How Lowe’s Brought Social Savvy and a Sense of Humor to Home Improvement by Jeff Beer at Fast Company. “The advertising in our category tends to be pretty earnest,” (CMO Tom Lamb)says. “I mean, home is important, but our work takes a more wink-and-a-nod approach to home improvement which also helps get back to the idea that home improvement is an approachable proposition and we’re an approachable brand.” Read more / See the Vines

 

Family Dollar earnings dip to $79.9M in Q3 by Jennifer Thomas at Charlotte Business Journal. “That’s down roughly 1.5 percent from the same period a year ago.” Read more

 

…Family Dollar Q3 Comp +0.7% Read the release

 

Top Whole Foods execs apologize for overcharging customers by Reuven Blau at NY Daily News. “Straight up, we made some mistakes and we want to own that,” Whole Foods co-CEO Walter Robb said in a nearly two-minute video posted on YouTube.” See the video / Read more

 

Judge Blasts Home Depot Attys’ ‘Dishonest’ Dismissal Bid by Aebra Coe at Law 360. “Attorneys for Home Depot USA Inc. crossed the line from zealous advocacy to dishonesty when they argued that a proposed class action accusing the retailer of improperly conducting employee background checks failed to allege a willful violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a California federal judge said Tuesday.” Read more (Subscription)

 

Topeka Man Gave Sam Walton the Idea for Greeters by Mike Hall at The Topeka Capital Journal. “Walton asked him what he thought of the store. “I don’t like it,” Ray replied. Walton was briefly taken aback by the reply and asked what was wrong with it. Ray noted he was greeted by a man in a police uniform as he entered the store. He told Walton that wouldn’t sit well with Topekans. …When Walton asked Ray for a better idea, Ray suggested friendly greeters who weren’t law enforcement — maybe some affable retired people. Walton asked Ray to stay around after the ceremony and share lunch with him.” Read more

 

Study: Consumers favor ‘Made in USA’ products over sustainability by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “American consumers continue to rally their support around “Made in USA” products with 45% admitting that such a label is “extremely” or “very” important to them, according to a new survey by Fayetteville-based Field Agent.” Read more

 

***A message from Mobee’s Bees: Mobee has over 350,000 GPS tracked, Smartphone enabled ‘Bees’ located within 5 miles of every US retail store. Detect supply chain issues quickly. “Supply Chain Fix Alerts” have resulted in post-alert sales increases of up to +35%. How Mobee works video. Contact dowdy@getmobee.com to request a free pilot.

 

Hawaii first to ban plastic bags statewide by Darin Moriki at Pacific Business News. Read more

 

Lidl selects North Carolina for regional HQ, distribution hub by Kristin Zachary at Triad Business Journal. “The German discount grocer is expected to invest $125 million and create 200 jobs during the next three years.” Read more

 

Academy Sports + Outdoors to open #200 Read the release

 

Wal-Mart seeks product-relevant content from its suppliers at The City Wire. “The retail giant notes in a recent blog post that its new Product Content Collection System (PCCS) is being piloted with dozens of suppliers and will be launched across the Wal-Mart ecosystem later this year.” Read more

 

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. Announces New CEO Read the release

 

Instacart shopper sues grocery delivery startup for back wages, expenses by Curt Woodward at The Boston Globe. “Busick, 57, said Instacart initially paid a minimum of $10 per hour for the work. But a few weeks into her work, Busick said, her minimum hourly wage disappeared and she was only paid based on the number of deliveries she made.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

How Facebook and Campbell Soup Are Trying to Read Your Mind

Starbucks inks deal with French supermarket giant

This is Facebook’s new logo

Why Lego Is Spending Millions To Ditch Oil-Based Plastic

There’s a ticking time bomb inside the online advertising market

Grand Rapids birthplace of the supercenter gets historical marker

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

Eye on Retail will return next Monday – have a great weekend!

 

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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 the website at www.eyeonretail.net