Bezos @ Mar-a-Lago | Nike Pressures Retailers | Amazon Strike

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Jeff Bezos spotted having dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago at NY Post. “Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was seen sauntering into Mar-a-Lago late Wednesday night to have dinner with President-elect Donald Trump. Bezos walked in with his fiancée Lauren Sanchez for their first dinner with Trump since the soon-to-be 47th president won re-election.” Read more

 

Amazon workers strike at seven U.S. facilities ahead of Christmas rush at CNBC. “Warehouse workers in cities including New York, Atlanta and San Francisco are taking part in the “largest” strike against Amazon, said the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents about 10,000 workers at 10 of the firm’s facilities.” Read more

 

The Top Secret Gift Shop Where You Need Clearance to Get In at WSJ. “Skip the chintzy T-shirt vendors on the National Mall and head straight to the CIA. Just be ready to provide your social security number and leave enough time to clear multiple layers of security. And bring cash…Federal buildings hide what may be the world’s most exclusive gift shops…You can buy china at the Transportation Department, bathrobes at the State Department and playing cards at the Justice Department.” WSJ subs.

 

How Vuori reached a $5.5 billion valuation by taking share from Lululemon at CNBC. “When athleisure brand Vuori launched in 2015, it was headquartered in a garage, sold only men’s shorts and couldn’t get investors to give it the time of day. Now, the Carlsbad, California, retailer is expanding globally, backed by a string of marquee investors including General Atlantic, SoftBank and Norwest Venture Partners, after raising $825 million in November in a funding round that valued the company at $5.5 billion.” Read more

 

Nike’s new CEO is trying to clear out inventory and pressuring retailer partners at WSJ. “During one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year, Nike was the only brand to have a 30% discount on most of its footwear at Macy’s famous Herald Square location in New York City…Nike is now selling more to retailers such as Foot Locker and Macy’s than it did a couple of years ago. It is also rekindling relationships with retailers such as DSW that it cut ties with in 2022 under former CEO John Donahoe to focus on selling items directly to consumers.” WSJ subs.

 

Seeing low-income consumers squeezed, retailers target $10 and under gifts at Reuters. “In a sign of how retailers are rearranging their merchandise to cater to cash-strapped shoppers, the average price of Walmart’s 70 top toys was 10% lower than last year’s, at $40.16, according to D.A. Davidson.” Read more

 

***A message from Sensi: Sensi named a “Best Smart Thermostat of 2024” by CNET noting its simple and intuitive display, which allows you to make changes easily. Website | Contact: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Amazon delays return-to-office in some cities due to lack of space at GeekWire. “Offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, New York, and Phoenix are affected, according to the reports. Some return dates are pushed back as much as four months.” Read more

 

Bitcoin’s rally is nudging more luxury companies to make crypto a payment option—and sends a strong message to its younger clientele at Fortune/Yahoo. “We’re delighted to see the luxury sector embracing cryptocurrency payments, as demonstrated by our recent partnership with Printemps in France,” a Binance spokesperson told Fortune. “This initiative has generated significant interest, and we’re already in talks with other luxury brands eager to integrate cryptocurrency payments.” Read more

 

Amazon devices chief gives free Kindle Paperwhites to people stopping by HQ fruit stand at GeekWire

 

Canada Post now ‘fully operational’ and couriers recovering — but backlog could take weeks to clear at Toronto Star. “While the labour fight may be ongoing — the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) said Tuesday evening that the federal labour minister’s directive that paused the strike is “an illegal breach” that it will “fight” — for most Canadians, mail delivery should be returning to normal, once the substantial postal backlog has been cleared.” Read more

 

Amazon One Medical sued after patient dies at Consumer Affairs

 

Dollar Tree Names Michael C. Creedon, Jr. as CEO “Creedon joined Dollar Tree in 2022 as Chief Operating Officer and over the past two years has taken on increasing levels of responsibility.” Press release

 

Marc Lore is betting artificial intelligence will choose your meals for you in the future at NY Post. “We’re talking about five to 10 years into the future here. But I’m thinking about the bigger vision… there’s a real opportunity for AI to have a place in telling people what they should eat on a meal basis,” he explained. “Think about an AI that knows you as well as you know yourself.” Read more

 

Stop & Shop names Lee Nicholson as new chief merchant at Chain Store Age

 

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Bezos @ Trump Next Week | Waltons #1 Richest | Z Likes Stores

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TODAY – Trump rings bell at NYSE / Cornell & other CEOs in crowd / Trump says Bezos to visit next week

 

World’s Richest Families 2024 – Waltons Back on Top at Bloomberg. “The Waltons are back on top after Walmart’s stock surge boosted their wealth to $432.4 billion…Nothing about 110 NW 2nd St. hints at the vast wealth coursing through it. The modest brick building in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas, is the home of Walton Enterprises — steward of the greatest family fortune in the world…” Bloomberg subs.

 

Gen Z wants to shop in person — and that’s helping malls make a comeback at CNBC. “Nearly 63% of Gen Z respondents said they plan to make holiday purchases at physical stores, according to an annual survey by consulting firm EY. Only about 50% said they would make purchases on retailers’ websites and apps during the season, lower than any other generation besides Baby Boomers.” Read more

 

Big Food’s Latest Label: GLP-1 Friendly at WSJ. “Conagra Brands…is rolling out a new label that dubs a selection of its Healthy Choice frozen meals “GLP-1 friendly,” part of an effort to pitch its products to a growing group of consumers: people who are eating less. Starting in January, the label will appear on 26 products, which Conagra said have high-protein content and low calorie counts and are a good source of fiber.” WSJ subs.

 

Only 16% of holiday shoppers plan to spend more this season because of inflation at CNBC. “…down two points compared to last year. Forty-eight percent said that they’ll lay out the same amount for holiday gifts, up five points. At the same time, 35% say they’ll spend less, down two points as well.” Read more

 

Former Amazon leader’s supply chain tech startup Auger names 11 execs after $100M Series A round at Geekwire

 

UK regulator’s Shein IPO decision slowed by challenge from Uyghur group at Reuters. “Britain’s financial regulator is taking longer than usual to approve fast-fashion retailer Shein’s IPO because it is checking its supply chain oversight and assessing legal risks after an advocacy group for China’s Uyghur population challenged the listing, according to two sources close to the matter.” Read more

 

**A message from Su Salsa – Put the lime in the dip, not the chip. Su Salsa Mild hits with a hint of lime and cilantro and a kick of jalapeno at the finish. All-natural, blended and smooth for easy pour. And the label that pops on shelf.  Learn more | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Party City Mulls Second Bankruptcy in Two Years at Bloomberg/Yahoo. “…is behind on rent at some locations and running out of cash, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing a private matter. The retailer’s struggles stem from years of lagging sales that have left it unable to keep pace with a sizable debt load.” Read more

 

Arkansas Gov. Sanders to seek waiver to eliminate ‘junk food’ purchases in federal SNAP program at Talk Business

 

J.Jill, Inc. Q3 comp sales down 0.8% Press release

 

The new Buc-ee’s north of Denver has been a hit, but not with nearby farmers at The Gazette. “Everyone I’ve talked to says they can’t wait to go,” she said. Carlton’s 8-year-old son Greyson, sitting in a swivel chair beside her, said he was a fan of the chicken strips…Darin Rome, a farmer and mechanic…said that the glow of Buc-ee’s on the horizon about a mile away was an unwelcome sign of things to come as the interstate corridor pushes out farms in favor of large-scale developments.” Read more

 

Walmart grabs the most TV viewers with Thanksgiving weekend ads at Multi Channel Marketer

 

Macy’s Q3 comp sales: down 2.4% on an owned basis and down 1.3% on an owned-plus-licensed-plus-marketplace basis Press release

 

…Macy’s confirms rogue employee hid $151 million in expenses over three years at NBC News

 

Albertsons Files Lawsuit Against Kroger for Breach of Merger Agreement Press release

 

Mall vending machines send showers & shelter to needy at St. Louis Post Dispatch. “Since their inception, the Giving Machines have collected more than $32 million. This year, they are in 106 locations…”It’s not an effort to proselytize or aggrandize the name of the church. It’s really just about connecting with people in our community,” Bezzant said. “The church is interested in doing and being good and inviting others to do so.” STL Post subs. 

 

Zero chance Canada Post can deliver cards and packages before Christmas, experts say at Toronto Star

 

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Amazon Autos Live | WM Drone Shooter Plea | Costco Diaper Shift

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Costco’s popular Kirkland diapers shifting suppliers at Bloomberg/Orange County Register. “First Quality is replacing Kimberly-Clark Corp. as the maker of Costco’s diapers, with the official change set to happen in January…Earlier this month, Kimberly-Clark CFO Nelson Urdaneta said that the company’s exit of private label businesses, “allows us to dedicate our capacity and our investments to our own technologies and brands to differentiate them.” Read more

 

Amazon is officially in the online car sales business at TechCrunch. “Amazon is kicking off the new endeavor with Hyundai in 48 U.S. cities…Amazon Autos will function, in many ways, like the rest of the broader Amazon e-commerce ecosystem. Shoppers will be able to search for available vehicles from participating dealers by model, trim, color, and features. Notably, customers will also be able to secure financing and e-sign paperwork via the Amazon Autos site. Once the payment is finalized, customers can schedule when to pick up their vehicle from that dealership.” Read more

 

Activist investors urge Macy’s to make changes to boost stock at AP. “Activist investor Barington Capital Group is calling on department store retailer Macy’s to develop an internal real estate subsidiary, reduce capital expenditures, and explore strategic options for its Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury chains among other changes to boost its slumping stock…” Read more

 

Casey’s Q2: Inside same-store sales increased 4.0% Press release

 

Retiree Who Shot Walmart Drone In Plea Deal at The Smoking Gun. “Winn said, he retrieved his firearm from a gun safe and fired. “Now they say I hit it, so I must be a good shot,” he said…When the DroneUp workers heard gunfire–and saw Winn “holding a handgun towards the sky”–they ran back to their van, while the drone returned to a Walmart Supercenter about four miles away…” Read more

 

PetSmart launches streaming experience for cats and dogs Press release

 

How an App Selling Secondhand Clothes Went From Near Collapse to Worth $5 Billion at WSJ. “Today Vinted is changing the way millions of people shop and dress. In France and the U.K., its top markets, about one person in four is buying or selling on the Vinted platform. The app has a limited presence in the U.S. but is planning to make a big push there in the coming years.” WSJ subs.

 

***A message from Sensi: Sensi named a “Best Smart Thermostat of 2024” by CNET. CNET recently named the Sensi Touch 2 to its list of “Best Smart Thermostats of 2024,” noting its simple and intuitive display, which allows you to make changes easily. Website | Contact: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Amazon is bringing Intuit QuickBooks software to its millions of third-party sellers at CNBC. “Intuit QuickBooks will be available on Amazon Seller Central…Eligible sellers will also have access to loans through QuickBooks Capital.” Read more

 

UK to make online retailers pay e-waste recycling costs “…implementation of the deposit return scheme for drinks containers and extended producer responsibility for packaging that will end the nation’s throwaway culture and stop the avalanche of rubbish…These packaging reforms will collectively support 21,000 jobs…” Press release

 

Walmart plans to transform home category, double sales by 2030 at Talk Business. “Senior Vice President Creighton Kiper…took over leadership of the expansive home division in August and spoke in Bentonville on Nov. 21 to a group of suppliers…“I remind my team that when you sell a KitchenAid stand mixer you are also selling the opportunity for a grandmother to pass down a recipe to her granddaughter. Or when you sell a foam mattress, think about how it’s not just a place to sleep, but also where a dad tells bedtime stories to his son or daughter,” Kiper said.” Read more

 

Canada Post strike hits day 26 as union sends new proposals at Financial Post

 

Amazon pilots quick-commerce service in India at TechCrunch. “…will see the U.S. tech giant delivering grocery and other items in 15 minutes or less. The firm is the sixth major entrant in India’s quick-commerce market…Amazon said it is initially piloting the service in Bengaluru.” Read more

 

Lord & Taylor to be relaunched as online discount luxury retailer at ABC News. “Instead of operating its own stores, Regal Brands reportedly aims to position Lord & Taylor products in high-end retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom.” Read more

 

Amazon opens new AI lab in San Francisco Read more

 

This Christmas, Give Your Loved One a Box of Unopened Mail. What Could Go Wrong? at WSJ. “The mystery-box phenomenon is a child of the pandemic. In early 2021, Rebecca Dallaman and Jena Butler were looking for a new venture after Covid halted their commercial cleaning business…Dallaman and Butler have sold more than 90,000 boxes—each containing at least six packages—built social-media accounts with more than a million followers combined…” WSJ subs.

 

***Advertise your product, service or event in Eye on Retail Tipsheet to get in front of the most powerful retail decision-makers in the world. Contact: jlong@eyeonretail.net

 

Amazon Tips Drivers | T.Supply Rings Bell | Kroger +2.3%

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Costco November comp sales (ex-fuel & f/x): Total company +4.9% / US +4.3% / Canada +5.7% / Other Int’l +7.3% / Ecom -2.5% “E-commerce sales in November were negatively impacted by an estimated 15 percentage points, due to Thanksgiving / Black Friday / Cyber Monday occurring a week later this year versus last year. Total and comparable sales were negatively impacted by approximately one and one-half percent as a result of the shift in E-commerce sales.” Press release

 

Kroger Q3 identical sales without fuel +2.3% Press release

 

Five Below Q3 comp sales +0.6% Press release

 

…Five Below Names Winnie Park CEO “Ms. Park served as Chief Executive Officer of Forever 21 since January 2022…Prior to Forever 21, Ms. Park was the CEO of Paper Source…” Press release

 

Dollar General Q3: comp sales +1.3% / net sales +5.0% Press release

 

Dollar Tree, Inc. Q3 comp sales: Dollar Tree +1.8%; Family Dollar +1.9%; Enterprise +1.8% Press release

 

…CRAMER’S TAKE: “Dollar General reported a pretty good quarter. The stock was up. The company did say its core customer is financially constrained. Rival Dollar Tree delivered a strong quarter earlier this week, and several Wall Street analysts raised their prices targets on the company that also owns the Family Dollar chain.”

 

Chewy Q3 net sales +4.8% Press release

 

***A message from Sensi: Sensi named a “Best Smart Thermostat of 2024” by CNET noting its simple and intuitive display, which allows you to make changes easily. Website | Contact: info@eyeonretail.net

 

TODAY – Tractor Supply Company Rings the Opening Bell at Nasdaq

 

Shares of American Eagle drop as company issues weak holiday guidance at CNBC. “For its holiday quarter, American Eagle is expecting comparable sales to be up around 1%, with total sales down about 4%…The outlook is below the 2.2% comparable sales growth StreetAccount was looking for and the 1% sales decline LSEG had expected.” Read more

 

Build-A-Bear Workshop Q3 revenue +11.0% Press release

 

Jeff Bezos says he’s ‘putting a lot of time’ in at Amazon to help it become an AI winner at Yahoo. “Bezos said that 95% of his time at Amazon is spent focusing on AI within the company…My heart is in Amazon, my curiosity is in Amazon, and my fears are there and my love is there,” Bezos said. “I’m never going to forget about Amazon. I’ll always be there to help…” Read more

 

Target’s bid to toss shareholder lawsuit over Pride backlash rejected by judge at Reuters/NY Post

 

District of Columbia says Amazon secretly stopped fast deliveries to 2 predominantly Black ZIP codes at AP. “There have been specific and targeted acts against drivers delivering Amazon packages” in the two ZIP codes and the company made the change to “put the safety of delivery drivers first,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said…” Read more

 

Amazon chipping in $10M in tips for customers who thank their delivery drivers during the holidays at GeekWire

 

Bezos: Incumbent on media to ‘persuade’ Trump press ‘not the enemy’ at The Hill. “You’ve probably grown in the last two years, he has too,” he told journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin during an interview. “Let’s go persuade him of this. I don’t think he’s going to see it the same way, but maybe I’ll be wrong.” Read more

 

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Cyber +7.3% | Porch Pirate Insurance | W.Foods Mini

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Cyber Monday US spending breaches $13 bln as steep discounts online drive sales at Reuters. “Consumers spent 7.3% more compared to Cyber Monday in 2023. That follows the roughly $10.8 billion Americans spent online on Black Friday this year, according to Adobe, which keeps track of devices that use its software to help power more than 1 trillion visits to U.S. retail sites.” Read more

 

Porch Pirates Steal So Many Packages That Now You Can Get Insurance at WSJ. “PorchPals, a subscription-based startup that launches nationwide on Monday, says it will cover the cost of your stolen packages. It costs $120 a year and covers up to $2,000 of deliveries, or up to three claims a year…PorchPals had only been in California, but is now available across the country. Once a credit or debit card is linked to an account, all deliveries paid for with that card, including groceries and takeout, are covered.” WSJ subs.

 

Walmart Completes Acquisition of VIZIO Press release

 

Amid Gen Z’s love of cheaper, lab-grown diamonds, a natural diamond giant slashes prices at Fortune/Yahoo. “De Beers…has slashed its prices by 10% to 15%, Bloomberg reported…It’s the first substantial price cut since the start of the year and a large cut historically…Apparently, De Beers had tried offering customers more flexibility rather than lowering prices until it had no other choice.” Read more

 

Amazon’s Black Friday Week And Cyber Monday Deal Event Was Its Biggest Thanksgiving Holiday Shopping Event Ever Press release

 

Shoppers Fight Back as Retailers Crack Down on Returns at WSJ. “Priya Rednam-Waldo, a therapist and life coach, said she stopped shopping online at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus after they added restrictions. In April, Saks began charging $9.95 for returns by mail, while Neiman charges a similar fee for clearance items and those returned after 15 days.” WSJ subs.

 

***A message from Su Salsa: Lime flavored chips are too lime-y – put the lime in the dip, not the chip. Su Salsa Mild hits with a hint of lime and cilantro with a kick of jalapeno to finish. All-natural, blended and smooth for easy pour. And the label that pops on shelf.  Learn more | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

AI will power your holiday shopping this year at St. Louis Post Dispatch. “Adobe said 70% of 5,000 surveyed who used AI for shopping believe it enhances their experience. Coveo found that 39% of Generation Z and 44% of millennials surveyed said they would use a virtual assistant like ChatGPT for help buying gifts online.” Read more

 

US Black Friday spending in stores and online rose 3.4% year-over-year, data show at Reuters. “Sales at brick-and-mortar stores grew just 0.7% year-over-year, according to preliminary estimates by payments processor Mastercard, and were lower according to data firm Facteus…Yet U.S. e-commerce sales increased by a hefty 14.6% online, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse…” Read more | Mastercard press release

 

Whole Foods Chases Shoppers With Minimarket Concept at WSJ. “Whole Foods said its first Daily Shop in Manhattan has exceeded sales projections every week since opening. The grocer, which operates more than 500 locations nationwide, has four more Daily Shop stores in New York City and will bring the format to Washington, D.C., in mid-2025, a spokesperson said.” WSJ subs.

 

TikTok influencer Marlena Velez arrested for second theft at same Target at NY Post

 

Can AI chatbots make your holiday shopping easier? at AP. “Perplexity AI’s new shopping feature allows users to enter search queries such as “best phone case” and to receive answers derived from various sources, including Amazon and other retailers, such as Best Buy. Perplexity also invited retailers to share data about their products and said those that do would have an increased chance of having their items recommended to shoppers.” Read more

 

Shoppers hunt for deals, but Dollar General and Dollar Tree aren’t reaping the benefits at CNBC. “Dollar General has acknowledged stiffer competition. “The guys in Bentonville…took a little bit larger piece” of the retailer’s middle-income customers, Vasos said…” Read more

 

***Advertise your product, service or event in Eye on Retail Tipsheet to get in front of the most powerful retail decision-makers in the world. Contact: jlong@eyeonretail.net