Michaels Companies…At September 26, 2020, (Tractor Supply) operated 183 Petsense stores in 25 states.” Press release

 

Forget winning, can Amazon survive in India? at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Ten largest federal lobbying companies in 2020 (Amazon #2) at Wall Street Journal. “Facebook and Amazon topped all other U.S. companies in federal lobbying expenditures last year, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of the most recent disclosures. It was the second straight year they outspent all other companies, including stalwarts such as AT&T Inc. and Boeing Co.” WSJ subs.

 

Amazon to hike fees for Spanish users after new digital tax at Reuters. “Amazon will raise fees for Spanish companies using its platform by 3% from April after the government imposed a digital tax, a company document seen by Reuters showed.” Read more

 

**A message from SPS Commerce. Meeting consumer expectations while keeping fulfillment costs in check is impossible without supplier collaboration. SPS partners with you to automate information exchange with your trading partners, streamline replenishment and fulfill orders profitably. Check out our video for details or contact us at 866-245-8100.

 

ShopRite will close pharmacies at 62 of its stores in several states over the next month at NJ Advance Media. “The pharmacy industry is highly competitive and we were unable to sustain sufficient sales despite our marketing efforts, which led to the difficult decision to close these store pharmacies,” O’Shea said.” Read more

 

Judge OKs Hy-Vee’s $20M Data Breach Settlement Law 360 subs.

 

Amazon Expands Boston Tech Hub With Plans to Create 3,000 New Jobs “…Amazon leased a new 17-story office tower located at One Boston Wharf Road in the 33-acre Boston Seaport project…Set for completion in 2024, One Boston Wharf Road will also feature a community dog park, ground-floor retail space and a new performing arts center…” Press release

 

PepsiCo, Beyond Meat partner to develop new plant-based snacks at Reuters. Read more

 

Amazon worker discovers newborn baby abandoned after carjacking at Fox Business. “The deliveryman took the baby to a neighbor, who took the child inside their home and called the police, the outlet reported. When Flores returned to his route, he spotted police nearby searching for the infant and directed them to the neighbor’s home…” Read more

 

Arianna Huffington: Why HR is the most important leader in the C-suite at Human Resources Director. “Earlier this month, Thrive entered into a huge partnership with Walmart Canada – equipping 100,000 associates throughout the business with the skills and resources they need to drive cultural change. Through this partnership, people will have access to real-time advice on how best to lead, survive, and ‘thrive’ in this new world of work.” Read more

 

Sub Pop Records opens new retail shop at the base of an Amazon headquarters tower at GeekWire. “Sub Pop joked in its blog post that it was “striking while the iron is ice cold.” Sub Pop on 7th, at 2130 7th Ave., is located at the base of the 37-story re:Invent tower…” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

This 7-Eleven store got a gaming makeover, and you can spend the night

Why we’re witnessing a new golden age in advertising

Four young girls arrested for murder of 15-year-old at Walmart store

Toy sales surge to a record $25.1 billion amid pandemic

Walmart Shows the Way on IoT in Food Retail

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Tipsheet: Target +$200M Bonus | GameStop Stock +480% | Shipping Costs +300%

/in

 

Target’s Saying ‘Thank You’ to Frontline Team Members with a $500 Bonus in the New Year “Target is giving $500 bonuses to all hourly team members in stores, distribution centers and our headquarters and field-based offices. In addition, all Store Directors, Executive Team Leaders and salaried Distribution Center leaders (12,000 in total) will receive a bonus ranging from $1,000-$2,000. That’s a $200 million investment.” Read more

 

GameStop jumps another 70% to above $110, trading briefly halted in another wild day at CNBC. “GameStop has rallied 480% in January alone, skyrocketing to $110 a share from just about $6 four months ago…GameStop is a hot topic in online chatrooms, Twitter and Reddit as some retail investors and day traders aim to push shares higher and squeeze out short sellers.” Read more

 

Godiva is closing or selling all of its stores in the U.S. at CNN. “The company is closing or selling all 128 of its brick-and-mortar stores in North America…by the end of March. Godiva will keep its stores open across Europe, Middle East and Greater China.” Read more

 

Bonobos clothing store suffers a data breach, hacker leaks 70GB database at Bleeping Computer. “Bonobos states that the corporate systems were not breached during the attack…The database also includes various data far more interesting to threat actors, such as customers’ addresses, phone numbers, partial credit card numbers (last four digits), order information, password histories.” Read more

 

CVS completes first round of COVID-19 vaccination at 8,000 U.S. nursing facilities at Reuters. “Administration of second doses is underway and expected to be completed within four weeks, the company said. CVS says its long-term care vaccination effort remains on track, with nearly two million doses administered to date.” Read more

 

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

 

Biden pushes elusive ‘Buy American’ goal with new federal contract guidelines at Reuters. “Biden will sign an executive order aimed at closing loopholes in existing “Buy American” provisions, which structure the $600 billion in goods and services the federal government buys each year, making any waivers more transparent, and creating a senior White House role to oversee the process.” Read more

 

Amazon presses for in-person voting for unionization election at The Verge. “Amazon is trying to delay a union vote in Bessemer, Alabama, appealing a US labor board decision to allow 6,000 warehouse workers to vote by mail on unionization. The company is arguing for the election to be held in person…” Read more

 

Photos: Inside Amazon’s pop-up COVID-19 vaccination site at its Seattle headquarters at GeekWire. Pics/Read more

 

An ‘aggressive’ fight over containers is causing shipping costs to rocket by 300% at CNBC. “In December, spot freight rates were 264% higher for the Asia to North Europe route, compared with a year ago, according to Mirko Woitzik, risk intelligence solutions manager at supply chain risk firm Resilience36. For the route from Asia to the West Coast of the U.S., rates are up 145% year over year.” Read more

 

Kroger and Ocado Announce Location of High-Tech Customer Fulfillment Center in Phoenix, Arizona Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra

Got a package you didn’t order? It could be a scam

Shell to acquire UK’s largest electric vehicle charging network

Woman who made Bernie Sanders’ mittens says she has no more to sell

U.S. goal to squeeze more COVID shots from Pfizer vials hampered by syringe production

Google workers across the world are coming together to form a global union alliance

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Tipsheet: Saks ‘Comfort Food’ | Gov. Slams Wgreens | Teen Steals $1M @ Kroger

/in

 

Walmart expands vaccinations in a boost to the U.S. Covid prevention program at Reuters. “Walmart Inc is preparing to offer COVID-19 vaccinations in seven more states, as well as in Chicago and Puerto Rico, this week and next, a company spokeswoman told Reuters, expanding beyond the two states where its pharmacists are offering inoculations.” Read more

 

Studies of South African Coronavirus Strain Raise Concerns About Immune Response at Wall Street Journal. “What they found was that the new (South Africa) variant was either entirely resistant to antibodies generated from an earlier infection or the antibodies were significantly less able to neutralize the virus…(a second) study found that blood from 21 of 44 people who had previously had Covid-19 failed to neutralize the virus. Only three blood samples—from people who had suffered very severe cases of Covid-19—were able to mount a powerful attack.” WSJ subs.

 

American Eagle, which has about 880 stores, is looking to shut between 200 and 250 mostly mall-based locations in the next two to three years at CNBC. Read more

 

Kohl’s CEO on Sephora, Stimulus, and Employee Vaccinations at Bloomberg. “We have taken this opportunity to reimagine a much bigger, bolder play in the active, casual lifestyle. I expect a permanent shift, and we are making those moves as we speak. I think about it as active lifestyle, so I think about active as in workout clothes, athleisure, and outdoor. Today that makes up about 20% of business. We are setting our sight on 30% of our business, and it could be more.” Q&A

 

Saks Fifth chief says luxury retail has been ‘comfort food’ for some shoppers during the pandemic at CNBC. “People were buying things in the height of the pandemic that there was no absolute functional end use for, but they love the fashion,” Metrick said Thursday during a virtual presentation at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show event. “I think what we learned is [consumers] view luxury as the comfort food of retail. … It was their way to feel — it was something so much more and so much deeper than a pair of shoes.” Read more

 

Amazon will host a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic at its headquarters in Seattle at GeekWire. “The tech giant is partnering with Virginia Mason for a one-day pop-up clinic on Sunday Jan. 24 that aims to vaccinate 2,000 people at the company’s Amazon Meeting Center near downtown Seattle.” Read more

 

A federal judge has denied an attempt by conservative social network Parler to force Amazon to host it on AWS at TechCrunch. Read more

 

**A message from SPS Commerce. Changing consumer shopping habits have changed the way you fulfill orders. Now is the time to evaluate and update your supply chain practices. Stay one step ahead of the competition and capitalize on alternative fulfillment methods. Visit our website for details or contact us at 866-245-8100.

 

Instacart cutting 1,900 jobs at Fox Business. “Instacart will begin offering its retail partners a new Partner Pick model, which will allow stores to rely on their own employees to utilize Instacart’s technology and fulfill orders for customers…According to Vice, the layoffs include 10 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1546, a union for Instacart workers established in February 2020, who work at Mariano’s grocery store in Skokie, Illinois.” Read more

 

Southeastern Grocers Announces Launch of IPO “…initial public offering of 8,900,000 shares of its common stock to be sold by certain of its stockholders, at an anticipated initial public offering price between $14.00 and $16.00 per share…” Press release

 

MyPillow hanging on in Costco at USA Today. “We have contractual commitments to MyPillow that we intend to honor, as we seek to do with all of our suppliers,” a Costco representative told news outlet SFGate.com.” Read more

 

NJ governor blames Walgreens, federal government for sluggish Covid vaccine rollout at CNBC. “The big reason is the federal program with CVS and Walgreens,” Murphy said. “They basically amassed these doses, they schedule visits to long-term care nursing homes, extended living, and they’re punching under their weight, particularly Walgreens, and that’s where most of the yet to be used doses are.” Read more

 

…Walgreens, CVS defend COVID-19 vaccine rollout at Fox News. “(Gov. Murphy) compared the country’s progress with West Virginia, which he says was the only state that didn’t take the federal partnership with CVS and Walgreens. “And if you look at how well states are doing, they’re No.1 in the country. Because all they’re worrying about is what’s within their control,”‘ he said.” Read more

 

Amazon disputes claims it never offered Trump administration coronavirus vaccine distribution assistance at Fox Business. Read more

 

Teen accused of stealing nearly $1 million in two weeks from Kroger store he worked at at AJC. “Police said Brown used the stolen money to buy two cars, clothes, guns and new shoes. Prior to his arrest, the teen reportedly totaled a Chevrolet Camaro that he bought…” Read more

 

City of Memphis partners with Kroger to provide jobs for those seeking ‘2nd chance’ at WMC 5. “The positions offer wages as high as $19 an hour, full benefits, a 401K and $4,000 for tuition reimbursement.” Video/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Costco tees up golf equipment

FreshDirect CMO talks ‘fast and furious’ online growth

Sam’s Club obtains single view of mobile marketing data

Target team member terminated after three black teenagers detained

Biden to sign order to increase pandemic-related food aid

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Tipsheet: Amazon’s Letter to Biden | Homeowners Stay Put | A. Eagle Miss

/in

 

Walmart CEO and others support federal minimum wage hike at Fox Business. “While McMillon says that $7.25 an hour is too low, he stopped short of commenting on the $15 level…Read more

 

American Eagle sees holiday-quarter sales dropping low-single digits amid weak mall traffic at CNBC. “American Eagle ahead of a virtual meeting with investors Thursday said it expects fourth-quarter revenue to decrease in the low-single digits…That comes in lower than analysts’ estimates, which were for a 0.14% dip, according to data from Refinitiv.” Read more

 

Read the full letter Amazon sent to Biden offering to help with Covid-19 vaccines at GeekWire. “Amazon says it is ready to turn its facilities into COVID-19 vaccination sites and is offering other resources to the U.S. government.” Read more

 

Belk’s top lenders looking to avoid taking department store through bankruptcy: WSJ at CNBC. “KKR and Blackstone are hoping to convert a portion of Belk’s $2.6 billion debt into equity, possibly through an out-of-court deal that would allow Sycamore to retain an ownership stake, the Journal said. KKR is “reluctant” to take Belk through an in-court bankruptcy process because of the high fees associated with filing, the report said.” Read more

 

Curtsy, a clothing resale app, has raised $11 million in Series A funding for its startup at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Amazon sues EU antitrust regulators for letting Italian case go ahead at Reuters. “Amazon is suing EU antitrust regulators for allowing the Italian competition watchdog to pursue its own case against the U.S. online retail giant over the way it selects sellers, arguing that this should be wrapped into an EU investigation.” Read more

 

Walgreens top marketer Vineet Mehra is leaving for undisclosed Silicon Valley job Ad Age subs.

 

Walmart and Western Union Enter Agreement to Offer Western Union Money Transfers at Walmart “The services will include domestic and international money transfers, bill payments and money orders. Services will be offered at more than 4,700 Walmart stores with a rollout planned to begin in the spring of 2021.” Press release

 

‘We’re not Neiman Marcus’: Hudson’s Bay says it plans to be around for another 350 years despite recent troubles at Financial Post. Read more

 

Housing market stays tight as homeowners stay put at Fox Business. “The typical homeowner in 2020 had remained in place for 13 years, up slightly from 12.8 years in 2019 and well ahead of 2010’s reading of 8.7 years, according to a new analysis by real-estate brokerage Redfin Corp.” Read more

 

U.S. housing starts, building permits accelerate at Reuters. “Housing starts jumped 5.8% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.669 million units last month, the Commerce Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast starts would rise to a rate of 1.560 million units in December.” Read more

 

Starbucks, Microsoft, Costco to help Washington’s vaccine distribution at Fox Business. Read more

 

Walmart’s ‘Made in the USA’ claims under fire again at NY Post. ““The truth is consumers can’t be certain any of these products meet the FTC’s definition of ‘made’ in the USA … because of how Walmart is attempting to redefine the legal standard,” TINA.org said…It is the third such complaint TINA.org has lodged against Walmart.” Read more

 

Inside Walmart’s Quest to Become the Go-To Retailer for Pickup and Delivery Adweek subs.

 

It’s 53% alcohol and tastes like fire. Here’s how this liquor brand took over China at CNN. “When Costco opened its first store in China in 2019, it wasn’t just the hot rotisserie chickens and discounted Birkin bags that lured frenzied crowds. A fiery, throat-tingling liquor called Kweichow Moutai also flew off shelves (at 1,498 yuan, or $209 for a half-liter bottle)…” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Interview with Ravi Jariwala, Senior Director, Public Relations at Walmart eCommerce

Trader Joe’s makes chips from its Everything Bagel seasoning

Did shutting down outdoor dining contribute to California’s COVID-19 surge?

Oxygen thefts mount as Mexico reports record coronavirus deaths

Walmart associate writes book about her 25-year journey with the big box retail chain

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

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Tipsheet: MyPillow Dropped | Costco Curbside NM | Gass @ RILA

/in

 

Alibaba shares jump on Jack Ma’s first appearance in three months at TechCrunch. “Alibaba’s billionaire founder resurfaced as he spoke to 100 rural teachers through a video call, three months after his last public appearance in October, sending the e-commerce firm’s shares up more than 8% in Hong Kong.” Read more

 

MyPillow CEO: Kohl’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, Wayfair & HEB dropping MyPillow at USA Today. “Just got off the phone – not five minutes ago. Kohl’s, all these different places. … These guys don’t understand,” Lindell said in the interview. “They were good partners. In fact, I told them, ‘You guys come back anytime you want.’” Read more

 

Kroger unwittingly contributed to an Indiana militia group by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer via USA Today. “Kroger officials say Indiana Oath Keepers was an IRS-approved nonprofit that successfully signed up to receive donations through its customer-directed Community Rewards Program. The group was cut off Tuesday after Kroger learned it was “not aligned with the company’s values.” Read more

 

Curbside pickup is now being offered at Costco’s three New Mexico clubs at USA Today. “The Albuquerque clubs have rolled out the new service with Instacart…There’s a $10 pickup fee on each order and the minimum order is $100, Costco says on its website, adding each pickup warehouse has “dedicated pickup parking spaces.” Read more

 

Chewy CEO says customer calls prompted retailer to accelerate launch of virtual vet service at CNBC. “We started to get calls in our customer service/customer experience centers where customers would be sitting at home saying ‘Hey. My dog just ate chocolate and I can’t get a hold of my veterinarian,’” Singh said, at a virtual conference hosted by the National Retail Federation.” Read more

 

Pandemic-driven cleaning routines boost P&G sales forecast again at Reuters. “P&G said it expects full-year sales to rise 5% to 6%, compared with a prior forecast of a 3% to 4% increase.” Read more

 

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

 

Amazon will open two new logistics centres in Italy this year at Reuters. Read more

 

Office Depot rejects takeover offer from Staples, but says it’s open to other types of ventures at CNBC. “…the parent company of Office Depot, ODP, said it is open to a different kind of a deal, such as selling its retail and e-commerce businesses to Staples or agreeing to a joint venture, according to the report.” Read more

 

Mercy to Operate 22 Pharmacies in Dierbergs Markets Throughout St. Louis Metro Read more

 

Clothing rental service Armoire adapts to pandemic, raises cash from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at GeekWire. “The company now employs 25 people, down from more than 60 last year. The most recent fundraising included $3.9 million that was converted to equity from a bridge note initiated in 2019. Total funding to date is north of $12 million.” Read more

 

Ingles Markets Modernizes Operations and Begins Curbside Pick-up Service for its Customers with Aruba Press release

 

Couche-Tard has few regrets about ‘good’ Carrefour deal that failed at Financial Post. “After a tumultuous week that saw the French government shut down an attempt to take over Carrefour SA, executives at Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. lamented the timing of events, but not the move. “We regret the surprise. We don’t regret the project,” Chief Executive Officer Brian Hannasch said in an interview.” Read more

 

Kohl’s CEO Among Five Retail Leaders Added to Retail Industry Leaders Association at Loss Prevention Magazine. “The new board members include: Michelle Gass, CEO, Kohl’s Corporation, Shelley Bransten…Microsoft Corporation, Mark LaVigne, CEO, Energizer Holdings, Inc., Bob Palmer, CEO, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc., Karyn Schoenbart, CEO, The NPD Group.”  Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

LG considers exiting smartphones in 2021

Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy is a pub saver amid COVID-19

Tyson Foods reaches more settlements in chicken price-fixing litigation

Aldi workers who get COVID-19 vaccine will receive extra pay

Customs seizes $8 million in counterfeit Cartier bracelets, rings

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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: NRF: Holiday +8.3% | Lore Leaves | W. Foods Cuts Breaks

/in

 

NRF: Holiday sales rose stronger-than-expected 8.3% at CNBC. “The retail trade group said consumers embraced the gift-giving season as a way to cheer themselves up during the pandemic. Holiday sales on average have increased 3.5% for the past five years, and they rose 4% in 2019, NRF said.” Read more

 

Walmart’s e-commerce chief Marc Lore to leave at the end of January at CNBC. Read more

 

U.S. retail sales fell 0.7% in December “Sales even fell online, down nearly 6% after rising 19% for the year. At clothing stores, sales rose 2.4% after dropping 16% for the year.” Read more

 

JUMP THE LINE – Some big U.S. pharmacies will not check ID before administering COVID-19 vaccines at Reuters. “Many U.S. pharmacies, including those inside Kroger Co supermarkets and the drugstore chain of CVS Health Corp, say they will not be checking IDs before administering COVID-19 vaccines, leaving the door open to those who do not meet states’ guidelines to jump the line.” Read more

 

U.S. producer prices increase 0.3% in December at Reuters. Read more

 

Petco’s stock, which opened at $18 Thursday, soared 63% to close at $29.40, valuing the company at more than $6 billion at AP. “It raised $864 million after selling 48 million shares in its initial public offering. The company plans to use that money to pay off debt.” Read more

 

Kroger CEO Repelled Corporate Raiders and Cut Costs His Own Way at Wall Street Journal. “Lyle Everingham, who has died at 94, fought in World War II and joined the grocery chain as a clerk…Lyle Everingham grew up on a dairy farm, dropped out of college and spent his entire career working in grocery stores, starting with menial jobs as a produce clerk.” WSJ subs.

 

Online clothing reseller Poshmark closes up more than 140% on first day of trading at CNBC. “The stock began trading at $97.50 per share. On Wednesday, Poshmark priced its IPO at $42 a share, giving it an initial valuation of more than $3 billion.” 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 | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

A security flaw in Amazon’s Ring Neighbors app was exposing the precise locations and home addresses of users who had posted to the app at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Home services platform Porch acquires four companies at TechCrunch. “The most important here is probably the acquisition of Homeowners of America for $100 million, which gets Porch deeper into the home insurance space.” Read more

 

BMW becomes the latest automaker to shut down its subscription service at The Verge. “Access by BMW was a $2,000-a-month car subscription service that launched in 2018…Access by BMW was launched in 2018 in Nashville as a pilot project to test out whether customers would want to have access to a fleet of fancy cars but not necessarily own one.” Read more

 

Whole Foods slashes some workers’ paid breaks to 10 minutes at Fox Business. “…will reportedly affect Whole Foods stores in Southern California, the Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest and the South. Previously, employees in these areas were allocated 15-minute breaks.” Read more

 

Trader Joe’s & Instacart are latest companies to pay workers to get vaccinated at USA Today. Read more

 

UBS: Target has a $14B sleeper in its Shipt business at Seeking Alpha. “While Target has not disclosed Shipt’s full economics, we look at a scenario where Shipt collects fees that are equivalent to 20% of its GMV (includes commissions and memberships) & 50% of its fees come from external retailers. This suggests ~$500-600 mm in annual fee revenue. At 26x CY’20E price / sales, it implies Shipt could be worth $14 bn.” Read more

 

Christopher & Banks stores liquidating after retailer files for bankruptcy protection at USA Today. “As of Jan. 13, the company said it operated 449 stores in 44 states, including 315 Missy, Petite, Women stores, 76 outlet stores, 31 Christopher & Banks stores and 28 C.J. Banks stores.” Read more

 

Indian stores shuttered by farmer protests cost Reliance, Walmart millions in revenue at Reuters. “Since October, more than half the roughly 100 stores of top retailer Reliance Retail in Punjab and Walmart’s 50,000-square-foot wholesale outlet in the district of Bathinda, a centre of the protests, have been shut, the sources added.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

In New Jersey, smokers can now get the vaccine before teachers

A year on, China falls short on trade-deal targets

Amazon hires university computer science chair, then makes big donation to find replacement

As shoppers buy more of their clothes online, fewer retailers stand to win

U.S. consumer sentiment slips in early January

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Tipsheet: Ulta HQ Cuts | Sephora Cuts Security | Petco IPO

/in

 

Ulta Beauty has laid off corporate and field management employees at Chicago Tribune. “Eileen Ziesemer, spokeswoman for (Ulta), declined to specify the number of workers or locations affected but said it was a “meaningful but relatively small” share of its employees. The layoffs took effect Tuesday.” Read more

 

Petco stock priced its initial public offering above forecasts late Wednesday, ahead of its trading debut Thursday at Investor’s Business Daily. Read more

 

Sephora’s plan to combat racial bias at The Washington Post via Philly Inquirer. “Sephora is pledging to double its assortment of Black-owned brands, to 16, by the end of the year and create programs to help entrepreneurs of color. It also will enact new customer-greeting protocols so all shoppers are treated consistently, as well as reduce the presence of third-party security guards and police officers in its 500 U.S. stores.” Read more

 

Nordstrom holiday sales decline 22% Press release

 

Costco closing all in-store photo centers at Fox Business. “However, customers will still able to access various services online at the Costco Photo Center website…according to an email to customers obtained by PetaPixel, the company cited “the continued decline of prints” as the reason due to the evolution of camera phones and social media.” Read more

 

Dollar General plans to pay employees to get COVID-19 vaccination at Reuters. “Dollar General Corp will offer frontline employees four hours worth of pay after they get the COVID-19 vaccine…The discount store chain did not mandate all employees to get the vaccine, but encouraged them to do so.” Read more

 

Proposed settlement in Hy-Vee data breach case would pay victims up to $225 at Des Moines Register. “A claim of up to $5,000 is possible for customers who faced “extraordinary expenses” because of the data breach…The grocer would be required to appoint a Group Vice President for IT security, maintain a written information security program, train employees in cybersecurity and require third-party vendors to use multi-factor identification.” Read more

 

FTC Probing Casey’s $580M Bid For Gas Station Rival Bucky’s Law 360 subs.

 

**A message from SPS Commerce. Changing consumer shopping habits have changed the way you fulfill orders. Now is the time to evaluate and update your supply chain practices. Stay one step ahead of the competition and capitalize on alternative fulfillment methods. Visit our website for details or contact us at 866-245-8100.

 

H-E-B’s Ship-to-Home service is still temporarily suspended at My San Antonio. “H-E-B’s Ship-to-Home, the service which made thousands of the brand’s items available to fans nationwide, is still offline…The service was temporarily suspended in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, as businesses shifted focus to get their communities through the life-altering situation.” Read more

 

Big Lots provides Q4 business update – Quarter-to-Date comp sales up approximately 7.5% Press release

 

Belk on the brink at Charlotte Observer. “Belk, the 133-year-old Charlotte-based department store chain, has been pushed to the edge of solvency by a pandemic and the financial vulnerability of private equity ownership, industry experts and financial analysts say.” Read more

 

Good luck trying to cancel your Amazon Prime subscription at TechCrunch. “Norway’s Consumer Council has also published a report calling out what it describes as the ecommerce giant’s “manipulative” and “unreasonably cumbersome” unsubscribe process for Prime. The report has been punningly titled ‘You can log out, but you can never leave‘.” Read more

 

Weezy — an on-demand supermarket that delivers groceries in as fast as 15 minutes — has raised $20 million in a Series A funding at TechCrunch. “Although the company hasn’t made mention of a later U.S. launch, the presence of U.S. investors would tend to suggest that.” Read more

 

Connecticut investigating Amazon’s e-book business at Fox Business. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Kroger quietly testing smart cart ‘KroGO’ in Cincy store

Amazon’s 25th employee explains the philosophy used to vet all new product ideas

At a subdued CES, computers provide excitement

Biden to unveil plan to pump $1.5 trillion into pandemic-hit economy

China 2020 exports up despite virus; surplus surges to $535B

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Tipsheet: Target +17.2% | Bed Bath +Target/Macy’s Execs | Amazon #11 Patents

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Target comp sales jump 17.2% in November and December at CNBC. “Home goods and hardlines…saw same-store sales gains in the low-20% range…Comparable sales of food and beverage rose about 17%…Beauty and essentials saw growth in the low teens and apparel saw high single-digit gains…Combined transactions in Target stores and on its website rose 4.3% and average tickets grew by 12.3%.” Read more

 

Bed Bath & Beyond adds execs from Target & Macy’s – names new ad agency “…appointed Kristi Argyilan as SVP, Brand Innovation and Jim Reath as SVP, Marketing…has appointed MUH-TAY-ZIK / HOF-FER as lead brand agency…and M Booth as agency of record for corporate and consumer PR…Kristi Argyilan joins the Company from Target, where she was President of its media company, ROUNDEL…” Press release

 

Urban Outfitters shares tumble on disappointing holiday sales, retailer taps Harrington as CEO at CNBC. “During the two-month period ended Dec. 31, Urban said its…same-store sales fell 9% due to declines in store traffic…named Sheila Harrington, current CEO of Free People, as CEO of Urban Outfitters, and she will continue to oversee the Free People banner.” Read more

 

Walmart is piloting smart coolers to let you receive cold food outside at Fast Company. “The boxes, provided by HomeValet, have chilled compartments for frozen and refrigerated food, as well as a section for pantry-style groceries that can be stored at room temperature. They’re internet-enabled and designed to unlock when a courier approaches so that food can be stowed.” Read more

 

Circle K owner Couche-Tard in early talks to buy Carrefour for about $20 billion at Financial Post. “Couche-Tard’s focus has been convenience stores and gas stations, not supermarkets…Carrefour operates more than 2,800 supermarkets and 703 larger-format hypermarkets Europe. In Latin America, it has stores in Argentina and Brazil.” Read more

 

Walmart say they will block donations to lawmakers who objected to Electoral College results at The Hill. Read more

 

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Amazon moves up to No. 11 for most patent grants at GeekWire. “IBM had the most patent grants in 2020 with 9,130, followed by Samsung Electronics, Canon, Microsoft, and Intel. Apple ranked No. 8, while Amazon moved up four spots to No. 11, even though its 2020 grants dropped 8% from the previous year. Google came in at No. 17 and Facebook was No. 38.” Read more

 

Walmart customers don’t expect a speedy economic recovery, Chief Customer Officer says at CNBC. “Whiteside said customers are stretching the budget with strategies like switching from national brands to private brands or buying smaller pack sizes. “Our core Walmart customer is absolutely not immune to the economic slowdown, in fact may even be disproportionately impacted,” she said.” Read more

 

Walgreens to launch co-branded Mastercard credit and prepaid debit cards Press release

 

Synchrony CEO Margaret Keane stepping down after nearly a decade leading the co-branded card lender at CNBC. “Sixty-one-year-old Keane — one of few women to head a Wall Street financial firm — will remain at the company as executive chair of the board, while Synchrony president Brian Doubles takes over as CEO.” Read more

 

Casey’s: Inside same-store sales QTD are positive, with low single digit growth compared to the same period in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra

Blind woman gets help from reporter after Walmart declines to provide assistance shopping

Home Depot co-founder feels betrayed by Donald Trump

Amid Home Improvement Surge, Jobber Raises $60 Million

Google urgently investigating Android coronavirus tracking app issues

US will require all arriving passengers to get COVID-19 test

Failing companies/retailers took stimulus money then closed anyway

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