Walgreens Q3 comp sales in its U.S. drugstores fell 1.1% from the year-ago quarter, which Walgreens attributed to its “de-emphasis” of tobacco products at CNBC. “Walgreens Boots Alliance on Thursday beat fiscal third-quarter earnings estimates as higher prescription drug sales helped the company regain its footing after CEO Stefano Pessina dubbed last quarter “the most difficult” since the company was formed.” Read more

 

Amazon launches new in-store pickup option with Rite Aid as first partner at Reuters. “The new option, called Counter, will launch with pharmacy Rite Aid Corp offering the service in 100 stores, with an expansion to 1,500 stores by year’s end, the companies said. Amazon is also looking to get other retailers, including small businesses, to join the program as it expands.” Read more

 

Pier 1 Imports plans to close 57 stores, and more closures could be coming by Kelly Tyko at USA Today. “…up a dozen from the April estimate of (closing) 45 stores…“If we are unable to achieve our performance goals, sales targets and reductions in occupancies and other costs, we could close up to 15% of our portfolio,” (interim CEO Cheryl Bachelder) said Wednesday.” Read more

 

Wayfair Workers Walk Out Over Business With Migrant Detention Center at Huffpost. “Hundreds of outraged Wayfair employees at the company’s Boston headquarters walked off the job Wednesday to protest the online retailer’s business with a contractor that operates migrant detention centers.” Read more | Pics via Daily Mail

 

…Wayfair donates $100,000 to the Red Cross after employee backlash at CNN. “In a letter to employees, Wayfair cofounders Steve Conine and Niraj Shah said the company will donate the money to support the American Red Cross “in their effort to help those in dire need of basic necessities at the border.” Read more

 

…Leaked Wayfair receipt shows 1,600 mattresses and 100 bunk beds destined for a Texas detention camp for kids at CNBC.  Read more

 

Taylor Swift to headline streamed Amazon Prime Day concert on July 10 by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. “Amazon will stream a live show at 6 p.m. PT featuring Taylor Swift, along with other stars including Dua Lipa, SZA, and Becky G….the stream will be available only to Prime members…” Read more

 

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Grocery Store Workers Authorize Strike Against Ralphs, Vons, Albertsons at CBS KCAL. “The strike authorization gives union negotiators the power to call for a strike if deemed necessary…“We’re not against the company at all. We just want them to recognize the hard work that we do, the commitment that we come in here every day,” (cashier Hill) said.” Read more

 

Walmart touts career possibilities in technology to Northwest Arkansas students by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Roughly 40 high school students from Northwest Arkansas took part in Walmart’s first career exploration event for STEM-related professions on Wednesday at the retailer’s home office in Bentonville. The participants were the children of Walmart employees or close family of employees who were invited to take part in the day-long event.” Read more

 

Hat retailer Lids deal with Meek Mill is just the start of new growth plan by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “(Lids) which sells baseball-styled caps at 1,277 stores across the country, is wooing rappers, country stars and individual athletes for licensing deals for exclusive merchandise, executives told The Post. The new caps will make up half of the store’s merchandise within two years, they said.” Read more

 

Bernie Burns Amazon, Walmart & Trump in WSJ Oped “If you are a monopoly like Amazon, owned by the wealthiest person in the U.S., you get hundreds of millions of dollars in economic incentives from taxpayers to build warehouses, yet you end up paying not one penny in federal income taxes…If you are the billionaire Walton family, state and local governments grant you free land and subsidies and build infrastructure for your stores, even as Walmart ’s tax-avoidance schemes drain local towns of public revenues.” WSJ subs.

 

As Amazon Suffers String of Box Office Flops, Executives Struggle to Find Winning Strategy at Hollywood Reporter. “Veteran exec Bob Berney is leaving his post as chief of marketing and distribution, while Late Night’s dismal box office performance so far means that all 10 movies released in theaters via Amazon’s self-distribution arm have floundered since late 2017.” Read more

 

Starbucks has nearly 1,000 stores in the UK. They’re losing money at CNN. “The American chain is the latest in a series of restaurants and retailers to come under pressure in Britain, where many businesses have struggled with the transition to online shopping and uncertainty about Brexit.” Read more

 

Bonobos founder Andy Dunn, Wednesday at the IRCE @RetailX in Chicago: “We got stuck with our early adopter customers and kind of topped out.” by James Melton at Internet Retailer. “Then an early experiment—aimed at launching a new line of Bonobos shirts—brought men into the company’s offices to “alpha test” the shirts. The shirts were not a hit, but the company’s pants—the product line that launched the company—were…That experience led to the creation of what is now a network of more than 60 Bonobos Guide Shops.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Expedia shows off $900M Seattle waterfront campus

Zillow launches retooled Zestimate – uses AI to ‘see’ value in homes

NBC Hit With Technical Issues at Democratic Debate

FDA cracks down on kratom sellers

Italy’s ‘cannabis light’ creates buzz even if the pot won’t

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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