Kroger Q2 comp sales (no fuel) +0.7% “Total sales increased 3.9% to $27.6 billion in the second quarter compared to $26.6 billion for the same period last year. Total sales, excluding fuel, increased 3.8% in the second quarter compared to the same period last year.” Press release

 

How Rosalind Brewer, Starbucks’ First Woman COO, Got the Job by Beth Kowitt at Fortune. “It was the end of 2016 and she was running Sam’s Club, Walmart’s warehouse club division. Starbucks’ chief executive Howard Schultz was visiting the retailing giant’s Bentonville headquarters for a panel discussion with Walmart CEO Doug McMillon. But at the last minute, McMillon had to cancel so Brewer stepped in. She and Schultz “were probably on stage for about 90 minutes,” she tells Fortune. “We just hit it off.” Read more

 

50 World-Changing Companies (Walmart #7, Ikea #32) at Fortune. Full list

 

J. Crew’s Chief Designer Departs While New CEO Tries to Revive Chain by Lindsey Rupp & Kim Bhasin at Bloomberg. “Chief Design Officer Somsack Sikhounmuong is leaving the company after 16 years with the Madewell and J. Crew labels, said Margot Fooshee, a spokeswoman for the company.” Read more

 

Home Depot enlists Zac Brown for veterans concert by Phil W. Hudson at Atlanta Business Chronicle. “More than 125 veterans attended a private Zac Brown concert Sept. 7 at his Camp Southern Ground in Fayetteville, Ga., to launch The Home Depot Foundation’s seventh-annual Celebration of Service campaign.” Pics/Read more

 

Here’s your first look at Kroger’s new restaurant concept, Kitchen 1883 by Dan Monk a WCPO 9 Cincinnati. “Kitchen 1883 is “a fresh new take on American comfort food,” according to descriptions for online job postings. It will “feature a made from scratch menu, hand crafted cocktails and a family friendly atmosphere.” Kroger officials declined to comment on the venture, but a sign on the front door of said it will begin serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch in October.” Pic/Read more

 

Federal Reserve clears the way for Bass Pro, Cabela’s merger by Josh Kosman at NY Post. “The unexpected move sent shares of Cabela’s up 14 percent in early trading, to $60.78 — just under the $61.50-per-share price Bass Pro is set to pay in the takeover deal. At issue was Cabela’s sale of its credit card business to Synovus Bank. With the Fed’s approval of the credit card sale, the Bass Pro-Cabela’s deal is expected to close on or soon after Sept. 21.” Read more

 

**A message from Pirola – Made in Italy – Designer ironing boards add style to any home. Exclusively made in Italy for 45 years, these high-quality boards bring design and excitement to the category. Custom colors and designs available. Website | Retailers: request samples at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net. Italy to U.S. product connection

 

‘It’s never too late to say we’re sorry’: Seattle leaders respond to Amazon plans to establish second HQ outside its hometown by Monika Nickelsburg at GeekWire. “Amazon’s decision to spread its headquarters across two cities may have something to do with growing tension between the company and some of Seattle’s lawmakers and longtime residents.” Read more

 

99 Cents Only Stores Q2 comp sales +9.0% Press release

 

Why Amazon’s plan to build a second headquarters could be a ‘marketing ploy’ by Eugene Kim at CNBC. “But the academics noted most of Amazon’s executive team will remain in Seattle. “I think the name ‘headquarters’ is a little bit of a marketing ploy. I mean they just want to have a big office in another city,” Felipe Caro, a professor at UCLA’s school of management, told CNBC.” Read more

 

Dollarama Q2 comp sales +6.1% Press release

 

Zappos and Walmart outpace the competition when it comes to back-to-school search marketing by Zak Stambor at Internet Retailer. “(Zappos) generated 8.3% of total text ad clicks on back-to-school keywords from July 29 through Aug. 27. Walmart garnered 8.6% of Product Listing Ad clicks.” Read more

 

CVS Pharmacy Introduces of Health and Wellness Vending Machines “…stocked with convenient, on-the-go necessities including over-the-counter health products, “better-for-you” snacks and popular personal care products.” Press release

 

Amazon was tricked by a fake law firm into removing a hot product, costing this seller $200,000 by Eugene Kim at CNBC. “An Amazon merchant said his hottest product was kicked off Amazon because of a complaint made by a fake law firm. The seller put in an appeal last month but couldn’t get it resolved until Tuesday, after losing about $200,000 in sales.” Read more

 

Postmates expands Unlimited, a Prime-style subscription service, to 250k merchants by Ingrid Lunden at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Houston councilman tells residents not to donate to Red Cross

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Solve For Food secures investor for new food innovation center in NW Arkansas

Trump administration sides with baker who refused to make wedding cake for gay couple

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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