CVS Health shows off new HealthHUB store design in Houston at CNBC. “The three new pilot stores in Houston, Texas have been redesigned with much more space devoted to services to help customers manage chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension and asthma.” Read more/Pics

 

REI CEO steps down following revelation of outside personal relationship by Charisse Jones at USA Today. “An outside law firm had been looking into Stritzke’s relationship –described by REI as “personal and consensual” with the head of another group that operates in the outdoor space.” Read more

 

Amazon to place package lockers at Coachella music festival by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. “Concert-goers can order from a custom Coachella storefront on Amazon…There is no extra charge to use the lockers.” Read more

 

Kroger to close 90-year-old bakery – 411 workers affected by Mark Williams at The Columbus Dispatch. “For as long as I’ve been working there, the old-timers would say they’ll close the place down any day now,” said Santry, who worked on the loading dock. Early Monday, Kroger gathered workers at the Greater Columbus Convention Center and gave them the news.” Read more

 

Hobby Lobby closing Hemispheres furniture chain by Clint Engel at Furniture Today. “Malora Spurlock, president of Hemispheres, with two stores in Oklahoma and six in Texas, emailed vendors Monday noting the retailer “will no longer be issuing purchase orders for new or additional merchandise,” according to copies of the email obtained by Furniture Today.” Read more

 

Macy’s Names Patti Ongman Chief Merchandising Officer “Ongman has been with Macy’s for more than 30 years. In her most recent role as EVP, general business manager, for Home, Ongman was responsible for all aspects of the Macy’s Home business.” Press release

 

Walmart Owes $95.5M For ‘Backyard’ TM Loss, Jury Says at Law 360. “Walmart Stores Inc. should pay more than $95.5 million for infringing a smaller chain’s “Backyard” trademark by selling “Backyard Grill” products, a North Carolina federal jury found Tuesday.” Law 360 subs.

 

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RaceTrac Announces New Leadership Structure at Convenience Store News. “Leading the company now is Max McBrayer, who has been promoted to CEO…Bart Stransky has been promoted to vice president of merchandising.” Read more

 

Hudson Group opens Empire State Building store Press release

 

J.Jill appoints Elliot Staples as SVP of Design “Prior to joining J.Jill, Staples held Vice President of Design positions at both Maurices and The Limited, as well as senior design roles at The Gap and Adrienne Vittadini.” Press release

 

Groupon Q4 revenue -8.0% Press release

 

Millennial brides force David’s Bridal, fresh out of bankruptcy, to try something new at CNBC. “One significant change not in the works is cutting away at its store base. Unlike many retailers that enter bankruptcy to help get rid of bad leases and trim their footprint, David’s Bridal emerged with roughly the same 300 or so stores it had…” Read more

 

Pharmacy execs debut new site to challenge Blink Health at NY Post. Read more

 

Gucci creative head breaks silence over ‘blackface’ sweater at AP. “Alessandro Michele, a design force at the Italian fashion house, lamented in a letter to employees both his own pain and “that of the people who saw in one of my creative projects an intolerable insult.” Read more

 

Lampert reveals plans for Sears after bankruptcy: WSJ at Reuters. “Sears will sell or sublease some of the 425 stores of the retail chain and open smaller stores with more focus on tools and appliances than on apparel, said Chairman Edward Lampert in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.” Read more | WSJ article (subs.)

 

Apple reportedly demanding a staggering 50 percent of revenue for its news subscription service at The Verge. Read more

 

Amazon and GM May Invest in Electric Pickup-Truck Manufacturer Rivian at Fortune. Read more

 

‘PB SMOOTH’ – Wegmans employee excels in rough-and-tumble pro wrestling by Victor Fernandes at Erie Times-News. “Manager Hayden Grack: “One would only know of Pretty Boy Smooth if they followed him or saw a match highlight. His in-ring persona is quite the opposite (compared to) seeing Paul walk our customers to their car or offer help loading their groceries.” Read more

 

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