Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet 2/19/13: Google retail stores; Walmart’s healthy checkout aisles

“Google Works on Launching Retail Stores” at Fox Business. “Google Inc. has been developing plans to launch retail stores in the U.S., said people familiar with the matter, in another sign the company is studying Apple Inc.’s playbook for building a consumer-electronics brand…Such a move may represent a change of heart in the two years since Google co-founder Larry Page became the company’s chief executive. Following Google’s short-lived attempt in 2010 to bypass brick-and-mortar stores to sell the Nexus One smartphone via its website, Mr. Page didn’t express much interest in opening retail stores whenever the possibility was discussed, said a person with knowledge of the matter.” Read more: https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/2013/02/18/google-works-on-launching-retail-stores/#ixzz2LLVe0mZe

“The Future of The Retail Store” by Doug Stephens at The Retail Prophet. “Retail is dead! At least, that’s how Marc Andreessen sees it. The entrepreneur and tech investor was recently quoted saying that all physical retail stores will die, succumbing eventually to the vast sea of online competition…On the other hand I have been a vocal proponent of a somewhat different future; one that includes both virtual and physical stores..while shopping is a means of acquiring the things we want and need, it’s also a meaningful social activity that appeals to our deepest, human tendency to gather in tribes.” Read more: https://www.retailprophet.com/blog/the-future-of-retail/

“Am I Dreaming? Walmart Considering Healthy Checkout Aisles?” at Weighty Matters (Video & Text). “While I might quibble some with what’s defined as “healthy”, a Walmart in West Virginia is setting an example for the nation – instead of candy and glossy magazines they’ve put together checkout aisles with fresh fruits and vegetables, along with sporting goods. And guess what? According to the store manager customers love it and sales are up!” Read and see more: https://www.weightymatters.ca/2013/02/am-i-dreaming-walmart-considering.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

“Whole Foods CEO: ‘Business Has Been Hated By The Intellectuals and Elites for All Time'” by Joel Griffith at Breitbart. “Whole Foods CEO John Mackey delivered the opening keynote address for the International Students for Liberty Conference this weekend…According to Mackey, “capitalism has a serious branding problem…the recent recession was…blamed on greedy financial corporations, deregulation, and capitalism—market failures—rather than on bad government regulations and monetary policies—government failures.” And, Mackey doesn’t believe we can count on the media and educators to address this misperception. As he states, “Business has been hated by the intellectuals and elites for all time.” Mackey’s PowerPoint presentation provided a compelling reason for this hatred: “Intellectuals resent having less money than ‘less intelligent’ businesspeople, and their status is much lower in a capitalistic society.” Read more: https://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/02/17/Whole-Foods-CEO-Business-has-been-hated-by-the-intellectuals-and-elites-for-all-time

“Costco CEO: We Shouldn’t Have Used Tiffany to Describe Rings” by Shirley Brady at brandchannel. “Tiffany is more than irked at Costco for selling diamond engagement rings as “Tiffany” rings. The luxury jeweler last week formally filed suit against the wholesale retail giant. Costco CEO Craig Jelinek commented in an internal email communication that was sent to all employees this evening [Feb. 18, 8:27 pm EST], “We are disappointed that our efforts to resolve the issue with them did not result in an amicable solution as we had hoped.” Read Jelinek’s email: https://www.brandchannel.com/home/post/2013/02/18/Costco-CEO-Tiffany-Suit-Email-021813.aspx

“OfficeMax, Office Depot in merger talks: WSJ” via Reuters. “Office supply companies OfficeMax and Office Depot are in advanced talks to merge, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The deal is expected to be a stock-for-stock transaction, the Wall Street Journal said on Monday, adding that the precise terms could not be learned. The deal is not yet done, and talks could still fall apart, the Journal reported. An announcement could come as early as this week, the Journal added, citing the sources.” Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/18/us-officedepot-officemax-idUSBRE91H0MZ20130218?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=56943

“Stater Bros. Promotes Meyer to EVP, Retail Ops” at Progressive Grocer. ” Regional independent Stater Bros. Markets has promoted Dan Meyer to the position of EVP, retail operations, with responsibility for operations of all 167 stores as well as overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company’s Corporate Training Center. In his new position, Meyer will report to Jim Lee, president and COO.” Read more: https://www.progressivegrocer.com/top-stories/headlines/industry-intelligence/id37384/stater-bros-promotes-meyer-to-evp-retail-ops/

“Don Marsh Ordered to Pay Damages (to Marsh Supermarkets)” at Progressive Grocer. “A federal jury has ordered Don Marsh to pay $2.2 million after finding in favor of Marsh Supermarkets’ lawsuit charging its former CEO used the company as his “personal checkbook. The Indianapolis-based grocery chain sued Marsh, 75, accusing him of defrauding the company of millions of dollars to finance lavish vacations and buy expensive gifts for friends and family, according to published reports.” Read more: https://www.progressivegrocer.com/top-stories/headlines/industry-intelligence/id37382/don-marsh-ordered-to-pay-damages/

“Meet the Company Trying to Be Facebook for Your Neighborhood” by Justin Menza and Amy Pack at CNBC. “Americans have lost touch with their neighbors, but one company is looking to restore the country’s sense of community through social media. “Nextdoor is a very unique social media site,” CEO Nirav Tolia told CNBC on Thursday. “It’s not about connecting to your friends, it’s about connecting to your neighbors. He cited a statistic that almost a third of Americans don’t know a single neighbor by name. “There’s so many ways our neighbors can help us,” he added, “and technology can play a role in bringing back the sense of community to the neighborhood.” Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/id/100461249

“Trader Joe’s Tulsa pop-up shop called a success, nearly $7,000 in products sold” in Tulsa World. “Two hundred Trader Joe’s orders were picked up at Tulsa’s Young Professionals’ pop-up shop Saturday in the Brady District. The pop-up shop was part of the inaugural “Bring It To Tulsa” campaign that focused on efforts to attract a full-service grocery store to downtown. “The community has responded unimaginably,” said Hillary Parkhurst, 2013 TYPros chair Saturday, “We have a line into the street of people picking up their orders. Hopefully our efforts highlight the lack of grocery options in the downtown area.” Read more: https://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx?Trader_Joes_Tulsa_popup_shop_called_a_success_nearly_$7000_in_products_sold/22-19108

Thanks for reading…