YouGov BrandIndex’s Semi-Annual Top 10 Brands:  Amazon #1, Walgreens #7, Lowe’s #9  See the Top 10 List

 

“Ex-Amazon Manager Gets Funding To Help Retailers Battle His Former Employer” by Ryan Mac at Forbes. “Hariharan is hoping that his new startup, Boomerang Commerce, can turn the tables and cause Amazon’s CEO some headaches as it aids the e-commerce giant’s competitors. A big data analytics company that provides online retailers with price-tracking services, the firm announced on Wednesday that it had raised $8.5 million from Madrona Venture Group and Trinity Ventures.” Read more

 

“Lowe’s General Manager Kevin Meagher Weighs In on Iris” by Lauren Goode at Re/code.  “In the future, you will be picking devices that you don’t want the kids to touch until you get home. Get on with your homework — you can’t touch Xbox until I get home. I have literally looked at solutions that stop kids from playing with Xbox. Or that don’t let the kids play with the stove when you’re not there.” Read more

 

“Why Amazon Isn’t Afraid Of The Occasional PR Disaster” by Timothy Stenovec at HuffPo.  “Ted Marzilli, BrandIndex CEO, called Amazon a “Teflon brand,” immune to bad press. “People tend to focus more on the good aspects that they hear about Amazon and are perhaps more forgiving of any negatives they might hear,” Marzilli told The Huffington Post.” Read more

 

USA Today:  1,000+ have signed up for Target’s college gift registry in first month “This is a way to ask your friends and family for exactly what you need,” Target spokesperson Jenna Reck says. “I wish it was around when I was in college. ”. Read more

 

***A message from Orchard Road Canning Co. – Energize Home Canning Sales with Millennials and Young Canners.  Where’s the next growth spurt in the home canning category?  Young female canners are the future of the category and there is untapped potential within this segment.  Orchard Road targets young females with a simple and elegant glass jar design and unique package graphics that feature authentic food-filled jars.  See the package design. See the sell sheet. www.orchardroadcanning.com.  Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net for more information.

 

Victory for American Postal Workers Union: Mini-Post Offices Coming out of Staples Stores at Reuters via CNBC. “The news comes days after the American Postal Workers Union won the support of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) after it approved a resolution to boycott Staples. The AFT represents 1.6 million members in education and other fields” Read more

 

New Consumer Reports CEO has “a lifelong commitment to social justice” “Marta (Tellado) is the perfect choice to build and lead a consumer movement in this country,” added Diane Archer, incoming Chair of the Board. “She shares our commitment to lifting people’s voices not only as consumers but as citizens, and she will create an environment of disruptive and dynamic growth for this great organization.” Read more

 

“Amazon Prime offers Two-Day Delivery service within EU” at The Telegraph. “As a result of improvements and innovations in its cross border delivery network, more than 3 million products stored in its European Fulfilment Centres will be made available for Two-Day Delivery for customers in the UK by the end of this year.” Read more

 

“Amazon offers Canadian college students 6 months of free 2-day shipping” by Marina Strauss at Globe and Mail. “Under the program, after six months students pay half price – $39 a year – for regular Amazon Prime membership, which provides free two-day shipping.” Read more

 

“Wal-Mart Canada offers free shipping on household items” at The City Wire.  “Canada is an underdeveloped e-commerce market compared to the U.S., Brazil and the United Kingdom. As of January 2014 non store sales represent 2.3% of total retail for the Canadian market.” Read more

 

” ‘Amazon Rooming’ – Amazon doesn’t always offer the best deals” by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC.  “The deal-finding site found savings tended to be highest in the photography and electronics categories. That’s because these items typically cost more, meaning they have higher savings potential. On items that cost more than $100, the site was able to beat Amazon’s prices more than 70 percent of the time.” Read more

 

“Do Two-Thirds of Shark Tank Deals Fall Apart?” by Karen Aho at Businessweek.  “As many as two-thirds of those televised deals never come to fruition, estimates TJ Hale, who has interviewed more than 70 participants for his show, Shark Tank Podcast. Investors receive no information prior to filming, so they get to perform due diligence only after taping. They may discover legal, tax, or financial red flags. Or they can just change their minds. “One entrepreneur said basically the shark just never called them,” says Hale.” Read more

 

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