Today’s Tipsheet: Ex-REI Chairman Killed in Avalanche | Amazon Launches Buy Now/Pay Later | CES Shifts Focus | Cool Spring Adds to Woes
Former REI Chairman of the Board Killed in Avalanche by Becky Monk at Puget Sound Business Journal. “The REI co-op community is devastated to learn of Doug Walker’s death on Granite Mountain. The REI board of directors, management and the entire organization send their heartfelt condolences to Doug’s family,” REI said in a statement. “With any spare time he had, Doug would head to the mountains.” Read more
LA TIMES: CES shifts its focus to innovations changing the tech industry by Andrea Chang. “CES ballooned into an overwhelming crush of products, press events and panels in recent years…Bejeweled smartphone cases shared space with vibrating forks, Wi-Fi-connected washing machines were displayed alongside the latest pair of celebrity-backed headphones…There will be less emphasis on the typical CES electronics like televisions, tablets and smartphones, and more attention paid to industry-changing innovations such as connected, electric and driverless cars; the Internet of Things; drones; virtual reality and gaming; and entertainment tech.” Read more
NY TIMES: Girl Scout Cookie Sales Go Digital, With Help From Visa and Dell by Elizabeth Olson. “This is Visa’s initial collaboration with the Girl Scouts, and its Visa Checkout payments system can be used for processing online cookie sales…By 2018, Dell hopes to supply nearly 4,000 girls from underprivileged communities with laptops and tablets.” Read more
UK: Amazon to launch buy now, pay later service for customers at The Sun. “Anyone spending £400 in one go — on multiple items or just one — can apply to pay over four years without laying down a deposit. Amazon Pay Monthly, which launches later this month, will charge 16.9 per cent interest.” Read more
COOL SPRING FORECAST ADDS TO RETAILERS’ WOES – A $500M hit and a bleak forecast for retail by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “Further adding to retailers’ woes are predictions that spring will get off to an unusually cool start across much of the country, which could cause an even bigger blow to apparel sales than the warm December.” Read more
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Target’s turnaround plan works to get shoppers back into stores by Anne D’Innocenzio at AP via Star Tribune. “Take Annabel Bernardo, who once bought trendy clothes at Target but cut back after she felt it lost its fashion edge. Now, Bernardo, who lives in Rockville, Maryland, is back: “The store is looking much better. It’s looking more upscale.” Read more
Whirlpool’s new smart appliances have Amazon Dash built in by Rich McCormick at The Verge. “The app, which runs on iOS and Android, will let you buy regularly used items with one click directly from your mobile device.” Read more
MAN WANTS OWN WIKIPEDIA PAGE SAYING HE’S THE ONE WHO GOT RID OF THE DRYER – This Apple Alum Wants to Kill the Clothes Dryer by Keith Barry at Reviewed.com. “Since it’s expected to retail for just $1,199—roughly the cost of a high-end washing machine alone—Reid says many customers could buy two. “If you were planning to buy a washer and dryer pair, you could get the same laundry throughput with a quarter of the trips to the laundry room.” Read more
AMAZON READIES FIRST CINCINNATI STORE – Amazon store on Univ. of Cincinnati campus primed for grand opening by Bowdeya Tweh. “The company and university officials are holding a ceremony Thursday at 11 a.m. to mark the location’s opening.” Read more
From Digital Disappointment ToThe End Of The App Era, Here Are Eight Trends For 2016 by Tom Goodwin at TechCrunch. “Horizontalization And Platforms – A whole new world of businesses are built on the idea of owning the customer interface. We’ve Airbnb, Seamless, Facebook, Alibaba, Uber…Large CPG brands could aim to supply direct to the customer using their brand as that interface.” Read more
Walmart Adds MasterPass to Online and Mobile Checkout “MasterPass by MasterCard is a digital payments platform that enhances the online and mobile checkout process.” Read the release
DAILY MAIL ON JEFF BEZOS – The tax-avoiding ‘Bond villain’ who’s trying to take over the world by Tom Leonard. Read more
Tipsheet Extra Stories
NY Post: Target seeks ‘friendlier venue’ in federal court for injury claim
Why Starbucks Sold Out of Those $200 Swarovski Gift Cards
Walmart Sr. Buyer Seafood: Meet the Fishpeople Keeping Seafood, and Jobs, Local
HBR: Diversity Policies Don’t Help Women or Minorities, and They Make White Men Feel Threatened
Google’s Schmidt says this nation leads e-commerce
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