Wal-Mart E-commerce Executives Depart in Wake of Jet.com Purchase by Sarah Nassauer at Wall Street Journal. “The departures include Fernando Madeira, head of Walmart.com, Dianne Mills, senior vice president of global e-commerce human resources and Brent Beabout, senior vice president of e-commerce supply chain, a spokesman said. Mr. Beabout left in recent weeks and will be succeeded by Jet.com co-founder Nate Faust, who will lead fulfillment operations for Jet.com and Walmart.com. Ms. Mills’ departure was announced internally Monday. Mr. Fernando will leave after helping Wal-Mart with its Brazilian website and several other projects.” Read more (subscription)

 

Amazon charges non-Prime members more at physical bookstores, hinting at new retail strategy by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. “When the Amazon bookstore in Seattle opened almost exactly a year ago — the company’s first full-fledged retail location — book prices were identical to those on Amazon.com, whether you were a Prime member or not. But now the discounted prices are only available to Prime members. If you’re not, you’ll pay sticker price.” Read more

 

Belk lays off about 40 at Charlotte corporate office by Katherine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “News of the corporate job cuts comes almost a year after the department store chain sold itself to Sycamore Partners…Graham said the company combined together similar functions and reduced inefficiency to better support Belk stores. She declined to say from which departments the local employees were cut, though.” Read more

 

YESTERDAY ON TODAY – Ginger Reeder of Neiman Marcus shares gifts from the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book with Savannah Guthrie See the 5:19 video

 

**A message from GlobalShop – as a retail expert, you impact the customer experience and GlobalShop is the driving force behind that experience. Through education, peer networking and interaction with retail suppliers, you’ll return with results to build your brand and create a more effective retail environment. From mannequins and lighting to flooring and signage, GlobalShop has it all. Register now to join us in Las Vegas March 28-30, 2017.  Check out this year’s exhibitors. Website & welcome video

 

JC Penney to Start Black Friday Sales Before Thanksgiving This Year by Adrianne Pasquarelli at Ad Age. “We’re going to kick it off early this year,” said Mary Beth West, exec VP-chief customer and marketing officer at Plano, Texas-based JC Penney. “We are going to give customers who want to shop early the opportunity to get some of those exciting deals.” Read more

 

American Apparel may not make it through the holidays by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “The largest clothing manufacturer in North America is hanging by a thread…Working with a restructuring expert (and) has had talks with licensing firms and could agree to be sold in a deal that would precipitate another trip through bankruptcy court.” Read more

 

Publix Q3 Comp Sales +0.9% Press release

 

Wegmans ramps up North Carolina expansion, picks site for fourth store by Amanda Hoyle at Triangle Business Journal. “A new plan recently filed in the town of Cary shows that Wegmans will anchor a new retail development project called Twin Lakes Center.” Site plans / Read more

 

Instagram makes it easier to shop on its platform by Michelle Castillo at CNBC. “Tuesday, the Facebook-owned company is adding a feature for retailers that will allow them to add prices for up to five items in a single post…The additional page also includes a link directly to the retailer’s mobile site, where someone can directly purchase the product. The new features are being tested by 20 brands including Kate Spade, Jack Threads and J.Crew, and are free for Instagram’s partners.” Read more

 

‘Love, Nordstrom’ campaign debuts in the U.S. and Canada “More than 30 real Nordstrom customers were photographed in Los Angeles, Nashville and Seattle and are featured in the national campaign that was produced in partnership with creative agency Partners & Spade.” Press release / See the campaign

 

SAN JOSE INSTITUTION DIES – Mel Cotton’s to close – was like “working in the candy store” by Jody Meacham at Silicon Valley Business Journal. “The store survived Sears and REI, Any Mountain and even Bass Pro Shops. But it couldn’t outlast the land beneath its sprawling building, which has been sold to a developer with other plans.” Read more

 

Victoria’s Secret sales sink after late arrival to ‘bralette’ trend by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “The lingerie giant, owned by L Brands, got slammed on Tuesday after revealing that same-store October sales will sag 2 percent.” Read more

 

Coach: Handbags priced higher than $400 accounted for more than half of its sales in that category – up from 30% just one year ago by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. Read more

 

CEOs, Designers and Influencers in Fashion and Technology to Back NRF Foundation Fundraiser Press release

 

Etsy Reports 33% Revenue Growth in the Third Quarter Press release

 

Survey: Amazon is the most relevant brand among U.S. millennials (Costco #30 overall) by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. Read more | Top 50 list

 

Venezuela is telling hungry city dwellers to grow their own food by Sofia Barbarani at Washington Post. “How are you going to tell someone with no space for a plot to grow [their own food]?” asked De Leandro, whose family-owned farm was expropriated, like many other businesses, under former president Hugo Chávez’s nationalization program.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Amazon plans to enter Southeast Asia with Singapore launch in Q1 2017

Fast Company: Free Shipping is a Lie

Kroger’s Stock Surges After Affirming 2016 Outlook

Bezos Rocket Company Is a New Leader in the Suborbital Space Race

Teen CEO seals deal with Dick’s Sporting Goods

Eating an egg a day ‘keeps stroke at bay – slashing your risk by 12%

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

QUICK-SUBSCRIBE to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here