Tipsheet: Big Lots +1.2% | Ulta Downer | WM +GA Clinic

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Ulta Beauty Q2 comp sales +6.2% Press release

 

…Ulta shares plummet as profit and sales miss expectations and company slashes outlook at CNBC. “(CEO Mary) Dillon said consumers haven’t been picking up new rituals such as contouring or brow styling this cycle. Consumers have also been increasingly bypassing brick-and-mortar stores like Ulta and Sephora and turning to digitally native makeup brands like Glossier.” Read more

 

U.S. consumer spending increases solidly; income tepid at Reuters. “The Commerce Department said on Friday consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, rose 0.6% last month after an unrevised 0.3% gain in June. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast consumer spending advancing 0.5% last month.” Read more

 

Walmart will offer mental health and other services at a new clinic in Georgia at CNBC. “It also went online with the site “Walmarthealth.com,” where patients can set up appointments. Walmart is testing the concept with the initial clinic and could open more in the future, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the plans are confidential.” Read more

 

Big Lots Q2 comp sales +1.2% Press release

 

Broward Residents Preparing Homes, Getting Gas, Supplies Ahead Of Possible Hurricane Dorian Strike by Carey Codd at CBS 4 Miami. “This morning, cars sat backed up along State Road 84 in Davie waiting to get into Costco for gas. The lines to get into the store were long, too. “I’ve never seen anything like this ever,” said one Costco shopper.” Video/Read more

 

Build-A-Bear Q2 revenue -4.8% Press release

 

Amazon now owns part of the YES Network by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. “The New York Yankees, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Amazon, and other partners acquired the 80 percent stake of the YES Network not already owned by the Yankees. The total enterprise value of the deal is $3.47 billion.” Read more

 

Puma is opening a massive flagship store on Fifth Avenue. Here’s a first look inside at CNBC. Pics/Read more

 

**A message from EasyLock: Lock your deadbolt with a simple twist! No key required – twist to lock. Sell sheet | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Hy-Vee thinks smaller; offers no update on five proposed large format stores by John Ewoldt at Star Tribune. “When it entered the (Twin Cities) market in 2015, Hy-Vee CEO Randy Edeker said the Iowa-based chain aimed to roll out four new stores a year in the Twin Cities. Its eventual goal was to make the Twin Cities its largest market, surpassing Kansas City. But Hy-Vee now has several proposed stores for which it has no updates…And earlier this year, Hy-Vee dropped plans for a distribution center in Austin, Minn.” Tiered subs.

 

Hong Kong retail sales in July fell 11.4% – steepest in three-and-a-half years amid protests at Reuters. Read more

 

Walmart’s robot army has arrived by Katharine Schwab at Fast Company. “To find other ways that the robot could communicate with people, Skaff turned to what he thought would be a convention that everyone would understand: a car’s turn signal…“We expected the turn signals to just work,” Skaff says. “It was a big surprise that actually the answer is no. People had a hard time transcribing an experience from the road to one that’s indoors.” Read more

 

Senators ask Jeff Bezos to crack down on thousands of unsafe products on Amazon at CNBC. “Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., asked (Bezos) to take action to stop the sale of unsafe products on Amazon…The letter was in response to a recent Wall Street Journal investigation, which found more than 4,000 items for sale on Amazon’s site that have been declared unsafe by federal agencies…” Read more

 

New Costco chicken plant in Nebraska is ready to go by Ken Anderson at Brownfield Ag News. “The new Costco poultry plant in Fremont, Nebraska will begin processing its first chickens next week…there will be a 45-week ramp-up to full production…will be providing Costco with more than two million chickens each week.” Bldg pic/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Publix rankles some with hurricane-themed cookie cake

Fry’s Electronics to shutter Palo Alto store

Sam’s Club expands service offerings to its members

Some men’s health start-ups make it a pain for customers to cancel

Probes of e-cigarette giant Juul under way in Illinois, DC

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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Contact us: Put your product or service in front of the most powerful retail execs in the world, send advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

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Tipsheet: B.Buy +1.6% | Tritton Letter | D.Gen +4% | Burlington +3.8%

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Best Buy Q2 comp sales +1.6% (on top of +6.2% LY) Press release

 

…Best Buy shares fall after second-quarter sales miss at CNBC. “…revenue of $9.54 billion, vs. $9.56 billion estimated…(comp) sales growth also grew by 1.6%, compared with analyst expectations of a 2.1% growth. The company’s adjusted earnings beat expectations by 9 cents.” Read more

 

Dollar General Q2 comp sales +4.0% Press release

 

…Dollar General Promotions: Jeffery C. Owen, 49, has been named chief operating officer with responsibility for store operations, merchandising and supply chain…Steven G. Sunderland will succeed Owen as executive vice president of store operations. Press release

 

Dollar Tree Q2 enterprise comp sales +2.4%: by segment – Dollar Tree +2.4%, Family Dollar +2.4% Press release

 

New products, remodelled stores push U.S. dollar chains to boost profit forecast at Reuters. “Dollar General said on Thursday it would be able to mitigate the impact of…tariffs…Dollar Tree also said it was able to tide over the previous round of tariffs through price concessions, canceled orders and a better assortment of products.” Read more

 

Five Below Q2 comp sales +1.4% Press release

 

US economy grew at a moderate 2% annual rate last quarter at AP News. “…down from a 3.1% gain in the first quarter. The new estimate was lower than the government’s initial estimate a month ago of 2.1% annual growth.” Read more

 

Burlington Q2 comp sales +3.8% Press release

 

Target’s Tariff Strategy Might Haunt the Retailer by Lisa Lacy at Adweek. “The news was first reported by Oregon Public Broadcasting, which cited a letter from Target chief merchandising officer Mark Tritton, who said the retailer will “not accept any new cost increases” and its “expectation is that [suppliers] will develop the appropriate contingency plans so that we don’t have to pass price increases along to our guests.” Tiered subs.

 

Williams-Sonoma Q2 comp brand revenue +6.5% “…primarily driven by an acceleration in comparable growth for West Elm and Pottery Barn to 17.5% and 4.2%, respectively.” Press release

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water: The sweetest coconut water there is. 100% pure coconut water. PL or branded organic in Tetra Pak. Sell sheet | Website | Samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Forever 21 is preparing for potential bankruptcy filing, report says by Kelly Tyko at USA Today. Read more

 

Abercrombie & Fitch Q2 comp sales flat Press release

 

How Amazon’s Shipping Empire Is Challenging UPS and FedEx by Sebastian Herrera & Vanessa Qian at Wall Street Journal. “Amazon now delivers nearly half of its orders, compared with less than 15% in 2017, according to estimates from research firm Rakuten Intelligence. It is now handling an estimated 4.8 million packages every day in the U.S., according to MWPVL International.” WSJ subs.

 

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Q2 comp sales -1.7% Press release

 

Walmart testing privacy pods for breastfeeding moms by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Walmart is the first retailer to pilot the pods offered by Vermont-based Mamava. The idea came from Tennille Webb, a Walmart employee who saw a pod in an airport and took the concept back to her bosses at Walmart in Bentonville who ran it up the corporate ladder.” Read more

 

Sportsman’s Warehouse Q2 comp sales +1.7% Press release

 

Hannaford offers parental leave as employees request flexibility at New Hampshire Union Leader. “Workers employed at least a year and averaging at least 30 hours a week will be eligible for six weeks of fully paid leave during the first 12 months after the birth, adoption or legal placement of a child.” Read more

 

PVH Q2 revenue: Tommy Hilfiger +8.0% | Calvin Klein -6.0% | Heritage Brands flat Press release

 

Instacart CFO Ravi Gupta to exit for Sequoia Capital by Kate Clark at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Guess? Q2 US retail comp sales +2.0% Press release

 

Shoe Carnival Q2 comp +1.4% Press release

 

Tilly’s Q2 comp sales +0.6% Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Target takes drive up service nationwide

Apple to supply parts to independent repair shops for first time

The software that makes (almost) anyone a data savant

Panera is losing nearly 100% of its workers every year

Amazon kept a criticism ‘burn book’ before dumping NYC

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Subscribe to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here

 

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Tipsheet: Lord & Taylor Sold | B.Buy’s Solid S.Chain | Tiffany -4%

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Hudson’s Bay to sell Lord & Taylor for $100 million to clothing rental service Le Tote at CNBC. “Le Tote is an apparel rental service that allows subscribers to rent clothes for $79 a month. That Le Tote, which was founded as a start-up in 2012, is able to snag the longstanding department store chain, speaks to how far department stores have fallen. Lord & Taylor’s footprint had fallen to 45 department stores as of Feb. 2…” Read more

 

Tiffany Q2 comp sales -4.0% Press release

 

…CNBC: Tiffany shares jump after earnings beat “Tiffany on Wednesday reported quarterly earnings that easily topped analysts’ expectations: Earnings per share: $1.12 vs. $1.04 expected.” Read more

 

Costco limits shoppers in first China store after opening-day fiasco at Reuters. “No more than 2,000 shoppers at any given time will be allowed into the store in a Shanghai suburb, Costco’s first in China, and local police will help to improve the flow of traffic near the store, it said on Wednesday.” Read more

 

…Costco China video: CNN | Fighting over pork | Pass the pods

 

Express Q2 comp sales -6.0% Press release

 

Amazon Seeks Exclusive Programming for IMDb TV by Sahil Patel at Wall Street Journal. “In recent months, Amazon has asked content suppliers for more exclusive licenses to movies and TV shows for IMDb TV, according to people familiar with the effort.” WSJ subs.

 

Bulletproof backpacks pulled from shelves at Office Depot store by Rob Jennings at NJ Advance Media. “It is not clear if the directive was specific to that individual store, or stores in New Jersey, or perhaps nationally.” Read more

 

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

 

Caribou opening Little Blue Cabins for drive through, walk up service Press release

 

Lowe’s executive apologizes for derogatory comment about Hispanics at CNN. “During an in-house video for Lowe’s employees, Joe McFarland, the home improvement chain’s executive vice president of stores, said a compact power drill was “perfect” for Hispanic customers with small hands.” Read more

 

Ron Johnson’s e-commerce startup Enjoy raises $150M, expands in UK by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. Read more

 

China’s Potential New Trade Weapon: Corporate Social Credits by Yoko Kubota at Wall Street Journal. “It makes the instruments of the social-credit system usable as a tool in the trade conflict,” said Björn Conrad, chief executive and co-founder of Sinolytics, a China-focused consulting firm…” WSJ subs.

 

Walmart Announces the Hottest Toys of the Year Press release

 

Doorbell-camera firm Ring has partnered with 400 police forces by Drew Harwell at Washington Post via SF Gate. “Sgt. William Pickering, an officer with the Norfolk Police Department in Virginia, which is working with Ring, compared the system’s expansion to the onset of DNA evidence in criminal cases – a momentous capability, unlocked by new technology, that helps police gain the upper hand.” Tiered subs.

 

CVS fights ex-exec’s appellate bid to join Amazon’s PillPack at Reuters. Read more

 

Best Buy revs up supply chain ahead of the holiday season at CNBC. “Right now it seems to me [Best Buy] is farthest along in what I’ve called the holy grail of retail,” Moody’s retail analyst Charlie O’Shea said in an interview. “They have one pile of inventory in a distribution center both stocking stores and fulfilling online orders.” Read more

 

Farfetch says it is not acquiring Barneys New York Press release

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Amazon in talks for stake in Indonesia’s ride-hailing startup Go-Jek

Woman abandons six kids at a Walmart store

Marvel celebrates 80th anniversary with massive comic

TSA will not permit the stylized Coke bottles from Galaxy’s Edge on flights

Marriott banning little shampoo bottles by 2020

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: Put your product or service in front of the most powerful retail execs in the world, send advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

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Tipsheet: Costco China Crush | Epic Flu Season? | WM Can. New CEO

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Crowds force Costco to shut maiden China store early on opening day at Reuters. “Videos posted on Chinese social media showed thousands of people crowding the aisles of the store in Shanghai’s Minhang district, while signs outside warned incoming shoppers that they might have to wait three hours to park. One nearby school sent out an advisory to parents warning them about the traffic conditions. “Please expect the student dismissal this afternoon to be severely delayed due to the grand opening of Costco Supermarket,” said the message.” Read more

 

Horacio Barbeito Appointed President and CEO of Walmart Canada “Barbeito joined Walmart nearly 25 years ago and developed his career through leadership roles in Argentina, the United States, Puerto Rico and Chile.” Press release

 

Barneys nears sale to online luxury retailer Farfetch: sources by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Farfetch, which peddles luxury brands including Gucci, Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel, kicked off negotiations with Barneys before its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing — but the talks have been heating up, sources said. In one sign of how serious things are getting, the e-tailer has even convinced the landlord of Barneys’ crown jewel location on Madison Avenue to slash the rent and take back 40% of the 10-story store, sources said.” Read more

 

Shoe retailer Cole Haan prepares for IPO at CNBC. “…declined to comment on the timing of the IPO. The company is owned by private equity firm Apax Partners, which bought Cole Haan from Nike in 2013.” Read more

 

J.Jill Q2 comp sales -1.2% Press release

 

Amazon’s top treasurer leaves the company after 15 years of managing its money at CNBC. “(Kurt) Zumwalt didn’t respond to inquiries from CNBC as to why he left or where he’s headed next. One person said he doesn’t have any plans to join another company at this point.” Read more

 

**A message from EasyLock: Introducing the EasyLock keyless locking deadbolt. Lock your deadbolt with a simple twist! No key required – twist to lock. Sell sheet | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Dollar General and Dollar Tree fined $1.2 million for selling expired drugs at CNBC. “The investigation also called out Family Dollar…All the chains sold expired over-the-counter drugs, while Dollar General was fined for selling motor oil unsuitable for modern cars; Dollar Tree also violated New York’s bottle deposit law, law enforcement officials said.” Read more

 

Bell shows off an autonomous delivery drone that rivals Amazon’s prototype by Alan Boyle at GeekWire. Video/Read more

 

Lottery retailers poised to join Illinois sports betting action by Mitchell Armentrout at Chicago Sun Times. “In the Illinois version, gamblers will place their bets at electronic kiosks placed in up to 2,500 retailers that are authorized in the first year of the pilot. An additional 2,500 retailers will be eligible to join the action in the second year.” Read more

 

Southern California grocery union gives supermarkets Sept. 9 deadline in hopes of averting a strike by Lori Weisberg at San Diego Union-Tribune. “In late June, thousands of grocery workers across Southern California and parts of Central California, voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing their union leadership to call a strikeshould contract talks with Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons, and the Pavilions stores fail to yield a satisfactory agreement. Some 46,000 unionized workers, from north of Santa Maria to the U.S.- Mexico border, are still working under a three-year contract that expired March 3.” Tiered subs.

 

Upcoming flu season could be ‘worst flu season in the last decade’ according to Kroger Senior Director of Pharmacy Services Jim Kirby by Gina Acosta at Progressive Grocer. “The next big thing that will hit retail pharmacy is the flu season, but not just any flu season, but the possibly worst flu season in the last decade,” said Kirby, who spoke at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ Total Store Expo (TSE), in Boston.” Read more

 

Grocery workers authorize strike against SW Washington and Oregon stores if negotiations fail at Seattle Times. “Fred Meyer has been posting negotiation updates online. The company’s offer, McAllister said, calls for proposed wage rate increases that are considerably smaller than what the union is looking for.” Tiered subs.

 

Randy Riley, director of produce merchandising for Kroger, estimates Kroger’s share of the organic produce market is 40% in markets they operate by Tom Karst at Produce Retailer. “Altogether, 27 million household are buying organic in Kroger stores. Riley said the Simple Truth private label organic brand in all departments has annual sales of $3 billion per year.” Read more

 

Starbucks Supplier Delivery Workers Vote to Authorize Strike by Jennifer Smith at Wall Street Journal. “The proposed labor agreement between DPI Specialty Foods Inc.’s logistics division and Teamsters Local 710 covers nearly 300 drivers and warehouse workers at four DPI facilities in the Chicago, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and St. Louis areas. Those locations supply food and other goods to more than 900 Starbucks stores, the Teamsters said.” WSJ subs.

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Eddie Murphy Will Host ‘SNL’ for the First Time in 35 Years

Atlanta meeting held after four people die in electric scooter accidents since May

Amazon joins Walmart in blaming Tesla’s solar panels for fires

PetSmart’s motion to dismiss Nestle Purina’s trademark suit over packaging denied

New golf ball automatically finds the hole every time

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: Put your product or service in front of the most powerful retail execs in the world, send advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: Hy-Vee Data @ Dark Web | F.Locker Miss | Gap -4%

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Gap Inc. Q2 comp sales: Old Navy Global -5.0% / Gap Global -7.0% / Banana Republic Global -3.0% Press release

 

…Gap’s second-quarter sales fall short of estimates, CEO calls out ‘challenging environment’ at CNBC. “Net income fell to $168 million, or 44 cents per share, from $297 million, or 76 cents a share, a year ago.” Read more

 

Foot Locker Q2 comp sales +0.8% (vs. +3.3% expected) at Investor’s Business Daily. Read more

 

Breach at Hy-Vee Supermarket Chain Tied to Sale of 5M+ Stolen Credit, Debit Cards at Krebs on Security. “According to two sources who asked not to be identified for this story — including one at a major U.S. financial institution — the card data stolen from Hy-Vee is now being sold under the code name “Solar Energy,” at the infamous Joker’s Stash carding bazaar.” Read more

 

Hibbett Sports Q2 comp sales +0.3% Press release

 

‘We’ll Let You Know’: Dick’s Sporting Goods Remains Quiet on Future of Gun Sales by Chris Morris at Fortune. “Edward W. Stack, chairman and chief executive officer at Dick’s, noted “continued deterioration in hunt and firearms business,” but did not announce an expansion of the ongoing experiment, which has seen guns removed from 125 stores to date.” Read more

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods Q2 Earnings Call Transcript Seeking Alpha

 

The Buckle Q2 comp sales +1.8% Press release

 

Amazon to acquire minority stake in an Indian supermarket chain operator at Reuters. “Amazon.com Inc is set to snag a 3.58% minority stake in India’s Future Retail, which operates more than 1,500 stores in India and owns several supermarket brands, including budget department and grocery store chain, Big Bazaar.” 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 seconds! GPS tracking, VIN # & alarm for security. Video | Website | Contact

 

The Exclusive Inside Story Of The Fall Of Overstock’s Mad King, Patrick Byrne by Lauren Debter at Forbes. Read more

 

Target has opened 100 mini stores and remodeled 500 bigger ones at CNBC. “Target also says it’s still on pace to open 30 small-format stores across the country each year. The company expects to complete 300 additional store remodelings in 2020, putting it on track to remodel at least 1,000 locations out of its fleet of more than 1,800.” Read more

 

Nordstrom Names Teri Bariquit As Chief Merchandising Officer Press release

 

Ikea is quietly changing its brand again—for a very good reason by Katharine Schwab at Fast Company. “Noto is considered the most universal typeface in existence…Noto is short for “No Tofu,” providing visual representations of every letter of all of the 800 languages. It’s part of Google’s goal to make a font available for every language that is considered a script by Unicode..” Read more

 

Ross Stores Q2 comp sales +3.0% Press release

 

DoorDash says it’ll start paying driver tips next month at The Verge. “…all drivers will receive 100 percent of the tip amount a customer adds through the DoorDash app either at checkout or after delivery. Drivers will be informed of this total and the breakdown before they decide to accept an order. DoorDash is also pledging to increase base pay earnings across the board for all drivers.” Read more

 

Hasbro scoops up Peppa Pig owner for $4 billion at CNN. Read more

 

Research Says Brand Mascots Really Do Move the Needle by Minda Smiley at Adweek. “The study, which used data from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (a U.K. trade body that represents agencies) collected 2017-18, found that campaigns including a mascot are 37% more likely to increase market share than ones without.” Subs./Registration

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Gas prices in the South could drop below $2 per gallon this fall

Taylor Swift is a kid again on ‘Lover,’ a big, messy embrace of a new album

Manufacturer gets biodegradable foam coolers into Walmart

True Value boosts conversion with spinning product images

Miley Cyrus reveals she lost a Walmart deal as a teenager for ‘ripping a bong’

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: Put your product or service in front of the most powerful retail execs in the world, send advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: eyeonretail.net

Tipsheet: Dick’s +3.2% | Fball Fans Rank Retail | BJ’s +1.6% | Bath & Body +8%

/in

 

Dick’s Q2 comp sales +3.2% “We saw growth across each of our three primary categories of hardlines, apparel and footwear, our brick-and-mortar stores comped positively and our eCommerce channel remained strong, increasing 21%,” said Edward W. Stack.” Press release

 

BJ’s Wholesale Club Q2 comp sales (ex-gas) +1.6% “Christopher J. Baldwin, Chairman and CEO, BJ’s: “Our sales were particularly strong in the second half of the quarter as weather improved.” Press release

 

Lowe’s CEO details plans for growth as construction begins on Charlotte tech hub by Hannah Smoot at Charlotte Observer. ““(The tech hub) is going to be critical,” (Ellison) said. “We had fallen behind relative to modern technology. And it doesn’t matter what business you’re in, whether its retail or manufacturing, if you’re not on the cutting edge of technology, you’re going to fall behind.” Read more

 

Stage Stores Q2 comp sales +1.8% Press release

 

Manufacturers Want to Quit China for Vietnam. They’re Finding It Impossible. by Niharika Mandhana at Wall Street Journal. “Industrial parks (in Vietnam) have been flooded with inquiries. BW Industrial Development, backed by U.S. private-equity firm Warburg Pincus, began building factories-for-rent last year. Its facilities are booked through December. Marketing head Michael Chan said some tenants are rushing from site visits to signing contracts in just a week.” WSJ subs.

 

Stein-Mart Q2 comp sales -1.9% Press release

 

Nordstrom Q2 net sales: Full-price -6.5% / Off-price -1.9% Press release

 

…CNBC: Nordstrom shares jump after delivering strong profit, even as sales weaken in fiscal second quarter Read more

 

L Brands Q2 comp sales -1% (vs. growth of 0.3% expected) at CNBC. “Same-store sales at Victoria’s Secret dropped 6% (vs. expected -3.9%) during the quarter, while those at Bath & Body works were up 8% (vs. expected +6.3%).” Read more

 

Ace Hardware Q2 US comp sales +1.7% / Online +58% Press release

 

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

 

Tuesday Morning Q4 comp sales +0.7% Press release

 

Target CEO: US consumer confidence ‘remains strong’ at CNBC. “Consumer confidence remains strong, there’s been a reduction in fuel prices which we think is important for consumers, unemployment remains low and wages are growing,” (Cornell said)…Bottom line, “we have a pulse of the consumer,” Cornell said, easing any investors’ worries on the issue.” Read more

 

HEARD ON THE CALL – Target Q2 Earnings Call Highlights

Cornell:

Saw more than 5% comp growth in both apparel and essentials.

Expanded test of Levi’s Red Tab denim for both men and women to 50 stores in college campuses and in high-traffic urban markets.

We will expect to see the rate of new brand introduction slow (Q&A)

Mulligan:

In Q2, same-day services, in-store pickup, drive-up and Shipt accounted for more than a third of our digital sales, up from about 20% last year.

Tritton:

Results within essentials and beauty was strongest in baby, beauty and over-the-counter.

Food and beverage and home assortments saw low single digit increases in comparable sales.

In hardlines this quarter, comp sales were approximately flat overall.

Comp declines in our electronics and entertainment categories.

Smith:

2.4% increase in traffic (vs. traffic comparison of 6.4% a year ago) combined with a 0.9% increase in average ticket.

Full transcript from Seeking Alpha

 

Field Agent: Football fans predict their go-to retailers & brands for football season (Retailers: #1 Walmart, #2 Target, #3 Kroger, #4 Sam’s, #5 Aldi) Ranked brand/retailer list

 

The 50 most influential people in convenience store history at CS News. List (Subs./Register)

 

Walmart selects design team for new home office campus in Bentonville by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Dan Bartlett, Walmart’s lead executive overseeing the new corporate campus project, said Gensler will design the future office buildings and lead a team of consultants. Those consultants include Miller Boskus Lack Architects of Fayetteville, who will be the lead design team for amenity buildings around the campus including the fitness center, auditorium and food hall.” Read more

 

Amazon has launched 150 tools and services since the beginning of the year for small and medium-sized businesses Press release

 

Lowe’s Q2 Earnings Call Transcript Seeking Alpha

 

Amazon just opened its biggest campus to date in Hyderabad, India — take a look inside at Business Insider. Pics/Read more

 

Apple wants you to treat it’s new credit card as a status symbol at The Verge. “Apple is advising against keeping your Apple Card in a leather wallet or in direct contact with denim, as such fabrics “might cause permanent discoloration that will not wash off.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

How Amazon and Silicon Valley Seduced the Pentagon

Venezuela Crisis Pushes Women Into ‘Forced Motherhood’

The World’s Highest-Paid Actors Of 2019

Hasbro phasing out all plastic toy packaging by the end of 2022

Amazon to host free concert from roof of Seattle’s Pike Place Market

More than 130K sign petition calling on Walmart to end gun sales

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: Put your product or service in front of the most powerful retail execs in the world, send advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

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Tipsheet: Target +3.4% | Lowe’s US +3.2% | Sam’s #1 Pharmacy

/in

 

Target Q2 comp sales +3.4% “…comparable digital channel sales grew 34 percent. Same-day fulfillment services (Order Pick Up, Drive Up and Shipt) accounted for nearly 1.5 percentage points of the Company’s overall comparable sales growth.” Press release

 

…Target Q2 beats expectations on strong sales, stock surges at Yahoo Finance. “Revenue: $18.42 billion vs. $18.25 billion expected. Adj. earnings per share: $1.82 vs. $1.62 expected. Same-store sales: +3.4% vs. +3% expected.” Read more

 

…Target CEO: The US trade war creates ‘uncertainty’ and ‘complexity’ for retailer at CNBC. Read more

 

…How Target Packaged a Turnaround by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “The room was no bigger than a walk-in closet, a tight fit for Target CEO Brian Cornell and the team of executives and support staff who were sharing it. Sketchy air circulation made the room feel even more claustrophobic. And its cable-TV feed didn’t work—which meant the gang couldn’t tune in to see just how badly Wall Street talking heads were freaking out about Target’s stock. The chamber, a “greenroom” at a former church turned event space on Manhattan’s Park Avenue, was an uncomfortable place to share an uncomfortable moment…” Read more

 

Lowe’s Q2 comp sales +2.3% / US comp sales +3.2% Press release

 

…CNBC: Lowe’s stock surges after beating second quarter earnings and revenue estimates “Adjusted earnings per share: $2.15, vs. $2.01 estimated. Revenue: $20.99 billion, vs. $20.94 billion estimated. Same store sales: up 2.3%, vs. up 1.9% estimated.” Read more

 

Walmart suing Tesla after seven fires at stores that were using solar panels by Kelly Tyko at USA Today. “One store in Ohio had to be closed for eight days…Walmart says it demanded on May 31, 2018, that Tesla disconnect or de-energize all of the solar panel systems. A fire happened in Yuba City, California, after the solar panels had been de-energized, the suit claims.” Read more

 

**A message from Real Coconut Water: The sweetest coconut water there is. 100% pure coconut water. PL or branded organic in Tetra Pak. Sell sheet | Website | Samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Urban Outfitters CEO calls second-quarter earnings not one of its ‘finest’ at CNBC. ” (Comp sales) fell 3% during the second quarter…worse than the 2% drop expected by Wall Street analysts surveyed by FactSet. Executives said the sales declines were driven by under-performance in women’s apparel, with “product and execution misses.” Read more

 

J.D. Power 2019 U.S. Pharmacy Satisfaction Study:

Mass – Sam’s #1

Grocery – Wegmans #1

Drug Store – Good Neighbors Pharmacy #1

Ranked list

 

Gun Sellers Are Sneaking Onto Facebook’s Booming Secondhand Marketplace by Parmy Olson & Zusha Elinson at Wall Street Journal. “To dodge the prohibition, sellers simply list gun cases or boxes at inflated prices. Those postings have become code for actual guns, while in many instances evading Facebook efforts to bar banned items.” WSJ subs.

 

Online resale store thredUP said on Wednesday it received $175 million in funding at Reuters. “Last week…J.C. Penney and Macy’s announced partnerships with San Francisco-based thredUP.” Read more

 

Costco to open its first store on Chinese mainland in the Minhang District of Shanghai on August 27 at China Plus. Read more

 

Grand opening held for Prince store at Minneapolis airport by John Ewoldt at Star Tribune. “Regnier thinks Prince is the rare artist whose legacy can support an airport retail store. “Prince loved Minnesota and fans worldwide loved him,” she said. “We’ve heard of people changing their flights with an MSP connection just to visit the store.” Tiered subs.

 

Walmart CEO: VR Training Helped Save Lives in El Paso Shooting by Aric Jenkins at Fortune. “I’ve done [the training] myself. And there’s something about doing that through VR that helps you, in some ways, live the experience and understand the steps that you need to take in an active shooter situation,” McMillon told Fortune.” Read more

 

Amazon HQ2 becomes nation’s most competitive region for home buyers by Monica Nickelsburg at GeekWire. Read more

 

The Collective Memory of American Shoppers by Kelsey Lawrence at NY Times. “I was photographing a really architecturally stunning entryway to a Lord & Taylor store in Detroit last year when security came over and asked me why I was taking pictures,” said Mr. Fuentz, the Off the Rack founder. “My honest response was: That facade was amazing. But they really didn’t understand I was serious in my admiration for the place.” Tiered subs.

 

Take a look inside Wayfair’s first physical store set to open inside the Natick Mall this week by Tim Jones at Mass Live. 36 pics

 

Gamestop Corp. Lays Off 120 Employees at Hollywood Reporter. “The cuts affected nearly 14 percent of the associate base at the company’s corporate headquarters, as well as at subsidiaries such as ‘Game Informer’ magazine.” Read more

 

Blue Nile Announces Sean Kell as CEO Press release

 

Home Depot says suppliers are moving manufacturing out of China to avoid tariffs at CNBC. “I’m not aware of a single supplier who was not moving some form of manufacturing outside of China,” said Ted Decker, executive vice president of merchandising.” Read more

 

Barnes & Noble Named # 1 Most Reputable Retailer in America for Second Year in a Row Press release

 

Jeff Bezos shows up on stage at Amazon’s epic employee concert, helps introduce Katy Perry by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. “Wooooo! How cool is this?!” Bezos yelled to the cheering crowd. “Are you guys having fun? Me, too. I’m just out here for a moment. I want to say thank you. It was another great Prime Day. I remember it was just a little over 20 years ago, I was driving all the packages to the post office myself. That wasn’t that long ago.” Read more/Pics

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Gamers risk health in bid to be eSports millionaires

Amazon notifies woman by email that she may have taken counterfeit pills

Millie Bobby Brown launching vegan beauty line

Amazon HQ2 Adds $200,000 To Crystal City Home Prices

Fearing tobacco’s fate, palm oil industry fights back

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: Put your product or service in front of the most powerful retail execs in the world, send advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

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Tipsheet: H.Dep +3% | Kohl’s -2.9% | TJX +2% | WM +Ex-Target Exec

/in

 

Home Depot Q2 comp sales +3.0% Press release

 

…Home Depot misses on sales, cuts outlook on worries tariffs could hit consumer spending at CNBC. “Home Depot is now calling for fiscal 2019 sales to be up about 2.3%, and same-store sales to be up about 4%. Previously, it was calling for total sales growth of 3.3% and same-store sales growth of 5%.” Read more

 

Kohl’s Q2 comp sales -2.9% Press release

 

…Kohl’s reports better-than-expected earnings and revenue at CNBC. “We are pleased to report that our business strengthened as we progressed through the second quarter,” said Kohl’s CEO Michelle Gass…“Comparable sales were better than the first quarter and improved during the period, turning positive during the last six weeks of the second quarter with 1% growth.” Read more

 

TJX Q2 comp sales +2.0% Press release

 

Walmart chief marketing officer exits – Ex-Target exec will help lead marketing team transformation by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Michael Francis, a former Target and Dreamworks chief marketing exec, will join Walmart to help lead the company’s marketing team transformation in the interim…Walmart is also searching for a new chief marketing officer and a senior vice president of marketing to lead the newly created team that will report to the CMO.” Read more

 

A ‘pivotal year’ for Nordstrom by Paul Roberts at Seattle Times. “Against such a tumultuous backdrop, the NYC flagship opening has taken on outsized significance. A successful debut will be counted as welcome evidence that Nordstrom has not only stanched the bleeding, but has finally cracked the code for high-end retailing in a digital era; a lackluster opening will add to doubts about the retailer’s turnaround strategy.” Tiered subs.

 

Lumber Liquidators gets new CFO from Pier 1 at MarketWatch. Read more

 

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Department stores make room for used fashion by Anne D’Innocenzio at AP News. “It’s good that that they are looking at modern ways of shopping,” said Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail. “But this is not the solution to their deep-seated problems. There’s a dearth of innovation. They’re always playing catch up. This won’t be unhelpful, but it won’t be transformative.” Read more

 

Target CEO Brian Cornell sees turnaround as ‘still in early innings’ by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “I think a lot about if I could have been here earlier, I would have loved to have been part of the team that thought about entering Canada,” Cornell said. “We would’ve gone slowly and learned the marketplace, understood the consumer. Because I do think our brand could have and should have been successful in that market.” Tiered subs.

 

Top CEOS from Macy’s, Target and Walmart say their new standard for corporate responsibility is no longer based on shareholder value alone at Footwear News. Read more

 

Cereal Makers Try Again to Jump-Start Stale Sales by Micah Maidenberg & Jaewon Kang at Wall Street Journal. “General Mills told investors last month that U.S. demographic trends are also working in cereal’s favor…The Census Bureau expects there to be 21 million children younger than five in the U.S. by 2030, up 2.6% over a decade. The agency also forecasts a slightly older group, people aged 65 and over, to rise 31% to 73 million people by 2030.” WSJ subs.

 

Target is launching grocery brand Good & Gather – phasing out two food brands, Archer Farms and Simply Balanced at CNBC. Read more

 

Speedway Holds Pole Position in C-store Digital Scorecard by Don Longo at CS News. “Speedway LLC ranks No. 1 overall with solid scores for website performance, site traffic, and social media engagement. Sheetz Inc., QuikTrip Corp., Kwik Trip Inc. and Wawa Inc. round out the top five. 7-Eleven Inc. leads all retailers in site visits, and Facebook and Instagram followers, but its site performance and bounce rates are below average.” Rankings chart

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

eBay and Shopify pull listings on Jeffrey Epstein-inspired merch

7-Eleven launches mobile checkout – but only in 33 locations

Go inside a new store devoted to Ikea hacking

The jeweler to ‘80s pop royalty is making a comeback

How Woodstock 50 fell apart

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: Put your product or service in front of the most powerful retail execs in the world, send advertising inquiries to info@eyeonretail.net

 

Website: eyeonretail.net