CNBC: Retailers cutting costs at the expense of quality by Krystina Gustafson. “…These lower-quality tops can be made from rayon (derived from wood pulp) or other synthetic materials, he said. By using such lighter fabrics, clothing is both cheaper to produce and ship. “The truth is you can create sheer tees from practically anything,” Quan said.” Read more

 

HOME DEPOT CMO TRISH MUELLER FEATURED IN “ABOVE THE CLUTTER” VIDEO via Ad Age. “Above the Clutter With Pete Krainik” cuts through the jargon and the myriad links, sales pitches and distractions in an “Anthony Bourdain No Reservations” meets “Undercover Boss” style…” See the video

 

Target Now Has a Beer Cave as Part of Its Alcohol Sales Push by Brian Sozzi at The Street. “The company added whimsical, large red signs (see first photo below) above cooler doors to help grab a shopper’s attention to the expanded selection of wines and craft beers. Part of the department’s remodel included what Target calls its first-ever (and only) walk in “beer cave.” Read more

 

Costco recommends that shareholders reject TRC “mini-tender” offer via Reuters. Read more

 

Jordan Spieth’s Masters meltdown costs Under Armour by Lisa Fichenscher at NY Post. “Under Armour’s SEC filings show that sales to its biggest customer — Dick’s Sporting Goods, according to Morgan Stanley — were down 8 percent in the fourth quarter last year. “We think Under Armour’s issues in its women’s apparel business and running footwear create heightened risk that it will not deliver the numbers the Street expects long-term,” Sole wrote.” Read more

 

Chicago: Macy’s, Block 37 apartment tower collaborate on model units by Lauren Zumbach at Chicago Tribune. “Macy’s created two model apartments in its eighth-floor furniture department — a studio and a one-bedroom unit — furnished with merchandise from Macy’s. A model unit within the 38-story, 690-unit Marquee at Block 37 building will also be furnished with Macy’s furniture and decor once the building opens June 1.” Read more

 

Alibaba pours a total of $1B into Southeast Asia e-commerce platform Lazada by Catherine Shu at TechCrunch. Read more

 

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Target: From San Francisco to Minneapolis…Notes from a Relocated Tech Entrepreneur at A Bullseye View. Read more

 

Costco Analytics Manager to Speak at Conference by Tim Denman at RIS. “Kyle Wierenga, manager, advanced analytics, Costco Wholesale, will discuss the maturation from descriptive to predictive to prescriptive analytics and share strategies for building advanced capabilities. He will also explore the wins, impacts and value predictive analytics provide and how to build an advanced analytics team.” Read more | Full agenda

 

Overstock.com’s CEO takes medical leave via CNBC. “The cause for the leave is stage IV hepatitis C. Byrne contracted it in China in 1984 when he had a head wound sewed up under what he termed as “less -than-ideal” conditions.” Read more

 

How Grocery Stores Can Survive Amazon by Shelly Banjo at Bloomberg. “Amazon will never take the whole grocery market, but they’ll take the top 10 percent of the most profitable customers, and few retailers can afford to lose the top 10 percent,” Tarrant said in an interview.” Read more

 

**A message from Eye on Retail – A lot happens beyond the headlines, let us dig it up for you. We create custom news reports specific to your category. To request details about your very own Eye on Your Category report contact us at info@eyeonretail.net.

 

A ‘mystery shopper’ scam is targeting Walmart customers by Hayley Peterson at Business Insider. “…Once you deposit the check into your account, the scammers drain your account, according to the Massac County (Illinois) Sheriff’s Department.” Read more

 

Luxury brand Prada plans to double down on online sales at Bloomberg News via Internet Retailer. “The Milan-based company also will close stores and narrow the spread on prices of new products between regions to about 10%, strategic marketing director Stefano Cantino said in an investor presentation Monday in New York.” Read more | See the investor presentation

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

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