Costco May Comp Sales Flat “Comparable sales for these periods, excluding the negative impacts from gasoline price deflation and foreign exchange, were +6%” Read the release

 

Why Wal-Mart is ditching its Celine Dion soundtrack and getting a DJ by Sarah Halzack at Washington Post. “The CD was a punch line multiple times in executives’ presentation to workers, including when a puppet character named Willie joked that being a Wal-Mart store worker was getting dangerous. When Mike Moore, executive vice president of supercenters, asked why, Willie replied, “One of my fellow associates recently developed a serious eye-tic from hearing Celine Dion’s greatest hits on loop in our stores.” Justin Bieber was also name-checked as one of the singers featured on the notorious CD.” Read more

 

Five Below Q1 Comp Sales +1.7% Read the release

 

Wal-Mart relaxing dress code & raising temperature in stores to address worker concerns at Reuters. “My job is to make your life easier,” Greg Foran, head of the retailer’s U.S. operations, told the workers at the Bud Walton Arena in Fayetville, Arkansas. Under a new dress code due in July, store workers will be allowed to wear black and khaki denim pants in addition to khaki trousers permitted by the existing code. Workers with physically demanding jobs will be allowed to wear blue denim and T-shirts.” Read more

 

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Dick’s Sporting Goods shareholders approve the re-election of three directors at Pittsburgh Post Gazette. “Vincent C. Byrd, vice chairman of the J.M. Smucker Co.; William Colombo, vice chairman of Dick’s; and Larry D. Stone, former president and COO of home improvement chain Lowe’s…The company’s six-minute-long annual meeting was held Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency at the Pittsburgh International Airport.” Read more

 

It’s a Plaid, Plaid World at Target this Fall at A Bullseye View. “To help herald in its fall plaid takeover, Target tapped designer Adam Lippes to create more than 50 items inspired by buffalo plaid for the Adam Lippes for Target collection of apparel, accessories, pet goods and home furnishings.” Read the Q&A with Kathee Tesija

 

Costco welcomes shoppers to its new Wichita store by Jerry Siebenmark at The Wichita Eagle. “Marilyn Regier was one of dozens of Wichitans who arrived before the opening of the area’s first Costco store Wednesday morning – and was rewarded with entry into the store before its official 8 a.m. opening. “We came at 7:30 and they were already letting us in,” said Regier of Wichita. “It’s so exciting.” Read more / See the pics & video

 

Amazon will start charging merchants more if they want to use its frictionless checkout services at Business Insider. Read more

 

Rising Walmart executive Stacey Hodoh returns to Buchtel to give commencement address by Betty Lin-Fisher at Beacon Journal. “Hodoh, 48, is quickly moving up the executive ranks at Walmart, where she is now interim vice president of logistics for Walmart’s Mexican operations, called Walmex. In her short-term role, she is in charge of all distribution, transportation, engineering, e-commerce and logistics planning for Mexico.” Read the Q&A

 

See how Amazon just changed its famed shipping boxes by Benjamin Snyder at Fortune. “Amazon now gets the honor of reportedly being the first company to use its packaging to advertise an un-related product. The company is rolling out ads on its delivery boxes in bright yellow to boost the new Minions movie from theDespicable Me franchise.” Read more

 

Couple ties the knot at Home Depot in Phoenix at WFSB 3. “Olsen’s bouquet was made out of plumbing supplies. The ceremony took place in the garden section and the wedding party included all of their co-workers.” See the pics

 

Amazon’s Roy Price Honored at United Friends of the Children’s Brass Ring Awards by Mannie Holmes at Variety. “The 12th annual Brass Ring Awards was filled with golden moments at the Beverly Hilton on Tuesday. Presented by the United Friends of the Children (UFC), the philanthropic event honored Amazon Studios VP Roy Price. Malcolm McDowell hosted the dinner and auction, which began with anecdotes of youth benefiting from the organizations’ commitment.” Read more

 

US-China Business Council Names Doug McMillon as New Board Member Read the release

 

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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. Contact us at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net.