Tipsheet: Albertsons Buy Price Chopper? | Bass Pro/Cabela’s Delay | Trump Hurts Tiffany | Adidas New Flagship
Cyber Monday set a U.S. e-commerce record with $3.45 billion in sales by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “…setting a record for the largest day in U.S. e-commerce history, according to Adobe. The record marks a 12 percent increase over the same day last year…the total was just 3 percent higher than that of Black Friday, as the two big days of discounts become indistinguishable from each other.” Read more
Albertsons in advanced talks to buy Price Chopper by Lauren Hirsch at Reuters via Fox Business. “…for around $1 billion, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday…Price Chopper operates roughly 130 stores across the U.S. Northeast.” Read more
Claim: Amazon accounts for nearly 40% of holiday weekend web sales in the US by Allison Enright at Internet Retailer. “43% of shoppers say they will make more than half of their holiday purchases on Amazon, according to the results of an Astound Commerce study released this week.” Read more
SPEED BUMP – FTC review to delay Cabela’s-Bass Pro merger by Josh Kosman at NY Post. “The Federal Trade Commission has asked Bass Pro Shops for more information on its $5.5 billion acquisition of Cabela’s, a move that will hold up the Oct. 5 deal for what two sources close to the situation said could be a few months.” Read more
Patagonia’s Black Friday sales hit $10 million — and will donate it all by Parija Kavilanz at CNN. “The company said it was expected pull in about $2 million in sales at both its 80 global stores and Patagonia.com but blew past its own estimate many times over.” Read more / Video
Kohl’s gets 60 million hits to site during Black Friday week by Melanie Lawder at Milwaukee Business Journal. Read more
Spectacle around Trump Tower hurts business at Tiffany & Co. by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Swept up in the security ring and protest marches surrounding Trump Tower, customers now have to walk past barricades to enter through the store’s main entrance on Fifth Avenue. “We have seen an adverse affect on traffic at that store and we can’t assure that sales won’t be negatively affected going forward,” management said.” Read more
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Chicagoland: Target to open store in Oak Park high-rise next year by Lauren Zumbach at Chicago Tribune. “The 22,000-square-foot Target store will be part of the 20-story, 271-unit Elevate Oak Park luxury apartment development at the corner of Lake Street and Maple Avenue, Target said Tuesday.” Pics / Read more
Amazon device sales (Echo & Fire) were up more than 2X on Cyber Monday compared to last year by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. Read more
New UPS CIO Envisions ‘Autonomous Everything’ by Sara Castellanos at Wall Street Journal. “Vehicles that are capable of automatically making safe and informed decisions during inclement weather and traffic hazards, without human intervention, could usher in a new era of safety in the delivery of packages to customers, he said.” Read more (subscription)
Adidas will open a new flagship retail location on the outskirts of Times Square by Brian Heater at TechCrunch. “It’s the largest of German shoe giant’s stores – and the first in a string of upscale brick and mortar shops soon to include a sizable location opening up soon in London. The company is currently giving some private tours of the space, and it’s all pretty nuts – multiple stories, bleacher-style seating for watching sports events, a cold press juice bar. And lots and lots of shoes.” Read more
Amazon developing Alexa-powered touchscreen device for the home by Mark Gurman at Bloomberg. “The new device will have a touchscreen measuring about seven inches…according to two people familiar with the matter. This will make it easier to access content such as weather forecasts, calendar appointments, and news…They asked not to be identified speaking about a product that has yet to be announced. The latest Amazon speaker will be larger and tilt upwards so the screen can be seen when it sits on a counter and the user is standing.” Read more
Ex-President/COO of Ralph Lauren Joins TJX Board Press release
Driver of Walmart truck that crashed into Tracy Morgan’s limo pleads guilty at Daily Mail. “Under the terms of his plea, Roper, 37, from Jonesboro, Georgia, can avoid prison if he performs community service and satisfies other conditions over the next three years.” Read more
Ace Hardware Teams up with Product Launch Platform to Spark Innovation Press release
Retail technology promises to get her the perfect gift every time by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “Stores are optimized for shopping for yourself,” Erez said. “They are leaving money on the table.” Read more
Wal-Mart’s Doug McMillon and John Furner host a Giving Tuesday event for Bentonville child care center by Melissa Gute at Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. “Shelley McMillon shared her experience of sending her sons through the center. “They were always on top of their game and always very caring,” she said of the center’s employees.” Read more
Tipsheet Extra Stories
Amazon removes ‘offensive’ Allah ‘doormats and dog mats’
Sarah Jessica Parker’s shoe line opening its first store
Can Fast-Fashion Brands Like Zara Go Sustainable?
New study compares Amazon to 19th century robber barons, urges policymakers to break up
Will Eataly take a bite out of Boston’s food scene?
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