“Americans plan to spend most in 5 years this Christmas” by Steve Liesman at CNBC. “The average American plans to spend $765 this year, up 12 percent versus last year, and about 6.5 percent higher than the average across the survey’s nine-year history.” Read more

 

“Bill Gates’ dad leaving Costco’s board after 11 years” by Ben Miller at Puget Sound Bus. Journal. “Costco said in an SEC filing that “the voluntary resignation is not due to any disagreement with the company on any matter relating to the company’s operations, policies or practices.” Read more

 

UK: One in three items of clothing, furniture and household appliances are now purchased online by Dan Hyde at The Telegraph. “Outside of food, the purchase most commonly made online – as opposed to in person – was shoes, the British Retail Consortium found. Almost 34 per cent were bought over the internet in November.” Read more

 

“Walgreen tests virtual doctor visits through app” at AP via SF Gate. “Walgreen is testing a telemedicine service that lets patients see a doctor without leaving home or even visiting any of the drugstore chain’s clinics. The company says patients in California or Michigan can contact a physician around the clock through Walgreen’s mobile application for smartphones or tablets.” Read more

 

“Best Buy dangles free two-day shipping to lure holiday shoppers” by Kavita Kumar at Star-Tribune. “Best Buy’s aggressive shipping offer appears aimed in part at Amazon Prime members, who can get free two-day shipping, said Kevon Hills, vice president of research for StellaService, a firm that tracks retailers’ shipping speed and customer service. “But it also seems aimed at Target,” he said.” Read more

 

***A message from Comfy Sacks – Not your parent’s bean bag chair!  Incredibly soft micro-suede covers and our uniquely comfortable shredded foam filling make the Comfy Sacks experience one your customers won’t want to miss (up to 7.5 feet in size!) Great for living rooms, basements, kids rooms, dorm rooms, etc. Bring some fun and excitement to your stores today.  See the website  For program details contact: info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

“Fannie Approves 3% Down Payments” by Dunstan Prial at Fox Business. “Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Monday announced details of a controversial plan to allow some first-time homeowners to obtain a mortgage while putting down just 3% of the price of the home.” Read more

 

Washington Post: “Meet the secret army of meteorologists who keep your holiday deliveries on time” by Drew Harwell. “Deep within a global operations nerve center in Memphis, a team of specially trained operatives scans data from nearly 200 countries, issues urgent “SNOCON” alerts and tracks a fleet of cargo jets via a glowing, wall-size “war board.” Their mission? To make sure no “Frozen” doll is left behind.” Read more

 

“Amazon Is Getting Sick Of The US Government Dragging Its Feet On Letting It Test Delivery Drones Outside” by Jillian D’Onfro at Business Insider.  “Amazon sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration warning that it would “have no choice” but to move more of its drone research outside the United States if it wasn’t allowed to do more testing outside soon.” Read more

 

“Tim Tebow shocks Walmart shoppers by paying layaway tab” at Austin 360 via ABC. “Oh my God, thank you!” she cried, hugging Tebow. Later, she called her mother, telling her: “Mom you’re never going to believe what just happened. Tim Tebow just paid my layaway!” See the video / Read more

 

Berkeley: Champagne Looted at Whole Foods at AP via ABC. “A Whole Foods grocery on historic Telegraph Avenue was looted, with people stealing bottles of champagne and passing them around the crowd.” Read more

 

Claim: Grumpy Cat Made $114 Million in Two Years by David Millward at The Telegraph via Financial Post. “I was able to quit my job as a waitress within days of her first appearance on social media and the phone simply hasn’t stopped ringing since.” Read more

 

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Eye-on-Retail is a daily tipsheet read by thousands of Retail Merchants & Executives every weekday morning. Eye-on-Retail is unique because it’s timely, smart and fun. It’s created early AM every weekday and delivered between 7-8 am CST. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s happening in the world of retail. info@shiftmarketinggroup.net.

 

“Amazon Unveils Its Own Line of Diapers, Confirming Partners’ Biggest Fears” by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “By working directly with a manufacturer, Amazon will be able to price the brand aggressively, with a 40-count package of diapers starting at $7.99. That works out to about 19 cents a diaper, compared to competitor prices that mostly range from 24 cents to 34 cents.” Read more

 

“Target Employee’s Epic Black Friday Pep Talk Goes Viral” at RTV 6 ABC. “People of Target, brothers, sisters, hear me now,” he said. “They’re standing out there. Any moment now, those doors will be breached. Whatever comes through those gates, you will stand your ground with a smile on your face.”They come here with bargains in their heads and fire in their eyes and we shall give those bargains to them,” he continued.” See the video

 

“Kroger Q3 Comp Sales +5.6%” Read the release

 

“Kroger earnings surprise analysts, market reacts” by Steve Watkins at Cincy Bus. Courier. “Kroger’s sales climbed 11 percent to $25 billion. That also topped analysts’ estimates, which had called for sales of $24.8 billion.” Read more

 

…Three takeaways from Kroger’s earnings call by Steve Watkins at Cincy Bus. Courier. “1) The Harris Teeter acquisition is going swimmingly. Kroger has been able to cut prices, making it a popular move for customers. 2) Natural and organic items continue to be a home run, as do private label products. 3) Kroger keeps modifying its stores. Read more

 

“Dollar General Q3 Comp Sales +2.8%” “Importantly, we are seeing a significant step up as we start the holiday season, and we expect to achieve same-store sales growth of approximately 5 percent for the fourth quarter.” Read the release

 

…Dollar General CEO: Retailer is ‘committed as ever’ to Family Dollar acquisition by Jennifer Thomas at Charlotte Bus. Journal. “Thus far, Dollar General has spent $8.2 million related to its proposed acquisition of Family Dollar. It also has delayed share repurchases pending the outcome of those efforts.” Read more

 

…Dollar General Q3 Earnings Call Transcript via Seeking Alpha  Read the transcript

 

Dollar Tree Release: “Dollar General continues to refuse to agree to a “hell-or-high-water” commitment. Based on the foregoing concerns regarding the Pending Merger, Dollar Tree believes that the FTC may require divestitures far in excess of the 1,500 stores that Dollar General has offered to divest in its tender offer for Family Dollar.” Read the release

 

“Rite Aid November Front-End Sales +0.7%” “Total drugstore sales for the five-week period increased 5.6 percent to $2.571 billion compared to $2.434 billion for the same period last year. Prescription sales accounted for 69.7 percent of drugstore sales.” Read the release

 

“Walgreens Hires 1st Chief Merchandising Officer” by Corilyn Shropshire at Chicago Tribune. “Before a 15-month stint at Claire’s, (Linda) Filler was executive vice president and chief merchandising officer at Sam’s Club. She’s held several leadership roles at consumer brand companies, including vice president positions at Wal-Mart and Kraft Foods Group, according to a statement from Walgreen. Filler also has held leadership positions at Hanes Brands and Sara Lee Corp.” Read more

 

Sam’s Roz Brewer: How women can win a seat at the decision table by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “It is a reality—there are still so many inequities in the workplace—I see it everyday. They’re happening in companies,” said Brewer, who took the reins of Sam’s Club in 2012, adding that women routinely face bigger hurdles than their male counterparts. “I get tested every day.” Read more / See the video

 

“Amazon: Shop while you’re in the toilet” by David Goldman at CNN Money. “Amazon and Procter & Gamble want you to do business when you’re doing your business. The companies have partnered to place ads in public bathroom stalls across several U.S. cities. The ads show coupons for P&G products with barcodes that you can scan using the Amazon app. (Yes, they’re asking you to use your smartphone camera while in a public restroom.)” Read more

 

…“a whole new way to sit, shop and save.” by Barrett J. Brunsman at Cincy Bus. Courier. “How many people multitask on the toilet? An estimated 38 million Americans have shopped online while seated in a bathroom…Men were more likely to do so than women.” Read more

 

“Oops! Amazon sent this man $5K of free stuff” by Katie Little at CNBC. “The online retailer told the student, Robert Quinn, he could keep the stuff, saying “‘it’s on us.” The diverse haul includes a 55-inch Samsung 3D TV, leaf blower and ironing board. Quinn says he’s still receiving packages so he’s doesn’t think the error has been fixed.” Read more

 

“Sears to accelerate closings, shutter 235 stores” by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “Belus Capital Advisors analyst Brian Sozzi said the retailer likely needs to close another 200-plus locations in 2015.” Read more

 

“Michael Kors’ new NYC store is the talk of the town” by Alev Aktar at NY Post. “In mid-December, Michael Kors will open its biggest flagship in the world — a Michael megastore, if you will — at 520 Broadway in Soho. The boutique will feature three levels of Kors luxury.” Read the Kors interview

 

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Eye-on-Retail is a daily tipsheet read by thousands of Retail Merchants & Executives every weekday morning. Eye-on-Retail is unique because it’s timely, smart and fun. It’s created early AM every weekday and delivered between 7-8 am CST. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s happening in the world of retail. Contact us @ info@shiftmarketinggroup.net.

 

This Morning:  Walmart’s Doug McMillon Appears on CNBC by Matthew Belvedere at CNBC. “This 2 percent to 3 percent growth range number just feels like it’s kind of perpetual,” he said on “Squawk Box” from the Business Roundtable meeting in Washington, D.C. “We’re kind of like we were last year year. And as I look ahead to next year, it feels like more of the same.” See the video / Read more

 

“Amazon’s Jeff Bezos Has Chosen an Heir Apparent” by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “There is a succession plan,” Bezos said in an onstage interview on Tuesday with Henry Blodget, CEO of Business Insider, in which Bezos is an investor. “There is someone who would take over.” Blodget, of course, asked Bezos to divulge who it is. Bezos didn’t budge, calling it a “secret,” before releasing his trademark bellowing laugh.” Read more

 

Target CMO Jeff Jones On Crisis As Catalyst (And The Real Story Behind ‘Alex From Target’) by Jennifer Rooney at Forbes.” See the video / Read more

 

“Home Depot to acquire HD Supply’s Hardware Solutions unit” at Atlanta Bus. Chronicle. “The Home Depot Inc. will buy HD Supply’s Hardware Solutions unit, formerly known as Crown Bolt, for an undisclosed amount…The deal is expected to close by the end of 2014.” Read more

 

“Walgreen index identifies states with largest number of flu cases” by Ellen Jean Hirst at Chicago Tribune. “Richard Ashworth, Walgreens president of retail and pharmacy operations: “With the ability to generate hyperlocal data that’s as specific as a single ZIP code, the Walgreens Flu Index can become a platform to improve preventive health measures throughout the season, including immunization rates.” Read more

 

***A message from Comfy Sacks – Not your parent’s bean bag chair!  Your customers will love the unique texture and comfort of our ‘big and fun’ bean bag chairs (up to 7.5 feet in size!).  Incredibly soft micro-suede covers and our uniquely comfortable shredded foam filling make the Comfy Sacks experience one your customers won’t want to miss!  Great for living rooms, basements, kids rooms, dorm rooms, etc. Bring some fun and excitement to your stores and drive incremental sales. Website. For product details contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

“Wal-Mart’s South Africa Growth Slowed by Mall Food Fight” by Janice Kew at Bloomberg. “Game, a chain owned by Wal-Mart that’s known for household goods ranging from soap to electronics, is encountering opposition as it adds fresh produce to the mix. Rivals with stores in South African shopping centers that have Game outlets have sued to enforce lease clauses barring new food retailers.” Read more

 

“Kroger in middle of Texas turkey fight” by Steve Watkins at Cincy Bus. Courier. “Dallas City Council wound up passing an ordinance earlier this year that levied a 5-cent fee for any bag that a retailer uses. The retailers didn’t like that. Whether coincidental or not, Kroger opted not to donate turkeys this year to a program called Baskets of Hope, which hands out turkeys to needy people just before Thanksgiving. Kroger has donated for years. It just so happens that Dallas City Council member Dwaine Caraway runs Baskets of Hope and was one of the more vocal proponents of the bag tax.” Read more

 

“Target Loses Bid To KO Banks’ Data Breach Litigation” by Jonathan Randles at Law 360. “A Minnesota federal judge left intact most of a consolidated class action against Target Corp. over losses payment card-issuing banks suffered as a result of the retailer’s massive data breach, ruling Tuesday that Target owed banks a duty to protect customer credit and debit card information from hackers.” Read more (Subscription)

 

UK: More than half of Christmas shoppers plan to ‘Showroom’ on mobile this year by Paul Skeldon at Internet Retailing. “Under 35s are the most ‘handy’ shoppers, with 67% finding the best deal on a handheld device while out shopping.” Read more

 

“The Fresh Market opens its first store in Dallas” by Maria Halkias at Dallas News. “The Fresh Market will become the latest grocer to enter the competitive Dallas-Fort Worth market Wednesday when it opens the first of its four local stores in the works.” Read more

 

HuffPo: “Walmart Denies Stalling In Tracy Morgan Lawsuit” “Plaintiffs’ accusation that Wal-Mart is somehow behind Mr. Roper’s motion in an attempt to delay discovery is simply false,” the company’s attorneys wrote.” Read more

 

“Woman Stumps Orchard Road’s OSHbot with “I’m Looking for a Boyfriend” by Jonathan Bloom at ABC 7 News. “What we actually do is use a process called science fiction prototyping, where we give all our marketing research and trend data to professional published science fiction writers,” said Lowes Innovation Labs Director Kyle Nel.” See the video / Read more

 

 

“Black Friday Fizzles With Consumers as Sales Tumble 11%” by Lauren Coleman-Lochner at Bloomberg. “The NRF had predicted that 140.1 million customers would visit retailers last weekend, a small decline from last year’s 140.3 million. Instead, only 133.7 million showed up. An effort by some retailers to put items on sale ahead of Thanksgiving may have contributed to sluggish demand on Black Friday, Shay said.” Read more

 

ShopperTrak: Sales at retail stores totaled about $12.29 billion on Thursday and Friday, down 0.5 percent from last year at Reuters via Yahoo. “The research firm stuck by its forecast for November and December sales to increase 3.8 percent.” Read more

 

‘Black Friday’ Fades as Weekend Retail Sales Sink by Shelly Banjo at WSJ. “Shoppers spent an average of $380.95, down 6.4% from a year earlier.” Read more (Subscription)

 

Black Friday 2014: Ecommerce desktop pages were 20% slower than in 2013, mobile pages were 57% slower at Venture Beat. “The five fastest desktop sites, according to Catchpoint, were H&M, Costco, Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Etsy.” Read more

 

One-third of Black Friday Online Revenue Was Mobile  Read the release

 

For the first time, online traffic from mobile devices outpaced traditional PCs on Thanksgiving Day  Read the release

 

“Data breaches now industrywide problem: Target CEO” by Tom DiChristopher at CNBC. See the video

 

“The Girls Scouts are going digital for the first time to sell you cookies” by Leanne Italie at Star-Tribune. “For the first time in nearly 100 years, Girl Scouts of the USA will allow its young go-getters to push their wares using a mobile app or personalized websites. But only if their scout councils and guardians say OK.” Read more

 

Alex from Target Interview at WXYZ-Detroit ABC  See the video

 

“Wal-Mart investors to reconsider gun sales after NYC church challenge” by Carey Reed at PBS. “U.S. District Judge Leonard Stark handed down the ruling in favor of New York City’s Trinity Wall Street church, allowing for their original proposal to be presented and voted on by shareholders in 2015.” Read more

 

“Retailers target Alibaba in online sales tax push” by Martin Matishak at The Hill. “Thanks to the online sales tax loophole this Chinese company will decimate our local retailers. Unless Congress ends special tax treatment for Alibaba and other online giants, Main Street will never look the same,” the narrator states.” Read more / See the ad

 

“Army of Amazon robots ready to help fulfill orders on Cyber Monday” by Andrea Chang at LA Times. “The robots — more than 15,000 of them companywide — are part of Amazon’s high-tech effort to get orders to customers faster. By lifting shelves of Amazon products off the ground and speedily delivering them to employee stations, the robots dramatically reduce the time it takes for workers to find items and put them into boxes for shipment.” Read more

 

“Attention shoppers: Customer tracking in cereal aisle” by Jonnelle Davis at News & Record. “Lowes Foods and Wake Forest University business students are watching you…Beahm said students in Wake Forest’s MBA program will analyze the large volume of data gleaned from the lab as part of their business studies, and faculty will use it to do research. The labs are set up in 10 Lowes grocery stores in North Carolina.” Read more

 

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Eye-on-Retail is a daily tipsheet read by thousands of Retail Merchants & Executives every weekday morning. Eye-on-Retail is unique because it’s timely, smart and fun. It’s created early AM every weekday and delivered between 7-8 am CST. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s happening in the world of retail. Contact us @ info@shiftmarketinggroup.net.