Target’s first tech incubator with Techstars already hatching tangible results by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “Target Corp.’s first experiment in sponsoring a tech incubator has already produced tangible results, including at least six partnerships with the retailer among the 11 start-ups that took part…Those were some of the highlights revealed Tuesday at Demo Day, the pinnacle of the 3-month-long boot camp in which the early-stage companies were given access to hordes of mentors to help finesse their business plans.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart pays quarterly bonuses to more store employees at Reuters. “Wal-Mart said it paid more than $201 million in second-quarter bonuses to hourly store staff as 99 percent of its stores met targets for cleanliness, faster checkout and better service.” Read more

 

Amazon isn’t showing you the best prices unless you are a Prime member or placing a large order by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “The report, published on Tuesday morning, found problems with Amazon’s price-comparison pages, which are supposed to allow customers to find the lowest price on a given product. But the tool seems to rank products in a way that favors items sold by Amazon, or merchants who pay Amazon to ship products on their behalf.” Read more

 

…AMAZON FIRES BACK by Monica Nickelsburg at GeekWire. “With Prime and Super Saver Shipping (which requires no membership and ships orders above $49 for free), the vast majority of our items – 9 out of 10 – can ship for free,” said Craig Berman, Amazon vice president of communications, in a statement to GeekWire today. “The sorting algorithms the article refers to are designed for that 90 percent of items, where shipping costs do not apply.” Read more

 

Deloitte: Retail sales seen increasing roughly 3 to 4 percent this holiday by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “That’s roughly in line with last year’s results, when sales excluding motor vehicles, gasoline and restaurants rose 3.6 percent.” Read more

 

PICS – Amazon’s offices in Austin at American-Statesman 15 pics

 

Target to buy back $5 billion shares at Reuters. Read more

 

2016 Temkin Emotion Ratings (Publix #1, HEB #4, Kroger #6) Top 20 list

 

Amazon Lockers Arrive at Denver 7-Eleven Stores by Emilie Rusch at Denver Post. “All three locations are open 24 hours a day, according to a search of the website: 3177 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, 650 E. 64th Ave., Denver, 7295 E. Seventh Ave., Denver.” Read more

 

Reader’s Digest Announces 2016’s Trusted Brands (Mass Merchant – Walmart, National Pharmacy – CVS) See the full list

 

**A message from Alma Italy – Enjoy the innovative, yet simple elegance of Alma Cookware. Alma Cookware produces non-stick aluminum cookware products and delivers healthy and tasty foods with the security of a professional product. Featuring La Sughiera – the thick-tempered glass lid with upper hole allows for spice-adding and stirring without removing the lid. Featuring Egizia – this warm color pottery connects modern technology with a traditional rural aesthetic. Made in Italy | Website | Italy-America new product inquiries | Retailers request samples at info@eyeonretail.net

 

CAUTIOUS HIRING – Macy’s joins Kohl’s, Target in hiring cautiously for holiday season at Reuters. “Macy’s said on Tuesday it would hire 83,000 temporary workers for the holiday quarter, a 2 percent decline from last year.” Read more

 

COURT: Menards founder doesn’t owe ex-fiancee ownership share via AP. “She claimed that during her relationship with Menard she performed a range of tasks for both him and the company, serving as Menard’s social companion, advising him on acquiring airplanes and their design and decor and suggesting new ideas for his stores, according to court documents.” Read more

 

Stage Stores Names Ex-Kohl’s SVP as Chief Merchandising Officer Press release

 

EPA FINE – Whole Foods, EPA reach deal in $3.5 million fine by Claudia Grisales at American-Statesman. “The EPA said it fined the organic foods giant $3.5 million after finding about a year ago that it wasn’t properly documenting and disposing of returned items of hand sanitizer, vitamins and other products in several states.” Read more

 

Bed Bath & Beyond: Today’s Q2 results expected to continue difficult times by Steven Russolillo at Wall Street Journal. “It deserves kudos for not overbuilding like some of its competitors, but fewer locations might help. While its stores are still profitable, they are becoming increasingly less so.” Read more (subscription)

 

Doug Meijer: A billionaire’s battle with depression by Leon Hendrix at Wood TV 8. “The old saying ‘money can’t buy happiness,’ it’s true,” Meijer said. The West Michigan grocery store executive spoke about his struggle with depression for the first time in a television interview with 24 Hour News 8.” See the video / Read more

 

EXTREME & RECKLESS – Retailers File Suit to Block Career-Killing New Overtime Rule “NRF’s David French: ‘This is a massive government overreach of executive authority, and the courts need to put a stop to it.’” Press release

 

21 States Sue Over Obama Administration’s New Overtime Rule via Fortune. “The rule, set to take effect Dec. 1, will require employers to pay overtime to salaried workers earning less than $47,500 a year, double the current threshold of $23,660.” Read more

 

Lowe’s Top Two Execs Receive Stock Options Press release

 

Cage-Free Debate Held in Boston by David Scharfenberg at Boston Globe. “These animals are individuals, they have likes, they have dislikes, they have personalities,” he said. “And when you force them to live in cages that are so cramped that they can barely move an inch their entire lives, they suffer tremendously…” Read more

 

Calvin Harris Insists His New Song Is About Safeway – Not Taylor Swift via Yahoo News. “I was trying to go on and make music for a living but I couldn’t because I didn’t have any money. I was like ‘Damn this grocery store! If I could break out of this I could have enough time to work on music and get good.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Wal-Mart launches online grocery pickup at four Twin Cities stores

Bass Pro Employee Running for State Legislature

Australia: Big supermarkets blamed for driving ‘ridiculous’ strawberry prices

Chile Vendor Told To Pack Up Peppers Can Stay In Albertsons’ Parking Lot

Publix sued over using filler in ‘100 percent real’ grated Parmesan

Spruce’s shave and a haircut to split off internet bits after Target Techstars accelerator

Downstate Illinois city reveals Meijer coming

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

 

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