B.Buy -6.1% | Vet Cart Pusher +$220K | D.Tree HQ Layoffs

/in

 

Best Buy Q1 comp sales down 6.1% Press release

 

…Best Buy posts another quarter of sluggish consumer electronics demand at CNBC. “Barry said…the quarter was more promotional than expected in both the number of deals and size of discounts, with especially high promotions in certain categories like major appliances.” Read more

 

Kohl’s Q1 comp sales down 4.4% Press release

 

…Kohl’s shares crater on surprise quarterly loss, annual forecast cut at Reuters. “Kohl’s has been too reliant on other brands such as Sephora, Amazon, and now Babies R Us to drive traffic rather than distinguishing its core brand identity,” Emarketer senior analyst Zak Stambor said.” Read more

 

Foot Locker Q1 comp sales decline 1.8% – far better than the 3.1% drop that analysts expected at CNBC. “The company is expecting comparable sales growth of between 1% and 3%, ahead of the 1.5% growth that analysts had expected, according to StreetAccount.” Read more

 

Dollar General Q1 comp sales up 2.4% Press release

 

Amazon drones can now fly farther and deliver to more customers following FAA approval “…allow us to expand our delivery area in College Station, Texas…Later this year, drone deliveries will begin integrating into Amazon’s delivery network, meaning drones will deploy from facilities next to our Same-Day Delivery sites.” Press release

 

Dick’s Q1 comp sales up 5.3% Press release

 

Walgreens to hold major summer sale, reducing prices on 1,300 products at NBC-Chicago. “…will also bring back Walgreens’ popular “myW Days” in mid-July…products with reduced prices will be across seasonal, health and wellness and personal care categories.” Read more

 

Build-A-Bear Workshop Q1 revenues down 4.4% Press release

 

Amazon Sellers, Struggling to Boost Business, Are Buying Google Ads at Bloomberg. “Amazon merchants have long used Google to drive shoppers to their own websites, with mixed results. Now new third-party software is helping them direct Google searchers to Amazon where they’re comfortable shopping. Sellers say the technique is boosting sales and improving their profits because Google ads are typically cheaper than Amazon’s. The credit Amazon pays for external traffic – typically 10% of the product price — sweetens the deal.” Read more

 

Chewy Q1 net sales up 3.1% Press release

 

Dollar Tree acquires 170 99 Cents Only Stores, will reopen them as Dollar Tree stores at USA Today. “…will reopen these stores with its own products as early as fall 2024…The 170 leases acquired by the company span across Arizona, California, Nevada and Texas.” Read more

 

Amazon Prime now comes with free Grubhub food delivery at The Verge. “Amazon Prime customers paying $139 per year for Amazon Prime will now pay $0 for food delivery fees on orders of $12 or more, among other benefits.” Read more

 

Stop & Shop to close numerous ‘underperforming’ stores in the Northeast at NY Post

 

Meijer to open 3rd 90k sf grocery format store “Meijer launched its grocery format in 2023 with the opening of two grocery stores in Southeast Michigan. The Noblesville location is the third Meijer Grocery store opened by the retailer.” Press release

 

CHICAGO – Six Sav A Lot store subsidies approved for $13.5M, but 14 months later, none are open at Sun-Times/WBEZ. “More than $26 million in funding — including tax increment financing, loans and federal grants — was approved for the project…It is unclear how much of the nearly $7 million in federal funds has been disbursed.” Read more

 

Dollar Tree lays off 50-plus employees from its headquarters at The Virginian-Pilot. “A company spokesperson said in an emailed statement that the layoffs came as a result of a recently announced store portfolio optimization: “We’ve made the difficult decision to initiate changes in our corporate workforce through both restructuring and reductions.” Read more

 

Ex-news anchor helps raise $220K for 90-year-old vet pushing shopping carts at Winn Dixie to make ends meet at NY Post. “Mr. McCormick is working to EAT, he said. He needs $2500/month to live and says he only gets $1100 from social security,” Swensen wrote on a fundraising page. “So he must push carts in triple digit heat to make ends meet.” Read more

 

 

Costco 2 Minute Test | WM #18 Fair | Shein Eyes London

/in

 

The cult of Costco: How one of America’s biggest retailers methodically turns casual shoppers into fanatics at Fortune/Yahoo. “The most important item we sell is the membership card,” says Ron Vachris, Costco’s new CEO as of Jan. 1….Gersch (consultant), challenged Fortune to clock how long a piece of clothing would remain unfolded after a shopper tossed it back onto a pile. Sure enough, in Fortune’s multiple observations, it rarely took more than two minutes before a store worker swooped in to neaten up.” Read more

 

Walmart, Capital One end exclusive consumer credit card agreement at Fox Business. “In March 2024, a federal judge ruled that Walmart could end its partnership with Capital One earlier than the contractual commitments stipulated because the lender had failed to provide the required level of customer service.” Read more

 

Major retailers are offering summer deals to entice inflation-weary shoppers at AP News. “Retailers recognize that unless they pull out some stops on pricing, they are going to have difficulty holding on to the customers they got,” Neil Saunders, managing director of consulting and data analysis firm GlobalData, said. “The consumer really has had enough of inflation, and they’re starting to take action in terms of where they shop, how they shop, the amount they buy.” Read more

 

Shein’s Quest to Win Over America Gets Stuck in U.S.-China Tensions at WSJ. “…its hopes for a New York initial public offering have faded…Washington lawmakers are suspicious of Shein’s China ties and have demanded more details on its supply chain. Beijing wants Shein and other companies with substantial operations in China to stay in line with its own messaging…Shein has shifted its main listing efforts to London. An IPO filing there could come in the next few weeks, people familiar with the matter said.” WSJ subs.

 

Adani looks to battle Reliance, Walmart in India’s e-commerce, payments race, report says at TechCrunch. “Walmart’s PhonePe and Google Pay lead the mobile payments market in India. Together, they process over 86% of all payments on the UPI network, which handles more than 12 billion transactions monthly. Some of their competitors — and government bodies — are unhappy with Google and Walmart’s growing dominance in the country’s mobile payments market, but regulators currently have no plans to intervene.” Read more

 

Sudden container crunch sends ocean freight rates soaring, setting off global trade alarm bells at CNBC. “Stausbøll said this will bring back memories of the chaos caused by lack of available capacity during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Similarly to back then, some freight forwarders are now being pushed to premium rates to secure space guarantees,” she said. Early Xeneta data suggests rates will increase further at the start of June.” Read more

 

PayPal Is Planning an Ad Business Using Data on Its Millions of Shoppers at WSJ. “PayPal has hired Mark Grether, who formerly led Uber’s advertising business, to lead the effort as senior vice president and general manager of its newly-created PayPal Ads division. In his new role, he will be responsible for developing new ad formats, overseeing sales and hiring staff to fill out the division, he said.” WSJ subs.

 

CVS Co-Founder Stanley Goldstein Passes Away at 89 at Providence Journal. “It is no overstatement to say that Stanley reordered a part of American retailing. When he and his brother Sid created CVS in 1963, drugstores basically didn’t exist. Most health and beauty items were sold in grocery aisles. Stanley helped change that. But speaking about him Tuesday, his wife, Merle, and sons Larry and Gene told me that never changed Stanley’s down-to-earth nature…” Read more

 

Fair 360 2024 Top 50 Companies: Walmart #18 / Target #31 / Walgreens #42 List(s)

 

Housing costs: The 2024 sleeper issue at The Washington Post/MSN. “Given that the last few options haven’t been that great, and nobody really cares about the younger community and generations moving forward, I don’t really know if me voting is going to make a difference,” Carter, 26, said of voting in November.” Read more

BJ’s +0.6% | Germany Hits Shein | The Rise of Bruce Nordstrom

/in

 

BJ’s Q1 comp sales (ex-gas) +0.6% “Digitally enabled comparable sales growth was 21.0% year-over-year. Membership fee income increased by 8.6% year-over-year to $111.4 million.” Press release

 

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Q1 comp brand revenue -4.9% “We are reiterating our guidance of annual net revenue growth in the range of -3% to +3% with comps in the range of -4.5% to +1.5% in fiscal 2024.” Press release

 

Grocers are finally lowering prices as consumers pull back at Washington Post/Microsoft. “Wyatt Williams of Iowa City says higher prices forced him to make changes starting in 2022…The 39-year-old writer and professor could no longer afford to make his weekly shopping trip to Whole Foods. Instead, he found a creative alternative: driving 30 minutes away to a Mennonite-owned bulk goods grocery store in rural Iowa.” Read more

 

Shoe Carnival Q1 net sales +6.8% Press release

 

Germany backs ending EU tax break that helps Shein and Temu keep prices low at Reuters. “Under current EU regulations, packages purchased online from a non-EU country are not subject to customs duties if their value is under 150 euros ($163).” Read more

 

VF Corp Q4 revenue -13%; The North Face down 5% / Vans down 26% Press release

 

The rise of Bruce Nordstrom, who once swept the floors of his grandfather’s shoe stores for 25 cents an hour at Fortune/Yahoo. “In those days, that wasn’t bad money,” he told the University of Washington’s alumni magazine in 2010. Nordstrom was promoted to shoe salesman at the age of 14. He then followed the path of so many of his male relatives: graduating from University of Washington in 1955 after rowing for the crew team…” Read more

 

TJX Companies, Inc. comp sales +3.0% Press release

 

One in five Canadians boycotting Loblaw, most feel food prices getting worse: poll at Financial Post. “Urban residents polled by Leger were more likely to say they support the boycott than suburban and rural residents, and were more likely to be participating in it as well.” Read more

 

Target Q1 comp sales -3.7% Press release

 

…Target ‘cautious’ on near-term growth outlook at Fox Business. “Target Chief Growth Officer Christina Hennington told analysts on an earnings call that one in three Americans “maxed out or is nearing the limit on at least one of their credit cards.” Read more

 

Acosta to Acquire CROSSMARK and Product Connections Press release

 

How Soda, Chocolate and Chewing Gum Are Funding War in Sudan at WSJ. “…Jaber says gum arabic traders also hand over between $60 and $100 to AK-47-toting RSF fighters, who accompany the convoys of traders in pickup trucks. Traders who refuse to pay risk losing their cargo and vehicles to militia, he says. Around 80% of the world’s gum arabic is harvested from Sudan’s acacia trees…” WSJ subs.

 

United Natural Foods Extends Partnership with Whole Foods to 2032 Press release

 

1,000 Shoppers Tell All on Walmart’s New Brand at Field Agent. “So, what’s the bottom line? Will consumers choose bettergoods in their future grocery carts? The resounding answer from shoppers is “probably,” with very few shoppers (9%) saying probably or definitely not.” Read more

 

Google Pay will now display card perks, BNPL options and more at TechCrunch

CEO Pay: McMillon #46, Cornell #142 | Lowe’s -4.1% | Canada Tough Talk

/in

 

Lowe’s Q1 comp sales down 4.1% Press release

 

…Lowe’s beats on earnings and revenue, even as consumers spend less on DIY projects at CNBC. “Lowe’s stuck by its full-year forecast. It said it expects total sales of between $84 billion and $85 billion, which would be a drop from $86.38 billion in fiscal 2023…Ellison said gains with pros and online sales growth helped to partially offset a decline in do-it-yourself spending.” Read more

 

Macy’s, Inc. Q1 net sales down 2.7% Press release

 

…Macy’s lifts annual profit forecast as new CEO’s revamp takes root at Reuters. “I’m kind of impressed with Macy’s hanging in here and giving good guidance. So it remains to be seen if it can come through,” said Don Nesbitt, senior portfolio manager at F/m Investments, which holds a stake in Macy’s.” Read more

 

AutoZone Q3 comp sales up 0.9% – Domestic comp sales were flat Press release

 

The Highest Paid CEOs of 2023 (McMillon #46, Herrman #96, Cornell #142) WSJ subs.

 
Home Depot using secret AI technology at self-checkouts to catch shoplifters at Daily Mail. “The technology is very different to simply having security staff monitor standard CCTV cameras trained on the area. Ann-Marie Campbell, a vice-president at the chain, quietly revealed the move while speaking to analysts during its recent earnings update…” Read more

 

Jeff Bezos’ massive Beverly Hills compound coming together at Fox Business. “Reports vary on how much the Beverly Hills compound cost, with some saying Bezos had to hand over $165 million. The property sprawls roughly 10 acres…” Pics/Read more

 

Target to lower prices on thousands of basic items at AP. “The price cuts, already applied to 1,500 items, will eventually include 5,000 food, drink and essential household goods.” Read more

 

Bruce Nordstrom, former chairman of Nordstrom’s department store chain, dies at 90 at CBS. “Bruce Nordstrom retired from his executive role in 1995 as the third generation handed over leadership to the fourth. He retired as chairman of Nordstrom’s board of directors in 2006.” Read more

 

Walmart Grows Neighborhood Markets Footprint at Progressive Grocer. “…opening of two new Neighborhood Markets. The first, located in the Dune Lakes area of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., opened May 8, while the second in the Vine City neighborhood of Atlanta will open its doors on May 22. The two stores feature a new layout and larger footprint than previous Neighborhood Markets, boasting 57,000 square feet of sales floor and pickup and delivery space.” Read more

 

Loblaw agrees to sign grocery code of conduct — but only if competitors do at CBC. “We’ve worked very hard to get to where we are,” said Michael Graydon, CEO of the Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP) association…”We now have all the major grocers with the exception of one, and so some work needs to be done in regards to bringing them into the fold,” said Graydon, referring to Walmart.” Read more

 

TOUGH GUY – Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct ‘untenable’: industry minister at CTV News. “They will sign on,” Champagne told CTV’s Question Period host Vassy Kapelos…“We’ve put pressure on Loblaw, and you see the outcome,” Champagne said. “Obviously, I don’t think it would be tenable for Costco or Walmart to disregard what the will of the Government of Canada is, and Canadian consumers.” Read more

 

Loblaw boycott gives independent stores and grocery alternatives a boost at Financial Post. “At Forage Market in Edmonton, sales rose 57 per cent during the first half of May, compared with the same period a month before. “It’s just awesome that people are actually putting thought behind where their food comes from,” said business manager Courtney Hanak.” Read more

Amazon Axed 100 | WM US +3.8% | Sam’s +4.4% | U.Armour Mess

/in

 

Walmart Q1 U.S. comp sales +3.8% / Sam’s Club +4.4% Press release

 

…Walmart earnings beat as discounter wins over more high-income shoppers, e-commerce sales jump at CNBC. “In an interview with CNBC, Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey said one of the factors boosting Walmart’s grocery business is the widening gap between the price of cooking at home and buying food at fast-food chains or restaurants. Plus, he added, shoppers – especially with higher incomes – appreciate the convenience that Walmart offers. For the first time, its delivery business surpassed its store pickup in terms of volume, Rainey said.” Read more

 

Walmart’s Reign as America’s Biggest Retailer Is Under Threat at WSJ. “(Walmart’s) sales last year added up to $648 billion—more than $1.2 million a minute…If current sales trends persist, Amazon is likely to overtake Walmart soon. Amazon reported $575 billion in total revenue last year, up 12% from the previous year, compared with Walmart’s revenue growth of 6%.” WSJ subs.

 

Canada Goose Q4 revenue increased 22% and full year revenue up 9.6% Press release

 

Dillard’s Inc. Q1 comp sales down 2% Press release

 

Under Armour is laying off workers as retailer says North America sales will plunge this year at CNBC. “…sales in its largest market, North America, plunged 10% and predicted the trend will get worse throughout its current fiscal year. The athletic apparel retailer also saw profits sink by more than 96% during its fiscal fourth quarter, compared with the year-ago period.” Read more

 

Boot Barn Q4 comp sales down 5.9% Press release

 

Uber announces Costco perks at CNBC. “…in select locations across the U.S….Users can order products from Costco even if they are not members, but Uber said members will save between 15% and 20% compared with nonmembers.” Read more

 

Amazon axed more than 100 customer service managers in CEO Andy Jassy’s latest job cuts at Fortune/Yahoo. “Some of the managers first realized something was up when their computer systems suddenly shut down during their workday, according to one source. “We have had more and more work added, 12-16 hour days, maximum stress to be cut free without a thought or a warning,” one of those impacted by the cuts told Fortune.” Read more

 

Grocery prices fall for first time in a year – Prices for food at home fell 0.2 percent in April at The Hill

 

Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellite network sets up logistics site and training program at GeekWire. “Amazon says it’s establishing a logistics facility in Everett, Wash., and partnering with a technical college in Kirkland, Wash., to boost the supply chain and workforce pipeline for its Project Kuiper satellite broadband network.” Read more

 

Temu accused of breaching EU’s DSA in bundle of consumer complaints at TechCrunch

 

Former Harris Teeter owner dies at 94 at Charlotte Observer/AOL. “Dickson and his brother, Alan, took over their father’s firm R. S. Dickson & Co. in 1968, building it into a multi-billion dollar conglomerate called Ruddick Corp. Ruddick acquired the Matthews-based regional grocer Harris Teeter Inc. in 1969. R. Stuart Dickson was chairman of the board until 1994…” Read more

 

Netflix to take on Google and Amazon by building its own ad server at TechCrunch

WM Cuts 100s | NRF Rejects Shein | McMillon 3 Tips

/in

 

Home Depot Q1 comp sales down 2.8% / US down 3.2% Press release

 

…Home Depot comparable sales drop steeper than expected on easing demand at Reuters. “Foot traffic at Home Depot ticked down in the first quarter, except for an Easter spending boost in March. Store visits dipped 0.3% in February and 2.4% in April, according to data firm Placer.ai. Home Depot CEO Ted Decker said the quarter was impacted by a delayed start to spring and continued softness in certain larger discretionary projects.” Read more

 

Alibaba shares fall in premarket trading after posting 86% profit drop at CNBC. “Revenue: 221.9 billion Chinese yuan ($30.7 billion) versus 219.66 billion yuan expected…Revenue for the Taobao and Tmall division, which houses Alibaba’s China e-commerce business, rose 4% year-on-year to 93.2 billion yuan. That was faster than the 2% growth in the previous quarter.” Read more

 

Walmart to Lay Off and Relocate Workers at WSJ. “Walmart is cutting hundreds of corporate jobs and asking most remote workers to move to offices, according to people familiar with the matter. In addition, workers in small offices in Dallas, Atlanta and Toronto are being asked to move to other central hubs like Walmart’s corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., as well as Hoboken, N.J., or Southern California, said one of the people familiar with the matter.” WSJ subs.

 

NRF rejects Shein membership as retailer pursues U.S. IPO at CNBC. “Shein, which filed to go public in the U.S. late last year, has tried to become a member of the retail industry’s largest and most powerful trade association but has been repeatedly rejected, people familiar with the matter told CNBC…For most companies, becoming a member of the NRF wouldn’t have a major impact on their business…but Shein is in the midst of a charm offensive…” Read more

 

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon shares 3 tips for success in work and life at Business Insider. “My first day on the job with Walmart I rear ended my boss’s car. It’s a true story, his name is Benny Bridwell…He gets out of the car, walks around, looks at his bumper, looks at mine, shakes his head, and he says, “McMillon, you are not too smart, are you?”…He showed me some grace and forgiveness. I don’t even know if he ever told anyone. I guess my career could have ended right then.” Read more

 

***A message from Su Salsa – Add some lime to your salsa set. Su Salsa Mild delivers a hint of lime and cilantro with a kick of jalapeno at the end. See the Presentation/Lime Green Label | Request sample: jlong@eyeonretail.net

 

Workers at a Maryland Apple store authorize strike at TechCrunch

 

Temu Cools on the U.S. After Shelling Out Billions at WSJ. “…wants to limit risks and seek other sources of growth. One catalyst for the shift is TikTok’s troubles with the U.S. government, the people said. Temu is focusing more on acquiring users in Europe and other countries. As a result, it now expects less than a third of its sales to come from the U.S. this year, compared with 60% last year, the people said…” WSJ subs. 

 

Shein vowed in 2022 that it would improve working conditions and hours at suppliers, but a new study claims that nothing has changed at Fortune/Yahoo. “Public Eye found that employees at Shein suppliers were working more than 75 hours a week and sometimes for seven days straight—directly violating the company’s code of conduct for suppliers that says employees can work a maximum of 60 hours a week and have at least one day off.” Read more

 

Walgreens contacts potential buyers for Boots UK chain at Reuters. “The company is working with advisers to conduct preliminary discussions with prospective bidders for the unit, worth about 7 billion pounds ($8.78 billion), the report stated, citing people familiar with the development.” Read more

 

Quebec Amazon warehouse workers union application certified at Financial Post. “It’s the first time in Canada that employees have unionized at an Amazon warehouse, said the Confederation des syndicats nationaux in a press release on Monday.” Read more

 

Who Needs a Sofa When You Can Rave? The IKEA Nightclub Experiment. at WSJ. “It’s blowing my mind walking around, “ she said, now seeing it out clubbing with friends. “That was bedrooms, that was lighting. It’s really weirding me out. It’s really incredible.” She said that in the past, she would usually be ordering salmon or fish and chips for lunch here, instead of spending the afternoon in a room with thousands of other ravers.” WSJ subs.

 

Sam’s Club to launch online shopping in Hong Kong at South China Morning Post/MSN. “Economist Simon Lee Siu-po (said)…”Supermarkets and online platform HKTVmall will be hard hit. Coupled with internal troubles, this will be an aggression from abroad. I am afraid this will cause a retail crisis in Hong Kong.” Read more

 

What boycott? Supplier orders hold strong for Loblaws stores at Supermarket News. “The Toronto Star reported that executives at four major food suppliers said Loblaws’ sales and orders have not changed over the last couple of weeks. One executive even went as far as to say Loblaws orders with his company increased in May.” Read more

Costco +5.6% | Inside WM Clinic Exit | Costco Bday Meet Up

/in

 

Costco April comp sales +5.6% Press release

 

Organized retail theft ring that targeted Macy’s, other retailers is charged in New York at CNBC. “Two New Yorkers were charged with possessing more than $1 million in stolen goods and reselling them through their business, Rehana’s Cosmetics, a perfume and cosmetics store in Midtown Manhattan, the borough’s district attorney Alvin Bragg said at a press conference. About $212,000 of the merchandise was stolen from Macy’s…” Read more

 

Insiders reveal why Walmart pulled the plug on Sam Walton’s dream to ’get the hospitals and doctors in line’ at Fortune/Yahoo. “While the company blamed “a challenging reimbursement environment and escalating operating costs” as reasons for pulling the plug on Walmart Health, the reality was likely more complicated, as the five-year experiment was also plagued by leadership turnover and at times internal politics, according to multiple sources familiar with its operations. It also faced a miscalculation of how many patients would be willing to pay in cash.” Read more

 

Costco-loving man caught off guard by loved ones in store for his surprise birthday party at Fox Business. “Emma Blevins planned the whole thing out for her husband Clint’s 27th birthday, which was on Sunday, she told Storyful. A more than four-minute-long video shows him gleefully walking through the store, coincidentally running into loved ones and even explaining to one group that it is his birthday.” Read more/Video

 

Amazon rolls out fleet of heavy-duty electric trucks at GeekWire. “…has begun rolling out nearly 50 heavy-duty all-electric trucks in Southern California — its largest such fleet — to handle first- and middle-mile operations…” Read more

 

Ingles Markets Q2 net sales down 0.95% Press release

 

***A message from Su Salsa: Put the lime in the dip – not the chip! Su Salsa Mild salsa has a hint of lime and cilantro flavor with a kick of jalapeno at the end. Presentation/Lime Green Label | Request sample: jlong@eyeonretail.net

 

NYC’s hottest new hamburger is from a gas station at NY Post. “The tiny hamburger joint Smacking Burger has opened inside of a working gas station — which happens to be the last one in Manhattan below 14th Street. On a recent Saturday, the owners said they served some 800 customers.” Read more

 

The Buckle April comp sales down 6% Press release

 

America’s Cash for Clunkers Is Back—in China at WSJ. “Beijing isn’t just dangling financial incentives to trade in old jalopies for new vehicles, though, as the U.S. did. It also wants households to swap out rickety home appliances and factories to get new equipment. Beijing has billed the trade-in program as a long-awaited stimulus package aimed at lifting consumer spending, although economists are doubtful the effect will be large.” WSJ subs.

 

US Foods Q1 net sales up 4.8% Press release

 

Loblaw boycott organizer says she met with CEO to talk about grocery prices at Yahoo

 

Walmart has taken delivery of a Tesla Semi at Teslarati. “X user Accelerating Tech posted photos of a Walmart-branded Tesla Semi on Saturday, as spotted just a day earlier in Stockton, California.” Read more/Pics

 

…Tesla expands Semi testing program, partners with Costco, Sysco, and US Foods at Drive Tesla. “…in two separate sightings shared online this week a Tesla Semi has been seen pulling a Costco trailer.” Read more

 

Warby Parker Q1 net revenue up 16.3% Press release

Costco +5.6% | Inside WM Clinic Exit | Costco Bday Meet Up

/in

 

Costco April comp sales +5.6% Press release

 

Organized retail theft ring that targeted Macy’s, other retailers is charged in New York at CNBC. “Two New Yorkers were charged with possessing more than $1 million in stolen goods and reselling them through their business, Rehana’s Cosmetics, a perfume and cosmetics store in Midtown Manhattan, the borough’s district attorney Alvin Bragg said at a press conference. About $212,000 of the merchandise was stolen from Macy’s…” Read more

 

Insiders reveal why Walmart pulled the plug on Sam Walton’s dream to ’get the hospitals and doctors in line’ at Fortune/Yahoo. “While the company blamed “a challenging reimbursement environment and escalating operating costs” as reasons for pulling the plug on Walmart Health, the reality was likely more complicated, as the five-year experiment was also plagued by leadership turnover and at times internal politics, according to multiple sources familiar with its operations. It also faced a miscalculation of how many patients would be willing to pay in cash.” Read more

 

Costco-loving man caught off guard by loved ones in store for his surprise birthday party at Fox Business. “Emma Blevins planned the whole thing out for her husband Clint’s 27th birthday, which was on Sunday, she told Storyful. A more than four-minute-long video shows him gleefully walking through the store, coincidentally running into loved ones and even explaining to one group that it is his birthday.” Read more/Video

 

Amazon rolls out fleet of heavy-duty electric trucks at GeekWire. “…has begun rolling out nearly 50 heavy-duty all-electric trucks in Southern California — its largest such fleet — to handle first- and middle-mile operations…” Read more

 

Ingles Markets Q2 net sales down 0.95% Press release

 

***A message from Su Salsa: Put the lime in the dip – not the chip! Su Salsa Mild salsa has a hint of lime and cilantro flavor with a kick of jalapeno at the end. Presentation/Lime Green Label | Request sample: jlong@eyeonretail.net

 

NYC’s hottest new hamburger is from a gas station at NY Post. “The tiny hamburger joint Smacking Burger has opened inside of a working gas station — which happens to be the last one in Manhattan below 14th Street. On a recent Saturday, the owners said they served some 800 customers.” Read more

 

The Buckle April comp sales down 6% Press release

 

America’s Cash for Clunkers Is Back—in China at WSJ. “Beijing isn’t just dangling financial incentives to trade in old jalopies for new vehicles, though, as the U.S. did. It also wants households to swap out rickety home appliances and factories to get new equipment. Beijing has billed the trade-in program as a long-awaited stimulus package aimed at lifting consumer spending, although economists are doubtful the effect will be large.” WSJ subs.

 

US Foods Q1 net sales up 4.8% Press release

 

Loblaw boycott organizer says she met with CEO to talk about grocery prices at Yahoo

 

Walmart has taken delivery of a Tesla Semi at Teslarati. “X user Accelerating Tech posted photos of a Walmart-branded Tesla Semi on Saturday, as spotted just a day earlier in Stockton, California.” Read more/Pics

 

…Tesla expands Semi testing program, partners with Costco, Sysco, and US Foods at Drive Tesla. “…in two separate sightings shared online this week a Tesla Semi has been seen pulling a Costco trailer.” Read more

 

Warby Parker Q1 net revenue up 16.3% Press release