Target opens a holiday-themed playground to sell toys and test ideas in New York by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “The 16,000-square foot “retail spectacle,” as the company calls it, will be free and open to the public for two weeks starting on Wednesday. Located next to the Chelsea Market, it is filled with 10 holiday-themed displays that incorporate a digital element on top of an interactive physical experience. Each one is tied in to a popular holiday toy that Target is selling at the space.” Read more

 

Canadian Tire suing Wal-Mart Canada Corp for allegedly copying clip-on Christmas lights by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “It also accuses the Arkansas big-box retailer’s Canadian unit of pulling a “bait and switch” on customers by featuring an image of the Noma lights on its packaging rather than depicting the actual merchandise.” Read more

 

Happening Today: Home Depot 2015 Investor & Analyst Conference Webcast

 

Home Depot Backs Guidance, Sets Long-Term Targets “The Company reaffirmed its sales and diluted earnings-per-share guidance for fiscal 2015. The Company expects sales to increase approximately 5.7 percent for the year, with comps of approximately 4.9 percent.” Read the release

 

Today at 6pm PT: Costco Releases Q1 Earnings Results

 

Bidding war for Pep Boys seen after Icahn tops Bridgestone offer by Kevin Orland & Jennifer Surane at Bloomberg via Boston Globe. “I wouldn’t rule out that he owns it ultimately, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he owned it with the intention of auctioning off the service and tire business,” said Jordan, who has a hold recommendation on Pep Boys.” Read more

 

The U.S. Postal Service Will Start Emailing You Your Mail Each Morning by Michal Addady at Fortune. “Individuals who are registered on My USPS, the postal service’s website, will be alerted every morning, except Sundays, through their digital inbox. It will let them know what mail they will receive that day by sending images of the front side of their unopened letters.” Read more

 

$170K in jewelry stolen from Gwyneth Paltrow’s pop-up shop at NY Post. Read more

 

Bay Area man wanted in Costco ring theft at KOBI 5 NBC. “…a man was looking at a $5,000 ring at the Medford Costco on sunday, when he asked the clerk if he could compare it to a $31,000 ring. “The clerk gives him both rings,” Sgt. Brent Mak says, “at which point he grabs them, and bolts for the door at which point he jumps into a waiting car.” Read more

 

Omnicom Big Winner in Multibillion-Dollar P&G Review by Alexander Bruell at Ad Age. “Omnicom won the majority. Carat will have about one-third of the business, and Starcom Mediavest Group, the incumbent on the U.S. buying and planning business, will likely hold onto some brands, according to people familiar with the matter.” Read more

 

Walmart wrapping paper supplier moves back to U.S. for the holidays by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “It’s the first time Wal-Mart has offered holiday paper made in the U.S.” said Cindi Marsiglio, vice president of Walmart Manufacturing. “Impact Innovations agreed to onshore their wrapping business after first meeting with us nearly three years ago and in June the new presses in Memphis begin to run.” Read more

 

**New Product Spotlight. A message from SpinChill – Get warm drinks cold in 60 seconds! Don’t wait half an hour to get the party started – get the party started fast: Just clip it on, stick your drink in the ice, and Spin it for a Minute! See how it works | YouTube channel Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net to request a sample. www.spinchill.com

 

FTC moves to block Staples-Office Depot merger by Beth Healy & Hiawatha Bray at Boston Globe. “…regulators at the US Federal Trade Commission on Monday filed a legal action to kill the deal, saying it would lead to higher prices for office supplies, particularly for business customers.” Read more

 

HD Supply Q3 Net Sales +5% “Adjusted EBITDA increased $35 million, or 15.2 percent, to $265 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to $230 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2014.” Read the release

 

Zulily makes its first appearance on QVC by Molly Brown at GeekWire. “Zulily’s chief merchant Lori Twomey will guest star on the QVC show…A Zulily rep told us in an email release that the show will feature footage of the Seattle office and employees going through the process of selecting and presenting products on the site.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart’s Greg Foran No. 1 In Arkansas Exec Pay At $19.5M by Gwen Moritz at Arkansas Business. “Thanks to Wal-Mart’s policy of front-end loading stock awards for top executives, Greg Foran was the higest paid executive in Arkansas during 2014…That was enough to edge out his boss, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. CEO Doug McMillon. McMillon’s total compensation last year was just under $19.4 million.” Read more

 

Amazon targets bookworms with new $250 ‘Reader’s Edition’ tablet bundle by Jacob Demmitt at GeekWire. “The offer is a little unusual, since Amazon already sells a line of Kindle e-readers. But the company explains that while Kindles are “purpose-built for reading,” this is “the best tablet for reading.” Read more

 

LeBron James Signs Unprecedented Lifetime Contract With Nike by Eben Novy-Williams at Bloomberg. “Terms of the deal weren’t released, but sports agent David Falk, who represented Michael Jordan for most of his playing career, estimated its value at $400 million to $500 million.” Read more

 

Costco surprises former NICU patient with 93″ teddy bear, donates $30,000 to Sanford Children’s by Amy Unrau at WDAY 6 ABC. See the video / Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Target hosts Christmas shopping spree for blind children

Boomers are ready to retire from holiday hubbub, but their kids won’t let them

Woman defrauds 150 Target stores in “short change” scheme

Donald Trump called out Jeff Bezos on Twitter. Then Bezos called his bluff

Google is developing a wearable that draws blood

‘Power issue’ hits Microsoft Surface tablets during Monday Night Football, as teams revert to pen and paper

Thirty Boston College students get sick after eating at Chipotle

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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