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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Target Likes Canada | Lulu & Pickleball | McMillon @ Graduation

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Amazon launches a Prime-free marketplace in South Africa, its first on the continent at TechCrunch. “Amazon is launching in South Africa without its famous Prime membership program…initially it plans to sell international brands and local products spanning some 20 product categories…” Read more

 

Target treks off the beaten path – by selling its own-brand products at other retailers at Fortune/Yahoo. “…plans to expand its Cat & Jack children’s clothing line across 85 Hudson’s Bay Co. Canadian department stores, adding outerwear and shoes to the brand’s 1,400 items…Since the partnership launched in March, the brand has been incredibly popular in Canada, Target reported, resulting in a 15% increase in basket size at Hudson’s Bay. Target has no plans to replicate its own-brand expansion in the U.S…” Read more

 

Life Time fitness leans into pickleball with Lululemon partnership at CNBC. “…relationship includes selling Lululemon apparel online at Life Time clubs, in addition to collaborating on key pickleball events…Saturday, Life Time unveiled Manhattan’s largest indoor pickleball destination, just blocks from Penn Station. The 54,000-square-foot club has seven street-level pickleball courts…” Read more

 

Gen Z Sinks Deeper Into Debt at WSJ. “The average credit-card balance for 22- to 24-year-olds was $2,834 in the last quarter of 2023, compared with an average inflation-adjusted balance of $2,248 in the same period in 2013, according to new data from credit-reporting agency TransUnion.” WSJ subs.

 

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon to Speak at University of Arkansas’ Spring Commencement “McMillon will speak at the university commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11, at 8:30 a.m. in Bud Walton Arena.” Read more

 

Lowe’s upgrades to digital security camera network at Chain Store Age. “Lowe’s…has shifted more than 80,000 analog in-store analog security cameras to a streamlined digital system…more than 35,000 associates across a wide variety of functions have access…the merchandising department may also use the camera system to gauge foot traffic around seasonal displays…” Read more

 

Uber Eats to Power Restaurant Delivery on Instacart Press release

 

Cash-Stretched New Homebuyers Are Drawing a Line at Fixer-Uppers at Bloomberg/Yahoo. “When agents identified the repairs and updates needed to make listed homes ready to live in, we were shocked by the scope,” according to a report from Jody Kahn and Dillan Krieg at John Burns. “Buyers want homes that are move-in ready.” Read more

 

Walgreens is now a candy destination, thanks to TikTok at CBS News. “…ramping up production of Walgreen’s Nice! Gummy Mango peelable candy, and limiting online sales to one bag per customer due to high demand for the squishy treats, fed by social media.” Read more

 

CANADA – Competition Bureau launches inquiry into Lululemon over ’greenwashing’ allegations at Financial Post. “Stand.earth…issued a statement early this year saying Lululemon has been using the slogan “Be Planet” as part of its “impact agenda” released in 2020, but the company’s own reports reveal a doubling of greenhouse-gas emissions since then.” Read more

 

In China, Costco, Sam’s Club make play for thrifty shoppers at Nikkei Asia. “Alibaba Group Holding’s Freshippo, widely known as Hema in Chinese…has nine warehouse stores in China…Also growing fast is Fudi, operated by a Chinese agricultural products seller, with four stores in Beijing. Its membership information emphasizes that its stores are “member stores for the people themselves,” appealing to patriotic sentiment.” Read more

 

Bloomingdale’s Men’s Fashion Director Justin Berkowitz Joins NN.07 as Strategic Partner WWD Subs.

 

Amazon to Close Grocery Fulfillment Center in San Francisco at Progressive Grocer. “As it closes one facility, the e-commerce giant is looking to build a 650,000-square-foot logistics center in San Francisco’s Showplace Square neighborhood, which is being vetted by city planners.” Read more

Sam’s AI Exit @120 | Springoween | #1 Billionaire by State | Cat Returns

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Wayfair shares surge 17% after furniture retailer cuts losses by more than $100 million at CNBC. “Sales fell to $2.73 billion, down more than 1% from $2.77 billion a year earlier. The steepest drop-off came from Wayfair’s international segment, where sales declined nearly 6%…” Read more | Press release

 

Sprouts Q1 comp sales +4.0% / +7 new stores = 414 stores total Press release

 

Publix Q1 comp sales +2.8% Press release

 

Loblaw Q1 revenue +4.5%, as Reddit group’s boycott kicks off at CBC

 

DoorDash Q1 total orders increased 21% year-over-year Press release

 

NLRB judge found Amazon CEO Andy Jassy broke labor law by suggesting employees would be “less empowered” if they voted in a union at CNBC

 

India widens spices probe amid contamination concerns at Reuters. “India’s food safety regulator said on Thursday it had ordered testing and inspections at all companies making spice mixes, widening an investigation into the sector as global regulators look into suspected contamination in two popular local brands.” Read more

 

The Coolest Costco? The One in Mérida, Mexico That Has a Cenote at Thrillist. “It’s a natural cenote, so the clear water on the bottom is a guarantee—and Costco made sure its surroundings were pleasant to look at as well by adding a curated garden of plants.” Read more / Pics

 

***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

 

CVS Health chops 2024 forecast as cost struggles with Medicare Advantage persist at Reuters. “In the first quarter, CVS Health’s net income plunged 48% to $1.11 billion. It booked adjusted earnings of $1.31 per share on total revenue of $88.4 billion. Analysts expected earnings of $1.69 per share…” Read more

 

Home Depot’s viral Halloween skeleton quickly sells out before summer at Fox Business. “It isn’t even summer yet! Slow your roll!” one social media user commented. “If we can have Christmas in July, a little Springoween won’t hurt,” another person wrote in response.” Read more

 

The Richest Billionaire In Every State 2024 (Walton, Bezos, Menard, Morris…) List

 

Sam’s Club’s AI-powered exit tech reaches 20% of stores at TechCrunch. “…can now walk out of the store without having their purchases double-checked. The technology…has now been deployed at over 120 clubs across the U.S…members leave the store 23% faster. The retailer plans to expand the tech to all its stores by year-end.” Read more

 

eBay Q1 revenue up 2% Press release

 

Giant Eagle confirms ‘Scan Pay Go’ being dropped at five locations at WTAE ABC

 

Cat accidentally shipped with Amazon return from Utah to CA facility at ABC 13. “The animal’s owners said they had packed a box to return some shoes…They didn’t realize their cat, Galena, was hiding inside. Galena was trapped in the box with the Amazon returns for six days without food or water. An Amazon employee named Brandy rescued the cat from the box…” Read more