Marc Lore says venture firm with A-Rod will make big bets on digital retail at CNBC. “The new company, called Vision Capital People or VCP, will start with $50 million of Lore and Rodriguez’s own money. The pair are also in discussions to buy professional basketball team, the Minnesota Timberwolves.” Read more/Video

 

Target Stores To Halt Sales Of All Trading Cards at Bleeding Cool. “…perhaps it is for the best for the time being. This past Friday, May 7th, a man pulled a gun on a group of people in a Target parking lot in Wisconsin over a dispute stemming from sports card limitations.” Read more

 

…People have reportedly been opening cereal boxes in stores to steal the included Pokémon cards out of them. And someone in Japan even climbed down a rope to steal almost $9,000 worth of the cardboard cards designed for kids. at The Verge. Read more

 

Big 0.6% April wholesale price jump catches many off guard at AP. Read more

 

Anti-monopoly fine pushes Alibaba to first operating loss as public company at Reuters. “Core commerce revenue rose 72% to 161.37 billion yuan in the fourth quarter. But growth at its cloud computing unit slowed to 37% to 16.8 billion yuan from 58% a year earlier, its weakest since at least 2016.” Read more

 

Boot Barn Q4 comp sales +26.9% Press release

 

Amazon releases new images of HQ2 as it ramps up hiring in Virginia at CNBC. “The renderings show a “forest plaza” at the foot of the site’s centerpiece, a 350-foot-tall tower dubbed “The Helix.” The forest plaza includes public seating areas and pathways enclosed by what it calls “forest rooms” that feature trees, a waterfall and other landscaping.” Pics/Read more

 

**A message from Comfy Sacks – Shredded foam bean bag sales continue their meteoric sales growth! Grab your share of this high growth category and add some “wow” and high dollar ring to your assortment. Easy onboard / Retail ready. Website | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net 

 

Walmart Announces Plans To Acquire Zeekit, a Leading Virtual Fitting Room Platform “Through Zeekit’s technology, customers will soon be able to virtually try on items from our growing assortment of national brands like Free People, Champion and Levi’s Strauss, as well as a mix of exclusive brands, including private brands…” Read more

 

Amazon will pay a $100 bonus to new warehouse and transportation hires who show proof of their COVID-19 vaccination at CNBC. Read more

 

Kroger Announces Go Fresh & Local Supplier Accelerator “All finalists will present to a panel of judges during a pitch session, with one overall winner selected from each region. The prize package for the five overall winners includes product placement on shelf within Kroger’s Family of Companies; recommended partnerships with Gourmet Foods International; and business development coaching from Kroger merchandising and sales leaders.” Press release

 

Giant Eagle Former President Joins Mercatus at Financial Post. “Mercatus, a leading provider in grocery eCommerce solutions, today announced that John Lucot has joined the company as senior strategic advisor to the executive team.” Read more

 

Ollie’s opens 400th store – now in 26 states Press release

 

Price Chopper-Market 32 launches SNAP benefits via Instacart in Vermont at NBC 5. “Price Chopper–Market 32 is one of three companies to implement this system. Publix and the Save Mart companies have launched the program as well.” Read more

 

Amazon Boss Justifies ‘Lord of the Rings’ $465 Million Budget at Indie Wire. “The market is crazy, as you saw with the Knives Out deal. [Netflix paid $469 million for two sequels.],” Salke said. “This is a full season of a huge world-building show. The number is a sexy headline or a crazy headline that’s fun to click on, but [the budget] is really building the infrastructure of what will sustain the whole series.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Amazon Web Services helped sort endless NFL matchup options

1 in 3 Americans ready to dump streaming services over lackluster shows

Wayfair’s $112 billion plan to take over your entire home

Jeff Bezos bio makes bombshell claims about alleged Saudi role

Atlantic invader threatens to wipe out Croatia river delicacy

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