Apple’s retail chief Angela Ahrendts to leave the company in April at CNBC. “Deirdre O’Brien, who has worked at Apple for three decades, will take on an expanded role as a senior vice president of Retail + People, Apple said. O’Brien previously held the title of vice president of people, and Apple said she would continue to oversee functions related to that role, including talent development and employee relations.” Read more

 

Walmart revamps jewelry department, to add exclusive line by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Walmart said it will continue to sell “fine jewelry” in stores where there is demand, but the glass cases in other stores will be removed…Since April 2018, roughly 1,000 stores have already undergone the redesign. About one-third of those stores did not have jewelry sales to justify keeping the glass cases.” Read more

 

CVS Health has named Kathryn Metcalfe as chief communications officer at PR Week. “Metcalfe has replaced David Palombi, CVS Health’s SVP and chief communications officer since August 2014. Palombi, who has left the company, could not be immediately reached for comment.” Subs.

 

Academy Sports + Outdoors Announces Steven P. Lawrence as EVP and Chief Merchandising Officer “Prior to joining Academy Sports + Outdoors, Steve was President and Chief Executive Officer at francesca’s.  From May 2012 to September 2016, he served as Chief Merchandising Officer at Stage Stores. Steve also spent nearly 12 years working in various merchandising leadership roles at J.C. Penney…” Press release

 

Container Store Q3 comp sales -0.8% Press release

 

NRF forecasts that retail sales during 2019 will increase between 3.8% and 4.4% to more than $3.8 trillion despite economic threats. Press release

 

Neiman Marcus Group Announces Exec Hires: David Goubert Appointed to EVP Stores and Retail Experience & Ginger Mollo Joins as SVP Retail Experience – West Coast Press release

 

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Employees take lead on Target’s expanded Black History Month collection by Jackie Crosby at Star Tribune. “Target tripled the number of stores carrying its Black History Month collection compared with last year and broadened the number of items, all of which are curated or designed by employees. Nationwide, 700 of its 1,850 stores will carry the items through the end of February. It also created a dedicated space on its website at target.com/celebrateblackhistory.” Tiered subs.

 

Boot Barn Q3 comp sales +9.2% Press release

 

Amazon HQ2’s future in NYC uncertain by Monica Nickelsburg at GeekWire. “The New York State Senate appointed Sen. Michael Gianaris to a little-known oversight board, one where each member has the ability to torpedo economic development deals with a single vote. Gianaris is a key opponent to the Amazon deal…“This deal is so bad that I don’t want to use this deal as the subject of a negotiation that we can tweak or amend and end up with a final product,” he said.” Read more

 

Saks Fifth Avenue Unveils New Main Floor, Latest Phase Of New York Flagship Grand Renovation Press release/Pics

 

Joann Stores Names Wade Miquelon President & CEO “Miquelon joined Joann as Executive Vice President & CFO in March 2016…Prior to Joann, Miquelon was Executive Vice President, CFO and President of International at The Walgreen Company…Matt Susz becomes CFO.” Press release

 

Ralph Lauren Q3 net revenue growth +5.0% Press release

 

First Buc-ee’s outside of Texas slapped with ‘predatory’ gas pricing lawsuit at ABC 13. “Oasis Travel center in Robertsdale, Alabama…claims Buc-ee’s broke Alabama law by selling gas for less than $2 per gallon.” Read more

 

Estee Lauder shares surge on strong sales in China by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Overall sales grew 7 percent to $4 billion while earnings grew dramatically to $573 million, up from $123 million a year ago.” Read more

 

Foot Locker Announces Global Realignment “…into three distinct geographical regions: Europe, Middle East and Africa; Asia Pacific; and North America…and to develop an infrastructure to support an expansion plan within the Asian market.” Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Panera will end its pay-what-you-want test

Amazon commands 70% of the smart speaker market

Johnny Cash’s Kitchen & Saloon to open in Nashville

Target Begins Apple Pay Rollout at Select Locations

72% would reconsider a romantic relationship if the person had unsettled debt

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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