Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet 5/8/13: Target’s Life-Size Dollhouse | Whole Foods wants 1,000 | Wmart’s next CEO
“Target partners with Facebook to push its digital Cartwheel to shoppers” by Thomas Lee at Star-Tribune. “In its boldest foray into digital retailing, Target is launching Wednesday a test version of Cartwheel, an ambitious collaboration with the world’s largest social network that will allow users to earn savings via Facebook and then use their smartphones to redeem those savings in stores. Though retailers have used social networks like Twitter and Pinterest to promote products and influence opinion, generating real sales has so far proven elusive. By using mobile devices to help drive people to its stores, Cartwheel might be the missing piece to this “multichannel” puzzle, Target officials say.” Read more: https://www.startribune.com/business/206530061.html
“Wal-Mart Said to Focus on Two Internal Choices for Next CEO” at Businessweek. “The two leading contenders are international chief Doug McMillon, 46, and Bill Simon, 53, who runs the U.S. operations, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the matter is private. While Duke, 63, isn’t expected to step down immediately, Wal-Mart may name his successor in the coming months, the person said.” Read more: https://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-05-07/wal-mart-said-to-focus-on-two-internal-candidates-to-succeed-ceo
“Whole Foods Profit Rises 20% as Store Sales Improve” by Leslie Patton at Businessweek. “Whole Foods, which plans to triple its U.S. store count to about 1,000, has lured Americans who are becoming more concerned with eating organic and healthy foods. The 349-location grocer is expanding to smaller cities including Maple Grove, Minnesota, and Closter, New Jersey. Same-store sales rose 6.9 percent in the quarter.” Read more: https://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-05-07/whole-foods-net-income-rises-20-percent-as-same-store-sales-improve
“Target Dollhouse In Grand Central Is Probably Bigger Than Your Apartment” by Christina Anderson at HuffPo. “Target unveiled a life-size, two-story dollhouse in Grand Central Terminal here in New York yesterday. The dollhouse features 1540-square-feet of living space, making it larger than most New York apartments. The structure — named the “Threshold Dollhouse” was assembled by 50 individuals in less than 54 hours, and it comes furnished. The house was assembled as a very elaborate way to showcase Target’s spring line of accessories. There are between 3500 and 4000 items on display, including towels, lamps and throw pillows.” See the pictures and video: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/07/target-dollhouse-grand-central-photos_n_3229487.html?utm_hp_ref=tw
“Online grocery ordering and home delivery move to organic market” by Karen Nitkin at The Baltimore Sun. “Relay Foods is one of several grocery delivery services operating in the Baltimore area, each with a different niche. Giant-affiliated Peapod home-delivers some 12,000 items that can be found in Giant stores to nearly 400,000 customers. Hometown Harvest, based in Frederick, delivers locally grown produce and is adding meats, dairy products and even salmon.” Read more: https://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/bs-fo-organic-grocery-delivery-20130507,0,6489251.story#ixzz2ShMEfGIE
“Internet Sales Tax Bill Faces Tough Sell in House” at U.S. News. “House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has not commented publicly about the bill, giving supporters hope that he could be won over. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which would have jurisdiction over the bill, has cited problems with the legislation but not rejected it outright.” Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/05/07/Internet%20sales%20tax%20bill%20faces%20tough%20sell%20in%20House
“Walmart Builds Own Search, No Competitive Advantage In Buying” by Frank Hayes at Storefront Backtalk. “So why is the world’s largest retailer now focused on building its own technology instead of buying it off the shelf? According to the chain’s e-commerce chief, that’s the only way it can get a competitive advantage from the technology. “We can’t do what we need to do and want to do with off-the-shelf solutions,” said Neil Ashe, Walmart president and CEO of global e-commerce.” Read more: https://storefrontbacktalk.com/e-commerce/walmart-builds-its-own-search-because-theres-no-competitive-advantage-in-buying/#ixzz2ShQpGDG3
“True Value Rolls Out New TV Campaign” by Sarah Mahoney at Marketing Daily. ““We really wanted ads that would resonate with people who do their own projects, and the category is fraught with spots that are shot in the retail environment, full of smiling happy people wearing aprons,” says John Colasanti, CEO of Solve, the Minneapolis agency that created the campaign. “We thought it should be about what the brand helps the consumer do, and show how their lives were bettered. It’s a very different appeal, and a very inward focus.” Read more: https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/199794/true-value-rolls-out-new-tv-campaign.html#ixzz2ShNgDCrZ
“The Three Things Warby Parker Did To Launch A Successful Lifestyle Brand” by John Biggs at Techcrunch. ““We only invested into three things the first year: to start our first collection, our website, and PR,” he said. Blumenthal later talked up importance of having a socially responsible mission — in this case, the company’s buy a pair, donate a pair Do Good program — and the effect it could have on driving sales.” Read more: https://techcrunch.com/2013/05/07/the-three-things-warby-parker-did-to-launch-a-successful-lifestyle-brand/
“Consumer Reports Index: Consumer Sentiment Jumps To Highest Level Since 2008” “Retail numbers have not yet seen the benefit from this rise in consumer sentiment and declining financial difficulties. The index’s past 30-day retail measure shows that spending activity has slumped to its lowest level since October 2008, posting its fourth straight month of decline and now standing at 8.7, down from 9.6 the prior month. This decline was led by a softening in two high-ticket categories, major appliances and major home electronics.” Read more: https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6799040&access=EH
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