Inside Amazon’s Secret Operation to Gather Intel on Rivals at WSJ. “For nearly a decade, workers in a warehouse in Seattle’s Denny Triangle neighborhood have shipped boxes of shoes, beach chairs, Marvel T-shirts and other items to online retail customers across the U.S. The operation, called Big River Services International…is an arm of Amazon that surreptitiously gathers intelligence on the tech giant’s competitors…Big River uses its sales across multiple countries to obtain pricing data, logistics information and other details about rival e-commerce marketplaces, logistics operations and payments services, according to people familiar with Big River…” WSJ subs.

 

Amazon exec explains grocery tech changes, debunks media reports about human reviewers at GeekWire. “So why is Amazon dropping Just Walk Out at its large grocery stores? In the interview, Kumar acknowledged the significant cost of the Just Walk Out infrastructure in these settings…Dash Carts can scale with the number of customers…The decision to focus on the Dash Carts also aligns with customer preferences in that retail format, he said. Many customers in grocery stores place more value on tracking their spending as they go, seeing item locations, and using coupons.” Read more

 

Shein bringing a pop-up experience to Seattle next week at GeekWire. “The event will take place April 26-29 at the O’Shea Building at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Pine Street in downtown Seattle. Shein plans to offer a variety of merchandise for women and men, including clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories.” Read more

 

Wayfair Set to Open its First Large-Format Store “…the grand opening of its inaugural large-format Wayfair store is May 23, 2024 at 10 a.m. The Wayfair store, spanning 150,000 square feet, is located in Edens Plaza in Wilmette, Illinois….including furniture, home decor, housewares and home improvement products…also has an onsite restaurant, The Porch.” Press release

 

JCPenney expects to return half a billion dollars to customers this year at Fortune/Yahoo. “…will offer customers its owner version of rival Kohl’s popular Kohl’s Cash incentive. The JCPenney version is called CashPass, and the chain says customers who sign up for the program will automatically get a $10 CashPass certificate, along with another on their birthday. Also, every time they spend $200, they’ll receive another $10 voucher.” Read more

 

Time 100 Most Influential List 2024 Read  / Press release

 

From Cubicle to Corporate Icon, Costco Finance Chief Ends 40-Year Run at WSJ. “…(Galanti) is looking forward to traveling, and perhaps will take another African safari or travel to Italy with family…He enjoys bike riding and golf, though he is “not a four-day-a-week golfer.”…Costco business is also on the agenda for the near term. Galanti will continue making the 16-minute commute into the office for now, while he is on the board through January. He plans to be at a few store openings and help Millerchip, the new CFO, a former Kroger finance chief.” WSJ subs.

 

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Walgreens embarks on another round of layoffs at Chicago Tribune/Herald & Review. “Walgreens spokesman Fraser Engerman said the company is not disclosing the number of people it’s laying off. Most of the positions are Chicago-based, he said in a statement.” Read more

 

Autonomous trucking tech firm establishes advisory council with Walmart, Werner, UPS at Trucking Dive

 

Amazon is falling behind its promises for new jobs at HQ2 at The Verge. “None other than The Washington Post is holding Amazon to account for missing the mark on jobs produced at HQ2. The company was supp…osed to add 2,500 new jobs at the site last year, but dropped 200 existing positions instead. Amazon risks losing tax incentives, but insists its goal of creating 25,000 jobs by the end of this decade remains on track.” Washington Post subs.

 

Walmart combines a pair of platforms “…making it easier for suppliers to combine Walmart Luminate’s insights with Walmart Connect’s closed-loop, omnichannel retail media solutions. The Walmart Luminate Insights Activation is a new self-serve integration with Walmart Connect…” Press release

 

Shoppers Drug Mart faces proposed class action for alleged ‘unethical corporate practices’ at CBC News. “Loblaw spokesperson says ‘case has no merit whatsoever, and we intend to vigorously defend it’” Read more

 

Hy-Vee enters Indiana with purchase of Strack & Van Til chain at Des Moines Register

 

Woman sues Target for collecting biometric data without her consent at Fox Business. “Arnetta Dean, who filed the lawsuit with the intention of preventing Target from further violating the privacy rights of state residents, is also pursuing statutory damages for the company’s alleged collection, storage and use of customers’ biometric data, according to the lawsuit obtained by FOX 32 Chicago.” Read more

 

Lowe’s partners with Lionel Messi Press release