Tipsheet: Target +22.9% | Lowe’s +25.9% | TJX +16% | Google/Shopify Team

/in

 

Target Q1 comp sales +22.9% “Store comparable sales increased 18.0 percent…Digital comparable sales grew 50 percent…Same-day services (Order Pickup, Drive Up and Shipt) grew more than 90 percent…More than 95 percent of Target’s first quarter sales were fulfilled by its stores.” Press release

 

…Target forecasts rising sales after bumper quarter as more Americans return to stores at Reuters. “Target’s focus in building its private label brands, including designer dress collection and activewear line All in Motion, is paying off, with sales from the business rising 36% in the first quarter, their best growth so far. That also helped drive its overall apparel sales, which rose in the low 60% range.” Read more

 

Lowe’s Q1 comp sales +25.9% “We delivered over 30% growth in Pro, over 18% growth in all 15 U.S. regions, and growth in Canada that outpaced the U.S.,” commented Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe’s president and CEO.” Press release

 

…Lowe’s growth lags Home Depot in home improvement battle at Fox Business. “…as virus restrictions ease, those high-spending customers have been returning to Home Depot’s stores for tools to complete a backlog of projects, helping the company post a much better-than-expected 31% jump in same-store sales and putting it back ahead of Lowe’s in terms of growth for the first time in a year.” Read more

 

TJX Companies Q1 open-only comp sales +16% “Q1 FY22 net sales were $10.1 billion, an increase of 129% compared to Q1 FY21…For the start of Q2 FY22, overall open-only comp store sales trends remain similar to Q1 FY22.” Press release

 

Google Partners with Shopify on online shopping expansion at TechCrunch. “Google (is) partnering with Shopify, giving the e-commerce platform’s more than 1.7 million merchants the ability to reach consumers through Google Search and its other services. The integration will allow merchants to sign up in just a few clicks to have their products appear across Google’s 1 billion “shopping journeys” that take place every day through Search, Maps, Images, Lens and YouTube.” Read more

 

**A message from Comfy Sacks – Shredded foam bean bag sales continue their meteoric sales growth! Grab your share of this high growth category and add some “wow” and high dollar ring to your assortment. Easy onboard / Retail ready. Website | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net 

 

Walmart Q1 Earnings Call Transcript Seeking Alpha

 

Lumber futures fall for an eighth-straight day at CNBC. “Lumber futures for July delivery fell about 5% to $1,201 per thousand board feet on Wednesday, according to FactSet. Prices hit what’s known as limit down, the maximum percentage decline allowed by the exchange. Prices have fallen every day since lumber hit a record of $1,711per thousand board feet on May 10.” Read more

 

The Container Store Group Q4 consolidated net sales +30.4% Press release

 

Amazon extends ban on police use of its facial recognition software ‘until further notice’ at Reuters. “…underscores how facial recognition remains a sensitive issue for big companies. The world’s largest online retailer did not comment on the reason for its decision. Last year, it said it hoped Congress would put in place rules to ensure ethical use of the technology, though no such law has materialized.” Read more

 

Home Depot Q1 Earnings Call Transcript Seeking Alpha

 

Macy’s expands into pets, hair care and gourmet food to gain new shoppers at CNBC. “Macy’s biggest hope with this strategy is that it will be able to attract more customers who are under 40 years old. Gennette said the company’s top target is the “millennial mom.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Target is coming to downtown San Diego courtesy of a 22-story apartment tower

H-E-B removes curbside pickup fee

DevHub acquires retail tech startup Brickwork to boost online-to-store experiences

‘Slavery’ found at a Malaysian glove factory. Why didn’t the auditor see it?

Ammunition sales fueled by millennials and people of color: Vista Outdoor CEO

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

Tipsheet: CVS New CFO | Target #26 Citizen | Sam’s +7.2% | Shein Overtakes Amazon

/in

 

Walmart US Q1 comp sales +6.0% / Sam’s Club comp sales +7.2% Press release

 

…Pent-up demand, stimulus power Walmart’s ‘optimism’ for the year at Reuters. “Our optimism is higher than it was at the beginning of the year. In the U.S., customers clearly want to get out and shop,” Chief Executive Officer Doug McMillon said in a statement. “We anticipate continued pent-up demand throughout 2021.” Read more

 

Home Depot Q1 comp sales +31% Press release

 

…Home Depot crushes Q1 estimates at CNBC. “For the company’s first quarter this year, it reported 447.2 million customer transactions, up 19.3% from a year ago. Consumers were also spending more during their visits. Average ticket rose 10.3% to $82.37.” Read more

 

Macy’s Q1 comp sales up 63.9% on an owned plus licensed basis Press release

 

…Macy’s Surprises With Quarterly Profit and Raises Full-Year Outlook at Yahoo Finance. “According to chairman and CEO Jeff Gennette, Macy’s outperformed sales expectations across all three of its brands: its namesake chain, Bloomingdale’s and luxury beauty retailer Bluemercury.” Read more

 

Amazon Said to Make $9 Billion Offer for MGM at Variety. “Chatter that Amazon (and other tech and media giants) have been sniffing around MGM has circulated for some time. But sources indicated that Amazon’s interest in acquiring the studio has taken on a new tenor beyond the usual rumor mill.” Read more

 

**A message from Readywise – Consumers are looking for emergency food supplies – are you offering the variety they want? Up to 25-year shelf life. High quality and great taste. Website | Catalog | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

CVS appoints Shawn Guertin CFO as Eva Boratto exits at Reuters. “Guertin was with U.S. health insurer Aetna for 8 years and served as its executive vice president, chief financial officer and chief enterprise risk officer. He also played a key part in Aetna’s merger with CVS Health in 2018.” Read more

 

US home construction falls a surprise 9.5% in April at AP. “The report showed that applications for building permits, considered a good sign of future activity, rose 0.3% in April to an annual rate of 1.76 million units, a good sign that the April dip in construction will be temporary.” Read more

 

100 Best Corporate Citizens of 2021 (CVS #11, Target #26, Gap #32, Walmart #75, Best Buy #76, Walgreens #80) at 3BL Media Top 100 list

 

Target adding same-day delivery and pickup of adult beverages Read more

 

Amazon may launch healthcare business line with at-home COVID test and other diagnostic services at GeekWire. “Sources told Insider that Amazon could offer testing kits for infections that lead to respiratory and sexually transmitted diseases, and its long-term goal is to expand into areas such as clinical genomics. According to the report, a COVID-19 testing kit could arrive from Amazon in June.” Read more

 

Alibaba leads $400 mln funding in Masan’s retail firm, first Vietnam investment at Reuters. Read more

 

Amazon rebrands Amazon Go Grocery to Amazon Fresh at GeekWire. Read more

 

Britain’s M&S promotes food and strategy bosses in top team shake-up at Reuters. “British retailer Marks & Spencer has promoted strategy chief Katie Bickerstaffe and food boss Stuart Machin in a major shake-up of its management team’s responsibilities, making them the internal frontrunners to succeed Steve Rowe as chief executive.” Read more

 

EBay hires JetBlue CFO to head up finance Press release

 

Shein overtakes Amazon as the most installed shopping app in US at TechCrunch. “Its ascent is quiet because the startup, despite reportedly exceeding a $15 billion valuation, maintains an unusually low profile and doesn’t try to make itself known to the media. The app, dubbed the “TikTok for e-commerce” by China-focused internet analyst Matthew Brennan in this thorough piece on the startup, manufactures in China as many apparel retailers do.” Read more

 

Bed Bath & Beyond names John Barresi to the role of SVP Finance, Chief Accounting Officer “Mr. Barresi comes to Bed Bath & Beyond from Tiffany & Co., where he most recently served as Vice President of Global Business Transformation.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Traffic cones confused a Waymo self-driving car. Then things got worse.

Employer mandates? What full FDA approval could mean for Covid vaccines

Walgreens Advertising Group adds capabilities

Group launches ad campaign against ‘woke capitalism,’ targeting CEOs by name

More indelible than ink: Tattoo businesses flourish again

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

Tipsheet: 13M Fake Amazon Reviews | Target No Mask | DC 90% No Fuel

/in

 

Target ends mask requirement for fully vaccinated customers at USA Today. “Given the CDC’s updated guidance last week, Target will no longer require fully vaccinated guests and team members to wear face coverings in our stores, except where it’s required by local ordinances,” the retailer said in a statement Monday.” Read more

 

Walmart says fully vaccinated employees can go without masks starting Tuesday at NY Post. Read more

 

China says retail sales grew 17.7% in April, missing expectations at CNBC. “That missed expectations of 24.9% growth in April, according to analysts polled by Reuters.” Read more

 

Millionaires who favor raising taxes on the rich launch protests in front of Jeff Bezos’ home at USA Today. “Leaders of the Patriotic Millionaires told CNBC they are organizing a group of up to 30 protesters to converge on to Bezos’ New York residence with a billboard that says “Cut the bull—-. Tax the rich.” Read more

 

JD.com’s logistics subsidiary is getting ready for an initial public offering in Hong Kong at TechCrunch. “JD.com, Alibaba’s e-commerce rival in China, began building its own logistics and transportation network from the ground up in 2007 and spun out the unit in 2017.” Read more

 

At Home Group’s biggest shareholder to oppose deal to take retailer private at Fox Business. “At Home agreed May 6 to sell itself for $36 a share…CAS said in the letter the deal “grossly undervalues the company and deprives stockholders of anything resembling a fair premium.” It suggested that a price above $70 a share would be more realistic…” Read more

 

About half of North Carolina gas stations still without fuel Monday morning at WCTI 12 ABC. Read more

 

…Ongoing gas shortage leaves nearly 90% of DC pumps without fuel at Fox Business. Read more

 

** The Sweets & Snacks Expo is a can’t-miss event for thousands of confectionery and snack retailers, manufacturers and suppliers – here you’ll find all the product innovations, insights and industry connections you need to build a world-class in-store or online experience that will delight your shoppers. See who’s exhibiting | Show website | Indianapolis, June 23-25 2021

 

Merchant commerce platform Pine Labs valued at $3 billion in new fundraise at TechCrunch. “The startup, which also counts PayPal among its investors, serves over 140,000 merchants. Its payments terminal — also known as point-of-sale machines — are connected to the cloud, and offer a range of additional services such as working capital — to the merchants.” Read more

 

Dillard’s posts impressive first quarter results, revenue up 65% at Talk Business. Read more

 

Massive database of fake Amazon reviews exposed at Fox Business. “Described as an “organized fake reviews scam,” the server contains over 13 million records – about 7 GB of data – potentially involving more than 200,000 people in unethical activities, the SafetyDetectives report said.” Read more

 

J.Crew Is Naming Former Supreme Designer to ‘Disrupt’ Brand at Wall Street Journal. “The company on Monday is naming Brendon Babenzien, co-owner of culty New York menswear label Noah and former longtime design director at pioneering streetwear brand Supreme, to the role of J.Crew’s men’s creative director. His first designs will hit stores in the second half of 2022.” WSJ subs.

 

Amazon launches new worker safety program “Part of the company’s mission to be Earth’s Safest Place to Work…Program components will roll out to all Amazon operations sites in the U.S. by end of year with the aim of cutting recordable incident rates by 50 percent by 2025.” Press release

 

A $100 Million Bet on Cross-Country Restaurant Delivery at DNYUZ. “More than 400 of the 850 restaurants that sell food on Goldbelly’s platform have joined since the start of the pandemic, an influx that the company says has more than quadrupled sales over the past 12 months. On the back of that boon, Goldbelly plans to announce this week that it has raised $100 million in new funding.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

eBay will enact a sex ban starting June 15th

Chrissy Teigen’s Cravings cookware is dropped online by Macy’s 3 days after Target

Amazon launches free video streaming service in India

Amazon helps offer $50K reward for information on noose found at warehouse

Smart & Final to be acquired by Bodega Latina for $620 million

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

Tipsheet: Lore/A-Rod Team | Target Halts Trading Cards | Amazon $100 Vac Bonus

/in

 

Marc Lore says venture firm with A-Rod will make big bets on digital retail at CNBC. “The new company, called Vision Capital People or VCP, will start with $50 million of Lore and Rodriguez’s own money. The pair are also in discussions to buy professional basketball team, the Minnesota Timberwolves.” Read more/Video

 

Target Stores To Halt Sales Of All Trading Cards at Bleeding Cool. “…perhaps it is for the best for the time being. This past Friday, May 7th, a man pulled a gun on a group of people in a Target parking lot in Wisconsin over a dispute stemming from sports card limitations.” Read more

 

…People have reportedly been opening cereal boxes in stores to steal the included Pokémon cards out of them. And someone in Japan even climbed down a rope to steal almost $9,000 worth of the cardboard cards designed for kids. at The Verge. Read more

 

Big 0.6% April wholesale price jump catches many off guard at AP. Read more

 

Anti-monopoly fine pushes Alibaba to first operating loss as public company at Reuters. “Core commerce revenue rose 72% to 161.37 billion yuan in the fourth quarter. But growth at its cloud computing unit slowed to 37% to 16.8 billion yuan from 58% a year earlier, its weakest since at least 2016.” Read more

 

Boot Barn Q4 comp sales +26.9% Press release

 

Amazon releases new images of HQ2 as it ramps up hiring in Virginia at CNBC. “The renderings show a “forest plaza” at the foot of the site’s centerpiece, a 350-foot-tall tower dubbed “The Helix.” The forest plaza includes public seating areas and pathways enclosed by what it calls “forest rooms” that feature trees, a waterfall and other landscaping.” Pics/Read more

 

**A message from Comfy Sacks – Shredded foam bean bag sales continue their meteoric sales growth! Grab your share of this high growth category and add some “wow” and high dollar ring to your assortment. Easy onboard / Retail ready. Website | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net 

 

Walmart Announces Plans To Acquire Zeekit, a Leading Virtual Fitting Room Platform “Through Zeekit’s technology, customers will soon be able to virtually try on items from our growing assortment of national brands like Free People, Champion and Levi’s Strauss, as well as a mix of exclusive brands, including private brands…” Read more

 

Amazon will pay a $100 bonus to new warehouse and transportation hires who show proof of their COVID-19 vaccination at CNBC. Read more

 

Kroger Announces Go Fresh & Local Supplier Accelerator “All finalists will present to a panel of judges during a pitch session, with one overall winner selected from each region. The prize package for the five overall winners includes product placement on shelf within Kroger’s Family of Companies; recommended partnerships with Gourmet Foods International; and business development coaching from Kroger merchandising and sales leaders.” Press release

 

Giant Eagle Former President Joins Mercatus at Financial Post. “Mercatus, a leading provider in grocery eCommerce solutions, today announced that John Lucot has joined the company as senior strategic advisor to the executive team.” Read more

 

Ollie’s opens 400th store – now in 26 states Press release

 

Price Chopper-Market 32 launches SNAP benefits via Instacart in Vermont at NBC 5. “Price Chopper–Market 32 is one of three companies to implement this system. Publix and the Save Mart companies have launched the program as well.” Read more

 

Amazon Boss Justifies ‘Lord of the Rings’ $465 Million Budget at Indie Wire. “The market is crazy, as you saw with the Knives Out deal. [Netflix paid $469 million for two sequels.],” Salke said. “This is a full season of a huge world-building show. The number is a sexy headline or a crazy headline that’s fun to click on, but [the budget] is really building the infrastructure of what will sustain the whole series.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Amazon Web Services helped sort endless NFL matchup options

1 in 3 Americans ready to dump streaming services over lackluster shows

Wayfair’s $112 billion plan to take over your entire home

Jeff Bezos bio makes bombshell claims about alleged Saudi role

Atlantic invader threatens to wipe out Croatia river delicacy

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

Tipsheet: Ebay Does NFTs | Amazon Wins Tax Case | Ecom: No Excuses

/in

 

U.S. consumer prices post biggest gain in nearly 12 years as inflation pressures build at Reuters. “The consumer price index jumped 0.8% last month, the largest gain since June 2009. The CPI rose 0.6% in March. Food prices increased 0.4%…Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the CPI climbing 0.2% in April.” Read more

 

EBay taps into NFT frenzy, allows sale on platform at Reuters. “Ebay Inc on Tuesday allowed the sale of non-fungible tokens for digital collectibles like trading cards, images or video clips on its platform, the first e-commerce company to tap into the recent frenzy around NFTs.” Read more

 

Amazon’s $300 million tax bill rejected by EU judges at The Verge. “The case was one of a number spearheaded by Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition, in which sweetheart tax deals given to powerful corporations were framed as a form of illegal state subsidy.” Read more

 

Apps that promise grocery deliveries in 10 minutes invade Europe as shopping shifts online at CNBC. “Turkey’s Getir, Germany’s Gorillas and Britain’s Dija are just a few of the apps promising users 10-minute grocery deliveries. Venture-backed grocery delivery firms have raised roughly $1.56 billion in Europe so far this year, up from $687 million in 2020.” Read more

 

Chinese products get pulled from Amazon at TechCrunch. “Analysts have estimated that the share of Chinese merchants represented 75% of Amazon’s new sellers in January, up from 47% the year before…Chinese sellers are swarming not just Amazon but also eBay, Wish, Shopee and Alibaba’s AliExpress. The boom is in part a result of intense domestic competition in China’s online retail world…” Read more

 

71 percent of gas stations in Charlotte area out of fuel at The Hill. Read more

 

Amazon files lawsuit to dismantle illegal advertising scheme targeting customers at Fox Business. “The text messages are designed to appear as they were sent by the e-commerce giant and encourage customers to click a link by promising “rewards” or other “gifts,” Amazon told FOX Business.” Read more

 

** The Sweets & Snacks Expo is a can’t-miss event for thousands of confectionery and snack retailers, manufacturers and suppliers – here you’ll find all the product innovations, insights and industry connections you need to build a world-class in-store or online experience that will delight your shoppers. See who’s exhibiting | Show website | Indianapolis, June 23-25 2021

 

Today’s e-commerce consumers aren’t keen on excuses at Harvard Business Review. “The Index found that only one in five (21%) U.S. consumers say they are forgiving retailers and brands for service disruptions due to Covid-19. In other words, the pandemic is no longer a reasonable excuse for not delivering orders on time.” Read more

 

Beyond Meat will offer Walmart shoppers free samples at stores around Dallas and SoCal. Beyond Meatballs will now be available at 2,100 Walmart stores. at Business Insider. Read more

 

Instacart tells entry-level team to return to office, senior managers can stay home at The Verge. “The team, estimated to be around 100 people, includes many entry-level employees and workers who are new to the tech industry. Employees say the power imbalance makes it difficult to push back on the remote work policy. “A lot of the roles are easily replaceable,” says another worker who asked not to be named. “They can happily find someone else to fill that role if you’re not okay with the policy.” Read more

 

Barnes & Noble owner to buy Paper Source out of bankruptcy Press release

 

‘Amazon Unbound’ is a portrait of a company ‘getting perilously close to invincible’ at GeekWire. “..I asked if Amazon’s “Andy Jassy era” will be worthy of Stone’s third Amazon book. Stone wasn’t sold on the premise of the question: “Is it the Andy Jassy era?…When there’s an S-team meeting that Jeff is in, does Andy speak last, or does Jeff speak last? Does Andy stand up and leave the room as everyone sits in solemn silence, or does Jeff?” Read more/Podcast

 

Cheating at School Is Easier Than Ever—and It’s Rampant at Wall Street Journal. “…auction website homeworkforyou.com featured one student post looking for someone willing to do weekly school assignments, exams and a project for a business class at York College in Queens, N.Y., over a two-month span. The winning bidder would also need to pose as the student and respond to classmates in a group assignment. The student specified that an “A” was the desired outcome, and that the “willing to pay” fee was $465. By the next day, 29 bids had come in. The average was $479.41.” WSJ subs.

 

Tipsheet Extra

Krebs: A Closer Look at the DarkSide Ransomware Gang

4 PetSmart employees charged with animal cruelty after poodle dies during grooming

Public service in the US: Increasingly thankless, exhausting

Fortune: World’s 50 Greatest Leaders (Jelinek #27)

Buy now, pay later changed retail. Health care and rent are next.

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

Tipsheet: $500 for Payroll Passwords @ WM/THD | Home Prices +16.2% | Flipkart To Raise $1B

/in

 

U.S. Home Prices Surge the Most on Record in Buying Frenzy at Bloomberg/Yahoo. “Prices jumped 16.2% from a year earlier to a record high of $319,200. The growth eclipsed the 14.8% rate in the fourth quarter, which was the highest in data going back to 1989, the (National Assoc. of Realtors) said in a report Tuesday.” Read more

 

US job openings soar to highest level on record at AP. “Job openings rose nearly 8%, to 8.1 million in March, the most on records dating back to December 2000, the government said. Yet overall hiring that month rose less than 4% to 6 million.” Read more

 

Average daily U.S. Covid cases fall below 40,000 for the first time since September at CNBC. “The latest seven-day average of daily Covid deaths in the U.S. is 635, according to Hopkins data. That figure is far below its winter peaks, when the country was recording more than 3,000 deaths per day…” Read more

 

L Brands to spin off Victoria’s Secret by August, hoping to nab higher valuation at CNBC. “The company said it received interest from multiple potential buyers, but its board concluded that separating Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works into two separate publicly traded companies would be a better option.” Read more

 

Flipkart in talks to raise $1 billion ahead of IPO at TechCrunch. “Flipkart has hit the market to raise about $1 billion at up to $30 billion valuation in a pre-IPO financing round, two people familiar with the matter told TechCrunch.” Read more

 

**A message from Readywise – Consumers are looking for emergency food supplies – are you offering the variety they want? Up to 25-year shelf life. High quality and great taste. Website | Catalog | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Experts baffled by Walmart’s trademark dispute with Kanye West at NY Post. “The idea that Yeezy would deliberately associate itself with Walmart to get a free ride on Walmart’s [reputation] — I don’t see it,” said Susan Scafidi, founder and director of the Fashion Law Institute, told The Post. “Yeezy’s coattails are pretty stylish.” Read more

 

Walmart’s in-house Android TV device might only cost $30 at The Verge. “Walmart appears to be getting into the streaming devices with the Onn Android TV UHD Streaming Device, according to a new listing on its website (spotted by 9to5Google). The company’s new streaming box (in this case, really more of a flattened cube) is currently listed for $29.88 but is also “out of stock” — which could be due to the fact it hasn’t been officially announced yet.” Read more

 

Gas stations along Southeast coast suffer fuel shortage amid pipeline shutdown at NY Post. “About 7.6 percent of gas stations in Virginia were out of fuel by early Tuesday, according to GasBuddy analyst Patrick DeHaan’s estimates. He added that nearly 5 percent of gas stations in North Carolina, 3.3 percent in Georgia as well as 2.4 percent in Florida are also reporting that they’ve sold out of fuel.” Read more

 

Mall owner Simon’s CEO sees shopper ‘euphoria’ as people return to stores at CNBC. “Between being cooped up, between being locked down, between the stimulus, between celebrating that the country is still around … there’s clearly some level of euphoria around that,” David Simon said during an earnings conference call Monday.” Read more

 

Callaway Golf Q1 net revenue +47% Press release

 

Fintech Startup Offers $500 for Payroll Passwords (Walmart, Home Depot, etc.) at Krebs. “KrebsOnSecurity contacted multiple high-level sources at major companies whose login pages are shown in these payroll connect programs running on Argyle’s platform. None of those sources were authorized to talk to the media, but all seemed fairly horrified at what they were seeing, and each said their employer’s legal departments were launching their own investigations.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Amazon-first gadget brands Aukey and Mpow are suddenly, suspiciously disappearing

Lowe’s drops most innovative home products guide

Macy’s to build office tower atop Herald Square flagship store

Target is launching a line of plant-based food

Voice commerce remains an open frontier in retail

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

Tipsheet: Atlanta Mayor No to Wgreens | Dollar Stores 45% of Openings | Simon Gets Eddie

/in

 

Atlanta Mayor Bottoms not going to Walgreens at 11 Alive. “What I know is that in the absence of my speaking my truth, people will insert a narrative, which is why I’m here today. Ros Brewer is my girl, I love her dearly, but she didn’t get to be the CEO of Walgreens by offering jobs to random friends,” the mayor said. “I am not going to Walgreens in Chicago, (her husband) Derek is not going to Walgreens in Idaho. I can’t get Derek to move two miles off of Cascade Road, so I promise you that is not true.” Read more

 

Amazon blocked 10B listings in counterfeit crackdown at Fox Business. “The numbers were released in Amazon’s first report on its anti-counterfeiting efforts since it announced new tools and technologies in 2019. The number of blocked phony listings last year was up about 67% from the year before.” Read more

 

Nearly 1 in 3 new stores opening in the US is a Dollar General at CNN. “About 45% of the 3,597 store openings that large retail chains in the United States have announced so far this year are from Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, according to the latest figures from Coresight Research, a firm that aggregates the numbers from company filings and press releases.” Read more

 

Simon Property, Authentic Brands to buy outdoor gear label Eddie Bauer at Reuters. “Eddie Bauer has 300 stores across the United States and Canada, but nearly half of its retail sales last year came through e-commerce as COVID-19 accelerated a shift to online shopping.” Read more

 

Ex-Amazon exec Jeff Blackburn leaves venture capital post after 5 weeks on job at GeekWire. “Will Blackburn’s new role be as welcomed by his former boss Jeff Bezos. When Blackburn retired, Bezos wrote that his former colleague “has kept me in the loop on his next chapter, and I can assure you it’s a very exciting one!” Read more

 

Tile’s trackers will work with Amazon’s Sidewalk network starting June 14th at The Verge. Read more

 

**The Sweets & Snacks Expo is a can’t-miss event for thousands of confectionery and snack retailers, manufacturers and suppliers – here you’ll find all the product innovations, insights and industry connections you need to build a world-class in-store or online experience that will delight your shoppers. See who’s exhibiting | Show website | Indianapolis, June 23-25 2021

 

Walmart’s Flipkart to cover insurance for all sellers in India and waive additional fees at TechCrunch. “The news today comes a week after Amazon, Flipkart’s chief rival in India, announced it was waiving 50% of the referral fee sellers are required to pay the e-commerce firm for this month, though not all sellers are qualified to avail this benefit.” Read more

 

Hedge fund founder sentenced to prison in Neiman Marcus fraud at NY Post. “According to prosecutors, Kamensky exploited his role as co-chair of a Neiman creditors committee last July 31 to block Jefferies from bidding 30 cents per share for securities he wanted to buy for 20 cents per share.” Read more

 

A leaked Walmart memo highlights the daunting challenges facing the world’s largest retailer at Recode. “A source familiar with Walmart+ told Recode that retaining members has indeed been an issue for the new subscription service in its short existence and that retention is strongest among members who use the gas-discount perk of the program.” Read more

 

Amazon delivery drivers were told to turn off safety apps to meet quotas at The Verge. “Vice reports that some of the delivery companies will have the drivers keep the app on for part of the day to try to trick Amazon and the Mentor app, with one company sending drivers messages like “everyone needs to be logged into Mentor for at least 2 hours no more no less.” Read more

 

Walmart Health To Acquire Telehealth Provider MeMD “MeMD was founded in 2010 by Dr. John Shufeldt to provide virtual care nationwide, leveraging the latest online technologies to deliver high-quality care 24/7/365 in a convenient and accessible manner. Today, MeMD delivers medical and mental health visits to millions of members nationwide.” Press release

 

Amazon delays Prime Day in India and Canada at CNBC. “Outside of Canada and India, Amazon said Prime Day will continue to move forward in other countries including the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Spain and China. Amazon announced in its first-quarter earnings results that this year’s Prime Day will take place in June.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Publix employee accidentally trashes man’s $1M lottery ticket

Sprouts CEO: ‘We’re Focused on Growth, Not Comps’

Southeastern Grocers CEO Talks Shop as Turnaround Hits Growth Phase

Wegmans has no plans to bring back self-serve food ‘in their traditional way’

How Nordstrom and The Home Depot take advantage of livestreaming’s potential

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

Tipsheet: Lore Does Gourmet | Costco +24.5% | Roz Talks w/Hoda

/in

 

Costco April comp sales (ex gas & f/x) +24.5%: US +24.9% / Canada +23.8% / Other Int’l +20.3% / Ecom +17.3% Press release

 

Marc Lore’s next attempt to woo the affluent consumer: A fleet of on-demand food trucks at CNBC. “Jay Zuckerman, a 47-year-old father of two who resides with his wife in the pilot area, said his family has used Wonder about six or seven times for dinner over the past few months…“It was like ordering from a gourmet restaurant, but you don’t have the issues of waiting, and you don’t have the issues of the food not tasting good because of transportation. It was a very high-end experience.”…A dinner for four might be upwards of $100, he said.” Read more

 

Wayfair Q1 total net revenue up 49.2% Press release

 

Rosalind Brewer, the CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, discusses her experiences with discrimination and advocating for diversity at NBC Today. “She then shared a story about attending a meeting of less than 25 people just for CEOs. “I had one gentleman ask me constantly, what did I do for a living, almost like, ‘Why are you here?'” she recalled. “He must have asked me 20 questions like, ‘Marketing? Sales?’ I was like, ‘No.’. “It was so funny because I happened to be the keynote speaker for the private luncheon. I assumed my position on the stage, and I just saw his face just totally drain.” Video/Read more

 

Tapestry Inc. Q3 net sales up 19% / Coach up 25% / Kate Spade up 1% / Stuart Weitzman up 13% Press release

 

Etsy, Inc Q1 revenue up 141.5% Read more

 

Aldi and other big grocers threaten to boycott Brazil over deforestation in the Amazon at CNN. “Germany’s Metro and discount chains Aldi and Lidl are among the signatories, as are British retailers Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Marks & Spencer and Waitrose & Partners, and Dutch group Ahold Delhaize, which operates 21 brands mainly in Europe and the United States.” Read more

 

Rent-A-Center Q1 comp sales up 23.4% Press release

 

Hellman & Friedman Nears Deal to Buy At Home Group at Wall Street Journal. “A deal, which would value At Home Group in the mid-$30s a share, could be inked as soon as Thursday, assuming the two sides reach a final agreement, the people said. At Home shares were trading at $31.15 Wednesday afternoon, giving the Plano, Texas, company a market value of around $2 billion.” WSJ subs.

 

Sally Beauty Q2 comp sales up 6.5% Press release

 

**The Sweets & Snacks Expo is a can’t-miss event for thousands of confectionery and snack retailers, manufacturers and suppliers – here you’ll find all the product innovations, insights and industry connections you need to build a world-class in-store or online experience that will delight your shoppers. See who’s exhibiting | Show website | Indianapolis, June 23-25 2021. 

 

Walmart Sale of Asda Likely to Be Approved By U.K.’s CMA at Bloomberg/Yahoo. “The potential green light comes two years after regulators blocked Walmart’s previous attempt to sell the Asda business to bigger rival J Sainsbury Plc…” Read more

 

Blue Apron Q1 net revenue up 27% Press release

 

Pay Pal soars on digital payments boom at Fox Business. “PayPal processed a total of $285 billion in payments in the first quarter, up 50% from a year earlier, and added 14.5 million net new active customers.” Read more

 

Jeff Bezos sells more than $2.4B in Amazon stock at GeekWire. Read more

 

Millions Are Unemployed. Why Can’t Companies Find Workers? at Wall Street Journal. “Lorne Zaman lost his jobs as a concert promoter in Los Angeles more than a year ago. He hasn’t worked since, supporting himself on savings, stimulus checks and unemployment benefits, which have been about $750 a week in recent months…“I really enjoyed what I did,” he said. “If the government is going to pay you to stay home, you’re going to do that unless that job you really want comes along.” WSJ subs.

 

Loblaw Q1 revenue up 0.6%: Food retail (Loblaw) comp sales up 0.1% / Drug retail (Shoppers Drug Mart) comp sales down 1.7% Press release

 

Amazon wants to make sure drivers who don’t work for the company are well-groomed and nice online at The Verge. “The rules govern everything from how the delivery people look (they must have clean fingernails, teeth, ears, and hair) to how they smell (no bad breath, body odor, or immodest perfume).” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

East Village gets futuristic grocery store designed by Accel Robotics

SEC’s Gensler to talk GameStop chaos causes in hearing Thursday

Schnucks to let customers donate their rewards points

Trader Joe’s cuts employee ‘thank you’ bonus after three months

Apple’s privacy changes could be great for Amazon’s ads business

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