South Africa Goes Berserk for New Walmart Store by Brian Sozzi at The Street. “Lines snaked around the 237,000-square-foot store, and along the street, as people clamored for cheap food and other discounted merchandise. McMillon said the store sold an astounding 1,000 TVs, 400 laptops, 35,663 gallons of milk, and 144,000 rolls of toilet paper on opening day alone.” See the line pic / Read more

 

Target CEO’s 2015 Pay Package Totals $16.9 Million via Dow Jones Business News. “…a decline from his $28.2 million in 2014 compensation that included a make-whole incentive package to leave his previous post at PepsiCo Inc.” Read more

 

Amazon India chief joins Jeff Bezos’ leadership team by Angel Gonzalez at Seattle Times. “The Times of India report quotes Bezos writing that “Amit and our India team are doing remarkable things.” The newspaper also said Agarwal would teleconference into the S team conclaves.” Read more

 

Where Wal-Mart and Philanthropy Mix by Sarah Nassauer. “Late last month the hottest $50 ticket in town got you a seat at a lunch supporting scholarships for single parents featuring a speech by Wal-Mart Chief Executive Doug McMillon…Before the lunch Mr. McMillon mingled in the VIP room, shaking hands and snapping pictures with a handful of supporters, most of whom had donated at least $5,000, including employees from the Bank of Arkansas, Colgate-Palmolive Inc. and McCormick& Co.” Read more (subscription)

 

Sears bids adieu to New York design office by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “The hedge fund mogul…is shutting the department store’s 154-employee New York apparel design office. The office is slated to close in July, a Department of Labor filing revealed. Sears will move roughly 40 positions to an existing site in San Francisco — the remainder will be cut.” Read more

 

Former Family Dollar CEO Howard Levine resigns from Dollar Tree board by Jennifer Thomas at Charlotte Business Journal. “Dollar Tree’s SEC filing notes “there are no disagreements between Mr. Levine and the Company.” Read more

 

Report: Wal-Mart to Drop Wild Oats Organic Food Brand by John Kell at Fortune. “This pivot is important for a few reasons. Walmart is the nation’s largest grocery chain, but a move away from Wild Oats after just a few years of backing this initiative indicates it hasn’t yet figured out how best to sell organic products to consumers.” Read more

 

**A message from 2016 Sweet & Snacks Expo – When you hit the upscale wood flooring you’ve gone Gourmet! Gourmet, premium, free-from and organic products take center-stage this year with more than 120 specialty exhibitors – an increase of 20% in just the past two years. See the list of gourmet exhibitors | See the 2015 most innovative new product winners | Website | Chicago’s McCormick Place May 24-26

 

Amazon director of engineering Robert Parker departs for Samsung’s smart home arm by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. Read more

 

Maurices’ new $80M HQ opens in Duluth by Nicole Norfleet at Star Tribune. “The 200,000 square feet of office space at 425 W. Superior St. spans an entire block and includes many modern touches such as a fitness center, large glass windows and an outdoor plaza that overlooks Lake Superior…Maurices, which has more than 950 stores throughout the United States and Canada, is a brand of Ascena Retail Group.” Read more

 

Walmart Snags eBay Vet as It Seeks Marketplace Sellers by Ina Steiner at eCommerceBytes. “Jordan Sweetnam was most recently Vice President of Seller Experience for eBay, where he oversaw the development, strategy and delivery of tools and experiences to sellers. He joined Walmart this month as Vice President of Global Product at Walmart eCommerce.” Read more

 

Analyst: Costco expected to raise membership fees by early 2017 by Coral Garnick at Puget Sound Business Journal. “The expected price for Costco’s basic Gold Star Membership will rise $5, up from $55, and the Executive Membership is $120, up from $110, analysts Michael Lasser, wrote in a research note following a meeting with Costco executives that included CFO Richard Galanti.” Read more

 

Container Store taps into KonMari de-cluttering mania by Maria Halkias at Dallas Morning News. “The Container Store now sells Kondo’s books, and last weekend employees for the first time demonstrated the KonMari method of folding clothes as part of the “declutter, donate and do life organized” national campaign co-branded with Goodwill. The idea to have Goodwill collection points in stores during the store’s weekend event came after a brainstorming session…” Read more

 

…Container Store Q4 Comp Sales +0.2% Read the release

 

J. Crew CEO invites customers to email him by Teresa Novellino at New York Business Journal. “If there’s something you think we can do better, I want to hear it — just e-mail me: msd@jcrew.com,” according to Women’s Wear Daily.” Read more

 

Canada: ‘Pink tax’ has women paying 43% more for their toiletries than men by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “…a new study from Toronto-based ParseHub reveals price tags on 3,191 personal care products for women are substantially higher than the corresponding products for men.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Target CEO named co-chair of gender parity fund

Amazon sues ‘Buy Amazon Reviews’ in new crackdown on bogus reviews

Prince George robe sells out in 7 minutes

Immigrant Whole Foods workers get schooled on English in the context of the supermarket

Walton Family Foundation helps four nonprofits with innovation funding

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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