Tipsheet: HSN Stars ‘Livid’ | H.Dep #9 w/Interns | WM Kidnapping Staged | TGT +3% | Lowe’s +0.5%
Target Q1 Comp Sales +3.0% / Traffic +3.7% / Online +28% Press release
…Fox Business: Target’s 1Q profit falls short as it continues transition Read more
Lowe’s Q1 Comp Sales +0.5% Press release
…CNBC: Lowe’s missed Wall Street forecasts for quarterly sales as a long winter hit demand for outdoor products, but maintained its annual financial targets Read more
Cramer: JC Penney’s CEO bolting to Lowe’s means embattled department store chain can’t be saved at CNBC. “If there was any chance [of a turnaround], I think you would stay,” Cramer said on “Squawk on the Street.” “Because it would obviously be such a kick in the face of J.C. Penney to move over.” Read more
The Container Store Q4 Comp Sales +2.7% Press release
Amazon Is Now A ‘Cheap Mass Surveillance’ Dealer–It’s Selling Facial Recognition To U.S. Cops by Thomas Fox-Brewster at Forbes. “This is a very affordable mass surveillance machine, and that’s partly why it’s a concern,” ACLU attorney Matt Cagle told Forbes. “This company that’s built itself as customer-centric has entered the surveillance market.” Read more
SoftBank is selling its roughly 20 percent stake in Flipkart to Walmart at CNBC. Read more
HSN stars livid over exec’s ‘condescending and disrespectful’ email by Oli Coleman & Emily Smith at NY Post. “One guest, who’s been on the channel for 10 years, responded, “I am still in shock,” adding, “I can assure you that I know my product very well, as I am about to celebrate my 25th year in business.” Another replied to the email seen by Page Six, “Gordie we have not met but I must tell you in the 25 years in business I never received nor have even seen a note as condescending and disrespectful as this.” Read more
Tiffany’s quarterly earnings trounce estimates at CNBC. “Overall same-store rose 7 percent on a constant currency basis. Analysts on average had expected an increase of 2.7 percent.” Read more
Amazon clothing executive Jeff Yurcisin takes the helm at Zulily as the company’s new president by Clare McGrane at GeekWire. “Lori Twomey, a longtime Zulily executive who has been leading the company as interim president, will stay on in her former role as the company’s chief merchant.” Read more
**A message from 2018 Sweets & Snacks Expo – The show continues today and tomorrow! The single largest gathering of confectionery & snack companies under one roof! Chicago, May 22-24. Website | Exhibitors
Innovation reigns at Sweets & Snacks Expo by Corilyn Shropshire at Chicago Tribune. “Winners of the expo’s innovation contest were snacks and sweets rich with flavor mixes. Three examples: Gone Rogue’s Chicken Bacon High Protein Chips, made with “quality cuts of chicken”; Hershey’s Gold Bar, a combination of salty, crunchy bits of peanuts and pretzels with carmel-flavored creme; and Combos’ Honey Sriracha snacks.” Read more
Museum of Ice Cream Is Coming to Target’s Kids’ Department & Freezer Aisles at A Bullseye View. “Museum of Ice Cream will be launching seven ice cream flavors at Target starting July 8. Target is the first retailer to sell the premium flavors…” Read more
Low-Paid Women Get Hollywood Money to File Harassment Suits by Michael Corkery at NY Times. “Since its launch in January, the Time’s Up fund…has raised about $22 million in donations…So far, about 2,700 workers have contacted the fund, saying they have been harassed…Retail workers made roughly 5 percent of the complaints.“ Read more (Tiered subs.)
Gas hits $5 a gallon in New York City at Fox 5. Read more
Walmart and Dunkin’ Donuts Gaining on Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, But Starbucks Is Tops by Aaron Pressman at Fortune. “The Starbucks payments app was used by 20.7 million people at least once every six months last year, beating out the 19.9 million Apple Pay users. Google Pay was used by 9.3 million and Samsung Pay came in fourth place with 8.4 million users.” Read more
Revlon just named its first woman CEO at Fast Company. “Debra Perelman, who was named chief operating officer just four months ago, is a daughter of billionaire chairman Ronald Perelman.” Read more
THE DISNEYLAND OF QUILTING – The Doan family went from bankruptcy and food stamps to starting the Missouri Star Quilt Co., a YouTube sensation that turned a tiny town into a tourist destination by Susan Adams at Forbes. Read more
The 15 best companies to intern for, according to interns (Target #14, Home Depot #9, Walgreens #4) at CNBC. Read more
Publix faces boycott over $670,000 donation to ‘proud NRA sellout’ in Florida election by Matthew Rocco at Fox Business. Read more
Walmart kidnapping staged for social media by Jared Gilmour at The News & Observer. “Their plan was to film onlookers’ horrified reactions as they witnessed the “abduction,” according to police. Then the group planned to post the video and make a splash on social media.” Read more
Pawn shop trolls Dick’s Sporting Goods with sign advertising AR-15’s at Fox 35. Pic/Read more
Tipsheet Extra Stories
Krebs: Third party co’s have been careless in securing prized mobile location data
Marathon seeks EPA biofuel waiver
43% Of Millennials Plan To Quit Their Job Within 2 Years
Sunscreen Pills Are Dangerous Nonsense, According to the FDA
74% of adults say they’re OK financially
Sears to close 40 more stores this summer
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