“Target’s Shopper Satisfaction Scores Down Sharpest with Middle-and-Upper Income Shoppers” by John Vomhof Jr. “Target’s customer service score fell 3.3 percentage points to 71 percent in the survey of 2,500 shoppers. Cowen found a “dramatic” decline among upper-income shoppers, with scores falling 9 percentage points to 70 percent.”  Read more

 

“California:  Lowe’s ordered to pay $18 million in hazardous waste lawsuit” by Karina Ioffee at San Jose Mercury News.  “Lowe’s has been ordered to pay $18 million for illegally disposing hazardous waste, including pesticides, batteries, fluorescent bulbs and other toxic materials, following a civil enforcement action filed Tuesday in Alameda County Superior Court.The suit alleged that more than 100 Lowe’s stores throughout the state routinely sent items such as spilled or returned paint or damaged batteries to local landfills that were not permitted to receive the materials.”  Read more

 

“Family Dollar lays off 135 at HQ” by Ely Portillo at Charlotte Observer.  “The cuts represent 6 percent of the company’s Matthews workforce…The layoffs cover all divisions and operating levels of the company’s headquarters, or the “Store Support Center,” as Family Dollar calls it.”  Read more

 

“Happening Today:  Sam’s Club CEO Rosalind Brewer to Appear on CBS This Morning”  CBS This Morning Link

 

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“Charlotte: Walmart Recaptures Top Grocery Spot” by Ely Portillo at Charlotte Observer.  “Chain Store Guide, which tracks retail sales, reported that Walmart captured 22.4 percent of the Charlotte region’s grocery sales, up from 20.4 percent last year. Harris Teeter’s share fell from 23.7 to 20.4, and Food Lion’s grew from 17.4 to 18.7.”  Read more

 

“The Home Depot Foundation names new leader” by Carla Cardwell at Atlanta Business Chronicle.  “Caffarelli’s successor, Gaven Gregory, will serve as executive director of the Home Depot Foundation and the Homer Fund. Gavin, a decorated Iraq war veteran, is considered to be a good fit for the foundation, which in the last couple of years has made a significant commitment to help the nation’s veterans.”  Read more

 

“Neiman Marcus Blends Store and Online Teams” by Maria Halkias at Dallas News.  “As part of this reorganization, the divisional merchandise manager positions over various categories will be responsible for both store and online merchandise. The current buying roles will remain the same, with buyers solely focused on one channel.”  Read more

 

“Hudson’s Bay:  Q4 Comp Sales +6.6%”  “…or 2.1% excluding the impact of foreign exchange, from the comparable 13-week period of Fiscal 2012.  Hudson’s Bay grew 5.2%.  Lord & Taylor declined 1.3% on a U.S. dollar basis.  Saks grew 3.1% on a U.S. dollar basis.”  Read the release

 

“London:  Kingfisher in Talks to Buy Mr Bricolage” by Tapan Panchal at WSJ.  “U.K.-based home-improvement retailer Kingfisher said Thursday it was in talks to buy French rival Mr Bricolage in a deal worth €275 million ($378.6 million) to boost its business in Europe.”  Read more

 

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