Tipsheet: Amazon Expands Into Ocean Freight | Costco Golf Balls Will Return | Target Pushes Suppliers | Sam’s Shares Memo
Amazon expands into ocean freight by Jillian Stampher at GeekWire. “Amazon has successfully begun shipping goods from Chinese merchants to U.S. warehouses by ocean, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday…Since October, Amazon has coordinated the shipment of at least 150 containers of goods from China, the Journal reports.” Read more | WSJ article (subs.)
Albertsons hires Disney exec as new e-commerce chief by Matt Linder at Internet Retailer. “Albertsons hired Narayan Iyengar as its new senior vice president of digital marketing and e-commerce, replacing Tamara Pattison, who left the grocery chain owner in June.” Read more
Costco says golf balls will return by Zosha Millman at Seattle pi. “Jeffrey Brotman, co-founder and chairman of the board at Costco, reached out to Seattlepi.com to clarify that though the golf balls are sold out for now, the Kirkland Signature brand balls aren’t gone forever.” Read more
Amazon is now worth more than America’s 8 largest retailers combined by JP Mangalindan at Yahoo Finance. “For the record, that roster includes Best Buy, Macy’s, Target, JCPenney, Nordstrom, Walmart, Kohl’s and Sears.” Read more
Target Pushes Suppliers to List Chemical Ingredients In Major Overhaul by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “By 2020, Target wants full ingredient disclosure on items including major categories like beauty, baby, personal care and cleaning goods on the way to including all products eventually. Some of Target’s new guidelines include the removal of perfluorinated chemicals and flame retardants from textiles in the next five years, and eventually, listing ingredients in all products.” Read more | A Bullseye View
EBay meets investor expectations for holiday quarter by Katie Roof at TechCrunch. “Gross merchandise volume…came in at $22.3 billion, when analysts were expecting $22.4 billion. Adjusted earnings per share were 54 cents, when Wall Street predicted 53 cents.” Read more
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Defunct Sports Authority’s suit against 2 former execs alleges unpaid loans by Monica Mendoza at Denver Business Journal. “TSA WD, in the lawsuit, said they both elected to be taxed on the shares in 2009. Schumacher’s tax bill was $150,846 and MacGibbon’s was $64,109. TSA WD says, in the suit, said that the company gave them loans to pay their tax bills.” Read more
Sam’s Club shares reorg memo with Talk Business by Kim Souza. “Gisel Ruiz will transition to the role of executive vice president of operations for Sam’s Club as Don Frieson, who has held that role since 2012, exits the company…Ashley Buchanan will replace Furner as chief merchandising officer for Sam’s Club…Tracy Brown will transition into the senior vice president of operations and chief experience officer role.” Read more
Department stores need to close 800 locations to restore their 2006 productivity by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “That’s the equivalent of all anchor space at 200 malls, or 20 percent of U.S. mall anchor space, according to the report.” Read more
Experts urge Fremont residents to keep an eye on the water after Costco chicken plant arrives by Barbara Soderlin at Omaha World-Herald. “Don’t fall asleep at the switch,” said Alan Kolok, director of the Center for Environmental Health and Toxicology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.” Read more
Ex-Costco execs to speak at Organic Produce Summit Press release
The Memo that Walmart Sent to Suppliers by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “(Walmart) sent at least two documents to suppliers outlining the restructuring of replenishment functions. The memo sent to suppliers outlined Wal-Mart’s desire to transform the business for shoppers by first revamping how it operates internally. The memo was accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation with graphics illustrating the structural changes.” Read more
Meijer Brings On Style Expert Stacy London to Enhance Apparel Department Press release
SUPER BOWL SPEND DOWN – NRF Says Consumers Will Spend $14.1 Billion on 2017 Super Bowl “Viewership is about the same as last year’s 188.9 million but the spending is down from an average of $82 and a total of $15.5 billion.” Press release
Craftsman trademark change may confuse customers by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “In a rare retail occurrence, the popular tool brand will be manufactured by two unaffiliated and independent companies, each with its own marketing, pricing and design strategies.” Read more
Complaints force P&G to change Pampers ad claims by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. Read more
Tipsheet Extra Stories
Congresswoman Adams expresses concerns to Lowe’s over layoffs
Top 10 misconceptions about Indian luxury consumers
Target to open its third small-format Long Island store this October
Self-sanitizing keyboard creator secures $5M — eyes escalator handrails and pens next
Chicago Welcomes Federal Help on Violence, But Balks at National Guard (WSJ subs.)
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