Circle K launches beverage subscription program for $5.99 per month at CNBC. “Starting Wednesday, U.S. customers who pay $5.99 per month can have one tea, coffee, Froster slushy or Polar Pop fountain drink of their choosing every day. Circle K’s Sip & Save program looks to build loyalty and coax people into its stores again on a regular basis.” Read more

 

The Untold Story of How Jeff Bezos Beat the Tabloids at Bloomberg. “‘Raise your hand if you think you’ve had a harder week than I’ve had.’ It was Feb. 14, 2019, in the early afternoon, and for perhaps the first time in the 25-year history of Amazon.com Inc., Jeff Bezos was prepared to explain himself to his employees…As the sun set over the Olympic Mountains, casting a golden glow into the conference room, executives started furtively glancing at their phones and responding to texts from their significant others. Finally, at 7:30, Senior Vice President Jeff Blackburn spoke up and said what everyone else was thinking: “Hey Jeff, how long do you think this meeting is going to go? A lot of us have plans.” It was, after all, Valentine’s Day.” Tiered subs.

 

Gap to sell its Intermix designer clothing brand to the private equity firm Altamont Capital Partners at CNBC. Read more

 

Amazon is polling drivers about their bathroom breaks. Drivers say the survey is missing a key answer. at Business Insider. “Several Amazon delivery drivers shared a screenshot of the survey with Insider on Monday. It asked, “Are you able to find open restrooms for use while making deliveries?” And had four options for answers. “The funny part about this screenshot is that they don’t provide an option for ‘Do not have time to use the restroom,’ which is the main problem,” one Amazon driver told Insider.” Read more

 

Bed Bath & Beyond CEO Mark Tritton @ CNBC’s Mad Money tonight at 6PM ET

 

**A message from Readywise – Consumers are looking for emergency food supplies – are you offering the variety they want? Up to 25-year shelf life. High quality and great taste. Website | Catalog | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

NYC mayoral candidates pledge more restrictions on Amazon at Politico. “Attorney Maya Wiley, City Comptroller Scott Stringer, and former non-profit executive Dianne Morales all agreed to the platform, which calls for making it more difficult for Amazon to open warehouses in the five boroughs. Lesser-known candidate Paperboy Prince also signed the pledge.” Read more

 

Canada authorizes Pfizer vaccine for age 12 and older at AP. Read more

 

MEXICO – Despite controversy, Costco will continue to review buyer tickets at Entrepreneur. “…the Federal Consumer Prosecutor’s Office exhorted self-service stores from Twitter to stop reviewing purchase receipts. The agency pointed out that after buying the product, it becomes the property of the consumer, so they should not subject it to this type of practice.” Read more

 

Peloton recalling all treadmills after safety concerns and one death at NBC News. “Customers should stop using the product and contact Peloton for a full refund “or other qualified remedy,” the New York-based exercise equipment company said in a joint statement with the CPSC. Shares sank by more than 8 percent on the news.” Read more

 

What Retail Workers’ Attire Communicates to Customers at Harvard Business Review. “Research from before the Covid-19 crisis found that 90 percent of customers would rather leave a store empty handed than ask for assistance…Participants in our studies were almost twice as likely to interact with a formally dressed employee (a hair salon employee wearing a white lab coat) as one who was informally dressed (white polo). When we explored why this was, we learned that participants viewed formally dressed employees as having more expertise than their casually dressed peers.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Costco and 23 More Companies With Surprisingly Great 401(k) Plans

Porch pirate who dressed as Amazon worker arrested on his bicycle

Report: how shelf-stable food categories rebounded in a big way in 2020

Lucky rebrands, readies to open flagship store in Calif.

Guy Fieri called out Jeff Bezos for not donating to his restaurant worker relief fund

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