Albertson’s refuses to write ‘Trump 2016’ on cake by Marie Waxel at KSLA 12 News. “We just need an American flag cake with Trump 2016 on it, and right when I said Trump the lady just (makes face) kinda Trump? And she was like I can make you a flag cake but I’m not going to write Trump on it,” explained Gill.” See the video / Read more

 

Was massive Gap warehouse fire started by a disgruntled employee? by Wills Robinson at Daily Mail. “The shocking image circulated on social media after the enormous fire on Monday night. Staff members on social media posted the photo and said the suspected arsonist was furious her bosses had ‘written her up’ for being late.” See the pic / Read more

 

Target Revamps Staffing for Grocery Business by Khadeeja Safdar at Wall Street Journal. “Target Corp. is building dedicated teams to manage the grocery sections…Grocery employees will no longer work in other parts of the store and they will receive specialized training, including handling backroom inventory and interacting with customers. Each grocery team will have 10 to 60 employees, depending on the store. The changes have already been rolled out to about 450 stores and are expected to appear in another 150 by next month.” Read more (subscription) | Article via Pioneer Press

 

Walmart CFO Brett Biggs Presents at 23rd Annual Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference Read the full transcript

 

Supervalu Shares Tumble Premarket After Company Lowers Outlook at Fox Business. “The company is now expecting full-year adjusted EBITDA to be down 5% versus the year earlier. The company said its Retail segement has been hurt by competition and a challenging sales environment.” Read more

 

OUT AFTER CHRISTMAS – Pier 1 CEO resigning at year end by Korri Kezar at Dallas Business Journal. “Pier 1’s board is working with executive search firm Korn Ferry to find his successor.” Read more | Press release

 

…Pier 1 Q2 (prelim) comp sales -4.3% Press release

 

BLUE CHRISTMAS? – Here are the biggest losers from scuttling Hanjin Shipping by Leslie Shaffer at CNBC. “Analysts at Citigroup said that toys were likely to be the product most impacted as retailers awaited their shipments of Christmas goodies…Citi analysts said “softlines”…were also likely to be impacted, although department stores appeared to have been reducing their exposure to Hanjin over the past few months.” Read more

 

…Wall Street Journal: Hanjin Shipping’s Troubles Leave $14 Billion in Cargo Stranded at Sea by Costas Paris & Erica E. Phillips. “Samsung said it is considering chartering 16 cargo planes to fulfill its shipment contracts, mostly to the U.S. About 95% of the world’s manufactured goods—from dresses to televisions—are transported in shipping containers.” Read more (subscription)

 

…Bankrupt Korean shipper given okay to unload stranded vessels by Anne Stych at L.A. Biz. “Three cargo ships sitting offshore in California after they were stranded by their parent company’s bankruptcy should be among the dozens of vessels around the world that South Korea’s finance minister said will be cleared for unloading this week.” Read more

 

Private equity firm Golden Gate Capital acquires struggling mall shop PacSun by Shan Li at LA Times. “Golden Gate Capital said it is providing at least $20 million in capital to the troubled mall staple, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April. PacSun operates 583 stores nationwide and in Puerto Rico.” Read more

 

**A message from Pirola Italy – Colorful, designer-inspired ironing boards add spice to any home. Exclusively made in Italy for 45 years, these high-quality boards bring design and excitement to the category. Featuring the Arco board from the Design Line and the Luna board from the Plus Line. Custom colors and designs available. Request samples at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net. Italy-America new product connection

 

Kroger stock slammed by Sprouts outlook by Steve Watkins at Cincinnati Business Courier. “The prolonged deflationary environment, competitive landscape and industry dynamics have prompted heavy promotions across the industry, adversely impacting retail deflation and traffic generation,” Sprouts said in a news release.” Read more

 

How Macy’s Store Closures Could Help Gap by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “We’re watching that carefully to see if we have a co-tenancy clause issue which gives us a rent opportunity,” (CEO Art) Peck told the Wall Street analysts.” Read more

 

At Kmart, a Store Overhaul That Stands Out by Becky Strum & Suzanne Kapner at Wall Street Journal. “It’s amazing what cleaning the floors and turning the lights on can do,” said Dan Macaluso, a 62-year-old car salesman who came to the reopening with his wife. “It suddenly looks like they want to be in business.” Read more (subscription)

 

Washington Post: Vera Bradley is beloved by teens and boomers. Now, millennials, it’s coming for you. by Sarah Halzack. “Around Vera Bradley’s offices, its new target consumer has become known as the “daymaker,” someone who is about 28 years old and who they think of as optimistic, organized and “someone who appreciates beauty,” (CMO) Palermo said.” Read more

 

Fashion: ‘Americans Have Switched Off, Not Consuming’ by Stephen Galloway at Hollywood Reporter. Read more

 

Sears Canada revenue -15.6% / same-store sales -5.5% at Toronto Star. Read more

 

Pilot Flying J Launches First 360-Degree Marketing Campaign “With a crowd capacity in excess of 150,000, the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol will feature a border battle between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Tennessee Volunteers, broadcasted on ABC.” Press release

 

CAN’T WIN – Teacher starts petition against Costco after being offered ground beef by Candice Tubbs at HuffPo. Read more

 

P&G holds open casting calls for next Mr. Clean – and women are welcome by Barret J. Brunsman at Cincinnati Business Courier. “Another open audition will be held near Los Angeles next week….women are welcome to audition, P&G said. Those who can’t make it to either coast for the casting calls can enter a 60-second video of themselves online by clicking here and explaining why he or she should be the next Mr. Clean.” Read more

 

Couche-Tard Receives Approval to Acquire Certain Imperial Oil Retail Assets in Ontario and Québec Press release

 

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