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Apple to Ramp Up Work on Augmented Reality Headset by Mark Gurman at Bloomberg. “Apple Inc., seeking a breakthrough product to succeed the iPhone, aims to have technology ready for an augmented-reality headset in 2019 and could ship a product as early as 2020. Unlike the current generation of virtual reality headsets that use a smartphone as the engine and screen, Apple’s device will have its own display and run on a new chip and operating system, according to people familiar with the situation.” Read more

 

Amazon Accused of Withholding Merchants’ Money by David Meyer at Fortune. “Some of Amazon’s third-party sellers in Germany have accused the U.S. giant of failing to transfer them the money they are owed…The problem, reported by the Federal Association of Online Merchants (BVOH), appears to have arisen over the last week…many merchants have not been able to withdraw their money from those accounts since 30 October, the BVOH said.” Read more

 

Target to close 12 underperforming stores at CNBC. “The stores being shuttered include those in: Minneapolis’ Twin Cities metro area (Hastings); Fergus Falls in outstate Minnesota; Harper Woods, Michigan (Eastland); Hutchinson, Kansas; Benton Harbor, Michigan; Macon, Georgia; Slidell, Louisiana; Lauderhill, Florida; Matteson, Illinois; Romeoville, Illinois; Baltimore (West), and San Antonio (Far East).” Read more

 

…Kansas shoppers to ‘mourn’ Target’s closing with candlelight vigil by Kaitlyn Alanis at Wichita Eagle. “The vigil to “corporately mourn the loss of our beloved Target” will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2 in the Hutchinson Target parking lot, 1529 E 17th Ave. Oh, and the event is BYOC, so bring your own candles.” Read more

 

The Container Store Q2 Comp Sales +1.9% Press release

 

Lowe’s is bringing ‘smart home’ centers to 70 locations nationwide just in time for the holidays at CNBC. “On Tuesday, the home improvement retailer unveiled plans to launch so-called stores within its stores, in a partnership with b8ta, to sell and educate shoppers on smart home products.” Read more

 

Target Unveils ‘Hearth & Hand’ Home Goods Brand: Field Agent “We asked our group of shoppers what they think about Hearth & Hand displays and merchandise. Of the 12 women, all said the H&H displays were better—7 said “much better”—than other home goods displays they’ve encountered. Moreover, all but one said they were more likely to purchase H&H merchandise after shopping the displays.” Video/Read more

 

Kroger’s first restaurant is now open by Andy Brownfield at Cincinnati Business Courier. “…Kroger opened its Kitchen 1883 at its Union, Ky., Union Marketplace location on Nov. 7…Kitchen 1883 is named for the year Barney Kroger founded the company. It’s open for lunch and dinner every day as well as brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.” Read more

 

First arctic blast of season at Vencore Weather. “An overall upper-atmosphere pattern with “high-latitude blocking” is looking increasingly likely for later this month and that could result in more cold air outbreaks for the Mid-Atlantic region by the time Thanksgiving week rolls around.” Maps/Read more

 

Bloomingdale’s is moving 1K workers to Queens starting in 2020 by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “The Bloomingdales employees, including Chief Executive Tony Spring, merchandise buyers, IT workers and clerical staff, will be moving to Queens from various office spaces throughout Manhattan, including the flagship Bloomingdale’s store on Lexington Avenue and 59th Street.” Read more

 

FREE OR FAST? 88% say free shipping is more important vs. 12% who say fast: Deloitte Press release

 

Walmart jumps from 65th to 5th in radio spots (Home Depot 1st) at Inside Radio. “Walmart announced multiple holiday initiatives and a new advertising campaign Nov. 1 titled “Rock This Christmas.” Now the huge discount retailer is showing it’s serious about getting the word out on radio, catapulting to No. 5 among all national radio advertisers for the week of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5.” Top 10 list

 

**A message from Lock-it Block-it – Leave windows open AND secure. The Lock-it Block-it is a high-impact security bar that allows windows to stay open AND secure at the same time. Great for sliding doors/windows too! Video | Sell sheet | Retailers request samples: info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

Jury Clears Dollar Tree in Calif. Pay Stub Class Action by Melissa Daniels at Law 360. “The jury found that Dollar Tree Stores Inc. provided workers with easy access to their electronic wage statements, ending an inquiry over whether any failure to provide easy access was intentional or caused any injuries.” Read more (subs.)

 

Wal-Mart Female Employees Try Again for Sex-Bias Class Action by Jordyn Holman at Bloomberg. “The case is part of the legacy of Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., a 2001 suit that claimed the company had a pattern of discriminating against women in promotion, pay, training and job assignment.” Read more

 

Amazon expands into private label sportswear by Lindsey Rupp at Bloomberg. “Amazon is now selling at least two new product lines — Rebel Canyon and Peak Velocity — that appear to be internal brands, according to analysis by business-intelligence firm L2 Inc.” Read more

 

Trump administration moves ahead with Obama menu-label law via Denver Post. “At first glance, there appears to be some progress, showing that the FDA is listening to concerns,” Domino’s spokesman Tim McIntyre said in an email.” Read more

 

Teen fashion retailer Styles For Less files for bankruptcy at CNBC. Read more

 

Belk to give away $2 million (and a free home) to shoppers over the Thanksgiving weekend by Katherine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “In addition to the giveaways, Belk is partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build a home for a local family…This is the first time Belk is giving away a home for the holidays, a spokesman said.” Read more

 

Apple Pay Cash launches in beta today, letting you send and receive cash in Messages by Matthew Panzarino at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Chicago ancient thermal bath facility is 2nd in U.S. by Robert Channick at Chicago Tribune. “The restoration and build-out took two years and cost $10 million, Barnett said.”…Aire has four locations in Spain, with New York opening the door to international expansion. Beyond Chicago, the company is planning to open facilities in Paris, London and a second New York location next year, with Copenhagen, Denmark, slated for 2019.” Read more

 

NBA rookie Lonzo Ball’s younger brother LiAngelo ‘among three UCLA freshman basketball players arrested and accused of shoplifting in China at Daily Mail. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Mother of 6 Fatally Shot While Working at Dollar General After Handing over Money

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For Amazon, The Future Of Alexa Is About The End Of The Smartphone Era

Nearly Half of Americans and Europeans Have Given Up on Owning Their Own Home

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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