Monday Tipsheet: Target Lost Its Way: CEO | Wmart Pounces on Amazon | H. Depot: No Shots Fired
“Interim Target CEO Says Retailer Had Lost Its Way, Works to Overhaul Corporate Structure” by Matt Townsend at Bloomberg via SF Gate. “John Mulligan said that even before December’s massive data breach, the retailer had lost its way by becoming too cautious and bureaucratic. The theft of credit card data from 40 million customers has forced the company to refocus on pleasing shoppers and reconsider everything from how it presents apparel to how it makes decisions, Mulligan said Friday. “That came out of it, but I would have preferred to have gotten there a different way,” he said. “We got a little bit risk-averse in making sure things were perfect and we understood the economics. Now, it’s really unshackling ourselves.” Read more
“Open Carry Rally at Texas Home Depot Goes Off Without a Hitch” at Dallas News. “Saturday’s rally began in the parking lot of a Home Depot. Corporate spokesman Stephen Holmes said that while Home Depot allows customers to carry legally permitted weapons into its stores, “we do not allow solicitation or organizing by third parties on our property.” The Open Carry supporters were not asked to move on Saturday. But should they return for another rally, Holmes said, “we’ll remind them of that policy.” Read more
“Wal-Mart pounces on Amazon/Hatchette book squabble” by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “Wal-Mart began offering almost 400 Hachette titles for 40% off, with delivery dates within the one week. Walmart.com noted this deal prominently on it home page this past week. The retailer reported Friday (May 30) that its physical book sales rose 70% during the week since the deals were first offered.” Read more
“A New Rallying Cry for Retail Workers: $25,000 a Year” by Susan Berfield at Bloomberg. “In the coming days, you will be hearing a lot about working women. Not the women leaning in, not the women opting out, but the working women living in or near poverty.” Read more
“Bentonville prepares for Walmart shareholders week” by Jonathan Rozelle at 4029 TV. “With thousands of shareholders expected to be in northwest Arkansas this week, Dynasty Taxi Service dispatcher Claire March said her company will have about 20 cab drivers on hand to help shareholders get around and five dispatchers answering the phones. “We always look forward to it. It’s one of the busiest weeks in the year for us,” March said.” Read more
Deadline June 6th: Walmart’s Made in USA “Open Call” Event “Walmart will host our first Made in USA “Open Call” Event on July 8 in Bentonville, Ark., at the Walmart Home Office…All suppliers must apply by June 6.” Read more
“Lowe’s CEO still wants the company to grow — but not too quickly” by Ken Elkins at Charlotte Bus. Journal. “So becoming No. 1 isn’t on the wish list…Niblock said we’ll “see it ramp up some” in the number of new Lowe’s stores opened each year from the current rate of about 10 per year. He didn’t elaborate on the number of new stores that could mean.” Read more
“Walmart: Canadian Female CEO to Oversee Europe, Middle East and Africa” by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “Shelley Broader, who will assume her new role effective June 1, joined Walmart Canada as chief merchandising officer in December 2010 and was promoted to president and CEO of Walmart Canada in September 2011.” Read more
“Dollar General opens $100 million distribution center to media (Bethel, PA)” by Ryan Hughes at WFMZ TV. “The distribution center opened its doors to the media Friday. It started receiving vendor products in December and began shipping to stores in January…The warehouse is Dollar General’s 12th distribution center in the United States. It currently supplies merchandise to 706 stores in seven states.” See the video / Read more
Tomorrow: Dollar General Corporation First Quarter 2014 Financial Results Webcast
“Q&A: Former Exec Explores Amazon’s Internal Culture” by Brad Stone at Bloomberg. “Most companies don’t truly obsess about anything—they think about it, they may even act on it, but they are not obsessed. Look at the history of features and advancements Amazon has made, and they truly do work to make a great customer experience.” Read more
“Welcome to Wal-Mart High!” by Justin Solomon at CNBC. “It’s the end of the first year of a retail immersion class called Etail/Retail, which is the brainchild of Tracy Davis, director for the Center for Retail Management at the University of Houston—Downtown. Davis started the class, born out of his passion for the industry that he once worked in, as the first step in what he hopes will become a four-year program.” Read more / See the video
Report: “Home Depot reports another insider breach” at Data Breaches. “Home Depot has notified the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office that between May 7 – May 21, an employee was accessing – and sharing with third parties – tool rental customers’ names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, credit card numbers and expiration dates. According to Home Depot, less than 500 customers’ information was shared with others, but the employee also obtained access to 30,000 other customers’ accounts.” Read more
“Field & Stream Store to Open June 13 in Erie, PA, Invites Public to Campout” “Campsite spaces are limited; reservations will be accommodated on a first-come, first-serve basis. For information on how to reserve a campsite for you and your family, visit fieldandstreamshop.com.” Read the release
***
About Eye-on-Retail
Eye-on-Retail is a daily tipsheet that is must-read material for thousands of Retail Merchants/Executives every weekday morning. Eye-on-Retail is unique because it’s timely, smart and fun. It’s created bright and early every morning and delivered around 7 am CST. 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. Enjoy!
Send story tips, news releases, comments & questions to: info@shiftmarketinggroup.net