“Why Brands Are Already Looking at Google Glass, and Why Apple Should Be Worried —  Experts say product could kill smartphones, alter marketing landscape for years to come” by Christopher Heine & Sam Thielman at AdWeek (Text & “How if Feels” Video).  “Will Google Glass kill the smartphone? Reinvent gaming? Steal the second screen from tablets? Alter the marketing and shopping landscape entirely? Probably not completely, and not all at once (since the device won’t be commercially available until next year). But experts predict that the new product could be a game-changer along the lines of the iPhone—one that could send shockwaves across the entertainment, advertising, commerce, media and gaming worlds.”  Read more:  https://www.adweek.com/news/technology/why-brands-are-already-looking-google-glass-and-why-apple-should-be-worried-147435

 

“Google’s plan to eat Amazon’s lunch and dominate retailing” by Jason Lehmbeck at Gigaom.  “With the advent of today’s on-demand culture, Google is betting that it no longer matters who actually sells the product. Consumers are squarely in control and Google will increasingly help them find that product they are looking for, and do so at the right location for the right price. This was traditionally the role of ecommerce players like Amazon and massive offline retailers like Wal-Mart and Target.  However, with the growth of Google Shopping and the integration of those results into its core search engine, Google is quickly becoming the “digital store shelf” that it had always promised.”  Read more:  https://gigaom.com/2013/02/24/googles-plan-to-eat-amazons-lunch-and-dominate-retailing/

 

“Rosalind Brewer: Rising Star in Wal-Mart (Sam’s)” by Chris Bahn at Arkansas Business.  “Sam’s Club will open 12 new stores this year, and there is a focus on identifying locations close to metropolitan areas for further expansion. Improving and expanding the products offered — Brewer points out the addition of Apple and Eddie Bauer merchandise — are also key to reaching the company’s goals.“W  e will be aggressive this year about finding unique merchandise for our members,” Brewer said.  Read more:  https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/90983/rosalind-brewer-rising-star-in-wal-mart

 

“Bill Lennie, President of Home Depot Canada, is keynote speaker at Berry College” by Doug Walker at Rome News Tribune.  “The Home Depot has 180 stores in Canada where, Lennie said, the smaller division allows the giant corporation to be faster to market and more nimble testing pilots. He noted that eight out of 10 LED light bulbs sold in Canada are sold by The Home Depot.  “We’re going to own innovation,” he told the largest Roundtable crowd in five years.  Lennie said the housing industry in Canada didn’t take the dip that the U.S housing market did during the Great Recession.  Read more:  https://www.romenews-tribune.com/view/full_story/21786947/article-The-annual-Berry-College-Executive-Roundtable-pairs-students-with-business-leaders-to-boost-networking-skills?instance=home_news

 

“How Target plans to distinguish itself in Canada — less waiting” by Mark Reilly at Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal.  “The Financial Post of Canada reports on Target’s “brand manifesto” video ad that began airing this week at the Minneapolis-based retailer’s Canadian website. It’d fit into just about any Target campaign in the United States — which is probably the point, because a lot of Canadians are familiar with the retailer, and the ad tries to underline that it’s the same experience, noting that they’ll be carrying “the same red basket.” But tucked in there is the pledge of “a short line — everytime.”  Target seems to be making that service a key point of differentiation between it and other Canada rivals.”  Read more:  https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/morning_roundup/2013/02/how-target-plans-to-distinguish-itself.html

 

“Target to launches Canadian ad campaign during Oscars as it readies new stores” by The Canadian Press at Macleans.  “Two years after U.S. retailer Target announced plans to move into the Canadian marketplace, the company is nearly ready for its north of the border television debut.  On Sunday, during the first hour of the Oscars ceremony, the company will showcase its first Canadian TV commercial touting its entry into the “neighbourhood.”  The 60-second spot paints the Target brand as a friendly new neighbour, set to a remake of the theme from “Mister Rogers’ Neighbourhood” recorded by Canadian band Dragonette.  In the commercial, a woman rides a motorcycle with the Target dog sitting in the sidecar, as the two scoot cross-country past numerous landmarks and events. Brief nods are made to Moving Day in Quebec, ice skating in Toronto and a lighthouse in St. John’s.”  Read more:  https://www2.macleans.ca/2013/02/22/target-to-launches-canadian-ad-campaign-during-oscars-as-it-readies-new-stores/

 

“Lowe’s Earnings Top Estimates, but Outlook Falls Short” at CNBC.  “Helped by cleanup efforts after super storm Sandy, Lowe’s reported earnings and revenue that outpaced analysts’ expectations on Monday.  But the company’s shares fell in pre-market trading, as the company’s outlook disappointed investors.”  Read more:  https://www.cnbc.com/id/100486177

 

“Wal-Mart expands self-checkout in stores via its iPhone app” by  Bill Siwicki at Internet Retailer.  “Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has its sights set on the smartphone-wielding shopper, this week expanding use of the “Scan & Go” feature for its iPhone app to 40 stores in the Denver area. It has been testing the mobile commerce technology in stores in Northwest Arkansas, Atlanta, San Jose, CA, and Portland, OR, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman tells Internet Retailer.  Scan & Go enables a shopper to scan the bar codes on products as she picks the products off shelves and puts them into her shopping cart. The app creates a list of all products scanned. When the shopper has completed shopping, she presses the Done Shopping button and the app generates a custom QR code. The self-checkout terminals scan the QR code on the smartphone, tally the list, and ask the shopper to select a payment option to complete the transaction at the terminal.”  Read more:  https://www.internetretailer.com/2013/02/20/wal-mart-expands-self-checkout-stores-its-iphone-app

 

 “Lowe’s names new senior vp for multichannel” at Home Textiles Today.  “Lowe’s has hired Lara Lee as senior vp, customer experience design to work on integrated, multi-channel strategies.  “Customer needs and trends are constantly changing. In this new role, Lara will not only design experiences that support customers across every stage of the home improvement journey, but will also ensure that our employees’ abilities to deliver excellent experiences are evolving and improving to meet those ever-changing customer needs,” said Bob Gfeller, customer experience design executive, to whom she reports.”  Read more:  https://www.hometextilestoday.com/article/560326-Lowe_s_names_new_senior_vp_for_multichannel.php

 

“In Thrifty Times for Publishers, Food Finds Success” by Stuart Elliot at NY Times.  “Demand for magazines in retail outlets keeps weakening, and Wal-Mart Stores is worried because shoppers are holding a tight rein on spending. So a new magazine, available only at Walmart, should rank right up there among what Twitter users.  Delish, introduced last year by Hearst, is available only at Walmart.  Instead, the magazine, Delish, did well enough with its first issue in November, according to its publisher, Hearst Magazines, that it is being expanded this year to quarterly frequency.  Read more:  https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/25/business/media/delish-magazine-sold-only-at-walmart-performs-remarkably-well.html?_r=0

 

Thanks for reading…

 

Follow on Twitter @retaileyeretail