Hibbett Sports Scare: “Based on very challenging sales trends, comparable store sales are expected to decrease approximately 10% for the second quarter ending July 29, 2017.” Press release

 

…Academy lays off 100 people from corporate office by Jack Witthaus at Houston Business Journal. Read more

 

9 people dead after sweltering tractor-trailer found at San Antonio Walmart at CNN. “The employee told authorities the trailer was parked at a Walmart lot in San Antonio. A man who was in it asked the employee for water. The employee brought water for the man, then called police and asked them to conduct a welfare check, McManus said.” Read more

 

…Field behind Walmart could be path for undocumented immigrants, neighbor says by Jessie Degollado at KSAT 12 ABC. “I know there’s people back there that walk around in the nighttime, yelling at each other to come on, come on this way,” Munoz said.” Read more

 

BEST BUY – CFO Corie Barry proudly leads the way as Best Buy surges by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “Corie Barry never saw herself in one of the top jobs at Best Buy. That began to change in the fall of 2012 when she met her new boss…she did a double take when the petite Sharon McCollam breezed in, wearing an impeccable dress and designer shoes along with an air of confidence and friendliness. “I literally thought I might run up and hug her,” said Barry, 42, in a recent interview over sushi at the company’s Richfield headquarters. “I felt like my whole life had changed.” Read more

 

Huge crowds as Wegmans opens its first Northern New Jersey store by Rob Jennings at NJ.com. “The company’s eighth New Jersey store was proving popular with an estimated 20,000 customers by 4:30 p.m., division manager Joe Sofia said.” 24 pics/Read more

 

Snap tests the retail waters by selling Spectacles inside London department store Harrods by Fitz Tepper at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Wal-Mart, Amazon Rivalry Spreads to Forklifts by Sarah Nassauer at Wall Street Journal. “Wal-Mart secured the right to invest in Plug Power Inc. by buying more of its fuel-cell-powered machines…“Discussions were going on simultaneously” with the two retailers starting late last year, said Plug Power Chief Executive Andy Marsh.” Read more (subs.)

 

**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

 

Amazon has started moving staff into a huge new London office with enough space for over 5,000 people by Sam Shead at Business Insider. Read more

 

FedEx Office stores closing in Canada via Toronto Star. “Spokeswoman Stacey Sullivan says FedEx Office will close its 24 stores, a manufacturing plant in Markham, Ont., and its head office in Toronto. The move will result in the loss of 214 jobs.” Read more

 

THEN THERE WERE FIVE – Wal-Mart streamlines the number of in-store merchandisers by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Wal-Mart Stores has internally announced a new merchandising services program that narrows to five companies able to manage supplier displays and other services in more than 4,600 Walmart U.S. stores. Everyone else is out of luck…Steve Bratspies, chief merchandising officer for Walmart U.S., noted new guidelines for its “Merchandising Services Program” in a July 18 memo to suppliers and obtained by Talk Business & Politics.” Read more

 

Whole Foods sets August 23rd date for vote on Amazon deal by James Rodriguez at Austin Business Journal. Read more

 

Snail slime hits beauty mainstream after taking South Korea by storm by Christine Jenkins & Javiera Quiroga at Bloomberg via Denver Post. “Target is selling the products in about 850 stores and said they represent about 25 percent of its total premium offerings. Ulta said it expanded its offerings with a prestige collection in March and CVS began rolling K-Beauty HQ at 2,100 stores in April.” Read more

 

Target India announces the largest cohort for its accelerator program at The Hindu. List of eight

 

Next Leap for Robots: Picking Out and Boxing Your Online Order by Brian Baskin at Wall Street Journal. “Several companies, including…Hudson’s Bay…and JD.com…have recently begun testing robotic “pickers” in their distribution centers. Some robotics companies say their machines can move gadgets, toys and consumer products 50% faster than human workers.” Read more (subs.)

 

Amid liquidation sales, Sears Canada faces calls for boycott over employee treatment via Globe & Mail. Read more

 

Sephora rolls out smaller-store concept with high-tech beauty upgrades by Lauren Thomas at CNBC. “The studios will be about 2,000 square feet, less than half the size of a typical 5,500-square-foot Sephora store.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Bloomberg: Inside the Fight to Design the Perfect Sports Bra

Rap fans flock to Kendrick Lamar’s pop-up shop

Adweek: The 10 Next Hot Jobs in Digital Marketing

Big smartphones ate the tablet market

Why are these Tijuana barber shops all the rage with Mexican men?

KKR nears deal to buy health website WebMD

Here’s what the new small-format Buffalo Wild Wings will look like

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

***

Eye on Retail Tipsheet is must-read material for 20,000+ 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: Send story tips, press releases and advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: www.eyeonretail.net