Tipsheet: H.Depot Breach Suit Blocked | Fortune Features Costco | Amazon’s ‘End of Jobs’ | At Home +4.2%
Judge blocks data breach suit against The Home Depot by Mike Kanell at AJC. “U.S. District Chief Judge Thomas Thrash, sitting in Atlanta, said company’s top management, as well as its board of directors did try to address the weaknesses in its online and data security, “even if the steps they took in hindsight proved to be inadequate,” the Daily Report said.” Read more
FORTUNE FEATURES COSTCO – The Magic in the Warehouse by Neal Gabler.”You would never guess by looking at it that the nondescript beige-and-red brick office complex in the bucolic Seattle suburb of Issaquah, at the foot of a small mountain range called the Issaquah Alps, would be the nerve center of one of America’s corporate behemoths. The security guard doesn’t just wave you through; she takes time to chat with you. The reception desk has a plate of cookies, and the receptionists encourage you to take one. There is no bustle, only a sense of calm, which is especially striking, since this is the sort of week that would typically engender corporate jitters…” Read more
Amazon’s new grocery store will let you pick items off shelves and walk out without paying by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “Sources previously told Recode that such a secret project was being run by Steve Kessel, a longtime Amazonian who once led the Amazon Kindle launch and who was close with CEO Jeff Bezos. The team working on Go has been experimenting with these ideas for as long as four years.” Read more / How it works video
HD Supply Q3 Sales +3.4% Press release
Michael’s Q3 Comp Sales -2.0% “For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company expects: Comparable store sales growth to be flat to down 1.5%.” Press release
At Home Q3 Comp Sales +4.2% “CFO: “As a result of our strong third quarter performance and fourth quarter momentum, we are increasing our fiscal 2017 top and bottom line expectations…Our net sales growth outlook is based on 23 net new store openings and an assumed comparable store sales increase of 2.5% to 3.0%.” Press release
**A message from GlobalShop – as a retail expert, you impact the customer experience and GlobalShop is the driving force behind that experience. Through education, peer networking and interaction with retail suppliers, you’ll return with results to build your brand and create a more effective retail environment. From mannequins and lighting to flooring and signage, GlobalShop has it all. Register now to join us in Las Vegas March 28-30, 2017! Qualified attendees use code GS17EOR for free expo hall admission. Check out this year’s exhibitors. Website | Networking Events
AutoZone Q1 Comp Sales +1.6% Press release
Walmart, Best Buy Slash Early Holiday Ads; JC Penney, Lowe’s Crank It Up by Sarah Mahoney at Media Post. “Based on an analysis of media buys from Oct. 31 through Nov. 27, it says that while total retail holiday ad outlays fell 9% $1.2 billion, Best Buy lopped its spending by 50%. Kohl’s cut its budget by 24% and Walmart spent 22% less. Only 3 of 11 of the biggest advertisers—Target, J.C. Penney and Lowe’s—increased their ad budgets.” Read more
Fred Meyer expanding ClickList into Seattle for first time – a short drive from where Amazon has been secretly renovating a building for its own drive-up grocery store by Todd Bishop at GeekWire. “In addition, starting on Thursday this week, all existing ClickList locations will begin offering same-day ordering, a Fred Meyer spokesman said via email.” Read more
IKEA Broadens U.S. Parental Leave Coverage by Lauren Weber at Wall Street Journal. “…will offer U.S. employees up to four months of paid parental leave, becoming one of the few chain retailers to bring benefits usually reserved for salaried workers to an hourly workforce….employees with at least one year of tenure will receive their full base pay for the first six weeks of leave, and half of their base pay for an additional six weeks. Employees who have been with IKEA for three or more years can receive full pay for eight weeks and half pay for eight weeks.” Read more (subscription)
Hudson’s Bay Q3 Comp Sales -3.6% “On a constant currency basis, comparable sales declined by 2.4% at DSG, 2.2% at HBC Europe, 8.4% at HBC Off Price and 4.6% at Saks Fifth Avenue.” Press release
SORRY – Wal-Mart Customers Still Want TVs After Black Friday Pricing Error by Amanda Lane & Samantha Chatman at NBC DFW5. “I didn’t even intend to buy a TV,” Jennifer Campbell said. “Wal-Mart: “Unfortunately, due to a pricing error, we needed to cancel some customer orders on a certain TV item. We’ve reached out to apologize to customers and offer them a ($10) gift card for the inconvenience.”…A day after we reached out to Wal-Mart, the ladies got another email saying: “We would like to present you with a $25 gift card and our sincerest apologies.” Video / Read more
Meijer President Rick Keyes Assumes Role of Chief Executive Press release
Retail and apparel industries take wait-and-see approach to Trump’s talk of tariffs by Sarah Halzack at Washington Post. “…the AAFA says that some 98.4 percent of shoes and some 97.3 percent of clothing sold in the United States is imported.” Read more
REI sees 36% spike in online traffic on Black Friday by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. Read more
Target and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Celebrate 20 years of Working Together Press release
Quebec’s maple syrup rebels face ruin as cartel crushes dissent at Financial Post. “It’s crazy, isn’t it? Only in Quebec do people behave like this,” Nicole Varin said. “The federation wants to destroy our entrepreneurial spirit. If I have to work for someone else, I’ll go work at Canadian Tire.” Read more
Oreo Launches Direct-to-Consumer Gifting Site for the Holidays Press release
Disgruntled employee tries to burn down Prescott Walmart by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy at The Arizona Republic. “Johnson attempted to load the rifle to no avail and decided to use the knife; however, she dropped it and was unable to find it in the dark. After the rifle and knife failure, Johnson decided to use the torch she had brought to burn the store down; however, by the time police arrived, the small pile of debris had self-extinguished.” Read more
Tipsheet Extra Stories
Man assaults 65-year-old Walmart greeter with stun gun
General Mills to Cut Hundreds of Jobs, Part With U.S. Marketing Chief
Former Kroger exec leaving port authority board
Asian retail giant Muji likely to enter Vancouver next year
NYT: The hunt for Hatchimals, the elusive toy of the Holiday season
Fast Fashion: How a Zara Coat Went From Design to Fifth Avenue in 25 Days (WSJ Subs.)
Amazon Go slammed as ‘the end of jobs’ by the New York Post
QUICK-SUBSCRIBE to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here