Best Buy gets new logo and marketing campaign focused on blue-shirt experts by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “The first refresh of the logo in nearly three decades is part of a new marketing strategy…The new tagline, or, as Alexander calls it, a rallying cry: “Let’s talk about what’s possible.”…Being retired is the company’s previous motto, “Expert Service. Unbeatable Price”. See logo/Read more (Tiered subs.)

 

Forbes 2018 World’s Most Powerful People (Bezos #5, McMillon #23, Cook #24) Top 75 list

 

‘Oops’: Walmart’s Biggest Deal Ever, Announced by SoftBank’s CEO at Bloomberg. “After his initial comments, Son noticed a sheet of paper that had been left on the podium for his attention. He picked it up and smiled. “Oh, I see here that the Flipkart-Walmart deal isn’t fully confirmed at this point in time,” he said to the laughing audience.” Read more

 

Etsy Q1 Revenue +24.8% Press release

 

New rule would require solar to be installed on all new homes in California by Rob Nikolewski at The San Diego Tribune. “The CEC estimated the mandate would increase the construction costs of a single-family house by $10,538, although contractors in the San Diego area have put the costs at about $20,000, depending on the size of the home.” Read more

 

Office Depot Q1 Total Sales +6.0% Press release

 

Nordstrom Rack president meets with the three black men falsely accused of theft by Rachel Rice at St.Louis Post Dispatch. “We just listened to Nordstrom about what they said they were going to do about (training) in their store … and (Mekhi) told them how he felt from the encounter,” she said. “I felt like they were listening and open to hearing about how (the young men) felt.” Twyla Lee said she and her son have future meetings planned with NAACP leadership.” Read more

 

Party City Q1 Comp Sales +2.4% Press release

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water – The Brazilian Coconut Water that’s Sweeter than the Rest! Leading branded & PL supplier for 15+ years. Organic & natural options available. Sell sheet | Website | Request samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Amazon employees are outraged by their company’s opposition to a plan to add more diversity to its board by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “Tensions surfaced last week on an employee email thread, viewed by Recode, following Amazon’s opposition to a shareholder proposal that would require its board to formally consider women and minority candidates when selecting new board members.” Read more

 

Amazon pulls the plug on Google Product Listing Ads, at least for now by Zak Stambor at Internet Retailer. “While it isn’t clear why Amazon changed course, Taylor notes the move came about a month after Google launched Google Shopping Actions, which enables retailers to list their products in sponsored listings adjacent to regular search results.” Read more

 

Retail Council of Canada names Home Depot Canada’s President Jeff Kinnaird and his team 2018 Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year Press release

 

Suit says woman was assaulted and fired for reporting food safety violations at Publix by David J. Neal at Miami Herald. Read more

 

Hudson’s Bay seeking ways to turn around the slumping fortunes of its Lord & Taylor chain at Financial Post via Reuters. “The Canadian retailer has been working with investment bank PJ Solomon Co for advice on potential deals regarding its department store portfolio, and is also working with consulting firm AlixPartners LLP on cutting costs and reforming its business, the sources said.” Read more

 

Business Hates Mexico’s Presidential Front-Runner. And He Doesn’t Care at Bloomberg. Read more

 

Walmart ends grocery delivery deal with Uber and Lyft by Jordan Crook at TechCrunch. “It is incredibly hard to deliver people and packages together,” said one of Reuters’ sources with a delivery company that works with Walmart and has direct knowledge of the matter. “They are two completely different business models.” Read more

 

In first move since Amazon acquisition, Ring launches Neighbors app to help users fight crime by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. Read more

 

Amazon’s Alexa will be built into all new homes from Lennar by Elizabeth Weise at USA Today. “Lennar announced Wednesday that standard features in its new homes will include built-in Wi-Fi, smart locks, doorbells, thermostats and lights —  all controlled by Alexa…Each house will come with two Alexa-enabled smart speakers, an Echo Show and an Echo Dot. New homeowners will also get a free visit from an Amazon technician to help set everything up and teach them how to use it.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Target to open first small-format store in downtown Denver in July

Pete Coors blasts smaller brewers’ ‘cheap shots and insults’

Bjarke Ingels Will Redesign Lord & Taylor’s Flagship Into WeWork’s New HQ

7-Eleven Tests First Ever Self-Chilling Canned Beverage

Mexico Offers Nafta Compromise on Car Content, Wages

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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