“The Store Is Media And Media Is The Store” by Doug Stephen at Retail Prophet.  “You see, what’s actually evolving is a new and far more complex role for the store, and online brands like Google, Bonobos and Warby Parker are affirming it, as they each embark on creating their own, branded, physical stores. They along with a growing number of other online pure-plays recognize that in order to “fully actualize” their brands, they need to animate a physical presence and visceral experience for their consumers, not to move products but more critically, to move hearts and minds”  Read more:  https://www.retailprophet.com/blog/the-store-is-media-and-media-is-the-store/

 

“EBay Asks Users to Fight National Sales Tax Bill” by Greg Bensinger at WSJ.  “The company on Sunday said it sent tens of millions of emails urging its active U.S. sellers to push for changes to a bill now before Congress that would allow all states to collect sales tax from online merchants, whether they have operations in that state or not. EBay said the bill’s sales threshold for triggering the tax is too low.”The legislation treats you and big multi-billion dollar online retailers–-such as Amazon—exactly the same,” said John Donahoe, eBay’s chief executive, in one of the emails.”  Read more:  https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323551004578437022807275326.html?mod=pls_whats_news_us_business_f

 

“Amazon Begins Russian Offensive” by Campbell Phillips at Power Retail.  “In a recent report from comScore, Russia was identified as Europe’s largest internet shopping market, with an audience of approximately 61.3 million. The nation’s Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) has received an application from Amazon to register the company’s trademark for the storage and delivery of goods, packaging for transportation as well as various digital capabilities.”  Read more: https://www.powerretail.com.au/pureplay/online-retail-giant-amazon-comes-to-russia/#ixzz2RBsaRXiy

 

“American Families Increasingly Let Kids Make Buying Decisions” by Martha White at Time.  “71% of parents say they solicit opinions from their kids regarding purchases. Nearly all let the kids weigh in when what’s being bought is mainly for the kids themselves, but more than two-thirds of parents take their kids’ views into consideration when making family purchases.  Kids even get a say when the purchase is something they won’t directly use. Nearly three out of five parents consult with their kids before they buy a car.  Read more:  https://business.time.com/2013/04/11/american-families-increasingly-let-kids-make-buying-decisions/#ixzz2RBuEYw7L

 

“Here’s a twist: Developers ask residents what stores they want” by Brenda Bouw at Globe and Mail.  “When real-estate developer Robert Fung started to look at how best to fill 8,000 square feet of retail space in New Westminster, B.C., he decided to approach it like a retailer and ask potential customers what they thought might be a good fit. He turned to Facebook, Twitter and community blogs to solicit feedback from people who live in the area…Mr. Fung says the response to the two-week campaign was “overwhelming, immediate and highly informative,” and it led the developer to refine his target retail mix”  Read more:  https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/starting-out/heres-a-twist-developers-ask-residents-what-stores-they-want/article11165548/

 

“Three Ways to Battle Showrooming” by Marci Hansen at Business 2 Community.  “Last weekend I bought 5 strings of “everyday” string lights from Target and installed them on my covered patio. So next year when I need two more strings, I’ll start the shopping process all over again, looking at Amazon, at Home Depot, and at Target and hope to match them up because I won’t remember. If Target gave me a way to remember, I wouldn’t even bother to look anywhere else. I’d just buy straight from them. Lowes has got it going on with their MyLowes campaign.”  Read more:  https://www.business2community.com/strategy/three-ways-to-battle-showrooming-0464017#OHVjZeRXBphr9cG7.99

 

“Wal-Mart Revamps Its Beauty Department” at Style Blazer.  “And with the help of Jody Pinson, who was appointed as the new head of beauty, everyone is expecting great things. She was recently the vice president pet care, where she helped launched the department to “one of the best departments in the business,”said one cosmetic vendor to WWD, and she is hoping Pinson can accomplish the same thing for Wal-Mart’s beauty department.”  Read more:  https://styleblazer.com/146269/wal-mart-revamps-its-beauty-department/#SqfCjEHHVqe0bXDz.99

 

“Mickey and Minnie brighten up Walmart’s paint department” by Mary Farrell at Consumer Reports.  “In addition to Walmart’s 112 Disney-themed colors of Glidden, the new paints come in a number of finishes including metallic, glitter, chalkboard and glow-in-the-dark. A feature called Room Painter on Glidden’s website helps parents coordinate colors.”  Read more:  https://news.consumerreports.org/home/2013/04/when-consumer-reports-tests-paints-it-doesnt-mickey-mouse-around.html

 

“Facebook’s Next Data Center Will Be in Iowa” by Arik Hesseldahl at All Things D.  “State officials have been kind of hush-hush about the whole thing, and apparently there was pretty stiff competition between Iowa and Nebraska to win the deal. Google and Microsoft have recently opened data centers in the state, as well.”  Read more:  https://allthingsd.com/20130421/facebooks-next-data-center-will-be-in-iowa/

 

Thanks for reading…

 

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