Consumers Aren’t Happy With Target Sweater That Makes Light of OCD by Kristina Monllos at Ad Week. “We never want to disappoint our guests, and we apologize for any discomfort,” said a spokesman for the company in a statement. “We currently do not have plans to remove this sweater.” Read more / See the pics

 

Walmart’s Use of Sci-fi Tech To Spot Shoplifters Raises Privacy Questions by Jeff John Robert at Fortune. “Walmart’s experiment, which it ended after several months, highlights the powerful high-tech tools available to retailers to reduce theft…Home Depot says it does not use face scanning software. Walgreens says it has no contract with FaceFirst, and added it does not discuss specific security measures. Target, meanwhile, would not confirm or deny if the company uses the software.” Read more

 

Frank Blake Joins Macy’s Board of Directors “Blake’s election increases the size of the board to 14 members.” Read the release

 

Apples’s Angela Ahrendts on Where the Company is Taking Retail Next by Austin Carr at Fast Company. “How do we get our kids who prefer no human interaction into these stores?” Ahrendts bemoaned how fragmented the Apple retail experience has been in the past…”I asked Tim a very simple question: Why do we do it this way?” she recalled. “He said, ‘I don’t know—we’ve always done it this way.’” Read more

 

Target Debuts Black Friday Promotional Strategy, Stores to Open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving  Read the release

 

Best Buy opening at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving, releases Black Friday deals by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “And in a twist, the nation’s largest electronics chain will once again close its stores at 1 a.m. when traffic begins to wane that night and re-pen them at 8 a.m. on the actual Black Friday.” Read more

 

14% of Canadians regularly engaged in so-called “commuter commerce” on the bus, streetcar or commuter train are spending an average of $529 per month on goods and services, according to a new survey from Ipsos Reid and PayPal.  By Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. Read more

 

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Know a Workout Warrior? With New CMO, JC Penney Aims to Be Gifting Destination by Adrianne Pasquarelli at Ad Age. “We’re trying to facilitate her shopping mission from beginning to end,” said Ms. (Mary Beth) West, who was formerly with Mondelez International. “We have a wonderful assortment at great value, but people don’t know all that,” she said.” Read more

 

Walgreens Executive Vice President to Present at Credit Suisse 2015 Healthcare Conference Today Read the release

 

Rite Aid’s troubled history of family drama, high debt and mismanagement by John Luciew at Penn Live. “The company was started and built by the frugal father. It was mortally wounded by the free-spending son, who would end up in federal prison for his role in a sweeping accounting scandal, costing investors millions in vanished stock value…” Read more

 

Kroger to retrofit 1,000 gas stations energy-efficient lights by Alexnader Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. Read more

 

Oreo to let customers personalize packaging for holidays by Samantha Bomkamp at Chicago Tribune. “Or, for those who don’t want a digital design, Oreo is offering a black-and-white package that comes with markers to color the package by hand. Each Colorfilled Oreo pack costs $10, plus $5 for shipping.” Read more

 

Sam’s Club Adds New Pre-Black Friday Event Read the release

 

USPS worker fired after throwing $199 package of delicate electronics from customer’s driveway to his front door by Kieran Corcoran at Daily Mail. “I was expecting something professional. I mean grab the package, come to my door, leave it at my door and ring on the bell. But that’s not what I saw.’ See the video / Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Stores Realize It’s Dumb to Open Earlier and Earlier on Thanksgiving

CNBC: The other big retail frenzy you’ve never heard of

Home Depot loses bid to overturn N.C. Revenue Department’s denial of $4 million in tax deductions

J.C. Penney will open at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, two hours earlier

Meijer names Pepin SVP of foods

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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