US retail sales drop 0.2% in June vs 0.1% increase expected via CNBC. “U.S. retail sales unexpectedly fell in June for a second straight month, which could temper expectations of strong acceleration in economic growth in the second quarter.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart introducing ‘helpers’ for back-to-school season by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “…has expanded the (online pickup) service to include hundreds of back-to-school items like pens and notepads. Walmart will also integrate TeachersList, an online resource with more than 500,000 classroom lists, so customers can directly look up the school supplies they need to buy. Finally, the retailer will add extra in-store employees to assist customers at checkout.” Read more

 

Amazon heading into real estate? Fake news, source says by Angel Gonzalez at Seattle Times. “The thing is, the rumor may be just that — a rumor. A person familiar with the company’s thinking called the speculation “fake news.” Read more

 

Nordstrom website issues frustrate shoppers looking for early access to anniversary sale by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. “Shoppers with a Nordstrom credit card were given access to featured items eight days ahead of the sale, which starts July 21 and runs through Aug. 6. The Associated Press reported that some shoppers saw their virtual carts emptying at checkout.” Read more

 

Why the Post Office Gives Amazon Special Delivery by Josh Sandbulte at Wall Street Journal. “A Citigroup analysis finds each box gets a $1.46 subsidy…Like many close observers of the shipping business, I know a secret about the federal government’s relationship with Amazon: The U.S. Postal Service delivers the company’s boxes well below its own costs.” Read more (subs.)

 

NRF bullish back-to-school forecast leaves some scratching their heads by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Overall back-to-school spending will grow 10 percent from last year, to $83.8 billion, the National Retail Federation said on Thursday.” Read more

 

Bezos looks buff at exclusive mogul retreat by Kurt Wagner at Recode. “The who’s who of the tech and media worlds have descended upon Sun Valley, Idaho, this week for the annual invite-only gathering hosted by the investment bank Allen & Co.” Attendee pics/Read more

 

PEAK AMAZON? – Amazon is getting too big and the government is talking about it by Tonya Garcia at MarketWatch. “My understanding is that certain Democrats in the Senate have instituted the very recent and preliminary investigation of Amazon’s possible adverse impact on competition,” he said. “But, in the Trump administration we also have a foe against Jeff Bezos…” Read more

 

**A message from the Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Gift Show – get ready for the nation’s largest souvenir show! Browse 1,300+ booths filled with the latest introductions from every major souvenir and resort supplier. New for 2017, the show welcomes even more made in America products, a new Boardwalk section and a special spotlight on Gourmet gifts. Look for new events and educational offerings, too. September 13-16, 2017. Register Now | Exhibitor List

 

Jet.com is installing Latch access systems in 1,000 NYC apartment buildings by Fitz Tepper at TechCrunch. “Over 100,000 residents living in 1,000 buildings will get free and full access to Latch’s residential “R” system for the exterior door of their building, with the install paid for by a “joint investment” from Jet and Latch.” Read more

 

Target Unveils 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility Report Highlights/Download report

 

AmazonFresh priced at a 16.1% premium to Walmart in June, higher than 14.6% in May at The Street. Read more

 

Kroger advantages over competitors are weakening, analyst says by Steve Watkins at Cincinnati Business Courier. “Goldman wrote. “We hope that in the future, when the company elects which topics to emphasize in investor meetings, it does not accentuate positives at a time when near-term fundamentals perhaps are worsening.” Read more

 

…Wal-Mart can ‘sidestep the Amazon juggernaut,’ Goldman says, upgrading the retailer to buy at CNBC. “[Wal-Mart] has seen the world quite clearly,” Goldman said. “Tactically, [Wal-Mart] has improved in-store execution visibly, tightened inventory, and kept pace with overall US retail [comparable-sales] momentum after years of lagging behind.” Read more

 

Amazon’s Prime Day conversion rate, traffic and transactions surge by April Berthene at Internet Retailer. “The 18.6% conversion rate is more than five times higher than the average of the top 500 largest online retailers in North America, which is 3.55%.” Read more

 

…53 MILLION AMERICANS – Roughly 21.8% of online shoppers made a purchase on Amazon.com on Prime Day. That’s up from 19.4% last year by Stefany Zaroban at Internet Retailer. Read more

 

Why You Should Look to China for the Future of Retail by Li Yuan at Wall Street Journal. “China is an ideal market for experimenting because its traditional banking and retail industries are weak. A generation ago, stores had little to offer and service to match—legacies of the planned economy. Credit cards, nonexistent back then, still aren’t common, while smartphones are everywhere.” Read more (subs.)

 

‘We’re losing more people to the sweets than to the streets’: Why two black pastors are suing Coca-Cola by Caitlin Dewey at Washington Post. “Lamar and Coates say, they will continue visiting hospitals, and overseeing funerals, for members of their churches suffering from obesity-related illnesses. “I am disgusted by the number of hospital visits I make,” Lamar said. “It just adds to the injustices all around us.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Sears Canada layoffs include Mike Myers’ brother who starred in “we’re not going anywhere” ad

America Has a $27 Billion Sepsis Crisis

A Solar Eclipse Could Wipe Out 9,000 Megawatts of Power Supplies

Cubs manager Joe Maddon (and wife) doing digital sitcom for Winnebago

Wawa announces plans to open dozens of stores in D.C.

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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