Former REI Chairman of the Board Killed in Avalanche by Becky Monk at Puget Sound Business Journal. “The REI co-op community is devastated to learn of Doug Walker’s death on Granite Mountain. The REI board of directors, management and the entire organization send their heartfelt condolences to Doug’s family,” REI said in a statement. “With any spare time he had, Doug would head to the mountains.” Read more

 

LA TIMES: CES shifts its focus to innovations changing the tech industry by Andrea Chang. “CES ballooned into an overwhelming crush of products, press events and panels in recent years…Bejeweled smartphone cases shared space with vibrating forks, Wi-Fi-connected washing machines were displayed alongside the latest pair of celebrity-backed headphones…There will be less emphasis on the typical CES electronics like televisions, tablets and smartphones, and more attention paid to industry-changing innovations such as connected, electric and driverless cars; the Internet of Things; drones; virtual reality and gaming; and entertainment tech.” Read more

 

NY TIMES: Girl Scout Cookie Sales Go Digital, With Help From Visa and Dell by Elizabeth Olson. “This is Visa’s initial collaboration with the Girl Scouts, and its Visa Checkout payments system can be used for processing online cookie sales…By 2018, Dell hopes to supply nearly 4,000 girls from underprivileged communities with laptops and tablets.” Read more

 

UK: Amazon to launch buy now, pay later service for customers at The Sun. “Anyone spending £400 in one go — on multiple items or just one — can apply to pay over four years without laying down a deposit. Amazon Pay Monthly, which launches later this month, will charge 16.9 per cent interest.” Read more

 

COOL SPRING FORECAST ADDS TO RETAILERS’ WOES – A $500M hit and a bleak forecast for retail by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “Further adding to retailers’ woes are predictions that spring will get off to an unusually cool start across much of the country, which could cause an even bigger blow to apparel sales than the warm December.” Read more

 

**A message from the 2016 Sweets & Snacks Expo, featuring more candy and snacks than any other event! The National Confectioners Association’s Sweets & Snacks Expo has expanded and added a second hall featuring more than four acres of candy, chocolate and snacks. Experience more new exhibitors and more new products than ever before with 16,000 of your industry peers. With expanded networking opportunities, a second education theater and more than 750 companies, attend to discover innovations, insights and trends that will grow your business! Register Now | Learn More on Our Website

 

Target’s turnaround plan works to get shoppers back into stores by Anne D’Innocenzio at AP via Star Tribune. “Take Annabel Bernardo, who once bought trendy clothes at Target but cut back after she felt it lost its fashion edge. Now, Bernardo, who lives in Rockville, Maryland, is back: “The store is looking much better. It’s looking more upscale.” Read more

 

Whirlpool’s new smart appliances have Amazon Dash built in by Rich McCormick at The Verge. “The app, which runs on iOS and Android, will let you buy regularly used items with one click directly from your mobile device.” Read more

 

MAN WANTS OWN WIKIPEDIA PAGE SAYING HE’S THE ONE WHO GOT RID OF THE DRYER – This Apple Alum Wants to Kill the Clothes Dryer by Keith Barry at Reviewed.com. “Since it’s expected to retail for just $1,199—roughly the cost of a high-end washing machine alone—Reid says many customers could buy two. “If you were planning to buy a washer and dryer pair, you could get the same laundry throughput with a quarter of the trips to the laundry room.” Read more

 

AMAZON READIES FIRST CINCINNATI STORE – Amazon store on Univ. of Cincinnati campus primed for grand opening by Bowdeya Tweh. “The company and university officials are holding a ceremony Thursday at 11 a.m. to mark the location’s opening.” Read more

 

From Digital Disappointment ToThe End Of The App Era, Here Are Eight Trends For 2016 by Tom Goodwin at TechCrunch. “Horizontalization And Platforms – A whole new world of businesses are built on the idea of owning the customer interface. We’ve Airbnb, Seamless, Facebook, Alibaba, Uber…Large CPG brands could aim to supply direct to the customer using their brand as that interface.” Read more

 

Walmart Adds MasterPass to Online and Mobile Checkout “MasterPass by MasterCard is a digital payments platform that enhances the online and mobile checkout process.” Read the release

 

DAILY MAIL ON JEFF BEZOS – The tax-avoiding ‘Bond villain’ who’s trying to take over the world by Tom Leonard. Read more

 

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Google’s Schmidt says this nation leads e-commerce

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