Today’s Tipsheet: 20 Best Retail Workplaces | New Malware Threat | Amazon Secret Air Cargo Operation? | D.Tree +2.1%
U.S. retailers hunt for attacks after being warned of stealthy malware by Jim Finkle at Reuters via Globe & Mail. “This is by far the most sophisticated point-of-sale malware seen to date,” said Maria Noboa, lead technical analyst for privately held iSight Partners, which uncovered the malware and was due to release a technical report about it on Tuesday.” Read more
The 20 Best Workplaces in Retail by Jonathan Chew at Fortune. “Here’s Fortune’s second annual list of the best workplaces in the retail industry…” See the top 20 list
Report: Clues point to secret Amazon.com air cargo operation at former DHL facility in Ohio by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. “Is Amazon.com running its own air cargo operation? Vice’s Motherboard published a report Monday evening describing an “air freight transportation operation” flying four flights per day out of Ohio’s Wilmington Air Park, which previously served as a facility for DHL until 2008.” Read more
Dollar Tree Q3 Comp Sales +2.1% “The Company estimates consolidated net sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 to range from $5.32 billion to $5.42 billion, based on a low single-digit increase in same-store sales.” Read the release
New York Mall Caves in to Boycott Threats After Canceling Santa Parade by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “Many customers, already angry with the shopping center’s decision to move Santa and his train to another part of the mall for picture-taking with kids, took to Facebook to create a “Boycott Staten Island Mall” page. It already had 15,000 followers by Monday afternoon, many seeing in the incident as the latest manifestation of a perceived “War Against Christmas.” Read more
How Nordstrom and Sephora Are Nailing Social Media Going Into Black Friday by Christopher Heine at Ad Week. “To measure which retailers have the best momentum on social media going into the holidays, Shareablee studied 109 big-box and department store brands across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram between Nov. 1 and Nov. 18…” See the top 10 list
Fred’s Q3 Comp Sales +2.7% Read the release
Lowe’s Promotes Marci Grebstein to CMO “Grebstein most recently served as vice president of advertising, leading the U.S. advertising strategy and marketing operations to build loyalty for the brand. She will report to Michael A. Jones, chief customer officer, and succeeds Thomas J. Lamb who has left the company.” Read the release
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Cabela’s Investors Say They’d Want $60 a Share or More in Buyout by Matthew Townsend at Bloomberg. “Mark Mulholland, who runs the Matthew 25 Fund, said he would refuse anything below $72 a share if there’s a takeover attempt for Cabela’s.” Read more
Ex-Walmart Exec Leslie Dach Talks About the Future of Obamacare at WSJ. Read more (Subscription)
Small-format Target set to anchor Main Street Cupertino by Nathan Donato-Weinstein at Silicon Valley Business Journal. “The retailer completed a lease last week for a 21,000-square-foot store at Main Street Cupertino, anchoring the retail portion of a mixed-use project that will include apartments, a hotel, shops and new offices for Apple.” Read more / See the artist’s sketch
New Saks chief seeks new luster for flagship store by Hiroko Tabuchi at NY Times via Seattle Times.”You spend your whole life saying, ‘If I was in charge, I would. If I was in charge, I would,’ ” (Marc) Metrick said. “You have all these ideas. Then all of a sudden, I can.” Read more
Target’s Big Digital Holiday Campaign Combines Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram by Lauren Johnson at Ad Week. “Social makes up 12 percent of its paid media spend, a 30 percent increase over last year…(Target) is also using Facebook’s Canvas e-commerce ads to push sales of a new product called Wonderpacks, craft-activity packs that help families make things like ugly sweaters and mistletoe.” Read more
Vanity Fair: Amazon Has Plastered New York Subway Cars with Nazi Imagery by Richard Lawson. “I chose to sit on the Nazi insignia because I really didn’t want to stare at it.” That’s a strange decision to have to make while heading to work on a Monday morning.” Read more
RioCan, Target reach $132-million settlement over Canadian leases via Globe & Mail. “The real estate trust says Target has paid $132-million, including $92-million which belongs to RioCan, under the agreement. In return, RioCan and its partners have released Target from its obligations.” Read more
Florida’s Orange Industry Is in Its Worst Slump in 100 Years by Marvin Perez at Bloomberg. “Florida oranges are threatened with destruction if scientists and the government can’t find a way to stop an Asian bug from spreading a tree-killing disease…The disease is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, a tiny winged insect, and there’s currently no known cure.” Read more
Tipsheet Extra Stories
Tech’s Newest Billionaire Is Making A Bet On The Internet Of Things
Nine Apparel Startups to Solve the Real Style Problems of 2016
Ex-Walmart Exec Joins Liquidity Services Board of Directors
Target.com will be 15% off sitewide on Cyber Monday
Gwyneth Paltrow launches lux holiday pop-up shop
Contact Jason Long, jlong@eyeonretail.net