Tipsheet: D.Gen +4.0% | 7-11 Tank Explodes | WM Revamps Frozen

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Dollar General Q4 comp sales +4.0% (vs. +2.6% estimate) Press release

 

…Reuters: Dollar General 2019 profit forecast falls short of estimates “The company said it expects fiscal 2019 earnings of $6.30 to $6.50 per share, below the average analyst estimate of $6.65…” Read more

 

Stein Mart Q4 comp sales -3.5% Press release

 

Walmart work underway to revamp frozen food perceptions by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Laura Rush, VP & DMM over frozen foods at Walmart, spoke to more than 50 suppliers and business people Wednesday at the…WalStreet Fireside Chat breakfast. “Frozen is no longer taboo,” Rush said. “Frozen foods are evolving through innovation.” Read more

 

Smart & Final Q4 comp sales +1.9% Press release

 

Explore Amazon’s wide Washington reach by David McCabe & Erica Pandey at Axios. “Amazon lobbied more federal entities last year than any other public U.S. company, pressing its case throughout the government at a time when its power and reach is under a magnifying glass.” Read more

 

Walmart Turns to Food Delivery to Fend Off Amazon by Sarah Nassauer at Wall Street Journal. “Walmart was caught off guard after it began offering to deliver fresh groceries from a store in North Bergen, N.J., earlier this month, only to find orders flooding in from across the Hudson River. Drivers from DoorDash Inc. balked at paying the usual $15 toll to cross into Manhattan, store workers said; one driver was offered $11 to make the trip. Some orders were never filled…” WSJ subs.

 

Walgreens Names Heather Dixon SVP, Global Controller and Chief Accounting Office Press release

 

WeWork Labs is launching a food tech accelerator by Anthony Ha at TechCrunch. “When asked whether this could provide a template for WeWork to launch other industry-focused programs, Adler said, “It is likely that there will be more verticalized Labs programs over time.” Read more

 

**A message from 2019 Sweets & Snacks Expo – See the category innovation of 2019 all in one place! Items selected during the Sweets & Snacks Expo’s Most Innovative New Product Awards go on to enjoy sweet success – see the 2018 New Product winners here. Chicago’s McCormick Place, May 21-23. Exhibitors | Register Now

 

Walmart US CEO asked workers to email him their biggest complaints, and a surprising theme emerged by Hayley Peterson at Business Insider. “…I ended up getting about 2,700 emails.”…A surprising theme emerged…Workers wanted toilet-seat covers returned to the stores’ restrooms.” Read more

 

Critics were angry about Amazon’s $3 billion in tax breaks, but Hudson Yards gets more at Crain’s New York Business. “(The Amazon) price tag is well exceeded by the $6 billion in tax benefits and supporting infrastructure associated with The Related Cos. and Oxford Properties Group’s estimated $25 billion Hudson Yards redevelopment in the next decade.” Read more

 

IRI partners with the 10 largest c-store chains in the U.S. Press release

 

Boxed founder on early startup challenges: His neighbors would warn their kids not to go near the garage. His disappointed mother-in-law once told him, “I knew you weren’t the one.” by Talib Visram at Inc. Read more

 

Mercer’s Top Ranked Cities for Quality of Living Press release

 

Walmart Readies Introduction of Low-Priced iPad Rival by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. “The device will be made by a Chinese supplier and run on Google’s Android operating system, according to photos found on a database of wireless product applications filed with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.” Tiered subs.

 

Investigation continues into 7-Eleven gas tank explosion at WPVI ABC 6. “All of a sudden we heard like a big boom! Like, I thought it was a meteor. I thought like a plane crashed or something – all the flames,” said Joan Hernandez of Feltonville.” Video/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Kroger sells digital coupon business for $565M

Amazon driver sues man who shot him over handicapped spot

Aurora Cannabis Surges 14% as Nelson Peltz Joins as Strategic Advisor

This robot gripper looks like a wilted flower & can lift 100 times its own weight

‘Captain Marvel’ Songs by Hole, Nirvana & More Post 464% Sales Gain

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Tipsheet: Amazon’s PhD’s | FDA Vape Rule | Ark. Approves Self-Driving

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FDA outlines e-cigarette rules, tightens restrictions on fruity flavors to try to curb teen vaping at CNBC. “If finalized, the policy will likely remove some flavored e-cigarettes and cigars from store shelves, the FDA said. It also limits sales of flavored nicotine pods to websites, vape shops and other retailers that impose age restrictions, according to the FDA’s draft rule.” Read more

 

Arkansas Senate approves Walmart-backed proposal to test drive self-driving vehicles by Wesley Brown at Talk Business. “It will now be sent to the governor’s office, where Gov. Asa Hutchinson is expected to sign the law that will make Arkansas the 30th state to allow driverless vehicles on local roads.” Read more

 

Rite Aid shakes up top management – will cut about 400 U.S. jobs – CEO out at Reuters. “John Standley, CEO since 2010, will remain in the post until the appointment of his successor, the company said. It also said Chief Financial Officer Darren Karst and Chief Operating Officer Kermit Crawford would also leave the company.” Read more

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods will remove guns from 125 stores  by Josh Hafner at USA Today. “CEO Ed Stack said Tuesday that Dick’s will pull hunting gear from 125 stores starting in around August in response to its slumping sales in those stores, Bloomberg reported, a move that may spread to more stores next year.” Read More | Q4 Call Transcript @ Seeking Alpha

 

Neiman Marcus Group Q2 comp sales +0.7% Press release

 

Lumber Liquidators to pay $33 million criminal penalty at CBS. “The penalty comes after a seven-month 60 Minutes undercover investigation in 2015, which found Lumber Liquidators falsely claimed its flooring complied with California Air Resource Board’s maximum acceptable limits for formaldehyde emissions.” Read more/Video

 

Meijer continues the roll out of “Shop & Scan”, a mobile shopping checkout program, at 23 stores in Chicago and Northwest Indiana following success in Michigan test markets. Press release

 

Express Q4 comp sales -6.0% Press release

 

Imagining Amazon under a U.S. antitrust crackdown by Monica Nickelsburg at GeekWire. “Whole Foods, I imagine, would be relatively easy to separate because it did exist as a free-standing business not long ago,” (former FTC official) Kirkwood said. “It’s not like breaking up Amazon more internally, like separating out its cloud services business from its retail business. Those are, as I understand it, much more deeply linked and that would raise much more serious problems.” Read more

 

Eddie Lampert took $57.5 million from Sears — and the retailer wants its money back. by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. Read more

 

**A message from X1 Ebike – Up to 37 miles on a single 4-hour charge. Folds into the size of a golf bag in 1 second. GPS tracking, VIN # & alarm for security. Video | Website | Contact

 

Meet The Billionaire Who Defied Amazon And Built Wish by Parmy Olson at Forbes. “Forty-one percent of U.S. households don’t have $400 worth of liquidity,” Szulczewski says, referring to the Fed’s latest estimate…is now the third-biggest e-commerce marketplace in the U.S. by sales…Taking a 15% cut of their purchases, Wish doubled its revenue last year, to $1.9 billion.” Read more

 

Fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli — whose self-titled brand once ran at Target — is accused of shelling out $500,000 to get his daughters into USC at Business Insider. Read more

 

Topgolf to enter small and mid-sized cities (100K – 500K population) across the U.S. Press release

 

Amazon gets an edge with its secret squad of PhD economists by Lydia DePillis at CNN Money. “In the past few years, Amazon has hired more than 150 PhD economists, making it probably the largest employer in the field behind institutions like the Federal Reserve…(Amazon) was the only company with a recruiting booth at the American Economics Association’s annual conference in January, handing out free pens and logoed stress balls.” Read more

 

Build-A-Bear North America FY 18 = “low single-digit sales decline and modest profit” Press release

 

Verizon said on Wednesday its customers in Chicago and Minneapolis would be able to use its 5G wireless network from April 11 by paying $10 per month at Reuters. Read more

 

On 30th anniversary of web, Amazon shares first homepage by Kurt Schlosser at GeekWire. Pic/Read more

 

Signet Jewelers names CFO – bringing the leadership of its Kay, Zales and Peoples banners under one combined Mall Leadership Team Press release

 

Target Clean icon represents products formulated without a group of commonly unwanted chemicals at A Bullseye View. Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Can You Really Target a Twitter Ad at Just the President?

College Basketball’s Most Valuable Teams

Man posing as Home Depot employee scams man out of $4,500

The 50 Best Burgers In Canada

CBS staffers in a panic over call for $100M in cuts

The 25 Most Powerful Stylists in Hollywood 2019

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Ruiz Retires | Dick’s -2.2% | Modell’s Restructure | Z-End?

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Dick’s Q4 comp sales (shifted) -2.2% “Ed Stack: “…(we) expect to return to positive comp sales beginning in the second quarter.” Press release

 

…Dick’s Sporting Goods falls sharply after giving a weak outlook for 2019 by Arjun Reddy at Business Insider. Read more

 

Sporting-Goods Retailer Modell’s Hires Restructuring Adviser by Lillian Rizzo at Wall Street Journal. “The retailer, which has more than 150 stores in the Northeast, has hired Berkeley Research Group as its financial adviser to explore its next steps, the people said. Options on the table include a possible bankruptcy filing, two of the people added.” WSJ subs.

 

Amazon ends policy that prevented third-party merchants from selling products for lower prices on other sites by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. “Amazon critics cited the “price parity provisions” as a violation of antitrust laws. This past December, Sen. Richard Blumenthal asked the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the policy.” Read more

 

Weis Markets Q4 comp sales +0.7% Press release

 

Amazon domain battle rages on as internet overseer postpones decision at Reuters. “Brazil on Monday thanked the global body that oversees Internet addresses for extending until April a deadline for Amazon basin nations to reach a deal with Amazon.com Inc in their seven-year battle over the .amazon domain name.” Read more

 

Neiman Marcus CEO van Raemdonck answers ‘Why New York City?’ by Maria Halkias at Dallas Morning News. “Neiman Marcus is the anchor tenant of the Shops at Hudson Yards, a seven-level vertical mall that opens Friday on the Lower West Side. The $25 billion project is the largest private real estate development in U.S. history.” Tiered subs.

 

Gisel Ruiz, top female exec at Sam’s Club, to retire by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Ruiz will be replaced by Dacona Smith, senior vice president of Walmart’s western U.S. operations, effective April 14.” Read more

 

**A message from 2019 Sweets & Snacks Expo – See the category innovation of 2019 all in one place! Items selected during the Sweets & Snacks Expo’s Most Innovative New Product Awards go on to enjoy sweet success – see the 2018 New Product winners here. Chicago’s McCormick Place, May 21-23. Exhibitors | Register Now

 

Stitch Fix stock soars after earnings beat at CNBC. “Stitch Fix posted earnings per share of 12 cents on revenue of $370 million. Wall Street expected earnings of 5 cents on revenue of $365 million…active clients came in at 2.96 million, outpacing estimates of 2.95 million.” Read more

 

Ross Stores To Open 100 New Locations In 2019 Press release

 

Retailers woo customers with shaky credit by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Most of these programs are looking for consumers who are bad at math,” payment card consultant Robert McKinley of RAM Research told The Post. “They generally charge 20 percent to 30 percent more for merchandise and may carry additional, hidden costs.” Read more

 

Neiman Marcus Bondholder Makes Counteroffer to Proposed Debt Deal by Soma Biswas at Wall Street Journal. “Marble Ridge Capital LP, the bondholder, is seeking a 75% preferred equity stake in MyTheresa, according to the person. The new proposal comes after Neiman disclosed it had reached an agreement in principle on a debt deal with another group of investors. The retail chain is offering a 50% stake in MyTheresa under that proposal.” WSJ subs.

 

Toys R Us’ real estate arm exits bankruptcy with new name at Fox Business. Read more

 

Jeff Bezos responds to employee concerns about his personal life: ‘I still tap dance into the office’ by Eugene Kim at CNBC. “If you don’t mind, just raise your hand, if maybe — just maybe — you’ve had a better start to your 2019 than I have. Anybody?” Bezos said, according to a recording of the meeting CNBC has heard. “I noticed that a couple hands didn’t come up — I’m sorry for you guys.” Read more

 

Casey’s Q3 grocery/merchandise comp sales +3.4% Press release

 

Food-Delivery Companies Acquire a Taste for Smaller Markets by Heather Haddon & Julie Jargon at Wall Street Journal. “Instacart…said its deliveries can also reach 80% of the U.S. population, up from 10% in 2015. Shipt…has since tripled the number of markets where it operates to 250.” WSJ subs.

 

Sephora Eyes 35 New U.S. Locations in 2019 Press release

 

Upscale retailer Z Gallerie enters bankruptcy, angles for sale at SF Gate. “Los Angeles-based Z Gallerie has more than 1,000 employees, operates 76 stores and generated over $200 million in sales last year. It will close 17 underperforming stores, but plans to continue operating during bankruptcy.” Tiered subs.

 

Marvin Ellison skipped the HQ welcome party and instead worked at a store contractor’s desk on his first day at Lowe’s by Daniel B. Kline at Motley Fool. “On his second day, Ellison skipped the office again. Instead, he worked in receiving at another store to understand how the company was executing in that area, and to see firsthand what the friction points were. “The next day, I was on the sales floor learning the inside process,” he said.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

8,000 more bottles of ranch dressing removed from creek after truck crash

Jeff Bezos ghosted Gwyneth Paltrow

CVS to change on-hold music after doctor pleads for it to change

Tesla backtracking on plans to close most of its stores

Stop & Shop workers vote to authorize strike over contract fight

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Tipsheet: Costco $15 Min | Target Beats Victoria | B.Lots +3.1%

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Costco Q2 comp sales +5.4% (not adjusted) “Net sales for the quarter increased 7.3 percent, to $34.63 billion from $32.28 billion last year…February comp sales +3.5%” Press release

 

…Costco beats profit estimates and boosts minimum wage in the US and Canada at CNBC. “Costco said it will raise its starting wages to $15 and $15.50 per hour, from $14 and $14.50 per hour in the United States and Canada.” Read more

 

Big Lots Q4 comp sales +3.1% (vs. expected +1.1%) at MarketWatch. Read more

 

Nordstrom tech execs leaving by Nat Levy at GeekWire. “In the memo, (CTO) Mesrobian writes that Travis McElfresh and Magali Muratore, both senior vice presidents of technology, will leave the company.” Read more

 

Philadelphia Is First U.S. City to Ban Cashless Stores by Scott Calvert at Wall Street Journal. “Starting in July, Philadelphia’s new law will require most retail stores to accept cash. A New York City councilman is pushing similar legislation there, and New Jersey’s legislature recently passed a bill banning cashless stores statewide.” WSJ subs. | USA Today

 

Camping World: Dealership comp revenue of new vehicles -13.3% / Camping World RV stores comp sales -3.9% Press release

 

Kroger Talking With Potential Partners on a Health-Care Venture by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. “Chief Executive Officer Rodney McMullen said the grocer is “doing a lot of exploratory work” to identify an area of health care that it could enter and benefit customers — and perhaps lower their medical costs.” Tiered subs.

 

…Kroger Q4 Earnings Call Transcript from Seeking Alpha. Transcript

 

**A message from 2019 Sweets & Snacks Expo – See the category innovation of 2019 all in one place! Items selected during the Sweets & Snacks Expo’s Most Innovative New Product Awards go on to enjoy sweet success – see the 2018 New Product winners here. Chicago’s McCormick Place, May 21-23. Exhibitors | Register Now

 

Amazon reportedly halts orders from wholesalers, prompting concern about major changes to vendor platforms by Nat Levy at GeekWire. “Wholesale suppliers that sell items directly to Amazon have reportedly stopped getting purchase orders from the tech giant, and are instead being encouraged to sell directly to consumers via the third-party marketplace.” Read more

 

Walmart’s test of voice commerce to be rolled out this spring by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Walmart began testing the online grocery voice application several months ago with 100 VIP customers. The retailer has refined the process and will release to the public in the next couple of months, according to Jason Shaffer, senior director of Walmart Digital Operations, who spoke to a group of Walmart suppliers on Thursday (March 7) at the Doing Business in Bentonville breakfast.” Read more

 

Kroger CFO Michael Schlotman joins CNBC’s “Squawk Box” to discuss earnings miss Video

 

Stanley Black & Decker sues Sears over Craftsman brand by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Stanley’s Manhattan federal court lawsuit says Sears is now claiming to be the “real home” of the 92-year-old Craftsman brand — even introducing a competing product line, the Craftsman Ultimate Collection, without getting approval from Stanley.” Read more

 

Target lingerie easily beat Victoria’s Secret in a survey of young women by Elizabeth Segran at Civic Science. “CivicScience asked women, all things being equal, if they’d rather shop at Target or Victoria’s Secret for intimates. Women were more than 2x as likely to answer Target over Victoria’s Secret.” Read more

 

Casey’s Acquires Fantasy’s Convenience Stores Press release

 

Field Agent: The Top Brands & Retailers of Outdoor Grilling “More than 70% of respondents said they buy items like grills, charcoal, and lighter fluid from Walmart, with Home Depot (39%) and Lowe’s (36%) placing a distant second and third, respectively…Ninety-eight percent said they shop for grilling supplies inside stores, compared to 23% who buy such items online…” Read more

 

PriceSmart February comp sales -1.9% Press release

 

Walmart US CEO Greg Foran tells rivals to ‘bring it on’ by Hayley Peterson at Business Insider. “We woke up at some point in 2000 and whatever and found out we were Goliath. And when you are Goliath you find that there are other Davids that start throwing stones at you and you’ve got to learn to deal with that. If you become immobile, you just end up taking a lot of hits.” Read more

 

Cato Reports February Same-Store Sales Down 10% Press release

 

Retailers make a splash at SXSW at CNBC. “Walmart is sending its Chief Technology Officer Jeremy King to talk about why stores still play an important role in the retailer’s e-commerce strategy. Kohl’s is sending Grace Burgio, who manages artificial intelligence for the department store chain, to discuss how AI is helping Kohl’s boost in-store sales.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Michael Jackson Episode Removed From ‘The Simpsons’

Dries Van Noten’s Psychedelic Menswear Pops Up in L.A.

Aldi Files Suit Against Lidl, 2 Former Employees

Amazon invests in Jargon, a voice application content platform for developers

China February exports tumble the most in three years

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Tipsheet: Wegmans #1 Rep | Foran Shares | Kroger +1.8%

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Kroger Q4 comp sales +1.8% (ex-fuel) “Grew digital sales 58%, expanded Pickup or Delivery to reach 91% of Kroger households.” Press release

 

…Kroger shares plunge 10% after earnings, revenue miss at CNBC. “Looking to fiscal 2019, the grocer is targeting same-store sales sales growth, excluding fuel, of between 2 and 2.25 percent.” Read more

 

Burlington Q4 comp sales +1.3% Press release

 

Charlotte Russe will close all of its stores and start liquidation by Kelly Tyko at USA Today. “The company, which also controls Peek children’s clothing stores, caters its items toward women’s fashion and has more than 500 stores in 49 states and Puerto Rico.” Read more

 

BJ’s Wholesale Q4 comp sales +2.9% (ex-gas) Press release

 

Amazon is shutting down all of its US kiosks in favor of expanding its physical stores by Dami Lee at The Verge. “The kiosks have also operated inside Kohl’s and Whole Foods stores, with new pop-ups opening up as recently as a few months ago. However, the sudden shutdowns show how abruptly the company is shifting its retail strategy toward expanding its larger physical stores and product offerings.” Read more | WSJ article (subs.)

 

Barnes & Noble Q3 comp sales +1.1% Press release

 

The Buckle Q4 comp sales -6.8% Press release

 

**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 & more. Catalog | Website | Contact

 

Stage Stores Q4 comp sales -2.4% Press release

 

Axios Harris Poll 100 reputation rankings (Wegmans #1, Amazon #2, H.Depot #12, Costco #18, US Gov’t #100) Top 100 list

 

Walmart U.S. CEO Foran shares insights on growth opportunities, challenges, competitors by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “He said in plenty of towns around the country the Walmart and the Baptist church are likely to be the two nicest places in town. He quickly said that’s not true of Boston or Long Island, but it is true in other areas like Meridian, Miss., or Muskogee, Okla., or the south side of Chicago.” Read more

 

Forbes: Billionaires – The Richest People in the World (Bezos #1, Zuckerberg #8) List

 

Rent the Runway partnering with furniture retailer West Elm at CNBC. “Members will now be able to select from more than two dozen so-called bundles, each with three to four items, curated by West Elm. The items — meant to decorate bedrooms and living rooms — consist mostly of soft goods like quilts, shams and coverlets.” Read more

 

U.S. weekly jobless claims unexpectedly fall at Reuters. Read more

 

Amazon Is Flooding D.C. With Money and Muscle by Naomi Nix at Bloomberg. “Amazon is pushing aside trade groups it doesn’t like and creating new ones it does. It’s dispatching senior executives to woo antitrust enforcers. And it’s poaching senior staff from government agencies and congressional offices. Federal records show that Amazon.com Inc. lobbied more government entities than any other tech company in 2018.” Tiered subs.

 

Publix SVP, General Counsel and Secretary John Attaway to retire – Merriann Metz will replace Press release

 

Whole Foods reportedly cuts worker hours to make up for its new $15-an-hour wage at Fast Company. “Whole Foods refuted the claims of the workers and said: “Our full-time store Team Members averaged the same number of hours in January and February 2019 as they did during the same time last year.” Read more

 

Dollar Tree Appoints Carrie Wheeler to Its Board of Directors Press release

 

Dollar Tree CEO: We’re giving Family Dollar a ‘wow’ factor to draw customers at CNBC. “The company has invested $1 billion to renovate its Family Dollar stores to give it a “wow” factor and the entire enterprise was able to generate about $2 billion of cash flow, Philbin said in an interview on “Mad Money with Jim Cramer.” Video/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

This US city will soon have the last Blockbuster in the world

Walmart gives wristband maker Artemax a go at brick-and-mortar

Racetrack Suspends Races Indefinitely After 21 Horses’ Deaths (in Two Months)

Amazon’s healthcare joint venture has a name — Haven

FDA chief resignation leaves ‘billion-dollar question’ for CBD industry

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Tipsheet: F.Dollar Shutter 400 | WM New Fashion DC | Exec Women Like JCP

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Dollar Tree Enterprise Q4 comp sales +2.4% (Dollar Tree +3.2%, Family Dollar +1.4%) Press release

 

…Family Dollar will close nearly 400 stores at CNN Money. Read more

 

Ross Stores Q4 comp sales +4% Press release

 

FreshDirect is extending its service into more parts of Connecticut and expanding its reach in the Washington, D.C. Metro Area “Additionally, FreshDirect is now offering a same day delivery service enabling customers to place a FreshDirect order before 10am and receive it later that evening.” Press release

 

United Natural Foods Q2 legacy sales +5.8% Press release

 

Bentonville home for new Walmart fashion distribution center by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “On Tuesday, Walmart executives unveiled the new 1.25 million-square-foot facility (DC 7842) at 5800 S.W. Regional Airport Road in Bentonville. It’s one of six warehouses focused on apparel for Walmart U.S….the expansive warehouse serves 452 stores in 15 states. Walmart said the new DC will eventually serve 1,000 stores…” Read more

 

Abercrombie & Fitch Q4 comp sales +3.0% Press release

 

Asbestos found in Claire’s cosmetics, FDA says at CNN. “The three Claire’s products are not believed to be for sale, but consumers who have them at home should stop using them, the FDA said.” Read more

 

Chico’s Q4 comp sales -3.8% Press release

 

Chico’s brand names new President – Karen McKibbin, Ex-Nordstrom Rack President Read more

 

**A message from 2019 Sweets & Snacks Expo – See the category innovation of 2019 all in one place! Items selected during the Sweets & Snacks Expo’s Most Innovative New Product Awards go on to enjoy sweet success – see the 2018 New Product winners here. Chicago’s McCormick Place, May 21-23. Exhibitors | Register Now

 

J.Jill Q4 comp sales -1.7% Press release

 

Urban Outfitters Q4 comp sales +4.0% “Urban Outfitters posted stronger-than-expected fourth quarter earnings Tuesday as the retailer notched record sales over the holiday period.” Read more

 

…Urban Outfitters starts 2019 on frosty note, shares slip at CNBC. “Urban Outfitters said on Tuesday that the year had started off weaker than expected…The owner of Anthropologie and Free People also forecast a possible drop in same-store sales in the current quarter.” Read more

 

FDA chief Scott Gottlieb resigns at The Hill. “The rule has not been made public yet, but Gottlieb has previously proposed limiting the sales of most flavored e-cigarettes to age-restricted, in-person locations, effectively ending sales at gas stations and convenience stores.” Read more

 

RH appoints Jack Preston as CFO Press release

 

National Association for Female Executives names top 70 companies for executive women (Chico’s, JCP, Visa) List

 

Target won’t be expanding around the world anytime soon by Brian Sozzi at Yahoo Finance. Video/Read more

 

Full details of Amazon’s HQ2 deal with Arlington County, Va., revealed for the first time by Monica Nickelsburg at GeekWire. Read more

 

Jeans maker Diesel USA files for bankruptcy at Reuters. “In a court filing, Chief Restructuring Officer Mark Samson said Diesel USA has no plans to close, but intends to exit some of its 28 stores.” Read more

 

Tipsheeet Extra Stories

Amazon driver shot in dispute over handicapped parking spot outside Target store

Pabst Blue Ribbon Whiskey? Signs point to yes

Outrage in Brooklyn over ’40 Ounce’ water bottle that looks like malt liquor

Work resumes at big Seattle retail space long linked to Amazon

LinkedIn reveals recruiters are less likely to click on a woman’s profile when headhunting

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

 

Website: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: Target/Kohl’s Beat | Sam’s New Scan & Go | FDA Rips Retailers

/in

 

Target Q4 Comp Sales +5.3% “Comparable store sales grew 2.9 percent, and comparable digital sales grew 31 percent…Full-year comparable sales grew 5.0 percent — Target’s strongest performance since 2005.” Press release

 

…Target shares surge as company beats Wall Street estimates at CNBC. 

  • Earnings per share, adjusted: $1.53 vs. $1.52 expected
  • Revenue: $22.98 billion vs. $22.96 billion expected
  • Same-store sales: up 5.3 percent vs. growth of 5.1 percent expected Read more

 

Kohl’s Q4 Comp Sales +1.0% “The Company will close four underperforming stores in April, but will open four new smaller format stores later in the year. It is consolidating call center locations which support both its Kohl’s Charge and online customers.” Press release

 

…Kohl’s beats same-store sales estimates at Reuters. “Sales at Kohl’s locations open for at least a year rose 1 percent, better than the 0.3 percent growth analysts on average had estimated…” Read more

 

GNC Q4 Comp Sales -0.6% Press release

 

FDA chief blasts Walgreens for selling tobacco to minors by Richard Morgan at NY Post. “These illegal sales must stop,” (FDA Commissioner) Gottlieb said before demanding the unusual sit-down. “These statistics about violations at Walgreens retail outlets cannot possibly come as a surprise to corporate leadership,” the FDA chief chided.” Read more

 

…FDA threatens Walgreens, Walmart, other retailers for allegedly selling tobacco to kids by Nathan Bomey at USA Today. 

In its undercover checks, the FDA said the following chains had tobacco sales violation rates of:

• Between 35 percent to 44 percent: Marathon, Exxon, Sunoco, BP, Citgo and Mobil gas stations.

• Between 25 percent and 34 percent: Shell, Chevron, Casey’s General Stores and 7-Eleven.

• Between 15 percent and 24 percent: Family Dollar, Kroger, Walgreens, Circle K and Walmart.

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Walmart partners with Affirm to provide credit option to customers by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “There are no hidden or late fees, so users will never pay a dollar more than they agree to, according to Walmart. In-store shoppers will receive a unique barcode that is scanned by a store employee at the register to complete a purchase. Walmart stores in Iowa, Puerto Rico and West Virginia are not eligible to participate.” Read more

 

Amazon, Long Seen as a Threat to Malls, Is Now a Hot Tenant by Esther Fung at Wall Street Journal. “When Amazon comes knocking, it feels like Apple has showed up,” said Jay Luchs, vice chairman at Newmark Knight Frank , a real estate consulting firm. Apple Inc. has a huge pull on mall traffic and the clout to negotiate for lower rents with landlords.” WSJ subs.

 

Investor Barington pushes L Brands for Victoria’s Secret spinoff at Reuters. Read more

 

**A message from the Megaphone sound enhancing phone case – Boosts sound 2X and filters the sound for a smoother “stereo” listening experience. Website/Video | Sample

 

Sam’s Club to test new Scan & Go system by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “The new scanning technology will instead use computer vision and ML (machine learning) to recognize products without scanning the barcode, cutting the time it takes for the app to identify the product in question, the retailer explains.” Read more

 

Whole Foods’ Will Chau Knows the Importance of Fostering a Creative Culture by Doug Zanger at Adweek. Adweek subs.

 

A Storm Is Gathering Over Container Shipping by Costas Paris at Wall Street Journal. “Estimates are that shipping companies will try to pass on to cargo owners about $10 billion a year in combined additional expenses from the new fuel requirements, but they will almost certainly have to absorb some of those costs to keep customers on board.” WSJ subs.

 

Food Lion to Remodel 92 Stores Press release

 

15 Minutes With Big Lots’ General Counsel at Law 360. Law 360 subs.

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

At 21, Kylie Jenner Becomes The Youngest Self-Made Billionaire Ever

‘Superstore’ Renewed for Season 5 on NBC

Amazon fuels Harvard hospital’s machine learning research program

Feds investigate Pentagon ties to Amazon

Bugatti unveils the most expensive new car ever built

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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: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: O.Depot/Alibaba Team | LA Retail Hour Ordinance

/in

 

Office Depot and Alibaba team up to tap small and medium businesses at Reuters. “Office Depot’s customers will get access to Alibaba’s global network of over 150,000 suppliers to find more product options or a reputed manufacturer to produce their goods.” Read more

 

Children’s Place to buy Gymboree brand, while Gap snags Janie and Jack chain at CNBC. Read more

 

Target CEO: $7 billion investment in stores and technology is paying off by Jackie Crosby at Minneapolis Star Tribune. “Heading into Tuesday’s (investor) meeting, Cornell is quick to temper expectations that the multiyear effort is on the home stretch. “The reason we’re doing this is not to move the needle for the next three years,” Cornell said. “Back then, we said we were going to play the long game and make the right investments to ensure that this is a viable and thriving business, and that the Target brand is one of the winners in retail. It won’t stop in 2020. We’ve got a lot more work to do.” Tiered subs.

 

How Hudson’s Bay CEO Helena Foulkes Is Getting the Retailer to Focus by Phil Wahba at Forbes. “Saks Off Fifth is operating in a great space in retail, a successful part of retail. Our issue is not so much, ‘Do we like the space we do?’ We do. We haven’t been executing well. We had been running it more like a small department store rather than an off-price business.” Read more

 

…Lord & Taylor lives in retail’s “middle” ground — and that’s a hard place to survive by Kurt Wagner at Recode. “I think it’s in the toughest part of retail: The middle,” Foulkes said Sunday night at Recode’s Code Commerce event in Las Vegas. “It’s neither the high end luxury where you can really own it, nor is it low-cost…discount retailer.” Video/Read more

 

Holdout Jeff Bezos Confronted by Amazon Moms Demanding Daycare by Spencer Soper & Rebecca Greenfield at Bloomberg. “The women, who belong to a group of more than 1,800 employees called the Momazonians, are scheduled to meet with senior managers in coming weeks to make their case. They want the company to provide backup daycare for those times when regular childcare arrangements fall through.” Tiered subs.

 

How Best Buy, a building owner and the Y set up a downtown St. Paul teen hangout by Frederick Melo at Pioneer Press. Read more

 

**A message from 2019 Sweets & Snacks Expo – See the category innovation of 2019 all in one place! Items selected during the Sweets & Snacks Expo’s Most Innovative New Product Awards go on to enjoy sweet success – see the 2018 New Product winners here. Chicago’s McCormick Place, May 21-23. Exhibitors | Register Now

 

Los Angeles proposed ordinance addresses erratic hours for retail workers by Margot Roosevelt at LA Times. “A national movement to mandate stable hourly schedules for low-wage workers expanded to Los Angeles on Friday, as City Council members introduced a “Fair Workweek” measure that could affect some 70,000 retail employees in the city. Under a proposed ordinance, large retailers would have to give workers two weeks’ advance notice of what days and hours they are expected to work.” Tiered subs.

 

Amazon to open new US grocery chain separate from Whole Foods via TechCrunch. “The longer-term plan involves opening “dozens” of these stores in major U.S. cities, and Amazon may even consider an acquisition strategy related to this goal, which would see it pick up regional grocery chains with about a dozen stores under operation, the report said.” Read more | WSJ article (subs.)

 

CVS is closing its nearly 30 hearing centers at CNBC. “CVS is pivoting ahead of changes…Next year, the FDA will introduce regulations to allow hearing aids to be sold over the counter, eliminating the need for CVS to dedicate space in stores for audiologists to conduct hearing tests and fit people for the devices.” Read more

 

Authorities recover cockpit voice recorder from Amazon Air plane crash site in Texas by Alan Boyle at GeekWire. Read more

 

Kroger expands ban on Visa credit cards to 250 Smith’s Food & Drug stores at USA Today. “Kroger and Visa have been negotiating about the fee structure for months, but made no progress, (Kroger CFO) Schlotman says.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Marijuana platform hires Amazon Prime Video vet as CEO

Flawed visitor check-in systems let anyone steal guest logs & sneak into buildings

Instant Pot is merging with the owner of Pyrex

Warren Buffett’s model for aspiring managers is Nebraska Furniture Mart founder

Lidl eyes first store in city of Charlotte

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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: eyeonretail.net