Amazon Online Audience Doubles Wal-Mart’s by Douglas A. McIntyre at 24/7 Wall Street. “In May, it posted 182 million unique visitors, fourth among all sites in the United States. Wal-Mart Stores…had an online unique audience of 86 million.” Read more

 

The result of Chicago plastic bag ban: Shopping bags to be sturdier by Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz at Chicago Tribune. “When Chicago’s plastic bag ban kicks in Aug. 1, many shoppers accustomed to carting groceries home in those ubiquitous plastic bags will instead walk away with … nicer plastic bags…Walmart has been testing its new ordinance-compliant plastic bags at two of its Chicago stores, and plans to roll them out to its 12 city locations by the end of June.” Read more

 

Instacart hires grocery shoppers to part-time jobs amid contract-labor disputes by Curt Woodward at Boston Globe. “Instacart, which has relied on contractors to fill and deliver online orders, will now make some of its shoppers part-time employees. The change will be introduced in Boston and Chicago on Monday, and Instacart might expand the practice to its 14 other US markets, the company said.” Read more

 

Catalina Program Gives Shoppers Peek at Next Week’s Deals by Jack Neff at Ad Age. “Every shopper enrolled in the loyalty programs of participating stores is shown five offers for the week ahead when they check out, using printouts from Catalina’s Checkout Coupon system.” Read more

 

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Amazon changes its key formula for calculating product ratings and displaying reviews by Todd Bishop at Geek Wire. “Amazon will give greater weight to newer, more helpful and verified customer reviews (written comments) and ratings (the 5-star system) when determining top reviews to display, and when calculating a product’s overall rating.” Read more

 

Loblaws workers reject tentative deal, union says its preparing for a strike at The Globe & Mail  Read more

 

East Ottawa: Costco to relocate to bigger store, and bigger lot at Ottawa Citizen. “With the bulk warehouse store’s pending move to larger quarters — and a larger parking lot — a few blocks north, Costco should no longer need an off-duty police officer to ensure order.” Read more

 

Twin Cities: St. Paul Port Authority considers Walgreens a ‘home run’ for Macy’s building at Pioneer Press Read more

 

Wayfair Partners with Country Singer-Songwriter Ashley Monroe on Writer’s Room Makeover  Read the release

 

Man wearing only Halloween mask and shoes runs through Walmart yelling ‘I’m on fire!’ before dousing himself with milk by Ashley Collman at Daily Mail. Read more / See the pics

 

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Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet is created early every weekday morning and read by retail merchants and executives worldwide. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s really happening in the world of retail. See our website at www.eyeonretail.net