By Jason Long, jlong@eyeonretail.net

 

J.C. Penney tapping tech to claw back billions in lost sales by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “Marvin Ellison…told the WWD Apparel and Retail CEO Summit…that the retailer has moved past the phase of “patching holes” from a turnaround strategy that could have put Penney out of business and is now in rebuilding mode…“We are heavy on art and not good at science,” as Ellison put it. And his plan calls for balancing that out.” Read more

 

Wireless veteran John Stanton is the newest member of the Costco board by James Risley at GeekWire. “He has a storied history in the wireless industry, serving as CEO and chairman a range of wireless providers, including Western Wireless, VoiceStream Wireless and Clearwire.” Read more

 

CVS, Express Scripts deliver blow to Valeant’s drug plan by Michelle Celarier at NY Post. “The three largest US pharmacy-benefit managers — CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and OptumRx — on Thursday terminated their relationships with the trouble-plagued Philidor.” Read more

 

Target Boosts Digital, Social to 61% of Holiday Budget by Adrianne Pasquarelli at Ad Age. “We have landed in a place this Christmas that will separate us from the pack,” said Jeff Jones, CMO at Target. The campaign includes 12 commercials in 60-second and 30-second iterations, which will begin airing on TV Nov. 4.” Read more / See the spot

 

How Costco is disrupting the surf industry by Jen Wieczner at Forbes. “Would we like to see something revered like [a surfboard] sold at Costco?” Sean Smith, executive director of the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association, told Bloomberg. “No, it’s not what we’d like to see.” Read more

 

‘Hardware Store in Space’: Lowe’s Wants to Send Commercial 3-D Printer to ISS by Mike Wall at Space.com via NBC News. “Made In Space is partnering with home-improvement giant Lowe’s to launch a commercial 3-D printer to the International Space Station (ISS) early next year, representatives of both companies announced Thursday (Oct. 29).” Read more

 

**A message from Dig It Gloves–Only 3 weeks remain to place your order for Spring ’16! Why are Dig It garden gloves loved by women? It’s easy–interior pillow-top protectors are built into each fingertip. That’s right, no more broken or chipped nails when gardening! Call it manicure insurance, or just plain brilliant, but you have to see it to believe it. Cross-merchandise in the garden center during Spring ’16. Request samples at: info@shiftmarketinggroup.net | www.digithandwear.com

 

Delhaize Q3 Comp +1.7% Read the release

 

Target offering free shipping and returns in new threat to Walmart by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “From November 1 through Christmas Day, Target said on Thursday it is once again waiving any minimum order size requirement to qualify for free shipping as well as offering free returns.” Read more

 

…Brian Cornell: “If we decided not to be open on Black Friday, we’d have guests rebelling,” Cornell said. “They’d be knocking on the door, wondering how to get in.” by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. Read more

 

Walmart U.S. bets on store pickup over free delivery for holiday sales by Kim Souza at The City Wire. Read more

 

Amazon Launches ‘Pay With Amazon’ Buttons for Mobile Apps by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “The e-commerce giant is bringing its “Pay with Amazon” buttons to mobile apps, while “tripling down” on placing its Pay with Amazon buttons on websites in overseas markets like Japan.” Read more

 

Millennials twice as likely to distrust ‘big food,’ study says by Samantha Bomkamp at Chicago Tribune. “Among adults age 21 to 38, 43 percent said they don’t trust large food manufacturers, Mintel said. That compares with just 18 percent of older adults.” Read more

 

Amazon/Walmart/Best Buy get spots on FAA’s task force for drone registration rules by Alan Boyle at GeekWire. “Other task force members include Walmart’s Thomas Head, Best Buy’s Parker Brugge and GoPro’s Tony Bates, as well as representatives of drone manufacturers and operators, aviation associations, surveyors and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.” Read more

 

Bass Pro Opens in San Jose via Silicon Valley Business Journal. “We’re heading west a little more aggressively these days because there’s more opportunity here,” Darin Mekkers said.” Read more / See the pics

 

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