Cabela’s Q1: US Comp -3.8% / Retail Sales +7.6% “For the quarter, adjusted for certain items, net income increased 7.3% to $29.5 million compared to $27.5 million in the year ago quarter.” Read the release | Will open two new stores

 

Walmart enforces new ‘Supplier Online Assortment’ initiative by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “Suppliers who sell products in Walmart’s brick and mortar stores have been told to provide the retail giant with photographs, written descriptions and other content such as user comments for the Walmart.com site regardless of whether the supplier sells online…While many large suppliers already have complied, thousands of smaller suppliers have yet to do so.” Read more

 

Neiman fashion guru shares latest trends by Erica Corsano at Boston Herald. “Ken Downing, senior vice president and fashion director of Neiman Marcus: What are this season’s hottest trends? My favorite trends are certainly led by lace, which brings a romantic spirit to everything…Also, red … the color of a tulip or ripened tomato … red is a major color story that I’m talking about — wearing it head to toe or as an accent to all the white we are seeing this season.” Read the Q&A

 

Former Asda director takes helm of Amazon’s UK operations by Sarah Butler at The Guardian. “Amazon has brought in Doug Gurr, the boss of its Chinese business, to run its UK operations in a move that could signal an acceleration of the online firm’s plans to sell groceries in Britain. Gurr was development director at Asda for nearly five years before joining Amazon in 2011.” Read more

 

Menards agrees to change policies violating labor laws via Star Tribune. “The board found in April that the Eau Claire-based retailer has been improperly requiring employees to sign mandatory-arbitration agreements that bar them from engaging in class-action lawsuits. The board also found that Menards has withheld merit pay raises for workers engaged in protected union activities.” Read more

 

Amazon launches free two-hour delivery in Cincinnati by Jordan Kellogg at Cincinnati Enquirer. 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. Show category list | Upcoming trends you’ll see | Retailer stationery stories | Register

 

Sears Canada is trying to radically reinvent itself with new leadership, culture and technology by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “76% of Sears Canada’s executive leadership team has been with the retailer for less than two years…The turnover extends to the buying team, of which 59 per cent are new, while one-fifth of the company’s store general managers and more than a third of the e-commerce team is new.” Read more

 

Sam’s Club Giving Awards $8.8 Million in Grants to Help Small Business Owners Gain Access to Capital Read the release

 

‘Free’ Shipping Crowds Out Small Retailers by Laura Stevens at WSJ. “The Web’s biggest retailers—including Target Corp., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Amazon—often get volume-driven discounts of 70% or more on certain shipments, while boutiques like Saratoga Olive Oil Co., in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., get breaks closer to 5%…after discounts, a megaretailer might pay about $14 to express-ship a 3-pound, 10-inch-square box from New York to a suburban Atlanta home. That same delivery could cost a small retailer about $74.” Read more (subscription)

 

Delhaize Q1 US Comp Sales +2.6% Read the release

 

Amazon Alexa is now available on first device not made by Amazon by Matt Burns at TechCrunch. “The $199 Triby launched in late 2015 and I’ve grown to love the little guy. It’s designed to be a modern kitchen appliance with buttons dedicated to VoIP calling and internet radio stations. Want to listen to NPR while you’re making coffee? The Triby makes it easy and now with Alexa, it can do much more.” Read more

 

Sneak peek: Inside Houston’s new Saks Fifth Avenue (Video) by Laura Furr at Houston Business Journal. See the video & pics

 

Walmart India launches development program for women entrepreneurs via New Kerala. “”(A total of) 32 women-owned businesses have been selected under the ‘Walmart Women Entrepreneurship Development Program’. The initiative is designed to help them achieve higher levels of business growth. We hope to create a pipeline of women suppliers for the industry as well as for us,” said Walmart India president and CEO Krish Iyer.” Read more

 

Fantastic Fakes: Busting a $70 Million Counterfeiting Ring by Del Quentin Wilber at Bloomberg. “The (Secret Service) estimated that the counterfeiter sold his initial run to his U.S. distributors for 10 percent of their face value. The distributors then dealt their haul to middlemen for 25¢ to 35¢ on the dollar. By the time they reached the person passing the bills at Walmart or Target, a bogus $100 note was being sold for as much as $65.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Alabama city targets Target with transgender bathroom law

DeWalt – yes, the drill maker – gets into the mobile business with rugged smartphone

Carolina Herrera honored for 35 years of fashion contributions

PetSmart and Arizona Diamondbacks Team Up to Set Guinness World Records Title for Most Dogs Attending a Sporting Event

Hormel brand manager dishes on Hawaii’s Spam love

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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