Target testing beacons to provide in-store shoppers coupons, recommendations by Kavita Kumar at Star-Tribune. “The experiment is Target’s first major foray into beacons. It is starting out with 50 stores in markets such as Denver, Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco as well as in 15 stores in the Twin Cities. In each of the stores, Target has placed anywhere between 20 and 50 beacons that transmit a signal about 20 feet away.” Read more

 

Target CFO John Mulligan Joins McDonald’s Board by Nick Turner at Bloomberg. “McDonald’s has faced criticism in the past for having an insular board staffed with Chicago business leaders…” Read more

 

2015 Harris Poll EquiTrend Brands of the Year:  Mass – Target; Hardware – Home Depot; Club – Costco; Sporting Goods – Dick’s; Value – Dollar Tree. See the top brands in 120 categories

 

Sneak peek inside Cincinnati’s first Cabela’s store by Erin Caproni at Cincinnati Business Courier. See the 16 pics/Read more

 

Kellogg to stop using artificial products in cereals, snack bars via NY Post. “The 109-year old company, whose cereals have been a popular breakfast choice for decades, said on Tuesday it was aiming to stop using artificial colors and flavors in its cereal and snack bars by the end of 2018.” Read more

 

Safeway dumps program that gave more than $300 million to schools and nonprofits by Mark Calvey at San Francisco Business Times. Read more

 

Target to rebrand CityTarget, TargetExpress stores as just Target by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “So what about SuperTarget? The name used to describe the retailer’s big-box stores with a full grocery assortment will remain — at least for now.” Read more

 

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Rite Aid Promotes Ken Martindale to Newly Created Position of CEO via EPR Retail News. Read the release

 

Harvard Business Review: How Target Is Taking Sustainable Products Mainstream by Andrew Winston. “Within Target’s “naturals and organics” category, sales grew 17% last year, four times faster than its total grocery sales.” Read more

 

Lumber Liquidators is crashing at Business Insider. “Comparable store net sales…fell 10% in the second quarter.” Read more

 

Neiman Marcus is gearing up for an initial public offering of stock (again) by Maria Halkias at Dallas News. “The filing for an IPO could be a signal that the new owners are also entertaining a sale of the company.” Read more

 

$6 eggs could be on the way by Katie Little at CNBC. “It’s almost scary to think about what could happen to egg prices,” Hundley said.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Too Racy? Retailers to Put Blinders on Cosmopolitan

30 Startups Pitch Obama at White House Demo Day

China’s Government Will Embed Police In Its Largest Tech Firms

Target Listens – Adds More Plus Size Jeans for “Bottom-Heavy” Girls

Amazon Studios Chief Addresses Woody Allen, ‘Top Gear’ Controversies in Awkward Panel

CVS banned tobacco. Now its sales are hurting

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet is created early every weekday morning and read by retail merchants and executives worldwide. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s really happening in the world of retail. See our website at www.eyeonretail.net