Tipsheet: Lowe’s Converts 40 Ronas | Amazon Emails +56% | Wmart Drivers for Vets | Cabela’s no-go in KC

 

AirPods are now up for sale on Apple’s site, will start arriving just before Christmas by Brian Heater at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Kroger & Fred’s poised to buy Walgreens/Rite Aid stores by Steve Watkins at Cincinnati Business Courier. “A real estate executive told CTFN that Kroger is in line to buy some of the stores while discount pharmacy chain Fred’s is set to buy what that person called a “substantial” number of stores. Two private-equity firms also are likely to buy some stores, according to CTFN.” Read more

 

Lowe’s Canada to convert 40 Rona big-box stores next year, but says brand still staying via Financial Post. “The chain will have four types of stores — Lowe’s big box locations, large Reno-Depot stores mainly in Quebec, medium-sized Rona stores and small Ace hardware stores. Lowe’s is set to introduce a new prototype for Rona stores next year with four new stores and the overhaul of nine locations.” Read more | Press release

 

How Walmart Is Dealing With the Last-Minute Christmas Frenzy by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “Walmart said on Tuesday that shoppers would be able to order an item on walmart.com as late as 6 p.m. on December 23 and retrieve it at the Walmart Supercenter of their choice anytime on Christmas Eve. While Walmart has been offering in-store pick up for several years now, this is first year the retailer is pushing the service this hard.” Read more

 

Amazon goes on an email blitz this holiday season by Zak Stambor at Internet Retailer. “Amazon sent out 56% more email campaigns from Nov. 29-Dec. 10 than it did last year, according to data released today by digital marketing vendor eDataSource.” Read more

 

Plans to build Cabela’s in Kansas City area reportedly put on hold at Fox 4 KC. Video / Read more

 

Analyst: Donald Trump Could Go After Walmart Next by Madeline Farber at Fortune. “An easy target for him are those companies that are holding down the hours of their part-time employees to avoid paying them benefits,” Malone said.” Read more

 

Claire’s Q3 Comp Sales -1.6% Press release

 

What Amazon’s private label men’s shirts might tell us about the company’s future by Sarah Halzack at Washington Post. “Peruse the product pages for Buttoned Down shirts, and it is instantly clear that Amazon is trying to position them as premium products. Buttoned Down is not vying for shoppers who buy their clothes from general merchants such as Walmart and Target, it is trying to compete for those who turn to the likes of Nordstrom.” Read more

 

Multicultural dolls a hit for Target and other retailers by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “The appetite for the brand, said Mark Tritton, Target’s chief merchandising officer, is a testament to the diversity of the retailer’s customer base. “It reflects the multicultural nature of our guest,” he said. “Letting a girl find herself in a doll is really important.” Read more

 

**A message from the 2017 Philadelphia Gift Show – See emerging artists and gift, home décor, and color trends! Get a sneak peak in our Product Spotlight, and see our list of unique exhibitors. Sweetening the pot, this all-category gift show runs concurrently with the Philadelphia National Candy, Gift & Gourmet Show. See it all January 6-9, 2017, at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, in Oaks, PA. Register now | Website

 

Family Video survives in the age of Netflix as customers continue to cruise aisles by Micah Mertes at Omaha World-Herald. “I think people like the interaction still,” he said. “I’m not saying that the video business is going to be here for another 20 years. I don’t think it’s going to be. But I do believe that it’s going to be here for five, 10, 15 years longer.” Read more

 

Amazon workers face losing their jobs if they are off sick for four days, undercover investigation reveals at Daily Mail. “The US web retailer is also under fire after it emerged that some staff are living in tents in freezing conditions close to one of its British distribution centers.” Read more / Tent pics

 

Walmart drivers strive for honor of relaying wreaths for vets’ graves by Jason Schreiber at New Hampshire Union Leader. “Some 41 Walmart distribution centers and 100 Walmart drivers from around the country are helping to transport the wreaths as part of a relay from Columbia Falls, Maine, to their final destinations.” Read more

 

Williams Sonoma closing Mall of America store by Mark Reilly at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. Read more

 

Amazon customers are warned of a scam email that aims to get their bank card details by Harry Pettit at Daily Mail. “Customers are invited to click on a link that appears to take them to the company’s website. But the link actually takes users to a fake, authentic-looking phishing site designed to look like an Amazon page.” Read more

 

Lidl acquires the site of an aged industrial building in Port Richmond for what may be the chain’s first location in Philadelphia by Jacob Adelman at Philly Inquirer. Read more

 

Kid who Visits Best Buy to Play the WiiU was Surprised by Best Buy Employees with his Very Own Console by Kathzie Pena Yambao at Newsline. Read more/Video

 

Watch Panasonic’s New ‘Robotic Checkout’ Bag Your Groceries by Joseph Hinckes at Fortune. Video/Read more

 

Nike creates team of experts to test limits of human potential and finally break 2-hour marathon barrier by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. “Nike has enlisted three “elite athletes,” as it calls them, in Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia and Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea. They are “perfectly equipped” and “bold enough” to take on the challenge.” Read more

 

Adidas puts a limited number of its 3D printed running shoes up for sale by Brian Heater at TechCrunch. “The 3D Runners will be made available through the shoemaker’s Confirmed app…Those who manage to score a pair for one-third of a thousand bucks will be able to pick them up from one of three locations: London, Tokyo and the fancy new flagship in New York City, starting December 15.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Zoo Announces Orangutan is Pregnant… And Registered at Target for Baby Shower Gifts

Test predicts which children will grow up to be drain on society – when they are just three years old

Walmart removes ‘got retard?’ mugs from online store after flurry of complaints

Amazon delivery driver fired after trying to kick down customer’s door after complaining her dog bit him

Uber employees ‘helped ex-boyfriends stalk their ex-girlfriends and searched for trip information of celebrities such as Beyoncé’

This CEO Called out the Bottled Water Industry as the Biggest Scam Ever. Here’s What Happened Next

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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