Sam’s Club Now is ditching cashiers at a new store in Dallas at CNBC. “At the Dallas location, shoppers will be introduced to a new “Sam’s Club Now” app that builds on its existing “Shop and Go” app…At 32,000 square feet, Sam’s Club said the new store will be about a quarter of the size of a traditional club, with a focus on food — produce, meat and alcohol.” Read more

 

…Pic of “Sam’s Club Now” at Techcrunch

 

Day of the Dead comes to life for American retailers by Cheryl V. Jackson at USA Today. “Celebrated in the U.S. from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, the holiday tradition calls for the creation of altars to deceased loved ones, decorated with photos, meaningful objects and their favorite foods said to attract their souls.” Read more

 

Whirlpool doesn’t want Sears selling any of its appliances by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Whirlpool fired off a letter to Sears, demanding that the retailer return all refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers and other appliances that Whirlpool shipped to it in the 45 days leading up to Sears’s Oct. 15 bankruptcy filing.” Read more

 

Nordstrom shoppers can pick up gifts before doors open this holiday season by Charisse Jones at USA Today. “From Dec. 3 through Christmas Eve, Nordstrom is offering “early bird” pick up, enabling shoppers who check off their gift lists by clicking a button to get their presents starting at 8 am. Though the stores will still be closed, staffers will bring the items out to the curb.” Read more

 

Blue Apron Now Available on Jet “Beginning today, millions of households across most of New York City, as well as Jersey City and Hoboken, can access Blue Apron through same-day or next-day delivery via Jet’s City Grocery offering.” Press release

 

Users of Sites to Deliver Goods Between Countries Find Better Deals Without Duties by Andrea Fuller at Wall Street Journal. “The companies aim to make it easier for people overseas to buy and receive U.S. goods like electronics by connecting them with visitors to their countries willing to haul the items in their bags….Grabr—which says it has more than 500,000 world-wide registered users—offers a web platform allowing shoppers to request international deliveries.” WSJ subs.

 

Amazon Announces $100 Million Donated to Charities through AmazonSmile Press release

 

Walmart agrees to a $160 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “The case was originally filed in U.S. District Court in Fayetteville in 2012 by attorneys on behalf of the retirement fund claiming Walmart and its top executives hid a bribery scheme in its Mexican operations and withholding knowledge that should have been made public long before the New York Times reported the investigation in April 2012.” Read more

 

Quebec cannabis stores will only be open from Thursday to Sunday at Montreal Gazette. “…a lack of supply has forced it to reduce the operating hours of its 12 sales outlets to four days a week.” Read more

 

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Amazon’s booming ad business is both a blessing and a risk by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “Amazon’s ad business…does not come without significant risk: Namely, that an over-reliance on ads will ruin the Amazon shopping experience…“They will need to pull back or they are going to see shoppers recede,” said Guru Hariharan, CEO of Boomerang Commerce.” Read more

 

Minnesota CEOs open checkbook for political campaigns (but not Target CEO) by Jim Spencer at Star Tribune. Tiered subs.

 

Home improvement retailer HOBO files for bankruptcy – some customers left without refunds at CBS 2 Chicago. “HOBO has five stores in the Chicago area…Bell ordered custom-made kitchen cabinets from HOBO in August, took the money from his pension and wrote a check for $12,885. The cabinets were supposed to be delivered this month…HOBO hasn’t paid (manufacturer). So, his order is unable to ship.” Read more/Video

 

Canada Post strikes spread to Vancouver, two other regions at Vancouver Sun. Read more

 

A New Target in the Fight Against Plastic: Paper Cups by Saabira Chaudhuri at Wall Street Journal. “…paper cups are attracting new scrutiny, because they contain a tightly bonded plastic lining that needs to be separated before the paper can be recycled. The process requires specialist facilities, meaning most cups, even if put in the recycling bin, end up as trash.” WSJ subs.

 

Sears’ ‘tragic’ bankruptcy turns to opportunity as US mall owners court Nobu hotels, Life Time Fitness to fill empty stores at CNBC. “Let’s face it. If you are a tenant and you get put down a Sears wing of a Simon mall, you are not exactly thrilled,” Sandler O’Neill + Partners analyst Alexander Goldfarb told CNBC. “Now if they rip down the Sears and put in restaurants or a movie theater,” it’s a welcome change.” Read more

 

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