Ahold, Delhaize Shares Soar on Reports of Merger Discussions by Paul Jarvis & Elco Van Groningen at Bloomberg. “Together, they would control about 4 percent of the U.S. grocery market, analysts at Natixis estimate, and would have a presence along the entire East Coast. In Europe, a combined business would be the fourth-biggest food retailer, Natixis said.” Read more

 

Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Names Two Walmart Employees to ‘Fast 15 Class of 2015’:

 

…Drew Johnson, Manager, Global Treasury: “Last year he founded the Second Street Snack Packs Program in support of Washington Junior High in Bentonville, and to date, the program has provided over 1,300 packs…His family lost pretty much everything in the tornado that hit Joplin in May 2011.” Read more

 

…Molly Blakeman, Sr. Manager of National Media Relations: “She calls the office, “probably the busiest press house in the country, besides the White House…She had previously worked for Sen. Mark Pryor and on several political campaigns, and her father works in politics in Northwest Arkansas. However, she soon fell in love with the Walmart job.” Read more

 

Lumber Liquidators’ insurers want out amid scandal by Michelle Celarier at NY Post. “If forced to defend and ultimately pay out on those claims, Lumber Liquidators would spend tens of millions of dollars, one class-action lawyer said Monday.” Read more

 

…Check out the new Eye on Retail website at eyeonretail.net

 

Can Sears innovate? Retailer aims to reinvent home services at new Seattle tech center by Todd Bishop at GeekWire. “In an interview at the office today, Sears executives outlined plans to upgrade everything from the front-end user interface to the back-end infrastructure that powers Sears Home Services — the nation’s largest provider of residential services including appliance repair, furniture cleaning, remodeling, maintenance and other forms of home improvement.” Read more

 

Wayfair Media Relations Manager Jumps to Drizly by Sara Castellanos at Boston Journal. “Kerin Horgan, former media relations manager at Boston-based online home furnishings giant Wayfair, joined the startup this week as senior manager of communications.” Read more

 

Lowe’s Canada To Acquire Leases Of 13 Former Target Stores Read the release

 

Wal-Mart ‘satisfied’ so far with test of Care Clinics in supercenters by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “Jennifer LaPerre, senior director with health & wellness for Walmart U.S., told The City Wire that the 17 Care Clinics are being well received…The clinics, owned by Wal-Mart and operated through a partnership with QuadMed, are still in a test phase. LaPeere said 22% of the patients have been Wal-Mart workers and their dependents.” Read more

 

Six Straight for Home Depot at Radio Ink. “Home Depot is radio’s #1 advertiser, airing 57,126 commercials on radio for the week of May 4-10, according to Media Monitors. The number of commercials played for The Home Depot was over 46 percent higher than the #2 advertiser for the week, Geico.” Read more

 

2015 CNBC’s Disruptor 50 (Warby Parker  #10, Pinterest #35)  See the top 50 list

 

J.C. Penney has designs on $2B turnaround from ill-fitting makeover by Maria Halkias at Dallas News. “The company expects to report a first-quarter loss Wednesday, but that’s not a surprise. It has already told Wall Street that it will take three years to regain its footing.” Read more

 

Dick’s Opens #613 in Bristol, TN  Read the release

 

‘Smart’ mirrors in fitting rooms give shoppers a different look by Anne D’innocenzio at AP via Seattle Times. “John Koryl, president of Neiman Marcus stores and online, said the mirror allows the retailer to have specific information regarding who tried on the dress and bought it.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

I Tried It: The grocery store of the future

Home Depot Execs Settle into New Roles

Bird flu found in Indiana; 15th state to report it

Amazon’s International Growth Challenge

Read Tipsheet Extra

 

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Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet is created early every weekday morning and read by retail merchants and executives worldwide. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s really happening in the world of retail. Contact us at info@eyeonretail.net.