Amazon’s Home Services adds 20 more metro regions as it preps new “Assistant” role by Ingrid Lunden at TechCrunch. “…bringing the number of markets covered to 50. News cities getting added today include Indianapolis, IN; Las Vegas, NV; San Antonio, TX; Ann Arbor, MI; Cleveland, OH; Milwaukee, WI; Boulder, CO; Raleigh, NC and Trenton, NJ.” Read more

 

American Apparel Seeks Bankruptcy Protection a Second Time by Steven Church at Bloomberg. “American Apparel Inc. filed for bankruptcy less than a year after ending its first stint under court protection, and agreed to sell the brand to Gildan Activewear Inc., a Canadian maker of T-shirts and underwear, for about $66 million.” Read more

 

Macy’s Bets on Power of Santa Belief This Holiday by Adrianne Pasquarelli at Ad Age. “(Macy’s) is debuting a two-minute digital video featuring kids talking about how and why they believe in the man in the red suit. One child calls the North Pole, while others guess about the number of elves in Santa’s workshop and the possibility of Mrs. Claus being pregnant. The video then switches to the prospect of not believing in the realness of Santa. A compilation of certain selected responses from the social media campaign will air in a 30-second TV spot late this month.” See spot / Read more

 

BUSY EARNINGS WEEK – Retailers reporting this week include:

Tuesday: Home Depot, Dick’s, TJX

Wednesday: Target, Lowe’s, Loblaw

Thursday: Walmart, Best Buy, Gap

Friday: Hibbet Sports, Foot Locker

 

Beauty begins retail strategy overhaul, moves toward standalone stores by Jen King at Luxury Daily. “The rise in standalone boutiques indicates there’s untapped marketplace potential for brands to further their assortment breadth and footprint in the beauty and cosmetics segment,” said Laura Sossong, manager at Boston Retail Partners.” Read more

 

Bass Pro on the rise despite fierce competition from Amazon by Josh Kosman at NY Post. “Bass Pro boasts gross profit margins of 50 percent, according to a confidential presentation to lenders that was part of last month’s $5.5 billion purchase of rival Cabela’s.” Read more

 

**A message from Hot Shot – There’s no place like home. And when you rule the roost, you do it all… keep the peace, dry the tears, mop up the messes – even squash the spiders. When bugs cross your threshold, count on Hot Shot® brand for practical, easy-to-use, effective home insect solutions that take care of the creepy-crawlies for you – without breaking the bank. Save the Day. Facebook page

 

Top logistics exec at Walmart U.S. to retire in January by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “Chris Sultemeier, executive vice president of logistics for Walmart U.S., will retire Jan. 31 – the end of the company’s fiscal year. The announcement was made by Wal-Mart Stores CEO Doug McMillon at the retailer’s annual Veteran’s Day event.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart welcomes veterans to its Bentonville headquarters in honor of Veterans Day by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “CEO Doug McMillon on Friday asked Hoyt Williams, a 93-year-old World War II veteran who works as a greeter in Trion, Ga., if he had any advice for the audience. “Just hang in there,” Williams answered. At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of November, Wal-Mart Stores rolled out the red carpet for several World War II veterans who work or whose families work within the retailer’s vast ranks.” Read more

 

Kenneth Cole to shutter 63 outlet stores in US by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. Read more

 

Walmart cracks down on shoplifting by taking justice into its own hands at KENS 5 San Antonio. “Restorative Justice is offered in a third of Walmart stores. “On the average we’re seeing a drop in calls to police 35 percent nationwide,” said Hatfield of the areas where Walmart is offering the Restorative Justice course. Records KENS 5 obtained from local police departments show that, since the program was rolled out in spring and summer, the impact has been dramatic.” 3:28 video / Read more

 

Amazon Music Unlimited expands to the UK, Germany and Austria today by Ingrid Lunden at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Bloomingdale’s sets the stage for relaxation, entertainment in green room takeover at Luxury Daily. “Bloomingdale’s is heading to Broadway with an interior design renovation in honor of new musical “Dear Evan Hansen.” Prior to the show’s premiere on Broadway on Nov. 14 at the Music Box Theatre, Bloomingdale’s has transformed the Al Green room into the Blue Room, taking cues from the play’s signature color.” Read more

 

Ad Age: Best Places to Work 2016 Top 50 list

 

One of Amazon’s main UK warehouses has been damaged in a fire believed to have been started deliberately via BBC. Read more

 

Love’s Travel Stops opens 400th store Press release

 

General Mills has surprise growth star: Totino’s frozen pizzas and rolls by Kristen Leigh Painter at Star Tribune. “There have been times in the building where I have had to pitch ideas where I thought, ‘I am totally going to get fired today,’ ” said Brad Hiranaga, director of marketing at Totino’s.” Read more

 

Radio Flyer’s chief wagon officer talks nostalgia, Tesla by Lauren Zumbach at Chicago Tribune. “The thing that always really attracted me to the business was what our brand means to people. Any time you say the name Radio Flyer to someone, the first thing they do is smile and the second thing they do is tell a story, and they’re always these warm stories about childhood.” Read the Q&A

 

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