Archive for year: 2025

 

CVS tops estimates, hikes guidance at CNBC. “Shares of CVS were up 7% in premarket trading Thursday. The company now expects full-year adjusted earnings of $6 to $6.20 per share, up from a previous guidance of $5.75 to $6 per share.” Read more

 

Wayfair Q1 total revenue close to flat / US revenue +1.6% Press release

 

eBay Inc. Q1 revenue +1.0% Press release

 

Walmart US CEO John Furner Reveals How He Was Talked Into Buying Vizio at Adweek. “…chief growth officer Seth Dallaire…suggested Walmart could invest in a non-retail business to bolster thin retail margins…Furner also spoke about how Walmart is handling tariffs…Walmart is launching a new program called “Grow with Us” that provides resources and tools to support American-made products sold by small businesses.” Read more

 

Sprouts Q1 comp sales +11.7% Press release

 

OpenAI rolls out new shopping features with ChatGPT search update at Reuters. “…has updated ChatGPT’s web search capabilities to improve online shopping for users with personalized product recommendations with images, reviews, and direct purchase links…search feature has gained popularity since its introduction last year, and has become one of its most sought-after tools, with over 1 billion web searches in the past week…” Read more

 

UK retail giant Co-op warns of disruption as it battles cyberattack at TechCrunch. “…comes days after U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer confirmed a cyberattack that left customers unable to pick up their orders.” Read more

 

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95% of ibuprofen comes from China at Fortune/Yahoo. “More than 90% of the supply of anti-inflammation steroid hydrocortisone also comes from China, as well as 70% of acetaminophen and 45% of the U.S.’s penicillin imports. The U.S. is particularly reliant on China for more affordable, generic drugs, and generic drugs make up 90% of prescriptions filled in the U.S., according to the FDA.” Read more

 

Republicans and Democrats Can Agree on This: Stop Minting Pennies at WSJ. “A bipartisan bill expected to be introduced in the Senate on Thursday calls for the U.S. Mint to end production of the one-cent coin…The bill doesn’t go as far as one introduced Wednesday in the House of Representatives that also calls for penny production to stop. That bipartisan legislation says cash transactions should be rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cents.” WSJ subs.

 

Billionaire Lukas Walton names new CIO for his family office at CNBC. “Walmart heir Lukas Walton’s Builders Vision tackles environmental challenges through philanthropy and impact investing…recently backed Norway’s Bluefront Equity, a sustainable seafood fund. In November, the firm co-guaranteed $70 million of debt held by the Bahamas…” Read more

 

Loblaw still adding Canadian products but CEO says ‘Buy Canadian’ trend may not last at Financial Post. “Asked if he anticipates the “Buy Canadian” trend will persist, (CEO) Bank said he was hopeful, but predicted that “maybe a third of it will stick” long term.” Read more

 

Visa and Mastercard unveil AI-powered shopping at TechCrunch

 

Amazon will spend $4B to expand U.S. rural delivery network at GeekWire. “…will create more than 100,000 new jobs and bring its rural delivery network footprint to more than 200 delivery stations.” Read more

 

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Orders for big-ticket items like autos and appliances surged 9.2% in March in rush to beat tariffs at CNBC. “Excluding defense, the increase was even higher, at 10.4%, though the ex-transportation number was flat. Transportation equipment orders surged 27%…” Read more

 

…Three-quarters of the public expect tariffs to increase consumer prices at APNORC

 

Tractor Supply Q1 comparable sales down 0.9%; comp average transaction growth of 2.1% Press release

 

P&G Q3 net sales down 2% Press release

 

…Procter & Gamble CEO says price hikes are ‘likely’ at CNBC. “He added that price hikes tied to the tariffs would occur in the next fiscal year, which starts in July…” Read more

 

Food Additives Could Combine to Boost Health Threats at WSJ. “In recent years, scientists have found that some additives, like emulsifiers, dyes and artificial sweeteners are linked to health problems. Studies have generally focused on the impact of one substance or type of additive. But that isn’t the way people generally consume them. Ultra-processed foods often contain a cocktail of additives. And many people eat more than one ultra-processed product in a day.” WSJ subs.

 

Pastor calls for ‘full Target boycott’ over concerns about diversity, equity, inclusion at AP

 

Capital One CEO says US consumers are in ‘good shape,’ but there are ‘worrying signs’ at Fox Business

 

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Ulta Beauty says online shopping habits are changing. Here’s how the retailer invests in tech to keep up at Fortune/Yahoo. “Known as Project SOAR (short for “strengthen, optimize, accelerate, and renew”), the recently-completed, multi-year initiative is described as the most significant IT-led overhaul in the company’s 35-year history…” Read more

 

Hudson’s Bay to sell off all merchandise at 6 stores previously spared from liquidation at CBC. “…effectively ending the retail empire’s reign and significantly dimming the possibility that the business dating back to 1670 will stay alive. Canada’s oldest company is making the move because “it is unlikely” that it will find a buyer for the remaining locations…” Read more

 

Buc-ee’s logo lawsuit legal battle ends with shut down of Barc-ee’s at My San Antonio

 

Hasbro, Inc. Q1 revenue increased 17% driven by 46% growth in the Wizards and Digital Gaming segment. Consumer Products declined 4% Press release

 

Walmart, Target and Home Depot — privately warned Trump that his tariff and trade policy could disrupt supply chains, raise prices and empty shelves, according to sources familiar with the meeting at Axios

 

Canada 100: Most Valuable Canadian Brands (Circle K #3, Lulu #15…) List

 

Ahold Delhaize USA Appoints Sanja Krajnovic Chief Supply Chain Officer Press release

 

Walgreens Debuts PharmStart to Strengthen the Tech to Pharmacist Pipeline Press release

 

**Advertise your product, service or event in Eye on Retail Tipsheet to get in front of the most powerful retail decision-makers in the world. Contact: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Target CEO Brian Cornell to meet with Al Sharpton to discuss DEI rollback at CNBC. “The meeting, which Target asked for, comes after some civil rights groups urged consumers not to shop at Target in response to the retailer’s decision to cut back on DEI. While Sharpton has not yet called for a boycott of Target, he has supported efforts from others to stop shopping at the retailer’s stores.” Read more

 

Hudson’s Bay wants to hold auction for its art and artifacts including its royal charter at Yahoo. “The retailer filed for court protection from creditors under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act last month…HBC hopes to save six of its stores and its e-commerce business in the restructuring.” Read more

 

Seattle crosswalk buttons hacked to sound like Jeff Bezos at GeekWire. “Hi, I’m Jeff Bezos,” the voice says. “This crosswalk is sponsored by Amazon Prime, with an important message — please, don’t tax the rich, otherwise all the other billionaires will move to Florida, too…” Read more

 

The 14 Fortune 500 stocks most exposed to the tariff war (Best Buy, Wayfair, Target…) at Fortune/Yahoo

 

How Costco’s Kirkland Signature Beer Finally Hit the Mark at WSJ. “Costco never shared top billing with a brewery until September’s limited release of Kirkland Signature Vintage Ale, a barrel-aged imperial stout bearing the Deschutes logo…The imperial stout’s success led Costco and Deschutes to collaborate on the Helles-Style Lager, based on a recipe that won a gold medal at 2023’s Great American Beer Festival.” WSJ subs.

 

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Chinese App DHgate became the second-most popular app on Apple’s App Store in the U.S. on Wednesday at Fortune/Yahoo. “A video posted to TikTok by @LunaSourcingChina alleged Lululemon leggings could be purchased from two factories in Yiwu, China, for $5 to $6, claiming the activewear brand sources its clothing directly from them.” Read more

 

Ulta Beauty Names Lauren Brindley Chief Merchandising and Digital Officer “Most recently, she served as Chief Executive Officer of Revolution Beauty and prior to that, she held senior leadership roles at Walgreens and Boots UK…” Press release

 

Kroger Appoints Key Retail Leaders 

• Joe Kelley Named SVP of Retail Divisions
• Kenny Kimball Named Smith’s Division President
• Chris Albi Named King Soopers Division President
• Kendra Doyel Named Food 4 Less Division President Press release

 

Michaels, seeing a void left by Party City, expands its party supply selection at CNN. “Michaels…(is) expanding its party supply offerings with the addition of 300 new balloon options and more than 500 new products for all types of celebrations, ranging from graduations to birthdays.” Read more

 

Netflix co-founder: Why we turned down Jeff Bezos’ early acquisition offer at CNBC. “The decision taught him that when an opportunity comes, you don’t necessarily have to open your door, but you owe it to yourself to at least look through the keyhole. “We said no and [then] worked our a– off for 20 years,” Hastings said.” Read more

 

**Advertise your product, service or event in Eye on Retail Tipsheet to get in front of the most powerful retail decision-makers in the world. Contact: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Inflation fell last month as gas prices dropped sharply, a sign prices cooled before tariffs at AP. “Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 2.8% compared with a year ago, down from 3.1% in February. That is the smallest increase in core prices in nearly four years.” Read more

 

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says he believes sellers will pass increased tariff costs on to consumers at CNBC. “Jassy…said the company has done some “strategic forward inventory buys” and looked to renegotiate terms on some purchase orders in an effort to keep prices low on its website. Amazon began to cancel some direct import orders for products sourced by vendors in China this week following Trump’s tariffs announcement, consultants told CNBC.” Read more

 

Walmart’s missing prices show trade chaos coming for US consumers at Bloomberg/MSN. “At a Zhejiang province factory that churns out Christmas ornaments for Walmart Inc., it’s always been standard practice to add price stickers to packages as the last step before the goods are shipped off to the US. For the first time in more than 10 years, Walmart has asked the factory to leave price stickers off the items…” Read more

 

Walmart Asks Brands to Boost Ad Spend by at Least 25% at Adweek. “Walmart is asking brands to increase their annual retail media spend by approximately 25% compared with the year before, according to three consumer packaged goods brands and two agency media buyers, who all confirmed the figure to ADWEEK. For one of those CPG brands, Walmart asked for a 50% increase versus a year ago.” Adweek subs. 

 

How Costco’s CEO Went From Forklift Driver to Kirkland’s Final Signoff at WSJ. “To keep sales growing in a volatile environment, Vachris said he aims to use some of Costco’s longtime strategies: keep prices and employee turnover low; cap product markups at 15%; and limit the number of products sold in a store.” 8:50 video

 

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Inside Walmart’s Meeting With Investors on a Day of Tariff Turmoil at WSJ. “Why do customers love Sam’s Club so much?” McLay asked Xiaojing Christina Zhu, chief executive of Walmart China…On the sidelines of the event, McLay said Walmart’s international team was focused on a vast, complex business that included many topics beyond tariffs. She added that tariffs had been building for years. “It is a thing, but it’s not the only thing,” she told a Wall Street Journal reporter.” WSJ subs.

 

Has Trump cancelled Christmas? China’s decorations makers report no U.S. orders at Reuters/CNBC. “Chinese producers of plastic Christmas trees and other festive decorations say orders from U.S. clients, which are crucial for their business, should have started to come in by now. But because of surging import tariffs, they haven’t…U.S. retailers are almost completely reliant on China for Christmas decorations, where they source 87% of such goods — worth roughly $4 billion.” Read more

 

PriceSmart, Inc. Q2 comp net merchandise sales +6.7% “…opened its ninth warehouse club in Costa Rica this month…now operates 55 warehouse clubs in total.” Press release

 

Walmart CEO says ‘there will be a Christmas’ despite lingering fears of a trade war at Fortune/Yahoo. “McMillon…said that higher tariffs can be managed by having higher-margin, higher-priced products subsidize lower-margin items. In other words, the higher costs stemming from a tariff can be offset by a higher price imposed on an item with low price elasticity, or items whose demand is not particularly price sensitive.” Read more

 

The Buckle, Inc. March comp sales +3.7% Press release

 

Flashbacks to Covid Send Americans Rushing to Stock Up at WSJ. “Data from Earnest Analytics, which tracked anonymous card data of millions of Americans, showed consumer spending rose 33% at Apple, 26% at Restoration Hardware and 10% at Home Depot this past Saturday compared with the average of the previous four Saturdays. Not all stores are getting a boost. Walmart, the country’s largest retailer by annual revenue, hasn’t seen panic buying, Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey said Wednesday.” WSJ subs.

 

Hy-Vee to end bar, waitstaff service at ‘select stores’ at Des Moines Register

 

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