Toys R Us Q4 Consolidated Comp Sales -3.0% “Domestic decreased by 2.3% primarily due to declines in the entertainment and baby categories, partially offset by improvements in the learning, seasonal and core toy categories. International was down 4.2%, with notable weakness in Europe.” Press release

 

Pier 1 Q4 Comp Sales +0.2% “Net sales decreased 2.6% as the average number of stores declined approximately 3%. E-com sales increased 28% as compared to the same period a year ago.” Press release | Earnings call transcript

 

Canada grocers making headway in the fight for food market share against Walmart, Costco by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “…general merchants in Canada, mostly Walmart and Costco, saw year-over-year gains in food sales of about one per cent more than the food stores did in the third quarter of last year…But “that one per cent differential compares to a 9 per cent differential in favour of the general merchandise channel over the five years from 2011 to 2015”” Read more

 

Tractor Supply tried to blame weather for its poor results, but Wall Street isn’t buying it by Lauren Thomas at CNBC.”In the past, the investment firm said, it didn’t see negative comps during periods where weather was impacting the entire industry — which includes one of Tractor Supply’s top competitors, Deere. “Is it weather or something more?” asked the analyst note.” Read more

 

Amazon opens second Massachusetts brick-and-mortar bookstore on Boston’s North Shore by Doug Banks at Boston Business Journal. 17 pics/Read more

 

Bass Pro/Cabela’s Update – “Synovus will undoubtedly demand more than a Cabela’s smoker as compensation for facilitating acquisition” by Paige Yowell & Cole Epley at Omaha World-Herald. Read more

 

American Eagle most improved in mobile load time, Walgreens #1 by April Berthene at Internet Retailer. Top 10 list

 

**A message from Lock-it Block-it – Shut out burglars – not the summer breeze! The Lock-it Block-it is a high-impact security bar that allows windows to stay open AND secure at the same time. 13 adjustment holes allow for inch-by-inch opening adjustments. Great for sliding doors/windows too! Video | Sell sheet | Retailers request samples: info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

HEB passes the 100,000-employee mark by Ed Arnold at San Antonio Business Journal. Read more

 

Amazon spends more than $1.6 million per year to protect CEO Jeff Bezos by Casey Coombs at Puget Sound Business Journal. “Facebook spent $4.7 million to protect CEO Mark Zuckerberg in 2015, the largest CEO security budget that year.” Read more

 

Houston Buc-ee’s will feature ‘largest car wash in the world’ by Jack Witthaus at Houston Business Journal. “The 255-foot-long car wash is set to open this fall.” Read more

 

Jeff Bezos’s letter to investors philosophizes on corporate stasis Download here

 

How retailers can take advantage of Google image search’s latest tweak by Zak Stambor at Internet Retailer. “…showing “similar items” to consumers who use Image Search on the mobile web or in the Android Search app to look for products. The move makes Google image search more akin to Pinterest.” Read more

 

Instagram Finds Focus Under ‘Efficiency Guru’ by Deepa Seetharaman at Wall Street Journal. “Soon after joining Instagram as chief operating officer two years ago, Marne Levine asked to see its annual budget at a team meeting. The room was quiet until another executive piped up: “What do you mean ‘the budget’?” Read more (subs.)

 

Jo-Ann Stores Introduces Ellen DeGeneres Fabric Collection Press release

 

Ahold Delhaize CEO Highlights Company’s Progress at Progressive Grocer. “The meeting was attended by 231 shareholders, representing around 1 billion shares.” Read more

 

Jessica Alba appears at Edina Target by Jay Boller at City Pages. Pics

 

“YOU SHOULD HAVE HELPED GET THAT TURKEY OUT OF HERE” – 88-Year Old Walmart Greeter Fired After Wild Turkey Enters Store at WISN-ABC. 2:09 video

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Gap launches a dressing room app for customers to virtually try on clothes

Paul Singer’s son screws up, hits ‘Send’ on email to merger target AkzoNobel

Amazon Is Opening Up This Echo Feature to Other Manufacturers

More toys than treats going in Easter Bunny’s baskets

Apple has a secret team working on the holy grail for treating diabetes

Amazon’s top-paid executive isn’t CEO Jeff Bezos

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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