Yeti Unveils Store #1 in Austin by Will Anderson at Austin Business Journal. “The 8,000-square-foot space is packed with scenes from the outdoors, such as a fishing skiff and taxidermied bear, plus plenty of Austin mementos that pay homage to the hometown of founders Roy Seiders and Ryan Seiders.” 11 pics/Read more

 

How pickled eggs and a trip to Sam’s Club helped Dale Earnhardt Jr. return to racing by Dan Wetzel at Yahoo. “When six weeks after a wreck you can’t manage to buy brisket and pickled bar props, when you can’t deal with Sam’s Club, how could you ever deal with pack racing and young guns who aren’t afraid to rub you up against the wall?” Read more

 

Kohl’s Comp Sales -2.2% / Profit Beats at Fox Business. Read more

 

TJX is planning a new chain that could deliver another blow to department stores by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “The concept will be complementary to its existing chain of HomeGoods shops that sells pillows, lamps and accents…Though Herrman was mum on additional details — including the name of the forthcoming chain — he said the strategy is to encourage customers to shop at both these new stores and its existing HomeGoods locations.” Read more

 

Walmart Exec Highlights from Supplier Meeting by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Greg Foran also hinted that Walmart plans to roll out new ways to pass savings on to customers this year. He did not say if Savings Catcher was again being tweaked or if there is another plan in place…he did say “basket economics is where we live.”…Judith McKenna told suppliers the company continues to empower its workforce and adopt technologies into store operations. For instance a new store located in the Houston suburb of The Woodlands, Texas, has more than 100 touch screens located throughout the store to deliver endless aisle experience for shoppers in that store.” Read more

 

Wayfair Q4: Net Revenue Growth of 40% / 8.3 million Active Customers – up 54% Year over Year Press release

 

**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

 

CVS says it has removed artificial trans fat contributor from all exclusive store brands at MarketWatch. Read more

 

Kroger CIO Chris Hjelm offers a glimpse at interactive grocery-store shelves by Kim S. Nash at Wall Street Journal. “We’re testing digital shelf edges in 14 stores. Sensors can detect when someone is walking down the aisle [with Kroger’s mobile app open]. I can highlight products for you on a high-definition display on the shelf edge. Let’s say you’re gluten-free. In the nutrition-bar section, I can highlight for you the gluten-free products. Or I could show you on the shelf your personal price for a product. Or highlight that bottle of wine on your shopping list…We’re working on it; it isn’t deployed yet.” Read more (subs.)

 

Under Armour CEO chooses five finalists for Cupid’s Cup competition by Morgan Eichensehr at Baltimore Business Journal. See the list

 

Loblaw Q4 Comp Sales +1.1% / Shoppers Drug Mart +3.4% Press release

 

Inside Walmart’s New C-Store by Chris Medenwald at Field Agent. “Field Agent’s QuickShoppers were particularly high on the next generation Walmart c-store, which they rated, overall, a 4.7 on a 5-point scale (i.e., 5 being very good). Moreover, 83% of participants said they’re completely or very likely to purchase food, snacks, and/or beverages from the convenience store in the future.” In-store video/Read more

 

Report: Only 10% of the 350 global retailers surveyed make money fulfilling digital orders by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “As retailers work to tilt the profitability scale back in their favor, 62 percent told JDA they plan to raise the minimum spending requirement for free standard home delivery over the next year. Separately, 55 percent said they will raise the minimum order value required for in-store pickup.” Read more

 

Victoria’s Secret Comp Sales Are Down 20% and L Brands’ Stock Is Plummeting by Phil Wahba at Fortune. Read more

 

A small group of investors is buying struggling shopping centers on the cheap and trying to turn them around by Patrick Clark at Bloomberg. “If the grim reaper hasn’t come yet, then he’s circling pretty good,” said Hull, describing the properties he targets.” Read more

 

The 13 hottest toys from the New York Toy Fair by Sarah Whitten at CNBC. See list

 

Ace Hardware Q4 Revenue +5.8% Press release

 

Walgreens Designates more than 50 Specialty Pharmacies as Cancer-Specialized Locations Press release

 

Hy-Vee is adding bar-and-restaurant combos to five stores in Omaha area by Barbara Soderlin at Omaha World-Herald. “Unlike Hy-Vee’s initial venture into restaurants, called Market Grille, the Market Grille Express spots don’t have full-service dining. Customers will order and pay at a station, and a server will bring the food to the table. Customers can also eat — and drink and watch TV — at a full-service bar.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

3M and designer debut Post-It partnership for London Fashion Week (pics)

CVS thinks customers quit using tobacco instead of buying elsewhere

St.Paul man sentenced for crawling into Kmart dressing room of 8-year-old

Doctors are refusing to operate on smokers

H-E-B snags 24-acre lot near planned retail development in San Antonio

Retail’s Creditors Left Grasping as Brands Are Put Out of Reach

Target gives 6-year-old an unforgettable birthday

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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