Why Amazon’s explanation for shutting down Diapers.com and Quidsi stunned employees by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “One popular theory is that Amazon doesn’t want to admit that a business it paid $545 million to acquire in 2011 was never really a strategic fit…Others believe a more unusual reason, claiming it could be some gamesmanship on the part of Bezos intended to send a message to Wall Street, as well as Walmart leadership, that Quidsi co-founder Marc Lore cannot build profitable businesses.” Read more

 

WALGREENS DEAL FALL APART? – Investors Hope for Good News From Rite Aid, Walgreens Regarding Deal by Ezequiel Minaya at Wall Street Journal. “Among the antitrust concerns, the resulting drugstore giant—which would challenge CVS Health Corp. —would be able to bully pharmacy-benefit managers steering corporate and government drug plans.” Read more (subs.)

 

Lord & Taylor may build a skyscraper on top of its Fifth Avenue store by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “The high-flying project could result in a steel-and-glass skyscraper that houses offices and residential units, while still preserving the original, 11-story department store and its business, according to sources.” Read more

 

Publix says it’s relaunching its GreenWise store concept by David Allison at Atlanta Business Chronicle. “The first newly redesigned GreenWise will be located near Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla., and is expected to debut in late 2018…Publix hasn’t opened a GreenWise store since 2008. There are only three GreenWise stores, all in Florida.” Read more

 

Macy’s CEO: Here Is How We Plan to Win Again at The Street. “Q. With such a busy schedule, how do you unwind?  Gennette: Books, plays, movies are always there. I’m a huge movie buff. I just saw Hacksaw Ridge, which I didn’t expect to like as much as I did. Two of my favorite films last year were Moonlight and Hell or High Water—an amazing film, the pace, acting and mood were all very good. I also power-watch certain TV shows and serials.” Read Q&A

 

Instagram – the most narcissistic social network on the planet by Quentin Fottrel at MarketWatch. “A large majority of millennials (64%) rated the Instagram the world’s most narcissistic social media platform. Instagram received more votes than Facebook (10%), Snapchat (15%) and Twitter (11%) combined.” Read more

 

Bed Bath and Beyond says it still carries Trump products by Brett Molina at USA Today. “Bed Bath and Beyond says it will continue to carry Ivanka Trump-branded items in “some stores” after a customer service email surfaced stating the retailer was dropping her products.” Read more

 

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Burberry licenses beauty business to Coty in new drive to expand at Reuters. “Burberry said on Monday it would transfer its beauty business to U.S. group Coty in a deal that will bring in around $225 million plus ongoing royalty payments and grow the division.” Read more

 

Reckitt Benckiser Plans Strategic Review of Food Business at The Street. “Reckitt Benckiser said Monday that it will look at options for the sale of one of its non-core food brands that includes the popular French’s mustard brand as it seeks to fund its 16.6 billion takeover of Mead Johnson.” Read more | WSJ article (subs.)

 

Amazon and the Race to Be the First $1 Trillion Company by Lucinda Shen at Fortune. “If Amazon shares keep rising at the clip they have in the last 12 months, it will get to the elusive $1 trillion market cap in just a little more than two years.” Read more

 

100 jobs at stake as Dollar Express sold to Dollar General by Katherine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “Dollar Express employees were notified Friday morning that the company’s owners, private equity firm Sycamore Partners, had sold the chain’s approximately 330 stores to Dollar General…Dollar Express sprang up quietly in a nondescript office park last year (in Charlotte).” Read more

 

McDonald’s Canada says its jobs website has been hacked – info of 95,000 applicants compromised via Financial Post. Read more

 

As other malls die off, this one in California focuses on Asian shoppers by Shan Li at LA Times. “When Taiwanese menswear brand SST&C opened its first U.S. store last year, the company bypassed glitzy shopping hubs such as Beverly Hills or South Coast Plaza in favor of a mall tucked into the San Gabriel Valley. What Westfield Santa Anita lacks in name recognition, it makes up for with one huge edge: a growing stable of Asian retailers catering to its well-heeled Asian community.” Read more

 

Amazon quietly launches its own social media influencer program into beta by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “One of the key things that makes the new Influencer program different from Amazon Affiliates is its exclusivity. Today, anyone can sign up to be an Amazon Affiliate.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

A man fell asleep with his iPhone charging in bed. It nearly electrocuted him.

Oops: Target store blows lid off Crayola’s crayon reveal

Supermarket chain finds talent in ex-drug dealers

California Sues Forever 21 Over Alleged Discriminatory ‘English-Only’ Policy

Former P&G executive joins C-suite of upscale resorts firm

Gillette is working on its newest innovation: a heated razor

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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