“TAR-ZHAY RIGHT?” – Retail CEOs make case to Trump against border adjustment tax by Jim Spencer & Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “As they came and went, Target’s Brian Cornell and Best Buy’s Hubert Joly were both tight-lipped about their visits to the White House and Capitol Hill…In a lighthearted aside, a video taken as the CEOs introduced themselves showed Trump pausing after Cornell introduced himself from Target. “Tar-zhay, right?” the president said with a smile.” Read more

 

…Bill Rhodes, CEO of AutoZone Inc., spoke briefly after the meeting with Mr. Trump but didn’t take questions by Khadeeja Safdar & Louise Radnofsky at Wall Street Journal. Read more (subs.)

 

…Target CEO: Had a positive discussion with Trump by Courtney Reagan at CNBC.  Video

 

…Trump snubs Nordstrom at retailer event…JCP CEO sits to right of Trump at Daily Mail. Pics/Read more

 

…Border tax is ‘biggest threat’ to retailers in years, former Saks CEO says at CNBC. Video/Read more

 

WALMART BASICALLY COLD CALLED ME – Moosejaw CEO wasn’t looking to sell, but Wal-Mart made an offer too good to refuse by Matt Linder at Internet Retailer. “Several months ago, out of the blue, a Wal-Mart Stores Inc. representative called Moosejaw CEO Eoin Comerford to inquire whether the retailer would be interested in talking about a sale. “He said they are very interested in the outdoor vertical and loved what we were doing with our brand voice and the relationships we bring to the table,” (CEO) Comerford says.” Read more

 

Bass Pro-Cabela’s deal could be hindered by Capital One dropping bid for credit card business by Paige Yowell at Omaha World-Herald. “The way things stand right now, Bass Pro can’t close on its purchase of Cabela’s retail business before the company’s bank is sold…Capital One withdrew its application to acquire the card business late last month.” Read more

 

NY Times: Grocery industry moves to simplify labels by Stephanie Strom. Read more

 

**A message from Alma Cookware in Italy – Our warm color Egizia pottery connects modern technology with a traditional rural aesthetic. The La Sughiera line features a thick-tempered glass lid with upper hole for spice-adding and stirring without removing the lid. Website | Italy-America new product connection | Retailers request samples at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

Walmart cuts contracts with Korean shippers after Hanjin fiasco by Jhoo Dong-chan at The Korea Times. “The Seoul-based company had reportedly handled about 10 percent of Walmart’s total freight volume every year, which means that Hanjin’s amount was up to 30,000 containers. As Hanjin Shipping could not deal with the transportation properly, Walmart has shipped its products with shipping companies with its headquarters in other countries such as China.” Read more

 

Gander Mountain addresses bankruptcy rumors by Dan DeBaun at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. “Gander Mountain said it had undertaken a “best-practices approach to review our strategic options specific to positioning the company for long-term success.” Read more

 

84 Lumber agency “flattered” after Saturday Night Live riff on commercial spot by Patty Tascarella at Pittsburgh Business Times. “The first reaction was, oh, my God,” Brunner said. “It was flattering, I can only put it that way, that they’d take the spot we did and parody it. We all got a good laugh. I’m a ‘Saturday Night Live’ fan. Absolutely, it’s a first for us.” Read more

 

Build-A-Bear Q4 Comp Sales -8.3% Press release

 

Jeff Bezos emails ‘kudos and congrats’ for #1 spot in Harris Poll by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. Top 100 list/Read more

 

Lowe’s Hiring More Than 1,700 U.S. Employees To Provide Personalized Customer Support Press release

 

Walgreens-Rite Aid deal may finally be a go by Josh Kosman at NY Post. “FTC brass in the next two to four weeks will likely approve the deal that would create America’s biggest drug store chain, two other sources said.” Read more

 

hhgregg to explore strategic alternatives to improve liquidity and return to profitability Press release

 

Jeff Bezos makes Fortune’s list of most underrated AND overrated list  See the rankings

 

Apple Vowed To Revolutionize Television. An Inside Look at Why It Hasn’t by Mark Gurman at Bloomberg. Read more

 

Facebook is out-LinkedIning LinkedIn by Kurt Wagner at Recode. Read more

 

“AFTER MY SETTLEMENT EVERYTHING WENT UP A PENNY” – Tracy Morgan jokes about buying the Knicks with Walmart settlement money at Comedy Hype. “You act like I got hit by Bob’s Discount Furniture Truck” 2:49 video at Jimmy Kimmel Live

 

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