Target’s Perception Ticks Up with Democrats by Laura Heller at Forbes. “Target has enjoyed a slight uptick among Democrats by roughly 5-6 points. Target’s Buzz Score among independent voters dropped 10 percent to zero (meaning the positive and negative sentiments cancel each other out), but among Republicans the score is approximately -15.” Read more

 

Walmart confirms police report, says card readers compromised in Virginia by Steve Ragan at CSO. “The Fredericksburg Police Department has issued a warning to Central Park shoppers after at least 37 people had their payment cards compromised, and bank accounts drained. In each reported case of theft, the victim had used their card at the local Walmart.” Read more

 

Wayfair Q1 Total Net Revenue Growth +76% “Direct Retail revenue, consisting of sales generated primarily through the sites of Wayfair’s five brands, increased $342.5 million to $711.8 million, up 92.7% year over year
Total net revenue increased $323.0 million to $747.3 million.” Read the release

 

$429.6M Powerball Ticket Sold at 7-Eleven in Trenton, N.J. by Jeff Chirico at ABC 6 Philly. “At a packed Pat’s Diner in Trenton, rumors over who the Powerball winner could be were racing as fast as the wait staff Sunday night. “They said, ‘No, the waitress from Pat’s Diner.’ Yeah!,” said Dorothy Salinitro of Trenton.” Read more / See the video

 

HEB scrambles to debunk Nine Inch Nails rumor via Austin Business Journal. “Yes, the post is fake,” said an HEB spokeswoman. “Our social media team is on it.”…The Nine Inch Nails post likely concerned HEB officials when they noticed it had more than 4,000 people RSVP’d.” Read more

 

Lord & Taylor is going retro. Will millennials be into it? by Sarah Halzack at Washington Post. “This time of year, it’s common to see the racks at apparel stores brimming with clothes in springy floral prints. But set foot into Lord & Taylor this season, and you might notice that they’re going particularly heavy on one flower: The rose…” Read more

 

More Chip-Card Headaches, This Time for Merchants by Robin Sidel at WSJ. “A few weeks ago, a woman used a counterfeit card to buy $400 worth of gift cards at a Harps grocery store—and then hit nine more stores in quick succession after the first attempt worked, sticking the regional grocer with a tab for $4,000 that previously would have been absorbed by the card-issuing bank.” Read more (subscription)

 

Kathee Tesija, former top Target executive, finds second act by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “I really thought I wasn’t going to work,” she said in an interview Friday. “I wanted more time with my family.” Tesija recently joined Simpactful, a year-old retail and consumer packaged goods consulting firm, as a senior adviser and consultant.” Read more

 

5 Products That Could Become as Popular as Adult Coloring Books by Christine Birkner at Adweek. “Sales of personalized planners at Michaels grew on the heels of the coloring book phenomenon…Yarn-wrapped letters are big sellers at Michaels, according to Carlotti. “People like coloring because it has a low barrier to entry,” he said.” Read more

 

** Trade show spotlight – Don’t miss the 2016 National Stationery Show – The ONLY stationery market in North America!

“I travelled from Brazil for the first time to visit NSS. It’s the best place to source Greeting Cards, Stationery, Boxed Notecards and all kinds of unique gifts.” Retail chain owner. On May 15-18 at Javits Center, NYC come and discover new & unique products from 800 exhibitors. See show categories | Retailer stationery stories | Register now

 

Nordstrom digital VP and other leaders departing in continued upheaval of retailer’s tech unit by Todd Bishop at GeekWire. “Courtney Kissler, plans to leave the Seattle-based retailer to take a new role outside the company… JB Brown, co-founder of the Nordstrom Innovation Lab, and most recently senior director of mobile and personalization technology, confirmed via email that he also left this week.” Read more

 

Ex-Kroger CEO Speaks at University Event by Larry Levy a Tulsa World. “Looking to the future, Dillon said he did not think online ordering and delivery will work for the grocery business, which he described as “a very local business” although it may work for Amazon.” Read more

 

Toys ‘R’ Us hires a new CIO by Tracy Maple at Internet Retailer. “Phil Newmoyer joins Toys ‘R’ Us as the retailer prepares to move its e-commerce operations in-house.” Read more

 

Kroger sends letters to employees regarding Equifax breach at Krebs on Security. “The nation’s largest grocery chain by revenue appears to be one of several Equifax customers that were similarly victimized this year.” Read more

 

Bass Pro Founder Digs Up Massive Sinkhole in Cave Search via Daily Mail. “People say I’m crazy but I’m happy about every nickel we’ve spent down here,’ (Johnny Morris) added, without revealing how much he had spent on the operation.” See the pics / Read more

 

Gucci Departs Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition After Alibaba Entrance by Scarlett Conlon at Vogue. “GUCCI has followed Michael Kors in departing the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition – the non-profit organisation that aims to combat the production of copies in the fashion industry – following the announcement that the Alibaba Group has become a member.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Walmart sells tribal T-shirts to support powwow

Amazon and eBay hosted ads for banned invasive species

Oakland pops soda tax on November ballot

Renters made up 36% of households last year – the highest figure in a decade

Harvard’s mumps outbreak threatens star-studded reunion

UPS-backed Rwandan blood deliveries show drones’ promise

Kick Your New-Store Habit, Retailers

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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