HBC Q1 Comp Sales -0.7%:

• Saks Fifth Avenue comparable sales increase of 6.0%
• DSG (Hudson’s Bay, Lord & Taylor and Home Outfitters) comparable sales decrease of 0.6%
• Saks OFF 5TH comparable sales decrease of 3.5%
• HBC Europe (Galeria Kaufhof and Galeria INNO) comparable sales decrease of 6.6% Press release

 

HD Supply Q1 Net Sales +14.2% / Organic Sales +9.9% Press release

 

Amazon now has 100,000+ automated robots by Erin Winick at MIT Technology Review. “When there are tens of thousands of orders going on simultaneously, you are getting beyond what a human can do,” (chief technologist of Amazon Robotics, Tye Brady) told the audience at MIT Technology Review’s first EmTech Next conference.” Video/Read more

 

Laid-off Toys R Us employees rally for severance pay at New Jersey store by Alison Burdo at Philadelphia Business Journal. “Thirty-three years of losing holidays with my family, no Thanksgiving dinners with my family,” [Cheryl Claude] said. “And all the hard work that everyone has done for these people. Give us something. At least something.” Read more

 

Tiffany’s Flower Flash brings pops of color to New York streets by Danny Parisi at Luxury Daily. “Tiffany and Lewis Miller teamed up to create large floral installations in unexpected places around New York. The campaign was created in part to herald the arrival of spring and to drive up engagement for the brand outside of the digital world.” Read more

 

Lumber Liquidators opens store number 400 Press release

 

Doug McMillon shares his favorite Sam Walton story by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “When I was a new person in the home office and had just moved into buying…I presented an item that Saturday and Sam Walton was running the meeting”…McMillon presented a “Bait Mate” product. “It was sprayed on a fishing lure to make the plastic lure smell like live bait…(Walton) said ‘That’s all well and good son, but what makes you think fish can smell.’ I learned about humor and how to be supportive and still have fun.” Read more

 

How a Sales Call Turned Into a Merger Between Kroger and Meal Kit Firm Home Chef by Michelle Lodge at The Street. Read more

 

**A message from Kidibul – The festive, bubbly beverage made for kids’ parties! 100% natural. Great for birthdays, New Year, Christmas, etc. Kids love the bubbles! Website | PowerPoint | info@eyeonretail.net

 

Rep the Squad jersey rental startup shuts down after struggling to land additional funding by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. “Founded last year, Rep the Squad used a Netflix-like model, charging customers $19.95 per month to receive selected jerseys in the mail, one at a time. Customers could wear a jersey, return it, and receive a different jersey.” Read more

 

Neiman’s ‘Idea Factory’ Ready to Roll by David Moin at WWD. Subscription

 

Publix sets opening date for high-profile Charlotte store (within a a stone’s throw from Harris Teeter) by Katherine Peralta at Charlotte Observer. “Publix will open its long-awaited grocery store in Cotswold at 7 a.m. on June 20, the grocery store chain announced Monday.” Read more (Tiered subs.)

 

Kroger’s Top Food Trends for Summer 2018 Press release

 

This start-up is selling lab-grown diamond rings at a 30% discount and jewelers couldn’t tell the difference at CNBC. “Without being provided context that the diamond was in fact lab-grown, one jeweler offered $3,800 and another $3,000 after inspecting it under magnification.” Read more

 

P&G ending operations in Iran because of Trump decision by Barrett J. Brunsman at Cincinnati Business Courier. Read more

 

Costco removes Taiwan flag from website by Matthew Strong at Taiwan News. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Why LVMH Won’t Buy Into The Latest, New Tech Craze

How the World’s Largest Chocolate Maker Is Spending $1B to Fight Climate Change

Wall Street Journal: Climate Change Has Run Its Course (Subs.)

Stone Brewing files injunction to block MillerCoors from selling Keystone products

Deep in the Pentagon, a secret AI program to find hidden nuclear missiles

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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