How worried is Groupon about Google Offers, the new daily discount service of the search giant?
Apparently enough to sue two of its former sales managers. In a civil complaint filed in Illinois, Groupon sued Michael Nolan and Brian Hanna, claiming they took confidential trade secrets with them when they defected to Google Offers.
The two men have been accused of breaching promises to protect Groupon information, including customer lists and sales and marketing plans.
"In their new positions with Google Offers and/or Google, Hanna and Nolan will provide the same or similar services as they provided at Groupon," requiring them "to employ confidential and proprietary information that they learned while employed at Groupon," the complaint said.
The lawsuit comes a week after the company discounted its initial public offering to less than $12 billion.
In December 2010 Groupon declined a $6 billion takeover bid from Google. Google later launched its own daily deals site.
Sales Buzz
Wal-Mart Overhauls China (Bloomberg)
Wal-Mart Stores is reviewing its management procedures in China after reopening the 13 Chongqing locations Chinese authorities shut in early October.
Stop & Shop's New App (Retailing Today)
Stop & Shop has expanded the availability of its SCAN IT! mobile shopping app on several other Android devices, which will help the grocery chain reach twice as many customers.
Handbag Sales Up (Chain Store Age)
Coach, the luxury designer, reported a first quarter profit increase of 14%, beating estimates.
Marketing Buzz
Time Gets Digital Chief (WSJ)
Time Inc. hired its first head of digital marketing. George Linardos, a former Nokia executive, joins the media giant. When will it find a new chief executive?
New Knight Funding (Bloomberg)
The Knight Foundation has hired Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes and several digital experts from Harvard and MIT to apply a venture capital funding model to media.
Marketing Google (Adweek)
Google's vice president of global marketing, Lorraine Twohill, tells Adweek that working quickly and nimbly is behind her success.
Twitter Poaches Google (AllThingsD)
Karen Wickre, founder and editor of Google's network of company blogs, becomes the editorial director at Twitter, a newly created role.
Buzz Around the Office
Broke Monopoly (The Daily What)
Banksy's contribution to Occupy London.
List of the Day: Managing the Year of Diminished Career Expectations
1. Help a coworker out
2. Teach yourself one new skill a month
3. Start blogging
(Source: Glassdoor.com)
