What Walmart and Target need to do to stay on top in a reshaped retail world by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “Both Walmart and Target have begun to telegraph how they plan to build on their success. The two companies will update investors on their respective plans with analyst days, Walmart next month and Target in early March. Each will likely be rolling out new strategies while building on current strengths.” Read more

 

Fortune’s Blue Ribbon Companies 2019: Amazon, Best Buy, Alibaba, Walgreens, Walmart, Costco, CVS, Home Depot & Publix. List

 

Victoria’s Secret Billionaire in Talks to Step Aside and Sell Brand by Khadeeja Safdar & Corrie Driebusch at Wall Street Journal. “Leslie Wexner, the billionaire behind Victoria’s Secret, is in discussions to step aside as chief executive officer of his retail empire and is exploring strategic alternatives for the lingerie brand, according to people familiar with the matter.” WSJ subs.

 

Home Depot launches a new pro customer delivery system in Dallas by Maria Halkias at Dallas Morning News. Tiered subs.

 

Inside Amazon’s 5 New Pop-Ups at Field Agent. “Field Agent dispatched agents to all five next-wave Amazon Pop-Ups, located in shopping malls as far east as Skokie, IL and as far west as Glendale, CA.” Pics/Read more

 

Nike denies pulling Kobe Bryant merch from website, claims it sold out by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “A source close to Nike told The Post it would take at least several months for Nike to replenish its Kobe Bryant inventory. Instead of keeping the products online indicating they had sold out, Nike decided to take down all images of the products, the source said.” Read more

 

Disposable E-Cigarettes, Sweet and Fruity, Escape FDA Restrictions by Jennifer Maloney at Wall Street Journal. “The Food and Drug Administration’s new e-cigarette limits are set to take some sweet and fruit-flavored products off the U.S. market next week but they won’t restrict sales of disposable e-cigarettes that come in flavors like cherry crush, watermelon and pineapple lemonade.” WSJ subs.

 

Walmart’s Super Bowl Debut Touts Out-of-This-World Convenience by Lisa Lacy at Adweek. Tiered subs.

 

LOBBYING: Lindsay Baringer will be a PAC manager for Amazon at The Hill. “She previously worked at the political fundraising firm Angerholzer Broz Consulting as assistant vice president. Angerholzer Broz focuses on Democratic members of the House.” Read more

 

Metro Q1 Comp Sales: Food +1.4% / Pharmacy +3.6% Press release

 

Target to Pay Up to $7.05 Million in Robocalling Settlement at Bloomberg Law. “Target Corp. will pay up to $7.05 million to a class of consumers who received robocalls seeking repayment of debts they hadn’t incurred, under a settlement approved by the District of Minnesota.” Subs.

 

Interior Department Adopts Restrictions Aimed at Chinese Drones by Katy Stech Ferek at Wall Street Journal. “Interior Department officials plan to formally adopt a no-fly rule aimed at drones made in China or with Chinese parts, but will grant exceptions when drones are needed to help respond to natural disasters and other emergencies.” WSJ subs.

 

Beyond Meat products pulled from Tim Hortons’ Canadian restaurants at Bloomberg via Financial Post. Read more

 

Anthony Hurst Appointed President Of Lowe’s Canada “Hurst most recently served as Lowe’s senior vice president of enterprise and strategy transformation, and also held the position of Lowe’s division president for the West region…Before joining Lowe’s…Hurst served in leadership roles at J.C. Penney.” Press release

 

Amazon Scoops Up More Warehouse Space on Staten Island by Keiko Morris at Wall Street Journal. “The company signed a lease to take 450,000 square feet of warehouse space at Matrix Global Logistics Park, where it already has a massive 855,000-square-foot fulfillment center…The deal is the latest example of retailers ramping up their distribution operations inside New York City…” WSJ subs.

 

Tipsheet Extra

NBC News Has Considered Fifth Hour of ‘Today’

Amazon Studios’ Entry into Italy Could Prompt Quantum Leap

Netflix to Lay Off Employees as It Shifts Marketing Strategy

Teenage Target employee vanishes after leaving his store 2 weeks ago

Former Home Depot Canada CEO joins coaching firm

Huck’s Modernizes Its Brand & Store Design

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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