Monday Tipsheet: Lowe’s 54 in CAN | A.Watch in B.Buy 8/7 | Amazon’s Groc. Pickup | B.Pro Cuts <60 @ HQ
Report: Amazon planning drive-up grocery stores by Nathan Donato-Weinstein at Silicon Valley Business Journal. “The e-commerce giant is developing a new drive-up store concept in Silicon Valley that will allow consumers to order grocery items online, then schedule a pickup at a dedicated facility, according to industry sources familiar with Amazon’s plans.” Read more
Lowe’s expanding Canadian network to 54 stores via Globe & Mail. “Lowe’s Canada said it will spend $50-million to build two new stores in Ontario….Lowe’s acquired 12 former Target locations as well as Target’s Milton, Ont., distribution centre for $147.75-million after the company decided to close its Canadian operations…The 14 new stores will be located across the country including four new stores in British Columbia, two in Alberta, one in Saskatchewan and seven in Ontario.” Read more
Apple Watch coming to Best Buy on August 7th by Casey Common at Star-Tribune. “It will initially be available in more than 100 stores and on BestBuy.com, the Richfield retailer said Sunday in a posting on its corporate website. Another 200 stores will have it in time for the holidays.” Read more
Today Show: Wal-Mart’s oldest employee in the US celebrates turning 103 with special party by Shelby Marra. “Loren Wade works at a Winfield, Kansas Wal-Mart where he waters plants, greets customers and runs the cash register. In fact, he is such a fixture at the local Wal-Mart that his coworkers recently helped him ring in his birthday by throwing him a very special birthday party.” See the video / Read more
Retail Just Lost Its 2nd Busiest Shopping Season by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “As consumers increasingly stock up on back-to-school essentials throughout the year, and simultaneously shift their view as to what constitutes a school item in the first place, a new study has found that parents of children from kindergarten through high school plan to spend $434 on back-to-school items this year—a 20 percent decline.” Read more
Target will have solar-power projects in all major N.C. markets by John Downey at Charlotte Business Journal. “The plans already filed represent an investment of almost $22 million. And Target is likely to put rooftop projects on at least two more stores this year, according to its filings with the N.C. Utilities Commission. That would be about 60% of its 49 stores in the state.” Read more
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Bass Pro confirms layoffs at HQ by Wes Johnson at Springfield News-Leader. “Bass Pro Shops laid off “fewer than 60” employees at its corporate headquarters on east Kearney Street in Springfield and at a woodworking shop in Nixa, the company confirmed Friday…the company also laid off an average of six employees at most of its retail stores across the country.” Read more
Walmart plans grocery pickup in Rogers, AR by Teresa Moss at Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “The Rogers Planning Commission approved a waiver for Walmart to build a grocery pickup at the store at 4208 Pleasant Crossing Blvd. Plans provided to the city show two kiosks with overhangs and a loading area connected to the side of the store. The loading area consists of parking spots with a metal canopy.” Read more
The Cities That Are Leading America’s Industrial Revival by Joel Kotkin at Forbes. See the Top 10 List / Read more
Target’s struggle to sell stores exposes Canada’s weak retail leasing market by Marina Strauss at Globe & Mail. “It is quite a bit of space for the market to absorb,” said Caiti Morgan, vice-president of retail valuation at realtor Cushman & Wakefield. “The Target property auction results … weren’t particularly stellar.” Read more
Costco Scrutinizes Bulk Cigarette Purchases after Investigation by Scott MacFarlane at News 4 NBC. “News4 I-Team undercover cameras caught alleged smugglers buying huge loads of cigarettes at one time. Some spent tens of thousands of dollars in cash, and bought so much product they needed help wheeling the cartloads out of the store.” See the video / Read more
Manchester United kit accidentally put on sale in US one week before official release by Jack Briden at Daily Mail. “The club are set to release the strip on August 1, however a picture emerged on Saturday showing the shirt available for $90 from US retailer Dick’s Sporting Goods.” See the pics / Read more
Wal-Mart’s e-commerce goal: Reach 95% of customers in 2 days or less by Matt Linder at Internet Retailer. Read more
US anchor’s bizarre theory about Amazon’s success stuns co-host at 9 News. “His female co-host was momentarily speechless. “They’re trying to eat breakfast!” she said, pointing out at the viewers on the other side of the screen.” See the video / Read more
Tipsheet Extra
Oscar Mayer rolls all-terrain ‘Wiener Rover’
Build-A-Bear Quietly Removes “Bear” From Job Titles
Jet.com CEO: We Are the Costco of Internet Retail
Bob Abt of Abt Electronics, who ‘raised bar’ for ethical retail, dies at 77
McDonald’s to line Germany’s autobahn with 100 restaurants
Tesco has abandoned 62 planned stores across the UK
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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