Laid-off Target workers support each other online by Kavita Kumar at Star-Tribune. “When (John) Drevlow settles in at his home computer each morning, one of his first stops online is a private Facebook group that connects Target employees and those it recently idled. The nearly 5,000 people in the group share job leads, contacts at potential employers, interviewing tips and words of encouragement…Meanwhile, recruiters from Home Depot, Gap and other retailers have flown in to meet former Target employees. On Thursday, Amazon.com staged a recruitment party at the Surly Brewing Co.’s new taproom in Minneapolis.” Read more

 

Costco will buy most farmed salmon from Norway, not Chile by Angel Gonzalez at Seattle Times. “(Chile) now provides Costco with about 90 percent of its farmed Atlantic salmon, and Norway just 10 percent. But starting in June, Norway will fulfill about 60 percent of Costco’s needs with antibiotic-free salmon, with Chile accounting for the remainder, said Jeff Lyons, the senior Costco executive in charge of fresh foods, in an interview. Costco purchases some 600,000 pounds of salmon filet per week, according to Lyons. That’s close to 10 percent of all U.S. Atlantic salmon imports from Chile.” Read more

 

Lowe’s Gives Away Glow-in-the-Dark Cat Hats During March Madness by Ashley Rodriguez at Ad Age. “It was so ridiculous that people were like, “I wish I had one of those things for my cat,'” said Brad Walters, director of social media at Lowe’s. “It was something silly that really caught their attention. We said, ‘let’s act nimbly and parlay this into a bigger story.'” Read more

 

Best Buy cuts 1,500 jobs in Canadian consolidation by Jim Hammerand at Minn./St.Paul Business Journal. “Best Buy bought Future Shop in 2001. It said Saturday that the restructuring will “address the fact that a significant number of its Future Shop and Best Buy stores are located adjacent to each other, often in the same parking lot.” The retailer will have 192 Canadian locations, including 136 large-format stores and 56 Best Buy Mobile locations.” Read more

 

Target speeds up its Canadian exit, plans to wind up all stores by mid-April by David Friend at The Canadian Press via Yahoo. Read more

 

Investigator: Home Depot not in compliance with some data security standards at time of breach by David Allison at Atlanta Business Chronicle. “As a result, the company says it is probable that the payment card networks will make claims against it, and Home Depot said it will dispute those claims.” Read more

 

Amazon removes crazy non-compete clause from hourly workers’ contracts by JanaKasperkevic at The Guardian via Business Insider. “That clause hasn’t been applied to hourly associates, and we’re removing it,” she said.” Read more

 

Why E-Commerce Can Be a Big Pain for India’s Deliverymen by Sean McLain at WSJ. “It’s a risky job,” said Mr. Kumar, who has to dodge potholes, erratic drivers and the occasional cow—all while carrying loads that at times weigh more than he does. “Sometimes people order dumbbells and then the bag gets really heavy,” he said.” Read more (Subscription)

 

Kroger executive: Dunnhumby sale won’t keep us from data by Steve Watkins at Cincinnati Business Courier. “We have the rights to the software and to their science in the United States,” (CFO Mike) Schlotman said. “And there’s nothing in whatever construct of a deal out there that would preclude us from being able to continue to enjoy the benefits of their insights.” Read more

 

Woman steps in hole, awarded $510,000 in Wal-Mart injury by Bob Kasarda at NWI Times. “Wal-Mart attorney James Balog placed the blame on Earle for failing to use reasonable care. “She’s not looking where she’s going,” he said after showing a surveillance video of the incident.” Read more

 

NY Times: GNC to Strengthen Supplement Quality Controls by Anahad O’Connor. “Eric T. Schneiderman, the attorney general of New York, would not comment on whether he was in talks to reach similar agreements with the other retailers included in his investigation — Walgreens, Walmart and Target.” Read more

 

Dallas: Amazon Prime Now Adds 11 Zip Codes by Maria Halkias Read more

 

Macy’s adds a high-powered CEO to its board by Tom Demeropolis at Cincinnati Business Courier. “John Bryant, CEO of Kellogg Co., has been elected to the Macy’s Inc. board of directors.” Read more

 

Porch.com moves to former Zulily space in Sodo, could grow to 600 employees by Rachel Lerman at Puget Sound Business Journal. Read more

 

Dried crab found sealed in plastic Easter Egg at Birmingham area Walmart by Lillian Lalo at WTHI TV 10. Read more

 

Restoration Hardware CEO trumpets new Atlanta store by David Allison at Atlanta Business Chronicle. “In a video posted on the company’s web site, (CEO Gary) Friedman said the store “is being hailed as the most important new home store in our industry.” Read more

 

Kroger’s workforce evolves with industry changes by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati.com. “Kroger has boosted jobs by 50 percent at its Downtown headquarters since 2008 – creating roughly 100 jobs a year for six years – as the supermarket grocer continues to thrive.” Read more

 

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