Amazon exploring opening outlets selling home goods, electronics at Bloomberg/Fortune. “The outlets would carry unsold inventory sitting in Amazon’s warehouses at steep discounts, according to two people familiar with the plans. The company has considered opening permanent stores, as well as pop-up locations in malls or parking lots, said the people. The plans were preliminary and under discussion last year, but the pandemic and new Fresh grocery chain forced many employees to focus on day-to-day operations.” Read more

 

US economy adds 916,000 jobs in March as service-sector hiring booms at Fox Business. “Employers added 916,000 jobs in March and the gains from February were revised higher to 468,000 jobs, the Labor Department said Friday. Economists surveyed by Refinitiv expected the addition of 647,000 jobs.” Read more

 

The Ghosts of Brooks Brothers at NY Times. “The bones of Brooks Brothers stores are scattered across 100,000 square feet here in a warehouse near the Massachusetts border, mixed in with a sea of cardboard boxes and junk. There are legions of mannequins, empty circular tables that once displayed neckties, posters of horseback-riding gentlemen from a bygone era. There is a whole section of Christmas trees and countless gold-painted ornaments of sheep suspended by ribbon — a Brooks Brothers symbol since 1850 known as the Golden Fleece. Blank order forms for tailors are strewn about…” Read more

 

Macy’s reorganizes comms, promotes Julie Strider PR Week subs.

 

Amazon says it expects some employees to return to the office this summer, most will return in fall at CNBC. “Our plan is to return to an office-centric culture as our baseline,” Amazon told employees in the memo. “We believe it enables us to invent, collaborate, and learn together most effectively.” Read more

 

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Walmart to offer in-home delivery in parts of Northwest Arkansas at Talk Business. “Walmart announced Wednesday (March 31) plans to bring its in-home delivery service to parts of Northwest Arkansas effective April 7. The retailer’s home base is the fourth market for the service. The service is available to about 5 million people in Kansas City, Pittsburg and Vero Beach, Fla.” Read more

 

Ex-UPS driver says Amazon’s pee-in-water-bottles problem isn’t unique at Fox Business. “I saw this story break about the Amazon workers, and that is nothing new to UPS,” the former UPS driver told FOX Business on the condition of anonymity, citing fears of “retaliation” from her former employer. “It is a well-known practice that takes place on a daily basis.” Read more

 

Target closing two San Francisco Bay area stores at Fox Business. “A location on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco and on Stevens Creek Boulevard in Cupertino will shut down on June 26. All eligible team members, however, will be given the chance to transfer to different area stores, according to the company.” Read more

 

Professor tried walking every aisle at all 46 San Antonio H-E-B stores in 1-day at My San Antonio. “Lucas, an avid walker and head of the psychology department at Northwest Vista College, launched what he calls his  H-E-B pilgrimage for no reason at all other than pure curiosity. Is it possible to walk it? Short answer, no. However, Lucas, 53, and his two 50-something buddies, Paul Franklin and Emmet Faulk, ended up learning more about San Antonio than they thought they would in their 17-hour H-E-B journey.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Shot hits front door of Target store in South Bay shopping plaza

How Amazon honed its anti-union bent at a Seattle call center 20 years ago

Research firm visits more than 50 Walmart stores and files ‘disorganized’ report

Sam’s Club highlights outdoor offerings with Deck the Yard virtual shopping experience

U.S. factories desperate for workers, even as ranks of jobless remains high

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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