Sam’s Club launches health care pilot to members at AP. “Starting next month, Sam’s Club members in Michigan, Pennsylvania and North Carolina will be able to buy bundles of health care services that include discounted dental care, free prescriptions for certain generic medications, and telehealth consultations. Fees range from $50 for individuals to $240 for up to six family members.” Read more

 

Rite Aid beats on Q2 profit / Retail pharmacy revenue -1.6% / Comp prescription volume +2.7% at MarketWatch. Read more

 

US economy grew at modest 2% rate in Q2 at AP “In the current quarter, analysts believe GDP is likely growing at the same modest 2% rate, and they are forecasting a similar outcome in the final quarter.” Read more

 

Costco’s latest version of its budgeted golf ball flops at Golfworld. “According to initial reports on Golf News Net and Reddit, Costco is offering a refund of the purchase price of the ball, which was selling for $29.99 for a two-dozen pack. The Kirkland Signature ball was touted as a four-piece urethane construction, a dual-core construction similar to that found on many name brand models that sell for more than three times that price.” Read more

 

…Numerous golfers shared pictures online of the balls’ covers being cut easily after a small number of swings at Golf News Net. Read more

 

French Supermarkets Are Now Opening on Sundays—Sans Employees by Robert Williams at Bloomberg. “For decades, French unions have fought extended opening times for stores…Grocery group Casino Guichard Perrachon is leaving 200 outlets open after employees go home, with self-checkout machines in their stead. Rival Carrefour SA in May began testing a similar idea in Paris’s posh 7th arrondissement with a market that’s open 24/7.” Tiered subs.

 

Lowe’s Goes DIY on Software Development by Agam Shah at Wall Street Journal. “I don’t think technology has had as much seat at the table as it has now, which is really front and center,” said Ms. Godbole, who joined Lowe’s from Target Corp. in November…“If 100% of e-commerce is going to be brought in house, I would say we are absolutely 40% of the way,” Ms. Godbole said. She expects the in-house version of key features such as online checkout to be deployed by the middle of next year.” WSJ subs.

 

Pier 1 Imports Q2 comp sales -12.6% Press release

 

**A message from BK Resources – The Best Kept secret for commercial and food service kitchen equipment. Stainless steel: commercial faucets, sinks, work tables, bar equipment, ice bins & more. Catalog | Website

 

Kroger opens 52,000-square-foot urban format store in downtown Cincinnati, offering the grocer’s first-ever food hall, named On The Rhine Eatery Press release

 

…Here’s why people lined up overnight for a new Kroger in Downtown Cincinnati by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. “I got here at 4:30 in the morning – I wanted to get all the joyness and excitement I could get,” declared 65-year-old Loretta Moore, who lives a few blocks away in Over-The-Rhine. “Since this is happening in my community, I thought I should be a part of it.” Pics/Tiered subs.

 

Hibbett announces appointment of interim CFO Scott Humphrey “Mr. Humphrey most recently served as Chief Financial Officer for Ciner Resources, LP, a publicly traded mining company located in Atlanta, Georgia.” Press release

 

Foot Locker takes minority stake in youth culture platform at Footwear News. “Founded in October 2018, Ntwrk…describes itself as a Home Shopping Network or QVC for young, mobile-savvy shoppers…Ntwrk regularly offers one exclusive product each day, netting profits from retail sales and through content-creating services for brands.” Read more

 

Everything Amazon announced at its Alexa event by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Best Buy sees growth in health care technology for elderly by Anne D’Innocenzio at AP. “Best Buy Co. said Wednesday that in five years it hopes to provide 5 million seniors with health monitoring services, which can range from sensors placed throughout a home to a pendant worn around the neck. It currently provides the service to 1 million.” Read more

 

Lululemon set to wind down Ivivva kids business, to close 7 remaining stores at CNBC. Read more

 

Bezos: Facial recognition ‘a perfect example’ of the need for regulation, and Amazon is working on it by Todd Bishop & Monica Nickelsburg at GeekWire. “Jeff Bezos made a surprise appearance at an Amazon press reception Wednesday evening to introduce singer-songwriter Charlie Puth to the crowd — but before he made his way to the stage, the Amazon CEO made some unexpected news on the issue of regulating facial recognition. “Good regulation in this arena would be very welcome I think by all the players,” Bezos said.” Read more

 

Target & Disney team up at a Bullseye View. “The collaboration encompasses experiential retail and merchandising—including the launch of 25 Disney stores within select Target stores nationwide on Oct. 4, with 40 additional locations opening by October 2020.” Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Walmart Canada betting on pricing for competitive edge in grocery wars

No charges filed against LAPD officer in deadly Costco shooting

This billion-dollar startup is turning sneakers into a ‘stock market’

Marijuana vaping product sales sink amid lung disease scare

The most innovative office design of the year is in Cartersville, GA

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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