Tipsheet: Wmart Online Order Cuts | Lulu +20% | Big Lots +1.6%

 

Big Lots Q2 sales +1.6% Press release

 

Lululemon Q2 comp sales +20% vs. expected +9.6% Press release | CNBC article

 

Google and Mastercard Cut a Secret Ad Deal to Track Retail Sales by Mark Bergen & Jennifer Surane. Tiered subs.

 

Ulta Beauty Q2 comp sales +6.5% “Retail comparable sales increased 4.0%, including salon comparable sales growth of 1.7%; E-commerce sales increased 37.9% to $132.8 million.” Press release

 

Walmart will have 30% more toys in stores this holiday season at CNBC. “…and it will offer 40 percent more toys on Walmart.com. At some locations, the physical space dedicated to toys also will be larger, Walmart said Thursday at a briefing with the media in New York.” Read more

 

…Hatchimals, hoverboards and Fingerlings are tops as Walmart unveils top toy picks by Charisse Jones at USA Today. “On Sept. 8, young shoppers will be able to try out toys, snap pictures and leave with giveaways as Walmart hosts a “National Play Day” at over 1,500 Walmart locations.” Read more

 

The Most Powerful Women in Chicago Business (Mary Dillon, etc.) at Crain’s Chicago Business. Tiered subs.

 

Why Walmart Shoppers are Finding More Items ‘Out of Stock’ by Sarah Nassauer at Wall Street Journal. “The change means that a bottle of detergent or can of cat food stored too far away from a customer’s shipping address will be unavailable for purchase. Previously, the retailer would ship those items, regardless of distance or shipping cost. The new system…has led to a decline in sales at some companies that sell their products on walmart.com, according to executives at Walmart suppliers.” Subscription

 

…Walmart.com tests new fulfillment protocol for consumables, some vendors in limbo by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “…for suppliers selling everyday consumables…including pets, dry grocery, office and party supplies, household, baby, health and beauty…the test is known as Geo-Location/ Geo-Gaging, and is considered is a next step toward smart basket capabilities used by Jet.com.” Read more

 

**A message from BK Resources – The Best Kept secret for commercial and food service kitchen equipment. Leading supplier of stainless steel: commercial faucets, sinks, work tables, bar equipment, ice bins and more. Catalog | Website | Contact

 

Instacart is now available to 70% of U.S. households at TechCrunch.”Last year, the company announced its goal to reach 80 percent of U.S. households by the end of 2018, and its most recent funding round seems to be propelling the startup to achieve that goal.” Read more

 

…Kroger and Instacart Expand Same-day Grocery Delivery by 50% to 1,600+ Stores Press release

 

Abercrombie comp sales rose 3 percent in the quarter vs. 3.7 percent increase, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S at NY Post. Read more

 

Chinese government plans to limit the number of new games approved for release, and the total number of titles. The initiative is part of a growing government campaign against games and online addiction in young people. at Variety. Read more

 

Target Is Already Thinking Of Expanding Heyday, Its First-Ever Consumer Electronics Brand by Barbara Thau at Forbes. “Mark Tritton: “Our first internally designed and developed brand in electronics gives us a chance to more deeply connect with our Gen Z and younger Millennial guest. We believe it’s a disruptor…” Read more

 

Austin’s bag ban is no more; City Hall still hopes store owners shun single-use bags by Daniel Salazar at Austin Business Journal. Read more

 

Gunmaker American Outdoor Brands (Smith & Wesson) jumps more than 20 percent after earnings beat at CNBC. Read more

 

The hardest-working Americans live in these states by Matthew Rocco at Fox Business. Read more

 

Target will require suppliers to reveal chemical data at Chemical Watch. “Target’s suppliers must give the US retailer access to further chemical data by the end of 2018, according to an internal company document obtained by Chemical Watch…unable to screen ingredients for 62% of products.” Read more

 

The Cosby Show star Geoffrey Owens is spotted working as a cashier at Trader Joe’s at Daily Mail. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Home Depot employees build lemonade stand for boy raising money for cancer-stricken friend

Useful or creepy? Machines suggest Gmail replies

Target & Nordstrom model talks about living with a disability and navigating the streets of NYC

DSW to close Town Shoes brand, all 38 stores in Canada by January

Chief U.S. spy catcher says China using LinkedIn to recruit Americans

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

**

Eye on Retail Tipsheet is must-read material for retail execs every weekday morning. Tipsheet stories are carefully curated bright and early every morning to ensure fresh and unique content.

 

Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

Contact us: Send story tips, press releases and advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: www.eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet:

 

Big Lots Q2 sales +1.6% Press release

 

Lululemon Q2 comp sales +20% vs. expected +9.6% Press release | CNBC article

 

Google and Mastercard Cut a Secret Ad Deal to Track Retail Sales by Mark Bergen & Jennifer Surane. Tiered subs.

 

Ulta Beauty Q2 comp sales +6.5% “Retail comparable sales increased 4.0%, including salon comparable sales growth of 1.7%; E-commerce sales increased 37.9% to $132.8 million.” Press release

 

Walmart will have 30% more toys in stores this holiday season at CNBC. “…and it will offer 40 percent more toys on Walmart.com. At some locations, the physical space dedicated to toys also will be larger, Walmart said Thursday at a briefing with the media in New York.” Read more

 

…Hatchimals, hoverboards and Fingerlings are tops as Walmart unveils top toy picks by Charisse Jones at USA Today. “On Sept. 8, young shoppers will be able to try out toys, snap pictures and leave with giveaways as Walmart hosts a “National Play Day” at over 1,500 Walmart locations.” Read more

 

The Most Powerful Women in Chicago Business (Mary Dillon, etc.) at Crain’s Chicago Business. Tiered subs.

 

Why Walmart Shoppers are Finding More Items ‘Out of Stock’ by Sarah Nassauer at Wall Street Journal. “The change means that a bottle of detergent or can of cat food stored too far away from a customer’s shipping address will be unavailable for purchase. Previously, the retailer would ship those items, regardless of distance or shipping cost. The new system…has led to a decline in sales at some companies that sell their products on walmart.com, according to executives at Walmart suppliers.” Subscription

 

…Walmart.com tests new fulfillment protocol for consumables, some vendors in limbo by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “…for suppliers selling everyday consumables…including pets, dry grocery, office and party supplies, household, baby, health and beauty…the test is known as Geo-Location/ Geo-Gaging, and is considered is a next step toward smart basket capabilities used by Jet.com.” Read more

 

**A message from BK Resources – The Best Kept secret for commercial and food service kitchen equipment. Leading supplier of stainless steel: commercial faucets, sinks, work tables, bar equipment, ice bins and more. Catalog | Website | Contact

 

Instacart is now available to 70% of U.S. households at TechCrunch.”Last year, the company announced its goal to reach 80 percent of U.S. households by the end of 2018, and its most recent funding round seems to be propelling the startup to achieve that goal.” Read more

 

…Kroger and Instacart Expand Same-day Grocery Delivery by 50% to 1,600+ Stores Press release

 

Abercrombie comp sales rose 3 percent in the quarter vs. 3.7 percent increase, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S at NY Post. Read more

 

Chinese government plans to limit the number of new games approved for release, and the total number of titles. The initiative is part of a growing government campaign against games and online addiction in young people. at Variety. Read more

 

Target Is Already Thinking Of Expanding Heyday, Its First-Ever Consumer Electronics Brand by Barbara Thau at Forbes. “Mark Tritton: “Our first internally designed and developed brand in electronics gives us a chance to more deeply connect with our Gen Z and younger Millennial guest. We believe it’s a disruptor…” Read more

 

Austin’s bag ban is no more; City Hall still hopes store owners shun single-use bags by Daniel Salazar at Austin Business Journal. Read more

 

Gunmaker American Outdoor Brands (Smith & Wesson) jumps more than 20 percent after earnings beat at CNBC. Read more

 

The hardest-working Americans live in these states by Matthew Rocco at Fox Business. Read more

 

Target will require suppliers to reveal chemical data at Chemical Watch. “Target’s suppliers must give the US retailer access to further chemical data by the end of 2018, according to an internal company document obtained by Chemical Watch…unable to screen ingredients for 62% of products.” Read more

 

The Cosby Show star Geoffrey Owens is spotted working as a cashier at Trader Joe’s at Daily Mail. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Home Depot employees build lemonade stand for boy raising money for cancer-stricken friend

Useful or creepy? Machines suggest Gmail replies

Target & Nordstrom model talks about living with a disability and navigating the streets of NYC

DSW to close Town Shoes brand, all 38 stores in Canada by January

Chief U.S. spy catcher says China using LinkedIn to recruit Americans

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

**

Eye on Retail Tipsheet is must-read material for retail execs every weekday morning. Tipsheet stories are carefully curated bright and early every morning to ensure fresh and unique content.

 

Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

Contact us: Send story tips, press releases and advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: www.eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet:

 

Big Lots Q2 sales +1.6% Press release

 

Lululemon Q2 comp sales +20% vs. expected +9.6% Press release | CNBC article

 

Google and Mastercard Cut a Secret Ad Deal to Track Retail Sales by Mark Bergen & Jennifer Surane. Tiered subs.

 

Ulta Beauty Q2 comp sales +6.5% “Retail comparable sales increased 4.0%, including salon comparable sales growth of 1.7%; E-commerce sales increased 37.9% to $132.8 million.” Press release

 

Walmart will have 30% more toys in stores this holiday season at CNBC. “…and it will offer 40 percent more toys on Walmart.com. At some locations, the physical space dedicated to toys also will be larger, Walmart said Thursday at a briefing with the media in New York.” Read more

 

…Hatchimals, hoverboards and Fingerlings are tops as Walmart unveils top toy picks by Charisse Jones at USA Today. “On Sept. 8, young shoppers will be able to try out toys, snap pictures and leave with giveaways as Walmart hosts a “National Play Day” at over 1,500 Walmart locations.” Read more

 

The Most Powerful Women in Chicago Business (Mary Dillon, etc.) at Crain’s Chicago Business. Tiered subs.

 

Walmart.com tests new fulfillment protocol for consumables, some vendors in limbo by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “…for suppliers selling everyday consumables…including pets, dry grocery, office and party supplies, household, baby, health and beauty…the test is known as Geo-Location/ Geo-Gaging, and is considered is a next step toward smart basket capabilities used by Jet.com.” Read more

 

Instacart is now available to 70% of U.S. households at TechCrunch.”Last year, the company announced its goal to reach 80 percent of U.S. households by the end of 2018, and its most recent funding round seems to be propelling the startup to achieve that goal.” Read more

 

…Kroger and Instacart Expand Same-day Grocery Delivery by 50% to 1,600+ Stores Press release

 

Abercrombie comp sales rose 3 percent in the quarter vs. 3.7 percent increase, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S at NY Post. Read more

 

Chinese government plans to limit the number of new games approved for release, and the total number of titles. The initiative is part of a growing government campaign against games and online addiction in young people. at Variety. Read more

 

Target Is Already Thinking Of Expanding Heyday, Its First-Ever Consumer Electronics Brand by Barbara Thau at Forbes. “Mark Tritton: “Our first internally designed and developed brand in electronics gives us a chance to more deeply connect with our Gen Z and younger Millennial guest. We believe it’s a disruptor…” Read more

 

Austin’s bag ban is no more; City Hall still hopes store owners shun single-use bags by Daniel Salazar at Austin Business Journal. Read more

 

Gunmaker American Outdoor Brands (Smith & Wesson) jumps more than 20 percent after earnings beat at CNBC. Read more

 

The Cosby Show star Geoffrey Owens is spotted working as a cashier at Trader Joe’s at Daily Mail. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Home Depot employees build lemonade stand for boy raising money for cancer-stricken friend

Useful or creepy? Machines suggest Gmail replies

Target & Nordstrom model talks about living with a disability and navigating the streets of NYC

DSW to close Town Shoes brand, all 38 stores in Canada by January

Chief U.S. spy catcher says China using LinkedIn to recruit Americans

Tipsheet: Amazon Tennis Fail | D.General Beats | Michaels -0.4% | Burlington +2.9%

 

Dollar General Q2 comp sales +3.7% (vs. 2.83% estimated) Press release

 

…Dollar General quarterly same-store sales top estimates at CNBC. “The company’s net income rose to $407.2 million, or $1.52 per share, from $294.8 million, or $1.08 per share, a year earlier.” Read more

 

Michael’s Q2 comp sales -0.4% Press release

 

Dollar Tree enterprise comp sales +1.8%: Dollar Tree banner +3.7% / Family Dollar banner flat at 0.0% Press release

 

Burlington Stores Q2 comp sales +2.9% Press release

 

At Home Group Q2 comp sales +2.8% / ended the quarter with 165 stores in 35 states Press release

 

…CVS SVP named CFO “Judd Nystrom, CFO, will be leaving At Home after a transition period. The Company is naming Jeffrey R. Knudson, currently Senior Vice President, Finance and Retail Controller at CVS Health, as his successor.” Press release

 

PVH Q2 revenue +13% “Revenue in the Calvin Klein business for the quarter increased 18% to $925 million…Revenue in the Tommy Hilfiger business for the quarter increased 15% to $1.0 billion.” Press release

 

Guess Inc. revenue +14% Press release

 

Inside Alibaba’s new kind of superstore: Robots, apps and overhead conveyor belts at CNBC. “Alibaba is rapidly expanding it’s new offline retail store, Hema, throughout China. The tech giant has grown its brick-and-mortar supermarket to 65 stores over the last year. And, although it may seem a shift from Alibaba’s tech roots, the store operates on cutting-edge innovations.” Read more/Video

 

CVS pulls powered Enfamil baby formula off shelves nationwide at ABC Action News. “The bag was in it like this, this particular sticker was not fully attached and when I opened it up this seal that wraps around was opened,” she said. “This smells like typical baking flour,” she said pointing to the container she says was tampered with.” Read more

 

At least 10 LGBT Pride posters have been defaced at Amazon’s headquarters over the past two months at CNBC. “The emails viewed by CNBC give a rare display of employee dissent over company policy at Amazon, whose workforce is generally known to be less vocal over such issues compared to those of other tech giants, like Facebook and Google.” Read more

 

BJ’s alleges Tyson, Perdue and other chicken producers overcharged consumers by over $3 billion per year over an eight-year period by Matt Bernardini at Law 360. “The chicken producers made a coordinated effort to raise prices and limit the number of chickens in the market by destroying breeder hens and chicken eggs and using a data company to identify competitors’ production statistics, which allowed the producers to coordinate their actions, according to the complaint” Subscription

 

BEZOS HITS BERNIE – Amazon, in a rare political response, calls Bernie Sanders’ claims of poor worker conditions ‘inaccurate and misleading’ at CNBC. “While Senator Sanders plays politics and makes misleading accusations, we are expending real money and effort upskilling people with our Career Choice program.” Read more

 

…BERNIE FIRES BACK – “Bottom line: the taxpayers of this country should not have to subsidize employees at a company owned by Mr. Bezos who is worth $155 billion. That is absurd.” TechCrunch

 

QuikTrip rap video has eclipsed 1 million views on Facebook alone by Matt Riedl at The Wichita Eagle. Video

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water – Our Brazilian Coconut Water is Sweeter than the Rest! Organic & Natural, PL & Branded. Sell sheet | Website | Request samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Amazon suspends reviews of US Open coverage after deluge of complaints by Mark Sweney at The Guardian. “Hopeless doesn’t describe it,” said another. “A complete embarrassment.” Bad reviews of Amazon’s separate highlights service reached such a level – 96% awarded just 1 or 2 star ratings – that no more reviews are being allowed to be posted about the service.” Read more

 

CHICAGO – Macy’s looks to sell Medinah Temple, move Bloomingdale’s store by Ryan Ori at Chicago Tribune. “A sale would end a notable chapter in Bloomingdale’s history. The redeveloped Moorish Revival building was Bloomingdale’s first stand-alone home furnishings store, a concept it previously tried only within shopping malls. It opened in 2003.” Tiered subs.

 

Publix picks Greensboro for $400M, 1,000 job distribution center by Luke Bollinger at Triad Business Journal. Read more

 

Nordstrom taps former Intuit CEO Brad Smith as chair at GeekWire. Read more

 

Former Woolworths CFO Lists A $35 Million Sydney House at Wall Street Journal. Subscription

 

Amazon beefs up its sports team with former ESPN exec Marie Donoghue at CNBC. “Donoghue spent 17 years with ESPN and was a key member in the success of its “30 For 30” documentary series and also earned a credit as executive vice president, global strategy and original content on the Oscar-winning documentary “O.J.: Made in America” in 2016.” Read more

 

Confusion over stores that look like Verizon Wireless stores by Christian Hetrick at Philly Inquirer. “The framework is similar to franchise agreements used by McDonalds or Starbucks. But unlike those chains, Verizon seems to exert less control over its third-party distributors, said Ed Rice, a Pittsburgh-based lawyer who represents clients running franchises.” Tiered subs.

 

Inside Sears Hometown Stores’ War With Its Local Entrepreneurs by Peter Carbonara at Forbes. “The problem with closing Hometown stores is that most are owned not by the company but by local franchisees…Some of these small entrepreneurs are not going quietly. Loudest is Heidi Wood, who until June owned and ran three Hometown stores in Oregon that she says together generated about $4 million in annual revenue.” Read more

 

Mattress Firm is ‘conspiring’ to sell bogus mattresses, Tempur-Pedic alleges in lawsuit by Nathan Bomey at USA Today. “The allegation marks an escalation of a bitter feud between the two companies after Mattress Firm last year ended its contract to sell Tempur-Sealy International mattresses in its more than 3,300 U.S. stores.” Read more

 

Russia’s Biggest Web Retailer Was Founded by a Language Teacher on Maternity Leave by Ilya Khrennikov at Bloomberg. “With the top five companies together controlling about a quarter of the market, “there’s clearly going to be consolidation,” Virin says. “We’re going to end up with just a few large players.” Tiered subs.

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

‘White People Food’ Is Creating An Unattainable Picture Of Health

Starbucks plans to open a major office in Atlanta with 500 new jobs

Walt Frazier rips Kevin Durant: “There will be an asterisk next to his name.”

7-Eleven to Rock Gene Simmons’ New Soft-Drink Line

‘It’s a scary situation’: 7-Eleven store owner begs to be allowed to close at night

Samsung 85-Inch 8K TV Available in the U.S. in October

Cat killer on the loose in Washington

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

**

 

Heard on the Call

Dick’s Sporting Goods Q2 Call Highlights

Ed Stack

Revenue grew 1% to approximately $2.18 billion.

Adjusted for the calendar shift due to the 53rd week, our consolidated same-store sales declined 4%.

As a percent of total net sales, the online business increased to approximately 11% compared to approximately 9% in the same period last year.

We also delivered double-digit growth in private brands and athletic apparel, excluding under Armour.

Sales were impacted by strategic decisions we made regarding the slow growth low margin hunt and electronics business, which accounted for nearly half of our comp decline.

We experienced significant declines in Under Armour sales as a result of their decision to expand distribution.

The operating margin of the hunt and electronics categories are approximately 1,700 basis points lower than the Company average.

Our private brand remains strong delivering double-digit growth again this quarter.

We continue to believe we can grow our private brand business to $2 billion over time.

In CALIA, we went after swim in a big way and are very pleased with the success of that product.

Our Team Sports license agreement with Adidas has significantly expanded into American football, which is exclusive to DICK’s.

Later this quarter, we will remove virtually all of the hunt products from 10 DICK’s stores.

We think golf is really in a good place

  • We were at Taylor Made yesterday in California and looked at their product line and are really enthusiastic about that. 
  • I think there is at least another year of a good product cycle of great product and great marketing from the brands to come in and keep this going.

 

Lauren Hobart

BOPIS Locker test: we quickly expanded that test from three stores to 10.

We are now testing Curbside pickup in select stores as well.

ScoreCard loyalty program:

  • Continuing the expansion of the gold tier through 2018.
  • Over 22 million people, and that is the engine of all of the data that we use to drive personalized marketing.
  • (Merging) those databases with the Team Sports HQ database.
  • ScoreCard is a huge, huge engine of our marketing and our data knowledge of our customer.

 

Lee Belitsky

Transactions declined by 4.7%

Average ticket increased by 0.7%.

Our best performing categories included outdoor apparel and fitness equipment.

Athletic footwear and golf were also areas of relative strength for the quarter.

We are really very pleased with our apparel business for the quarter.

We need only recover about 60% of the loss in hunt and electronic sales to generate the same level for gross profit dollars.

We plan to open a smaller regional eCommerce fulfillment center for the Western region of the U.S. late  in 2019.

Our eCommerce business comped up 12% in the quarter or 31% on a two-year stack.

We are now expecting full year comp sales to decline by 3% to 4% compared to our previous guidance of flat to low negative single-digits.

(We) got pretty promotional last year and we’re trying to pull back a little bit from that.

Full transcript via Seeking Alpha

 

**

Eye on Retail Tipsheet is must-read material for retail execs every weekday morning. Tipsheet stories are carefully curated bright and early every morning to ensure fresh and unique content.

 

Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

Contact us: Send story tips, press releases and advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: www.eyeonretail.net

 

 

 

Tipsheet: Dick’s Trips | Hate Waymo | Barnes & Noble War

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods Q2 comp sales -4.0% “CEO Stack: “We delivered double digit growth in eCommerce, private brands, and athletic apparel excluding Under Armour, however, as expected, sales were impacted by the strategic decisions we made regarding the slow growth, low margin hunt and electronics businesses, which accounted for nearly half of our comp decline.” Press release

 

…Dick’s Sporting Goods’ shares slide after missing second-quarter sales forecasts at CNBC. “Shares of Dick’s Sporting Goods plunged by as much as 12 percent in premarket trading Wednesday after the retailer said it sold less merchandise during the second quarter than Wall Street forecast.” Read more

 

Shoe Carnival Q2 comp sales +6.7% Press release

 

Big Lots nabs Tailored Brands executive as its new CEO by Claudia Assis at MarketWatch. Read more

 

J.Crew Q2 comp sales +5.0% Press release

 

Chico’s Q2 comp sales -3.2% Press release

 

Ex-chief executive of Barnes & Noble sued the bookseller on Tuesday by Carleton English at NY Post. “The suit likewise accuses (Chairman Riggio) himself of “inappropriate and unprofessional conduct,” including allegedly calling employees names like “fat pig,” “head case,” and “three-dollar bill.” Riggio allegedly called Paneros’ predecessor as CEO, Ronald Boire, a slew of epithets including “SOB,” “creep,” “motherf—r,” “slime bag” and “bad guy,” according to the suit.” Read more

 

…Barnes & Noble responds “The lawsuit filed by Demos Parneros is nothing but an attempt to extort money from the Company by a CEO who was terminated for sexual harassment, bullying behavior and other violations of company policies after being in the role for approximately one year.” Press release

 

Kroger is teaming up with the University of Cincinnati to run an incubation lab by Steve Watkins at Cincinnati Business Courier. “Hjelm said Kroger will probably have a lab leader and a couple of project managers there at any given time along with other people working on projects. It will have research and development engineers and software developers working in the 2,500-square-foot space. They’ll be joined by 10 to 15 UC students, in many cases co-op students and interns, as well as faculty.” Read more

 

Black Diamond sends cease and desist notice to Walmart by Amelia Arvesen at Snews. “We did not see or approve the statement which Walmart released Monday and have never sold to Walmart,” said John Walbrecht, Black Diamond’s president, in a press release.” Read more

 

Walmart’s Online Shoppers Won’t Have to Hang Their Own TVs Anymore by Anne Riley Moffat at Bloomberg. “Starting Wednesday and rolling out across the U.S. through September, Walmart’s online customers will be able to tack on Handy services at checkout, including television mounting for $79 or shelf-hanging for $64.” Read more

 

**A message from Sondare Megaphone sound enhancing case – Why tolerate average smart phone sound when you can have Loud + Clear Megaphone sound? No wires or batteries, boosts sound 2X and filters the sound for a smoother “stereo” listening experience. Website/VideoSample

 

DSW shares skyrocket after retailer posts blowout earnings at CNBC. “Same-store sales rose 9.7 percent last quarter, surpassing a Reuters forecast of 2.5 percent growth.” Read more

 

Under ‘Amazon effect’ retailers could be more exposed to supply shocks at CNBC. “Harvard Business School found that the average duration for regular price changes fell to 3.65 months in 2014 to 2017 from 6.7 months in 2008 to 2010.” Read more

 

Best Buy Q2 Earnings Call Transcript at Seeking Alpha. Transcript

 

A year later, prices at Whole Foods are lower overall, though they appear to have increased during the past six months by Sebastian Herrera at Austin American-Statesman. Read more

 

‘I hate them’: Locals reportedly frustrated with Alphabet’s self-driving cars in Chandler, AZ at CNBC. “One woman said that she almost hit one of the company’s minivans because it suddenly stopped while trying to make a right turn, while another man said that he gets so frustrated waiting for the cars to cross the intersection that he has illegally driven around them.” Read more

 

Yahoo scans emails for data to sell to advertisers at TechCrunch. “Yahoo mined users’ emails in part to discover products they bought through receipts from e-commerce companies such as Amazon.com,” said the WSJ. “In 2015, Amazon stopped including full itemized receipts in the emails it sends customers, partly because the company didn’t want Yahoo and others gathering that data for their own use.” Read more | WSJ article (Subs.)

 

IKEA will shut three city center stores in Norway as part of a drive to cut costs amid declining profits at Reuters. Read more

 

Sears expands tire services deal with Amazon by Nathan Bomey at Bloomberg. “Tuesday’s announcement extends the list of stores where the option is available to 118 (from 47). That represents nearly 1 in 4 Sears department stores.” Read more

 

Inside Instagram’s New Plan to Improve Security Amid Bots, Fake Followers, and Other Bad Actors by Rachel King at Fortune. Read more

 

Amazon Canada introduces $7.99 monthly membership option for Prime members Press release

 

Wegmans aids visually impaired shoppers “Using a smartphone or a pair of smart glasses, an Aira “Explorer” can connect to a remote, trained professional who can provide assistance on-demand using a live camera stream, GPS, maps, and information sourced from the web.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Here Are the Toys Amazon Predicts Will Be Hot this Holiday Season

Amazon Explodes Beauty Sales With Exclusive “Gating” For Brands

9 brands come together under one roof in Brooklyn to test new retail shop

Smarter personalization boosts results at Overstock.com

Amazon Is Reportedly Making a Free TV Service That Could Upend Roku

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

**

Eye on Retail Tipsheet is must-read material for retail execs every weekday morning. Tipsheet stories are carefully curated bright and early every morning to ensure fresh and unique content.

 

Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

Contact us: Send story tips, press releases and advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: www.eyeonretail.net

 

Tipsheet: BJ’s +2% | B.Buy +6.2% | Tiffany +7%

 

Best Buy Q2 Comp Sales +6.2% Press release

 

…CNBC: Best Buy shares fall despite earnings beat “Best Buy reports second-quarter earnings and sales that top analysts’ expectations. But its outlook for the third quarter comes in shy of Wall Street estimates.” Read more

 

BJ’s Wholesale Q2 Comp Sales (Excluding Gas) +2.0% “Net sales increased 4.3% to $3.2 billion compared to $3.1 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2017.” Press release

 

Tiffany shares surge after beating same-store sales estimates at CNBC. “Same-store sales rose 7 percent. Analysts on average had expected an increase of 5.73 percent, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.” Read more

 

Pictures & video from opening of 2nd Amazon Go store in Seattle by Nat Levy at GeekWire. Read more

 

The world’s first self-driving grocery delivery cars are on roads in San Jose by Adele Peters at Fast Company. “Bright green cars from the self-driving startup AutoX–with a backup driver inside–will pull up with your order in the trunk. In the backseat, the window rolls down to offer a shelf of extra food to buy.” Read more

 

How Petco Is Using Voice Activation To Connect With Pet Owners by David Kaplan at Geo Marketing. “I really give a lot of credit to Petco’s SVP of Innovation, Brock Weatherup. When I was introduced to him and discussed what Alpine.AI is about, he was immediately interested, and said, “Let’s figure this out and get started.” Read more

 

Aldi & Bunnings are the most trusted brands in Australia Press release

 

Kroger helps Univ. of Cincinnati boost minority enrollment in pharmacy by Barrett J. Brunsman at Cincinnati Business Courier. Read more

 

**A message from BK Resources – The Best Kept secret for commercial and food service kitchen equipment. Leading supplier of stainless steel: commercial faucets, sinks, work tables, bar equipment, ice bins and more. Catalog | Website | Contact

 

Retail Technology Provider Narvar Raises $30 Million in New Funding by Erica E. Phillips at Wall Street Journal. “Retail logistics software specialist Narvar has raised $30 million in new funding to back what the company says will be aggressive expansion of a business that supports e-commerce platforms for companies including Costco, Gap Inc. and Levi Strauss & Co.” Subscription

 

Where Amazon packages are stolen the most (San Fran, Seattle, Minneapolis…) by Shorr. List

 

Food Lion invests $168 Million in 105 Greater Norfolk-Area Stores Press release

 

Nordstrom announces the launch of ‘True Nord,’ its first-ever national Canadian marketing brand campaign “Ogilvy Toronto CEO Laurie Young: “It is truly serendipitous that ‘Nord’ means ‘North’ in French.” Press release

 

Meijer Unveils All-New C- Store Design Near Its Michigan HQ Press release

 

Amazon’s Treasure Truck pulling into select Seattle Starbucks locations by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. “An Amazon spokesperson confirmed to GeekWire that it was “trying something new” by adding the pickup locations at Starbucks. The Treasure Truck has previously teamed with various types of local businesses — banks, office parks, shopping centers, Whole Foods Market, etc. — in each of the 25 cities where it operates to offer customers convenient pickup spots.” Read more

 

PetSmart Canada Survey: 46% would rather spend a day with their pet than their spouse/partner Press release

 

COTTON CANDY TACO – Texas State Fair’s annual awards for the best deep-fried sugary goodness by Ryan Osborne at Dallas Business Journal. “The cotton candy taco, created by Justin and Rudy Martinez, appropriately won “most creative.”…Fernie’s Hoppin’ John Cake with Jackpot Sauce from Winter Family Concessions won the top award in the “savory” division.” 10 pics

 

C&S Wholesale Grocers Announces Appointment of Joe Cavaliere as Chief Commercial Officer Press release

 

Missouri becomes first state in U.S. to regulate use of the word ‘meat’ by Zlati Meyer at USA Today. “The state law forbids “misrepresenting a product as meat that is not derived from harvested production livestock or poultry.” Violators may be fined $1,000 and imprisoned for a year.” Read more

 

Watch out, Sephora – Beauty subscription box Ipsy is thinking bigger by Elizabeth Segran at Fast Company. “(Ipsy is) launching a $25 box that will come with five full-sized beauty products worth at least $120. It’s an interesting move for a company that, until now, has been known for helping women sample new beauty products.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

These Entrepreneurs Are Putting Ads Inside Your Fortune Cookie

H-E-B Awarded for Political Engagement in the Pharmacy

Heartless shoppers complain they can’t get into Aldi as man dies in the street

JJ Watt raises record $41.6 million for Hurricane Harvey recovery effort

Billboard’s 2018 Indie Power Players

Inside the high-stakes business of tracking space junk

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Eye on Retail Tipsheet is must-read material for retail execs every weekday morning. Tipsheet stories are carefully curated bright and early every morning to ensure fresh and unique content.

 

Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

Contact us: Send story tips, press releases and advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: www.eyeonretail.net

 

Tipsheet: Target’s 1st Unionized Store? | Amazon Go #2 Seattle | Toys R Us Alive (in Canada)

 

AMAZON GO #2 IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE – Amazon has a second Go at cashierless c-store in downtown Seattle by Matt Day at Seattle Times. “The new store, near the Seattle Central Library at 920 Fifth Ave., opens at 7 a.m. Monday…Amazon packed a little bit of everything into the 1,800 square feet of its first store…The new downtown store, smaller at 1,450 square feet, loses the liquor aisle as well as grocery staples like milk and bread.” Read more (Tiered subs.)

 

Moosejaw will have its own shop on Walmart’s website at CNBC. “The new landing page for Moosejaw on Walmart.com will include “thousands of items” from premium outdoor brands like Deuter, Craghoppers and First Ascent by Eddie Bauer, the companies said Monday in a blog post.” Read more

 

…Finance and tech bros drive fleece vest sales. Moosejaw CEO says purchases are up 700 percent in 3 years at CNBC. Read more

 

Target store faces rare union vote by Mark Reilly at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. “Target Corp.’s location in Huntington Station, N.Y., could become the retailer’s first-ever unionized store next month now that federal regulators have cleared the way for workers to vote on labor representation.” Read more | Bloomberg article (Tiered subs.)

 

‘It’s the Fizz’: How Seltzer Is Upending Coffee and Beer by Jennifer Maloney at Wall Street Journal. “The 29-year-old used to drink Dr Pepper during the day and hard cider on date nights. But she wanted to cut back on sugar and now drinks two or three sparkling waters a day. “It’s the fizz,” said Ms. Aleckson, who works at a Minneapolis nonprofit. “It kind of feels like a treat but not a bad treat.” Subscription

 

After ’emotional’ year, Toys ‘R’ us Canada’s president focusing on rebuilding iconic brand by Tara Deschamps via Financial Post. “People are absolutely confused…There is a huge misconception from Canadians that our stores are closing and there is going to be a massive clearance,” president Melanie Teed-Murch told The Canadian Press. “We have been here for 34 years and are going to be here for 30 plus more. Toys “R” Us Canada is here to play and here to stay.” Read more

 

Natural Grocers Shrug Off Amazon-Whole Foods Threat by Heather Haddon at Wall Street Journal. “After they put their blue signs all over everything and started selling Amazon Echos, it really kicked in that this is no longer this specialty, healthy chain,” said Tony Antoci, chief executive of California’s Erewhon Market, where same-store sales are up more than 20% from a year ago.” Subscription

 

…Whole Foods Is Starting to Steal Trader Joe’s Shoppers by Spencer Soper at Bloomberg. “In more than 100 places around the U.S., the upscale grocer gained foot traffic at the expense of Trader Joe’s, Walgreen and Dollar Tree Stores in the past year, according to Sense360.” Read more (Tiered subs.)

 

U.S. calls foreign mail system unfair in surprise win for Amazon at Reuters. “If successful, the effort would benefit U.S. merchants and shippers who say they are undercut by foreign postal services’ access to low rates. U.S. shoppers could see higher bills for foreign goods ordered online.” Read more

 

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Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone wears capitalism on his sleeve. Just [bleep] ask him. by Thomas Heath at Washington Post. “He took 21 Home Depot managers to dinner recently to thank them…“He has a moral compass like no one I ever met,” Druckenmiller says. “He gets emotional about people. He has a certain regard for human dignity. I bet he knows every nurse and every custodian at NYU Hospital by name. Not just the doctors.” Read more (Tiered subs.)

 

How eBay plans to nearly triple its active user base by Zak Stambor at Internet Retailer. “He aims to have 500 million active users…which is nearly three times the 175 million on it today…To get there, he aims to rebrand eBay as the place online where consumers can find the exact item they’re looking for…at a low price without having to pay a membership fee.” Read more

 

The Healthiest Breakfast Cereals, Ranked By Nutritionists by Abigail Abesamis at HuffPo. 

1. Cheerios
2. Honey Bunches of Oats
3. Raisin Bran
4. Honey Nut Cheerios
5. Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Read more/Full list

 

Brands Try to Convince New Generations Products Aren’t Just for Their Parents by Janet Morrissey at NY Times. Read more (Tiered subs.)

 

Slow Death By Inertia? Barnes And Noble’s Squandered Opportunities by Barbara Thau at Forbes. “Harvard Business school professor Ryan Raffaelli, who is an expert in how mature businesses reinvent themselves amid disruption, attributes the comeback of small bookstores to “community,” “curation” and “convening.” Read more

 

Why aren’t more people using Alexa to shop? It may because we love to price compare at USA Today. Read more

 

Aldi is set to open its first store within San Diego city limits by Jennifer Van Grove at San Diego Tribune. Read more

 

The growth of Imperfect Produce hurts small local farmers by Greg Trotter at Chicago Tribune. “For years, farmers have been selling imperfect produce in boxes. It’s a practice known as community supported agriculture, or CSA, and it operates as a subscription service of sorts for fresh, local produce. But despite the still burgeoning farm-to-table movement, sales directly to consumers and at farmers markets have flattened or declined for many small farmers.” Read more (Tiered subs.)

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Atlanta’s Killer Mike aiming for Chick-fil-A of barbershops

Have we hit peak pet stroller?

Charlotte jeweler sentenced to 41 months for $3.5 million investment scheme

Why racism is so entrenched in the fashion industry

In Miami, you can buy tequeños, ceviche & Cuban bread without getting out of your car

Foo Fighters Stage Free Pop-Up Show for Superfans

Aspirin disappoints for avoiding first heart attack, stroke

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Eye on Retail Tipsheet is must-read material for retail execs every weekday morning. Tipsheet stories are carefully curated bright and early every morning to ensure fresh and unique content.

 

Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

Contact us: Send story tips, press releases and advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: www.eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: Trump Quotes Cornell | Austin Restricts Water | Ace CEO @ CNBC | Bernie Hits Bezos

 

Retailers seeking China success have ‘no real path’ but to choose Alibaba or Tencent at CNBC. “Together, they have cornered more than 80 percent of China’s e-commerce market — which is the world’s largest — said Root who is also the chairman of global think-tank Bain Insights Group. The two companies also collectively own or control four out of five of China’s largest hypermarket and supermarket chains.” Read more

 

Foot Locker Q2 comp sales +0.5% Press release

 

Amazon employs warehouse ‘ambassadors’ to tweet back at criticism of working conditions at Daily Mail. “As many as 16 Amazon Ambassador accounts have surfaced online within the past two weeks in response to negative press surrounding the company…Each account is eerily similar in its look and tone, sporting an Amazon smile logo as a header image and featuring a picture of the user in the factory they work in.” Read more

 

Ross Stores Q2 comp sales +5.0% Press release

 

President Trump Quotes Cornell in Tweet: Target CEO raves about the Economy. “This is the best consumer environment I’ve seen in my career.” A big statement from a top executive. But virtually everybody is saying this, & when our Trade Deals are made, & cost cutting done, you haven’t seen anything yet!

 

Gap Inc. Q2 comp sales +2.0%: Old Navy Global +5.0% / Gap Global -5.0% / Banana Republic Global +2.0% Press release

 

How Fanatics is Winning in Sports Retail by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “He owns this marketplace,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said of Rubin… The privately held Fanatics, which is set to rake in $2.3 billion this year, up from $250 million eight years ago, dominates the digital part of a U.S. sports licensed apparel market that research firm IBIS World estimates to be worth $7.8 billion in annual sales and growing 3% a year.” Read more

 

The Buckle Q2 comp sales +1.4% Press release

 

Giraffe parts sales are booming in the US, and it’s legal by Karen Weintraub at NY Times via CNBC. “An investigator with the society’s United States organization went undercover to 21 locations to track giraffe sales and talk to sellers. The investigator found a taxidermied body of a juvenile giraffe, selling for $7,500, according to the Humane Society, and a pillow made with an animal head, intact down to its eyelashes.” Read more

 

Hibbett Sports Q2 comp sales +4.1% Press release

 

Ace Hardware CEO interview @ CNBC 3:56 video

 

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Could the half-built Hollywood Target finally be finished? by Bianca Barragan at Curbed. “A court ruling issued today sided with the city against neighborhood groups that sought to stop the project, and paves the way for the retail development to start construction again.” Read more

 

Orchard Supply Hardware begins liquidation sales by Seung Lee at Mercury News. “The beloved Bay Area hardware store chain is having a store closing sale, and prices on all remaining items are at least 10 percent off. Unspecified products and departments are have been reduced by as much as 30 percent, according to a supervisor at the San Jose Midtown store.” Read more

 

Bernie Sanders to billionaire Jeff Bezos: ‘Pay your workers a living wage’ at Washington Times. Read more

 

Victoria’s Secret’s Pink brand is beginning to stall, too by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “…the company cut its full-year earnings forecast “because of deceleration in Pink,” said Chief Financial Officer Stuart B. Burgdoerfer…founding Pink CEO Denise Landman will retire at the end of the year…Landman said Pink’s most recent problems stem in part from wrong fabric choices.” Read more

 

Joann Fabric creates online petition over tariffs via Daily News. “…more than 20,000 people have signed the petition since Monday.” Read more

 

Walton family disposes of $432 million in Walmart stock by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Every $1 Walmart shares increase in value the Walton Family trust entities grow by roughly $1.5 billion, not including the shares owned outright by the heirs. Jim Walton’s net worth grows by more than $10.5 million for each dollar gain Walmart’s stock price. For Alice Walton the gain is roughly $6.75 million and Rob Walton picks up about $3.4 million.” Read more

 

Amazon bans the sale of a guidebook for 3D printing a gun at CNN Money. Read more

 

Vancouver: ’Grocerants’ on the rise by Aleksandra Saban at Vancouver Sun. “Diners at the new T&T destination receive a pair of gloves to eat — no cutlery — and sit in the seafood department, surrounded by creatures in live tanks and buckets containing orders zipping overhead…There’s been a roughly 60-minute wait for seating since the supermarket opened last week. Read more

 

CVS Teams With Glamsquad, Unveils Dramatically Different Beauty Department by Faye Brookman at WWD.  Subscription

 

Who Killed Toys ‘R’ Us? Hint: It Wasn’t Only Amazon by Gretchen Morgenson & Lillian Risso at Wall Street Journal. “Today, as the Toys “R” Us case shows, these kinds of creditors wield more influence than ever. Since the financial crisis, the practice of layering companies with tiers of debt has become more common, restructuring experts say, which adds to the complexities of bankruptcy filings.” Subscription

 

Survey says Macy’s off-price stores are hurting Macy’s not TJX at Business Insider. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Austin tightens water restrictions as region enters moderate drought

The World’s 10 Best ‘Table to Farm’ Dining Experiences

Barring catastrophe, Tim Cook will become $120 million wealthier Friday

Walton Family Foundation hires longtime entrepreneur as director of university partnerships

‘Fortnite’ Finally Showing Signs of Slowing Down

EU Ban on Halogen Light Bulbs Takes Effect this September

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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Eye on Retail Tipsheet is must-read material for retail execs every weekday morning. Tipsheet stories are carefully curated bright and early every morning to ensure fresh and unique content.

 

Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

Contact us: Send story tips, press releases and advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: www.eyeonretail.net