“Case Study: Walmart’s PR Team and How They Use Twitter; Interview with Walmart’s Sr. Director of Digital” by Arik Hanson at Business-2-Community.  “We manage approximately 60,000 mentions a day (these aren’t the mundane like “I’m at Walmart but are more specific to our reputation and major initiatives we have underway). That takes a lot of work, especially for a small team, so we’re constantly monitoring and analyzing where we can engage in the most meaningful way.”  Read more

 

“January Retail Sales Released at 8:30 am ET Today” by Patti Domm at CNBC.  “J.P. Morgan economist Daniel Silver expects to see a retail sales gain of 0.1 percent on the headline number, compared with last month’s 0.2 percent gain. “If we get that number, it’s going to be one of the softer figures we’ve seen in a while,” he said.”  Read more

 

“Target breach started as an e-mail phishing expedition” by Jennifer Bjorhus at Star-Tribune.  “Data security reporter Brian Krebs blogged Wednesday at KrebsonSecurity.com that Target’s breach started with a “malware-laced e-mail phishing attack” on employees of Sharpsburg, Pa.-based Fazio Mechanical Services Inc.  Krebs cited “multiple sources close to the investigation” and said the phishing e-mails were sent at least two months before thieves started hoovering up card data from cash registers.”  Read more

 

“Atlanta:  Home Depot Stores Busy Ahead of Winter Storm; People Waiting in their Pajamas” at ajc.com.  See the video

 

“Whole Foods vs. Sprouts:  Phoenix TV Reporter Compares Prices of Store Brands (“surprised” Whole Foods won)” by Daphne Munro at ABC 15.  “I compared a total of eight identical store brand products and in the end Whole Foods won overall. Although my sample is small, it does show that Whole Foods 365 brand is worth taking a look at and it won’t break the bank.  I was genuinely surprised and happy to see Whole Foods is more affordable on certain food items. Although the price difference was not huge, it was surprising to me that Whole Foods won.”  See the video / Read more

 

“Head of Lowe’s for Pros won’t be happy until Pros buy “only from Lowe’s”; calls their Website “Soft” “ by Craig Webb at Remodeling. “Horn called the current Lowesforpros.com “soft.” He said the company has been asking pros to name challenges they face so that Lowe’s can think of solutions. One that’s likely to be put on the upgraded website, he said, is a “punch-out process” in which items selected go straight into Lowe’s order management system.”  Read more

 

“Cabela’s Q4 2013 Earnings Call Today at 11:00 am ET”  Listen to the webcast

 

“From the Target Archives: Vintage Barbie Ads” at A Bullseye View.  “Target, a long-time supporter of the blonde’s signature style, will be the exclusive destination for Mattel’s Sports Illustrated Barbie Doll, beginning Feb. 10 available only on Target.com.”  See the Ads / Read more

 

“Walmart Balanced in Response to Mike Rowe’s Facebook Statement (But Smiling Inside)” by Jack Neff at Ad Age. “Walmart spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan noted that Mr. Rowe is speaking for himself on Facebook. “He is his own man,” she said. But she also said: “We’re a proud partner of Mike’s on multiple projects and this one in particular.”  The “importance of the working American and need to increase and help bring back American manufacturing” is has been an issue “on top of his mind for a while,” she said.”  Read more

 

“Whole Foods Plunges on Earnings Miss” by Laurie Kulikowski at Dallas Morning News.  “Whole Foods tightened its 2014 outlook. It now expects sales growth of 11% to 12% compared to 11% to 13% previously. The company is expecting comparable store sales growth of 5.5% to 6.2% compared to 5.5% to 7%, previously.”  Read more

 

“Meijer Gets Fancy: Aims to Challenge National Retailers in Fashion Space”  “Meijer will expand its focus on apparel this year with regional advertising in national fashion magazines, including Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, Cosmopolitan and Elle, as well as the distribution of another Look Book that will feature spring trends.”  Read the release

 

“The Home Depot Preps for Spring with 80,000 New Hires (Spring is Near!)”  “The Home Depot has begun filling more than 80,000 positions as it prepares for spring, the company’s busiest selling season.”  Read more

 

“At Bacon Week in Atlantic City, you can eat it, drink it — even brush your teeth with it” by Wayne Parry at AP via National Post.  “They’re all on the menu this week as one Atlantic City casino stretches the bounds of good taste and cardiovascular health with Bacon Week. The festival at the Tropicana Casino and Resort gives new meaning to the term “pigging out.”…“Bacon is like heaven,” said Nadina Fornia, of Egg Harbor Township. “If you’re going to die, die with bacon on your lips and a BLT in each hand.” Read more

 

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