Amazon abruptly delays ‘Treasure Truck’ rollout after a week of hype by Todd Bishop at GeekWire. “Is it possible that Amazon forgot to apply for a permit in its bureaucracy-loving hometown? The city’s regularly updated list of sidewalk and plaza vending permit applications doesn’t reference Amazon or the initial Treasure Truck location.” Read more

 

Inside Macys.com via SF Gate See the 13 pics

 

Wegmans still committed to first urban store in Boston by Catherine Carlock at Boston Business Journal. “Wegmans spokeswoman Jo Natale said there is no final design plan, but the store would be similar in size to Wegmans’ Chestnut Hill store and would also have similar offerings — including wine.” Read more

 

REI Looks for New HQ Location by Marc Stiles at Puget Sound Business Journal. “REI is in the very early stages of looking for a place that the outdoor-gear company could grow. The 77-year-old cooperative employs more than 1,100 people at its Kent headquarters, and is growing at such a clip that it’s moving 280 tech employees to a new office in Bellevue.” Read more

 

Freeosk gives Sam’s Club members product samples via vending machines by Cheryl V. Jackson at Chicago Tribune. “Instead of getting the items from a worker, Sam’s Club shoppers scan their membership cards at the kiosks, which dispense the items and pitch the products via video screen. Last week at Sam’s Club, some Freeosks featured Nestlé Crunch Girl Scout Candy Bars. This week, some are featuring Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers.” Read more

 

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Wal-Mart stocks up on interns at Penn State by Lori Falce at Centre Daily Times. “This year, the retail giant has picked up a five-pack of interns for the summer for their Bentonville, Ark., operations. Three are in replenishment, one in logistics and one in Sam’s Club merchandising…“We have what is called the replenishment leadership program for students to come into post-graduation,” said Lauren Adams, manager of Wal-Mart’s campus relations team.” Read more

 

Sears Canada’s chances of survival are slim, analyst says: It’s ‘now or never’ by David Friend at The Canadian Press via Financial Post. “The next seven quarters are ’make it or break it’ for Sears Canada,” he wrote. “Our current view is that an operating turnaround is improbable.” Read more

 

Cabela’s sets unique opening ceremony for first Cincinnati store by Erin Caproni at Cincinnati Business Courier. “The West Chester location will be Cabela¹s second store in Ohio, joining the Columbus store opened in 2013. Additionally, the company has announced plans to open locations in Centerville in spring 2016 and Avon in spring 2017.” Read more

 

‘Nobody said this was going to be easy’: Tesco CEO at CNBC. “Sales at British stores open over a year fell by a better-than-feared 1.3 percent over the 13 weeks to May 30.” Read more

 

Amazon to offer loans to sellers in China, 7 other countries at Reuters. “Until now, the e-retailer has offered the service only in the United States and Japan. Amazon Lending, founded in 2012, now plans to offer short-term working capital loans in other countries where it operates a third-party, seller-run marketplace business, the head of Amazon Marketplace, Peter Faricy, told Reuters.” Read more

 

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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