Friday Tipsheet: Walgreens ‘Whipping Boy’ for Obama | Amazon Goes Private Label | Wmart’s Digital Circular

 

Wal-Mart takes weekly circular digital with new ‘Live Better’ focus by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “The normal tab we send out every weekend, we are changing how we do that. For one thing we will be doing it less frequently,” (Steve) Bratspies said…“It is going to be integrated in the technological world. Everything is going to be connected with digital partnerships and digital content so that you make the connection of product to the online world and back and forth much more seamlessly than you have been able to do in the past,” he said.”  Read more

 

Amazon reportedly prepping private-label grocery items by Jay Greene at Seattle Times. “(Amazon) which sells baby wipes under the Elements brand, reportedly has sought trademark protection for more than two dozen categories under its Elements brand, including coffee, water, vitamins, dog food and razors…The (Wall Street) Journal reported that Amazon had approached private-label producer TreeHouse Foods of Oak Brook, Ill., to make some products.” Read more

 

Walgreens chairman: We were ‘whipping boy’ for President Obama by Ameet Sachdev at Chicago Tribune. “We were disappointed with the publicity around inversions because we never intended to invert in the first place,” (James) Skinner said in response to a question from a shareholder.” Read more

 

Costco philosophical about chicken prices by Angel Gonzalez at Seattle Times. “What is your philosophy about chickens?” Adler asked during a call that followed Wednesday’s release of Costco’s earnings.” Read more

 

Costco Q3 2015 Results – Earnings Call Transcript via Seeking Alpha. Read here

 

Target Must Reveal Info On Past Data Breaches, Judge Says by Jody Godoy at Law360. “Target Corp. has to tell financial institutions suing over the retailer’s massive 2013 data breach whether it suffered similar attacks in the past and if so, how it responded to them, a Minnesota federal judge ruled in the multidistrict litigation Wednesday.” Read more (Subscription)

 

Amazon is Looking for the Perfect Warehouse Worker (On a Thin Budget) by Spencer Soper at Bloomberg. “(Amazon) budgeted a total of $26,000 for prizes and $60,000 for travel grants for more than 30 teams participating in the competition this week at the International Conference of Robotics and Automation in Seattle. “If you really want strong teams, you need a bigger investment,” said Alberto Rodriguez, who led a team of graduate-level students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “This probably needs 10 times the money.” Read more

 

Nordstrom’s Innovation Revamp Leads to E-commerce Texting App by Kim S. Nash at WSJ. “Using TextStyle, a salesperson can chat and share images with customers who opt in to the service. Customers can buy a product immediately by texting a unique code to Nordstrom, without having to type personal and financial information already on file.” Read more (Subscription)

 

Big Lots profit up as same-store sales rise by Lisa Beilfuss at MarketWatch. “In all for the first quarter, the retailer reported income from continuing operations of $32.3 million, or 60 cents a share, up from a year-earlier profit of $28.6 million, or 50 cents a share.” Read more

 

Amazon launches free same-day delivery for Prime members in 500 U.S. cities by Tricia Duryee at GeekWire. Read more

 

Rexall lands former Shoppers CEO Schreiber for top job by Marina Strauss at The Globe & Mail. “The tightening market has prompted some industry observers to predict that Mr. Schreiber could eventually steer Rexall into being acquired by a bigger global company to give it more purchasing power with suppliers and other economies of scale.” Read more

 

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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@shiftmarketinggroup.net.

 

 

Thursday Tipsheet: Costco Comp -1% | Target CEO Gives Amazon Its Due | Amazon Ups Ante

 

Costco comparable sales fall 1 percent, miss Street forecasts at Reuters. “Excluding the impact of fuel prices and currency, comparable sales rose 6 percent, still missing analysts’ estimates of 6.20 percent growth.” Read more

 

…Costco Q3 Earnings Release  Read here

 

Peeking inside new Costco in Rochester, NY – opens June 5th by Pat Taney at WHEC 10 NBC. “It’s now in Rochester thanks to about $3.5 million in tax breaks. It will pay just $118,000 in taxes its first year. In return, the city is getting more than 150 new jobs that pay on average around $42,000 a year and an additional $16 million in sales tax revenue.” See the video / Read more

 

Video: Target’s Brian Cornell at Code Conference “I feel like I’m wearing a sign – please ask Brian about hacking and cyber security.” See the video via Recode

 

Target CEO Gives Amazon Its Due by Edward Baig at USA Today. “We almost need to say thank you to Amazon. They’ve taught the American consumers to shop online. But they don’t own that relationship.” Read more

 

***A message from Dolce: Among the many unique qualities of Chile is an agricultural paradise situated between the mountains, rivers, and sea. From this oasis comes Dolce Super Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Featuring the lowest acidity rate in the category at 0.2%. Our advanced systems ensure less than 12 hours between harvest and oil extraction to packaging. See the websiteRetailers request a sample at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

Target Wants To Offer Apple Pay – Just Not Yet by Matthew Panzarino at Techcrunch. “Target CEO Brian Cornell said today at the Code conference that the company is committed to offering Apple Pay as an option for customers. “I’d love to have Apple Pay in our system right now,” said Cornell, adding that he sat down with Tim Cook and explained that Target would be supporting it.” Read more

 

Financial institutions claim Home Depot breach caused ‘billions of dollars’ in fraud losses by David Allison at Atlanta Business Chronicle. “Claiming that Home Depot is still at risk of another data breach (“the risk of another such breach is real, immediate, and substantial,” the financial institutions claim), the financial institutions are asking the court to order the company to implement a number of security improvements.” Read more

 

Amazon offers free same-day delivery for Prime members by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. “Residents in…14 regions—including New York, Atlanta and Boston as well as new same-day delivery markets Tampa Bay in Florida and San Diego—will now receive free same-day delivery to members on orders of $35 or more. The service previously cost $5.99.” Read more

 

Morgan, Walmart reach settlement over accident by Andrea Mandell at USA Today. “Walmart did right by me and my family, and for my associates and their families. I am grateful that the case was resolved amicably,” Morgan said in a statement.” Read more

 

CVS launches store brand aimed to attract more Hispanic shoppers by Emon Reiser at South Florida Business Journal. “The 12 stores feature fully bilingual employees, more than 1,500 popular Hispanic products….South Florida is the first market in which the brand has launched.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Google Confirms ‘Buy Button’ Is Coming

Q&A with Amazon Prime Boss Greg Greeley

CVS Shoplifter Slams Face First into Automatic Door

Walmart Launches Hypermarket O2O Platform “Walmart To Go”

Home Depot Prepares for Hurricane Season with Workshops in Nearly 700 Stores

Walmart to webcast Annual Meeting of Shareholders and management update for the investment community

Read Tipsheet Extra stories here

 

***

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@shiftmarketinggroup.net.

 

 

 

Wednesday Tipsheet: Lilly Pulitzer’s ‘Fat-Shaming’ | Wmart ‘Primer Fighter’ Site Leaks | Roz Brewer #65 Most Powerful Woman

 

Lilly Pulitzer called out for fat-shaming by Mara Siegler at NY Post. “Along with shots of Lilly products and staff, the site showed a wall decorated with a drawing of a woman with sagging fat in a bikini that says, “Put it down carb face.” The other says, “Just another day of fat, white and hideous. You should probably just kill yourself.” Read more

 

…See the pics here.

 

BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Brands 2015 (Amazon #14, Walmart #26, Home Depot #31…)  See the top 100 list

 

Leaked Site Reveals More Info On “ShippingPass” – Walmart’s Answer To Amazon Prime by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “During the brief time the link was live, shoppers were able to sign up and even place orders using ShippingPass, and were able to see which types of items were included in the new program, as well as which geographies ShippingPass served, among other things. They also found that the service would include free shipping on a number of items beyond those that could ship in three days’ time.” Read more

 

Lowe’s Fails To Man Up Against Home Depot, Underestimates Menards by Pam Goodfellow at Forbes. “Lowe’s shares of male AND female shoppers have dipped while Home Depot has gained. Currently, Lowe’s shopper deficit stands at -10% among both genders (versus the comparable three month rolling average recorded in May 2013), while Home Depot has gained nearly 5% among that profitable male demographic.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart to add assistant managers to each of its 2,500+ US Walmart Tire & Lube Express centers by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “We began testing this back in 2012 in a couple of stores and it was gradually expanded to 600 stores. Now we are in the process of rolling it out nationwide because the tests have proven greater customer service,” Wal-Mart spokesman Kory Lundberg told The City Wire.” Read more

 

Forbes Most Powerful Women 2015 (Rosalind Brewer #65…one spot behind Taylor Swift) See the top 100 list

 

Whole Foods’ John Mackey: Sell something your customers want to buy by David Whitford at Chicago Tribune. “In 1994, as he was turning 40, Mackey asked his father to resign. “The hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Mackey says. “I had to overcome a lot of fear, because I was dependent on my dad, emotionally and intellectually. I knew it hurt him a lot — he felt rejected — so I felt guilty. It was a painful decision, and that pain lasted a while.” Read more

 

We tried everything at the Costco and Sam’s Club food courts. Here’s who won at The Daily Herald.  See the winner

 

99 Cents Only Stores Announces Chairman of Board of Directors Andrew Giancamilli as New Interim President & CEO Read the release

 

Claim: Wal-Mart employs more people in China than every Chinese company combined employs in the US by Tim Fernholz at Quartz.  Read more

 

American Apparel Chairwoman Colleen Brown’s $2.5M Seattle-area manse hits the market by Patti Payne at Puget Sound Business Journal. See the 23 pics

 

Tipsheet Extra

Petsmart Part Ways with Ad Agency After Less Than Seven Months

Ace Hardware Supports Bees

Are Tesla’s pop-up stores Musk’s secret weapon?

Peter Thiel-backed VC firm backs Granify, a crystal-ball-like retail tech startup

Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH Enters the Downtown Market with First Metropolitan Store Location in San Francisco

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

 

***

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@shiftmarketinggroup.net.

 

 

Wednesday Tipsheet:

 

Lilly Pulitzer called out for fat-shaming by Mara Siegler at NY Post. “Along with shots of Lilly products and staff, the site showed a wall decorated with a drawing of a woman with sagging fat in a bikini that says, “Put it down carb face.” The other says, “Just another day of fat, white and hideous. You should probably just kill yourself.” Read more

 

…See the pics here.

 

BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Brands 2015 (Amazon #14, Walmart #26, Home Depot #31…)  See the top 100 list

 

Leaked Site Reveals More Info On “ShippingPass” – Walmart’s Answer To Amazon Prime by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “During the brief time the link was live, shoppers were able to sign up and even place orders using ShippingPass, and were able to see which types of items were included in the new program, as well as which geographies ShippingPass served, among other things. They also found that the service would include free shipping on a number of items beyond those that could ship in three days’ time.” Read more

 

Lowe’s Fails To Man Up Against Home Depot, Underestimates Menards by Pam Goodfellow at Forbes. “Lowe’s shares of male AND female shoppers have dipped while Home Depot has gained. Currently, Lowe’s shopper deficit stands at -10% among both genders (versus the comparable three month rolling average recorded in May 2013), while Home Depot has gained nearly 5% among that profitable male demographic.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart to add assistant managers to each of its 2,500+ US Walmart Tire & Lube Express centers by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “We began testing this back in 2012 in a couple of stores and it was gradually expanded to 600 stores. Now we are in the process of rolling it out nationwide because the tests have proven greater customer service,” Wal-Mart spokesman Kory Lundberg told The City Wire.” Read more

 

Forbes Most Powerful Women 2015 (Rosalind Brewer #65…one spot behind Taylor Swift) See the top 100 list

 

Whole Foods’ John Mackey: Sell something your customers want to buy by David Whitford at Chicago Tribune. “In 1994, as he was turning 40, Mackey asked his father to resign. “The hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Mackey says. “I had to overcome a lot of fear, because I was dependent on my dad, emotionally and intellectually. I knew it hurt him a lot — he felt rejected — so I felt guilty. It was a painful decision, and that pain lasted a while.” Read more

 

99 Cents Only Stores Announces Chairman of Board of Directors Andrew Giancamilli as New Interim President & CEO Read the release

 

Claim: Wal-Mart employs more people in China than every Chinese company combined employs in the US by Tim Fernholz at Quartz.  Read more

 

American Apparel Chairwoman Colleen Brown’s $2.5M Seattle-area manse hits the market by Patti Payne at Puget Sound Business Journal. See the 23 pics

 

 

 

Tipsheet Extra

Petsmart Part Ways with Ad Agency After Less Than Seven Months

Ace Hardware Supports Bees

Are Tesla’s pop-up stores Musk’s secret weapon?

Peter Thiel-backed VC firm backs Granify, a crystal-ball-like retail tech startup

Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH Enters the Downtown Market with First Metropolitan Store Location in San Francisco

 

 

Tuesday Tipsheet: Amazon Stops Funneling | France: Illegal to Dump Food | Jet.com ‘a little immature’

 

Amazon to stop funneling European sales through low-tax haven by Mark Scott at NY Times via Seattle Times. “The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, is also investigating whether Apple and Amazon receive unfair state support through low-tax agreements in Ireland and Luxembourg, respectively, where the companies run their European operations.” Read more

 

Sneak Preview: What it’s like to shop on Jet.com, the startup that’s gunning for Amazon by Tricia Duryee at Geek Wire. “Selection, in general, is probably the biggest ding on Jet’s shopping experience. Then again, some people might find Amazon’s thousands of options per item daunting, so I can see where people might appreciate the limited selection, too.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart presses meat suppliers on antibiotics, treatment at Dallas Morning News. “That means asking meat producers, egg suppliers and others to use antibiotics only for disease prevention or treatment, not to fatten their animals, a common industry practice. Experts say Wal-Mart is the first major retailer to take a stance to limit the use of the antibiotics.” Read more

 

How Target Corp’s demise in Canada could be a gain for Lowe’s by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. Read more

 

Boy picking out prize for riding without training wheels gets bike stolen at Walmart by Carol Robinson at AL.com. “The boy, he said, wasn’t happy. “He was mad,” Jones said. “He just kind of clammed up. He didn’t say much.” That changed when Jones and other officers took him back inside and bought him a new bicycle, with a few extra bells and whistles, or in this case, lights. “He’s happy now,” Jones said.” Read more

 

***A message from Mobee: Mobee has over 350,000 GPS Tracked, Smartphone enabled ‘Bees’ located within 5 miles of every retail store in the USA. We detect supply chain issues quickly and issue fix alerts to remedy the problem in hours not months. Our “Supply Chain Fix Alerts” have resulted in post-alert sales increases of up to +35% by getting displays up and product on shelf.  How Mobee works videoContact dowdy@getmobee.com to request a “Free Pilot”.

 

Proposed $19 million data breach settlement between Target and MasterCard is voided by Kavita Kumar at Star-Tribune. “The setback for Target and MasterCard was met with cheers by the lead plaintiffs’ attorneys in a federal lawsuit against Target brought by smaller banks who have denounced the proposed settlement as too little relief. They have called the settlement “laughable”. Read more

 

France is making it illegal for supermarkets to throw away edible food by Roberto A. Ferdman at Washingon Post. “The European country’s parliament voted unanimously for the new law, which will force grocers to either donate the food to charity or make sure that it is used as animal feed. “It’s scandalous to see bleach being poured into supermarket dustbins along with edible foods,” Guillaume Garot, a former food minister who introduced the bill, told the legislature Thursday evening.” Read more

 

From the aisles of Costco, Frank Fiorina attempts to humanize his wife by Ben Terris at Washington Post. “This is really weird, you guys,” he told his entourage while picking up a 30-pack of double-ply Kirkland-brand toilet paper. He was a regular at the store, but this was the first time he had gone shopping in service to political journalism. “I don’t know how long you want this to go on, but usually I can do my shopping pretty quick.” Read more

 

Amazon taking direct aim at Etsy with new marketplace for hand-crafted goods by John Cook at Geek Wire. “We’re offering artisans like you a first peek at Handmade, a new marketplace for handcrafted goods,” according to an email that the Journal obtained that was sent to Etsy sellers.” Read more

 

***

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@shiftmarketinggroup.net.

 

Wednesday Tipsheet: Lowe’s US Comp +5.3% | WMT, HD & DKS Call Highlights

 

Lowe’s Q1 US Comp Sales +5.3% “Lowe’s today reported net earnings of $673 million for the quarter ended May 1, 2015, a 7.8 percent increase over the same period a year ago.” Read the release

 

Lowe’s Earnings & Revenues Miss Estimates by Katie Little at CNBC. “Total same-store sales rose 5.2 percent. Analysts on average had estimated a 6.1 percent rise, according to Consensus Metrix.” Read more

 

Target to Webcast 1st Quarter Earnings Call Today at 9:30 am CST  Read more

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods connecting adjoining Field & Stream stores by Tim Schooley at Pittsburgh Business Times. “In its earnings call, Dick’s leadership told analysts to expect more of the approach as the company continues to grow its young Field & Stream chain in conjunction with its flagship brand. There are four more combo stores planned to open by the end of the year.” Read more

 

Best Buy teams up with Cole Haan on smartphone cases for men by Kavita Kumar at Star-Tribune. “It is rolling out a line of exclusive Cole Haan leather smartphone cases that will hit stores and be available online starting May 31, timed for Father’s Day shopping.” Read more / See the line pic

 

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Names First Woman Executive to Coveted Top Role by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “For more than 15 years, one role at Amazon has stood out as perhaps the most coveted: Jeff Bezos’s “shadow,” who acts as an adviser to the CEO, sitting by his side in daily meetings and serving as a sounding board on big decisions. But, as the years have passed and shadows have appeared and exited, the role stood out for another reason: A woman has never held it. Until now.” Read more

 

Mayor Who Told Residents to Stop Shopping at Home Depot Gets Wish by Emily Buss via Pioneer Press. “The home improvement retailer and city on Tuesday reached a tentative $2.2 million purchase agreement that softens restrictions on redevelopment of the 95,000-square-foot property.” Read more

 

As Walmart Annual Meeting Looms, Investor Campaigns Against ‘Outsized’ Executive Pay by Clare O’Connor at Forbes. Read more

 

Home Depot finds its footing in online shopping by John Kell at Fortune. “We’ve really leaned into interconnected retail,” Home Depot Chief Financial Officer Carol Tome told Fortune.” Read more

 

***Check out the new Eye on Retail website!  eyeonretail.net

 

Etsy Plunges 13% After Reporting Its First-Quarter Financial Performance by Alex Wilhelm at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Who’s eating Walmart’s lunch? Lots of companies by Phil Wahba at Fortune. Read more

 

Dash Offers Amazon New Power in the Home — If It Catches On by Jack Neff at Ad Age. “Derek Ward, a San Francisco software product manager, said he agreed to take a button for Clorox Disinfecting Wipes “because I geek out about this type of technology.” But he said he hasn’t placed an order yet, other than hitting the button accidentally on his closet wall” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra 

Taylor Swift & retail’s big oops

Oil price plunge could cost Canada 185,000 jobs this year

Amazon is using New York City subways to deliver packages

This retailer will bring a prototype store to Cincinnati

Amazon withdraws request for $1.2 million in tax incentives in MN

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

Walmart Q1 Earnings Call Highlights

Doug McMillon, President & CEO

A few weeks ago, I visited stores and clubs in Beijing and Shanghai. I really enjoyed listening to our Yihaodian customer focus group and following one of our associates around as we delivered orders to apartments in Shanghai.

I walked stores in Mexico and saw a growing business in grocery home shopping there, too.

 

Greg Foran, President & CEO Walmart US

Neighborhood Markets…posted approximately a 7.9% comp

We continued to feel pressure in media and electronics, resulting from industry contraction, the shift from physical to digital media, and lapping last year’s release of the movie Frozen.

In-stock positions in categories such as TVs suffered as a result of the port congestion on the West Coast.

Mobile traffic was up over 100% for the quarter, and we saw higher conversion rates as well.

 

David Cheesewright, President & CEO of Walmart Int’l

I’m particularly pleased with our overall performance in Mexico

In the UK, grocery home shopping continues to report double-digit comps, and we’re leveraging our UK experience in other markets across the globe.

We have a newly created International Acceleration Team based in the UK that is building close partnerships with our markets to speed up the adoption of grocery home shopping processes and technologies.

We’re now working towards a common technology platform to better position us for the expansion of grocery home shopping.

UK: sales declined 2.9% and comp sales declined 3.3% excluding fuel

Canada: sales were up 3.7%, and comps were up 1.8%

Mexico: net sales grew 7.1% and comp sales increased 4.9%

Brazil: net sales and comp sales were up 3.0%

China: net sales grew 1.9% and comp sales grew 0.4%

 

Rosalind Brewer, President & CEO Sam’s Club

Our first quarter results were disappointing

We re-launched Club Pickup in every club in the country, resulting in a 37% sales increase in the Club Pickup Program.

Comp sales were 0.4%, driven by ticket increases of 60 basis points and by a traffic decline of 20 basis points.

Home and apparel comps were up in the low single-digits.

Women and children’s apparel was strong, delivering double-digit comp performance

Patio and seasonal items were down

Mattress and houseware categories grew double-digits in comp sales

Technology and entertainment business, comp sales were down

Our health and wellness category benefited from our pharmacy’s introduction of the newly launched Free/4/10 program

Read the full transcript

 

 

Home Depot Q1 Earnings Call Highlights

Craig Menear, Chairman, President & CEO

All three of our U.S. divisions posted mid-single-digit comps or higher, our Western division was our best performing division.

Both tickets and transactions grew during the quarter with particular strength in transaction growth.

Mexico posted double-digit comps in local currency, making it 46 consecutive quarters of positive comps.

Canadian team posted comps in local currency above the company average, making it 14 consecutive quarters of positive comps.

For the quarter, our online sales grew almost 30%.

Impact of West Coast Port slowdown: “$60 million-ish”

 

Ted Decker, EVP Merchandising

The departments that outperformed the company’s average comp were Tools, Indoor Garden, Outdoor Garden, Décor, Lighting, Plumbing and Appliances.

Pro Heavy categories continue to show great strength as we saw double-digit comps in Siding, Power Tools, Commercial Lighting, Fencing and Power Tool Accessories.

Total comp transactions grew by 4.4% for the quarter, while comp average ticket increased 1.7%.

Tickets for transactions under $50, representing approximately 20% of our U.S. sales, were up 3.2% in the first quarter.

Transactions tickets over $900, also representing approximately 20% of our U.S. sales, were up 6.8% in the first quarter.

We still don’t have a specific target on a private label penetration. We’re over 15%.

 

Carol Tome, CFO

Comps for U.S. stores were positive 7.1% for the quarter with positive comps of 5% in February, 7.8% in March and 7.9% in April.

Our garden department in the United States made up 19% of our sales and 26% of our growth. If you compare that to last year, which wasn’t a normal spring, our garden department made up about 18% of our sales but only 4% of our growth.

If you look at people between the ages 18 and 34, nearly a third of them are at home with their parents. And if they were all to leave their home nest, like my nephew just did, thank goodness, that’s 4 million households that would be created.

Read the full transcript

 

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods Q1 Earnings Call Highlights

Ed Stack, Chairman & CEO

Dick’s omni-channel comp sales increased 1.8% in the quarter with growth across the hard lines apparel and footwear categories and supported by an increase in both traffic and ticket.

Encouraged by the improving trend in our Golf business.

We’re seeing the golf recovery continue into the second quarter.

CALIA is after a great start and we believe it will become our number three women’s athletic apparel brand by the end of 2016.

…a new store that will be opening up this year, we’re redeveloping the shopping environment for the athletic female including updated dressing rooms and improved merchandising presentation.

Our focus on e-commerce continues to pay-off with the e-commerce penetration growing to 8.5% of sales in the first quarter of this year, compared to 7% in the first quarter of 2014.

…later this year, we plan to launch Field & Stream transactional (web) sites.

First combo store: set to open in July in Mobile Alabama, which combined store will place a Dick’s and Field & Stream right next to each other with the interior walls opened up in the middle of the store, so customers can cross shop between chains.

…the unfinished camp product will all be in Field & Stream, leaving more room in the Dick’s stores for high margins, faster turning categories such as our women’s, youth and teens sports businesses.

…We believe this will be a very compelling shopping experience and plan to have four of these combo stores in placed by the end of 2015.

 

Andre Hawaux, CFO

In 2015, we expect to open approximately 45 new Dick stores, relocate seven new Dick stores – seven Dick stores and relocate one Golf Galaxy store. We also remain focused on scaling our field and stream concept and expect to open nine new field and stream stores this year.

If you exclude those two businesses for both the golf business and the hunt business, that 1.8 comp at Dick’s would’ve been at 3.8 comp at Dick’s.

Read the full transcript

 

***

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@shiftmarketinggroup.net.

Tuesday Tipsheet: Q1 Comps: Wmart +1.1%, H.Depot +7.1%, Dick’s +1.8%

 

Home Depot Q1 US Comp Sales +7.1% “Comparable store sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 were positive 6.1 percent…the Company raised its fiscal 2015 sales guidance and now expects sales will be up approximately 4.2 percent to 4.8 percent and comp sales will be up approximately 4.0 percent to 4.6 percent.” Read the release

 

Home Depot sales and earnings beat thanks to the ‘continued recovery of the US housing market’ at Reuters. “Revenue rose 6 percent to $20.89 billion. Excluding items, the company earned $1.16 per share. Analysts on average had expected a profit of $1.15 per share and revenue of $20.81 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.” Read more

 

Walmart Q1 Comp Sales +1.1% “E-commerce sales globally increased approximately 17%. Consolidated operating income declined 8.3%, due to impacts from currency fluctuations and investments in associate wages & training and e-commerce.” Read the release

 

Wal-Mart revenues and earnings miss by Akin Oyedele at Business Insider. “The world’s largest retailer reported first quarter diluted earnings per share of $1.03, missing expectations for $1.05, according to Bloomberg. The company posted revenues of $114.88 billion, below the consensus forecast for $116.23 billion.” Read more

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods Q1 Comp +1.8% “The Company expects to open approximately 45 new DICK’S Sporting Goods stores and relocate seven DICK’S Sporting Goods stores in 2015. The Company also expects to open approximately nine Field & Stream stores and relocate one Golf Galaxy store in 2015.” Read the release

 

Lane Bryant owner to buy Ann Taylor stores for $2.15 billion by Samantha Masunaga at LA Times.  Read more

 

J.C. Penney bag appearance on Mad Men’s finale was a big surprise by Maria Halkias at Dallas News. “Usually a movie or TV producer works with the company to feature new or vintage Penney branding, she said. But in this case, no one at the company recalls receiving a request from Mad Men. And no one is complaining in Plano.” Read more

 

***A Message from CLUG: The World’s Smallest Bike Rack is Now Available. The CLUG Bike Clip is targeted at the urban cyclist and the casual enthusiast who are short on storage space for their bikes.  CLUG is a patent pending, high quality product that made the list of 2014 Best Stuff by GQ Magazine in their December 2014 issue.  See the video.  See the sell sheet.  Retailers:Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net to request a product sample.

 

The ‘adventure’ of doing business with Wal-Mart by Kim Souza at The City Wire. Read more

 

Feds propose multi-pronged plan to bolster decline in bees by Seth Borenstein at AP via Yahoo. “Lessening “the effects of pesticides on bees is a priority for the federal government,” the report said.” Read more

 

Restoration Hardware plans largest U.S. store for Las Vegas by Jennifer Robison at Las Vegas Review Journal. “At more than 70,000 square feet, the store will be Restoration Hardware’s first Nevada location…The Atlanta store is currently the biggest outpost, at 68,000 square feet. The typical Restoration Hardware store is about 10,000 square feet.” Read more

 

Atlanta No. 1 city for mosquitoes by Phil Hudson at Atlanta Business Chronicle. See the top 10 city list

 

The 10 most-purchased brands in the world at Business Insider. See Kantar’s top 10 list

 

***

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@shiftmarketinggroup.net.

Monday Tipsheet: Target’s Back Burner | U.Armour Shirt Apology | ‘Hands off my hot dog’

 

Target Puts Some Food Suppliers on the Back Burner by Paul Ziobro at WSJ. “In grocery, the company has a clear idea of what will fit in “signature” and “perform,” but is still working out what will qualify for the middle category. The difference is crucial. Brands that fall into the bottom “perform” category will remain on the shelves but won’t get featured as frequently in circulars or in stores. They will also likely face more competition from Target’s private-label brands, which the chain plans to push heavily.” Read more (Subscription)

 

Under Armour apologizes for ‘Band of Ballers’ shirt after being accused of disrespecting the military by Marissa Payne at Washington Post. “Your marketing and design team made a mistake and used very poor judgement,” Facebook user Jamie Proffitt wrote. “Man-up and remove the ‘Band of Ballers’ scene from your merchandise.” See the pic / Read more

 

Family Dollar’s road not taken: Retailer explored going private by Rick Rothacker at Charlotte Observer. “Since Dollar General went private and came back public, Dollar General has been lights out,” Yarbrough, the Edward Jones analyst, said. “Family Dollar has had a lot of hiccups, a lot of problems.” Read more

 

Walmart.com provides link for subscription-delivery service signup at The City Wire. “Follow the link, enter your email and zip code information and then wait for an invitation from Walmart.com.” Read more

 

***Check out the new Eye on Retail website!  www.eyeonretail.net

 

Announcing Earnings Tomorrow: Walmart, Home Depot, Dick’s Sporting Goods

 

Pilot recounts plane crash into Costco parking lot as rescuers honored by Michael Chen at ABC 10 News. “The plane clipped the top of a Target store before crashing. Cellphone video captured the moments that followed, with Costco employees and bystanders rushing toward the flames. A Costco truck driver raced to the trucks and got several fire extinguishers.” See the video / Read more

 

Green diet guidelines trigger food fight (‘Hands off my hot dog’) by Lydia Wheeler at The Hill. “The guidelines recommending Americans eat less meat for “the sake of our health and that of the planet” have led to a flood of tens of thousands of public comments to the departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture…Never before has the panel sought to incorporate environmental factors.” Read more

 

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Alibaba Sued by Luxury Brands Over Counterfeit Goods by Nate Raymond at Reuters via Recode. “The lawsuit was filed in Manhattan federal court by Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and other brands owned by Paris-based Kering seeking damages and an injunction for alleged violations of trademark and racketeering laws.” Read more

 

The most popular stores in America at 24/7 Wall St. via USA Today. “More than half of all shoppers in the country visited a Walmart location in March. No other U.S. store could claim a majority of Americans as customers that month.” See the Top 5 list

 

Amazon’s Audible hires NPR VP of programming, signaling move into original podcasting by James Risley at GeekWire. Read more

 

Former Family Dollar exec steps in as CFO at 3D printing company by Ken Elkins at Charlotte Business Journal. “David Styka, who was the treasurer and vice president of finance at Family Dollar until moving to 3D in January, is now the 3D printing company’s chief financial officer.” Read more

 

Alibaba embraces new visual QR-style codes for offline-to-online transactions by Paul Sawers at VentureBeat. “So rather than bland, black-and-white matrix barcodes, the new codes are capable of embedding colorful images or logos covering 90 percent of the code’s surface.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart’s celebration evokes family nostalgia be Teresa Moss at Arkansas Online. “The story of the truck has become a legend, Dranow said. He said, at times, spontaneous lines form in the museum as visitors wait to touch the truck’s door handle. “Legend has it, if you touch the door handle, you will be rewarded with the gift of frugality,” Dranow said.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Activist: Baltimore Rioters Destroyed ‘Economic Eyesore’ CVS

California lawmakers to vote on banning ‘microbeads’ from personal care products

How a drink for babies became the adult hangover cure of choice

The baby luxury market: $15 million bassinets and more

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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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@shiftmarketinggroup.net.