Why Nelson Peltz cut his Family Dollar stake by 66% at CNBC. “Investor Nelson Peltz’s Trian Fund Management slashed its stake in Family Dollar Stores by more than two-thirds to 2.07 percent, days after the company’s shareholders agreed to Dollar Tree’s $8.5 billion buyout offer.” Read more

 

Walmart Coordinates Northeast Snow Relief from Bentonville Office at KNWA NBC. “The Walmart emergency operation center in Bentonville is the hub of communication for the world-wide retailer, and senior manager Lucas McDonald sits at the helm. He says they work around the clock to make sure stores have support. “Yeah so we have 24/7 operations, anytime our associates or operators need anything, they call us directly. whether it’s two A.M. or two P.M. in the afternoon.” He said.” See the video / Read more

 

Amazon Local Services Isn’t Blowing Away Consumers, Merchants at The Street via Dallas News. “Alex Lima of New York-based FireIce Data, an IT services provider, says he signed up to be listed as one of the local services but has yet to reap any benefit. “Well the experience is no experience at all,” Lima said. “I will not recommended; there is no business.” Read more

 

What Target’s fail says about Canadians by Karen von Hahn at Toronto Star. “1. We don’t shop for sport…2. We are extremely discerning…3. If we’re not urban, we’re rural…4. We are distrustful of hype.” Read more

 

***New product spotlight – A message from Bra Bag: This adorable travel case, shaped like a bra, protects molded bras from denting or lumping in your suitcase so they arrive in form. Available in more than six styles, the Bra Bag can store up to six bras cup sizes A-C.  The Bra Bag has been touted by A-listers and fashion magazines around the world.  See the sell sheet.  Contact info@eyeonretail.net

 

Sneak peek as Target prepares to open Kailua, Hawaii store at KHON 2. “A store is also slated to open in Kahului in March. It will be the first Target store on Maui.” See the video & pics / Read more

 

Home Depot #1 in Social Media by Mike O’Brien at Click Z. “The social media management company looked at social data from 18 national retail chains as part of its upcoming Social@Scale Journal…Rounding out the overall top five were PetSmart, Kohl’s, BJ’s, and Target.” See the rankings / Read more

 

Amazon’s secret weapon: Prime members spend $60 billion a year by Rachel Lerman at Puget Sound Business Journal. “A new study by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners(CIRP) shows Prime members may spend an average of $1,500 each year on the site. That’s more than double the $625 non-members spend.” Read more

 

Albertsons and Safeway agree to divest 168 stores to win antitrust approval for merger at Reuters. Read more

 

Wal-Mart Argentina’s CEO will also oversee the retailer’s Chile operations by Katie Evans at Internet Retailer. “When Wal-Mart Chile CEO Gian Carlo Nucci retires in June, the world’s largest retailer plans to add Wal-Mart Chile to Wal-Mart Argentina president and CEO Horacio Barbeito’s portfolio.” Read more

 

Amazon triples the number of items that can contribute to free shipping by Shan Li at LA Times. “The Seattle company has offered free shipping on qualifying orders over $35, but with a catch — all products in a basket had to come from the same seller. But the retailer said Tuesday that items from multiple merchants — including those that don’t ship through Amazon — could be combined to qualify for the free shipping minimum.” Read more

 

China Accuses Alibaba of Lax Oversight of Merchants by Lulu Yilun Chen at Forbes. “The scathing report by the State Administration for Industry & Commerce accused Alibaba of allowing merchants to operate without required business licenses, to run unauthorized stores that co-opt famous brands and sell fake wine and handbags. Alibaba employees took bribes, and the e-commerce giant didn’t fix flaws in customer feedback or internal credit-scoring systems, the report said.” Read more

 

Target failed Quebec too by Francine Kopun at Toronto Star. “Their biggest mistake, according to Blais, was basing the success of their business model on changing Canadian shopping habits. “Target executives themselves realized that Canadians were less likely to (one-stop) shop than Americans – and intended to change that in order to succeed,” said Blais, citing a press interview with former Target Canada president, Tony Fisher. “So, your success is predicated on changing the way Canadian’s shop? Good luck with that,” said Blais.” Read more

 

***

Eye-on-Retail is a tipsheet read by thousands of Retail Merchants & Executives. It’s created and delivered early AM every weekday. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s happening in the world of retail.