Could Macy’s be acquired by Ross Stores in 2017? by Andy Brownfield at Cincinnati Business Courier. “The idea of off-price retailer Ross Stores buying Macy’s , which boasts numerous high-end locations in major U.S. cities under the Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s banners, would have once seemed unthinkable,” Sozzi writes.” Read more

 

…Sozzi prediction #2: Dunkin’ Brands buy David’s Tea? Read more via The Street 

 

New SEC filing lists potential roadblocks in proposed Cabela’s-Bass Pro deal by Steve Jordon at Omaha World-Herald. “…making some investors nervous about the deal’s future…And Capital One Bank “likely” will not get federal bank regulators’ approval to acquire Cabela’s World’s Foremost Bank before Oct. 3, 2017, when the bank-purchase agreement could be dropped, according to the filing.” Read more

 

A Study of 46,000 Shoppers Shows That Omnichannel Retailing Works at Harvard Business Review. “Within six months after an omnichannel shopping experience, these customers had logged 23% more repeat shopping trips to the retailer’s stores and were more likely to recommend the brand to family and friends than those who used a single channel.” Read more

 

Amazon’s 1-Click Multi-Billion Dollar Patent Expires In 2017 by Ian Morris at Forbes. Read more

 

J.C. Penney’s Plano campus sells for more than $400 million by Steve Brown at Dallas News. “J.C.Penney plans to consolidate its offices into about 600,000 square feet in the north end of the building. Penney’s downsizing will leave more than 1 million square feet of office space that can be renovated and rented to other businesses.” Read more

 

Here’s what happens to all those unwanted Christmas presents by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Just 5 percent of returned presents go directly back onto the same store’s shelves, Moriarty estimates. For the rest of the goods, the trip back to the store is just the beginning of a long and strange journey that can take that party dress or dollhouse either halfway around the world — or just around to the other side of town.” Read more

 

**A message from NY NOW – Shop Bold New Trends from 2,400+ Top Home, Handmade + Lifestyle Gift brands this February and elevate your merchandise mix! NY NOW, the industry leader bringing innovation and design across Home, Lifestyle Gift + Handmade collections, will take place at the Javits Convention Center in NYC this February 4 – 8, 2017. 2016 show recap video. NY NOW is your source for volume buying & private label programs. Register now and view comprehensive market details throughout the extensive NY NOW website.

 

Meijer fires photo lab workers who texted couple’s pregnancy announcement photos to their friends by Anneta Konstantinides at Daily Mail. “The Allegan County Sheriff’s department is also investigating to determine if the photo leak was a crime. Areaux filed a complaint with the department after she became unsatisfied with how Meijer handled the scandal.” Read more

 

MediaRadar: Media spending at eight large retailers by Don Davis at Internet Retailer. Print/TV/Online breakdown

 

Harvard Business Review: How 4 Retailers Became “Best Places to Work” by Zeynep Ton & Sarah Kolloch. “HEB, Costco, Trader Joe’s, and QuikTrip all made Glassdoor’s 2017 “Best Places to Work: Employees’ Choice” list…Over the past year, we hosted current or former leaders from each of these retailers at MIT’s Sloan School of Management, and all four talked about a corporate culture of setting high expectations and creating conditions that encourage employees to innovate.” Read more

 

Retail’s laggards will have a tough time passing the blame this Christmas by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. Read more

 

Costco chicken plant raises environmental concerns by Nicholas Bergin at Lincoln Journal Star. “Now is the time to really look at it and ask questions,” said Duane Hovorka, director of the Nebraska Wildlife Federation. “It’s much more difficult once you’re already in place and up and operating to change the operation.” Read more

 

Edmontonians line up at Costco gas pumps to beat carbon tax by Emma Graney at Edmonton Sun. “The effect of the $20-per-tonne carbon pricing, introduced by government as part of its climate leadership plan, was immediately obvious on gas prices. The tax hikes the cost of gasoline by 4.49 cents per litre.” Read more

 

Woman opens Christmas gift from Walmart to find box packed with sprouting potatoes by Andrew Lynch at Fox 4 KC. “My dad is very upset, it’s not what he purchased for $150. I’m hoping Walmart can work with me. Hopefully we can get it fixed.” Video/Read more

 

Cameron Diaz shops for organic veggies at Whole Foods during grocery run in LA at Daily Mail. Pics

 

Thieves steal $6M in jewels while ball drops on New Year’s Eve at NY Post. “The burglars were caught on video inside Gregg Ruth, a commercial jewelry store known for its rare yellow and pink diamonds. One of the robbers, a bearded white male in a hood without a mask, looks straight into the camera during the heist, surveillance footage shows.” Read more

 

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