Archive for month: August, 2025

 

Dick’s Q2 comp sales +5.0% / Raises full year 2025 comp guidance to a range of 2.0% to 3.5% Press release

 

…Dick’s beats Wall Street’s expectations on the top and bottom lines at CNBC. “…Stack said new drops from Nike’s revamped running portfolio, including the Pegasus Premium and the Vomero Plus, are performing so well, it can’t keep the shoes in stock. “Anything that’s new, innovative and kind of the cool factor, is blowing out,” Stack said.” Read more

 

Best Buy Q2 comp sales +1.6% – highest growth in three years Press release

 

Dollar General Q2 comp sales +2.8% /  1.5% increase in customer traffic and a 1.2% increase in average transaction amount Press release

 

Walgreens now operating as private standalone company / Names new CEO “Mike Motz has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Walgreens effective immediately. Motz was formerly CEO of Staples US Retail, a Sycamore portfolio company. Prior to that, he served as President of Shoppers Drug Mart, the No. 1 pharmacy chain in Canada.” Press release

 

Dollar Tree and Uber Partner –  $10 off of orders $30 or more Press release

 

Mexico suspends postal shipments to United States over tariff confusion at Politico. “…ahead of an end to the exemption on tariff duties for low-value packages…follows similar moves by postal services from the European Union and several other countries to pause shipping as they await more clarity on the U.S. measure.” Read more

 

Cramer talks retail:

• Williams-Sonoma is a textbook case of overcoming pretty much everything President Donald Trump has thrown at private industry and yet keeps on ticking. 
• The turnaround at the most unlikely Five Below continues through dint of great management. Really extraordinary turn.
• Dollar General blew out the numbers and raised guidance…How could the analysts be so wrong?

 

Coming Soon to Whole Foods Staff: a Job Offer From Amazon at WSJ. “The Amazonification of Whole Foods Market is nearly complete. On Nov. 10, Amazon.com plans to extend new employment offers to Whole Foods’ U.S. corporate employees…Whole Foods corporate employees will have access to an Amazon discount and healthcare benefits. They will lose certain Whole Foods perks, such as their in-store discount and four weeks of remote work a year, the memo said.” WSJ subs.

 

India’s Race to Deliver Everything, Instantly at Bloomberg. “It’s a model that has burned through mountains of cash — and flamed out — in nearly every other major market. Yet investors are betting that India will be different. With dense cities, low labor costs, and a rising class of more than 730 million digital-first Gen Z and millennial consumers accustomed to instant services, the country may be the one place where 10-minute delivery can finally work at scale.” Bloomberg subs.

 

Walmart Leadership to Participate in Upcoming Investor Events Press release

 

Relieved Kohl’s investors give the stock a 20% boost at Fortune/Yahoo. “…a much better than expected adjusted profit, thanks to cost discipline and leaner inventory… the big stock pop is in large part the result of one-third of Kohl’s shares being held short…” Read more

 

Build-A-Bear Workshop Q2 total revenue +11.1% Press release

 

Dollarama sales rise 10% as discount retailer expands to Australia, Mexico at Financial Post. “In Canada, Dollarama’s comparable store sales rose by 4.9%, which was above the consensus of 4%…” Read more

 

Ace Hardware Q2 revenue +3.9% / Comp sales down 0.8% (from 4,000 retailers that report) Press release

 

Mark Andol, Retailer Who Sold Only 100% Made-in-U. S. Items, Dies at Age 59 at WSJ. “Though his store offered thousands of items—including plastic fly swatters, Cheese Please dog treats, cowboy hats made of vinyl and EZ-Duz-It manual can openers—Andol knew he couldn’t challenge Walmart or Target as a seller of general household stuff. “We don’t have one thing that plugs in or takes a battery that we can sell,” he said in a Rotary Club talk last year. As a nation, “we’ve been to the moon but we can’t build a toaster.” Also missing: the latest fashions in clothing.” WSJ subs.

 

 

 

Walmart Q2 comp sales (ex-fuel) +4.6% (vs. expected +4%) / Sam’s Club +5.9% (vs. expected +5.2%) at CNBC. “CFO, John David Rainey: “There are certainly areas where we have fully absorbed the impact of higher tariff costs. There are other areas where we’ve had to pass some of those costs along.” But he added “tariff-impacted costs are continuing to drift upwards.” Even so, Rainey said Walmart hasn’t seen a change in customer spending. For example, sales of private label items, which typically cost less than national brands, were roughly flat year over year, he said.” Read more | Press release

 

…Walmart hikes annual forecast as low price focus draws shoppers at Reuters/Yahoo. “Walmart raised its full-year sales forecast. Walmart expects annual sales to grow in the range of 3.75% to 4.75%, compared to its prior forecast of a 3% to 4% increase. Adjusted earnings per share are expected in the range of $2.52 to $2.62, compared to its previous range of $2.50 to $2.60.” Read more

 

Target’s Fiddelke Lists 3 Priorities at CNBC. “Reestablishing Target’s reputation as a retailer with stylish and unique items, providing a more consistent customer experience and using technology more effectively to operate an efficient business.” Read more

 

…Target’s next CEO started as an intern—and rose up the ranks over 22 years at CNBC

 

These New Parents Give Us an Unvarnished Look at How They Spend Their Money at WSJ. “Spoiler: None of them said having a baby was cheaper than they expected. Americans would have to spend $20,745 to buy a basket of goods and services commonly used in a baby’s first year, versus $15,775 for a similar basket in 2022, according to BabyCenter, a parenting website.” WSJ subs.

 

These Moms Want to Design Your Dorm Room at NY Times. “Think of them as a subset of momfluencers, women who post about being mothers online, often to make money. They are tapping into the lucrative business of college life…” NY Times subs.

 

Cracker Barrel Logo Change Sparks Fury at Newsweek

 

Bed Bath & Beyond’s Executive Chairman Marcus Lemonis announces that the company won’t open or operate retail stores in California at Fox Business

 

Longtime CEO who steered WinCo to employee ownership dies at BoiseDev. “Bill Long joined the company, then known as Waremart, as a store manager in 1968, when it had a single store on the Boise Bench. Long became president in 1978, and transitioned to Chairman and CEO in 1985.” Read more

 

Labubu could make $1B this year at TechCrunch

 

Heard on Target’s Q2 Earnings Call…

Incoming CEO Fiddelke:

• I’ve established three key priorities…
  • …first, we must reestablish our merchandising authority in a way that is distinctly Target
  • Second, we’re a retailer that believes that an elevated experience is every bit as important as product.
  • …third, we must more fully use technology to improve our speed, guest experience, and efficiency throughout the business.
• …while we still believe in the flexibility of a hybrid workplace, we’ve set the expectation that our teams should be working in person more often.
• …we’re already well underway in building Fun 101, our name for the transformation within our hardlines categories.

Gomez:

• Q2 comp sales were down 1.9% / Digital channel…comp sales grew 4.3%
• Fun 101: our updated approach to bringing greater style and cultural relevance to our hardlines assortment (drove) growth of more than 5% in Q2, our strongest quarterly comp in this category since 2021.
• …trading card sales are up nearly 70% year to date…
• Food and beverage categories grew slightly / Beauty sales were down slightly
• Full transcript @ Investing dotcom

 

Heard on Lowe’s Q2 Earnings Call…

• Monthly comps were down 1% in May, up 0.3% in June and up 4.7% in July
• Q2 comp average ticket increased 2.9% and comp transactions declined 1.8%
• …roughly 60% of the goods we source are coming out of the US…and China’s at 20%
• Positive comps in nine of our 14 merchandise divisions
• Positive comps in Hardware, Lawn and Garden and Tools…(and) in lawn and garden
• Strong performance in power tools and tool storage
• Positive comps across building materials, rough plumbing and lumber…seeing continuing momentum in repair and maintenance projects
• In Home Decor, we delivered positive comps in paint, flooring and appliances
• One of the most compelling aspects of the FBM acquisition is a strategic presence in key geographies such as California, the Northeast, and the Midwest, regions where we currently have less of a presence.
• Full transcript @ Investing dotcom

 

Lowe’s Q2 comp sales +1.1% Press Release

…Lowe’s acquires Foundation Building Materials (FBM) for ~$8.8 billion Press release

 

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Wholesale prices rose 0.9% in July, much more than expected at CNBC. “The producer price index, which measures final demand goods and services prices, jumped 0.9% on the month, compared to the Dow Jones estimate for a 0.2% gain. Excluding food and energy prices, core PPI rose 0.9% against the estimate for 0.3%. Excluding food, energy and trade, the index was up 0.6%, the biggest gain since March 2022.” Read more

 

Advance Auto Parts Q2 comp sales +0.1% Press release

 

Tapestry, Inc. Q4 revenue +8.0% : Coach +14% / Kate Spade -13% Press release

 

Walmart broadens 10% staff discount to include most grocery products at Reuters/Yahoo. “Walmart…had previously extended its grocery discount during the holidays, but the perk will now be available year-round…” Read more

 

…Walmart’s New Employee Perk Takes a Bite Out of Workers’ Grocery Bills at WSJ. “Walmart U.S. Chief Executive John Furner and a Miami-area store manager announced the news Wednesday on stage at a Houston gathering of store managers, prompting a standing ovation…Whole Foods…offers workers a 20% discount on most in-store purchases from the first day of employment. Target offers a 20% discount on fresh and frozen produce and some store-brand items and a 10% discount on most other goods…” WSJ subs. 

 

Gallup: Why many Americans are rethinking alcohol at AP. “A record high percentage of U.S. adults, 53%, now say moderate drinking is bad for their health, up from 28% in 2015. The uptick in doubt about alcohol’s benefits is largely driven by young adults…” Read more

 

There’s Money to Be Made in ‘MAHA.’ Food Companies Want In. at NY Times. “Mason Shaw, who oversees what Walmart stocks in its baking aisles, couldn’t figure out why an earthy green powder called moringa was selling so well. Even after Lisa Curtis, whose line of moringa-based drink mixes has been in Walmart since 2019, told him that the market for so-called superfoods was growing fast, he still didn’t get it. Then, a year ago, Mr. Shaw sat down to watch “The Tucker Carlson Show.”…” NY Times subs.

 

Amazon launches same-day delivery of fresh food in 1,000+ U.S. cities – plans to expand to at least 2,300 locations by the end of 2025 Press release

 

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Delivery drones may soon take off in the US at AP. “Wing CEO Adam Woodworth said drone delivery has been in “treading water mode” in the U.S. for years, with service providers afraid to scale up because the regulatory framework wasn’t in place. “You want to be at the right moment where there’s an overlap between the customer demand, the partner demand, the technical readiness and the regulatory readiness,” Woodworth said. “I think that we’re reaching that planetary alignment right now.” Read more

 

Ex-Kroger CEO must reveal ‘embarrassing’ details about his abrupt exit thanks to lawsuit involving Jewel at NY Post

 

Shein’s Second “Tools Day” Event Highlights Over 60 Innovations Press release

 

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Costco July comp sales (ex. fuel & f/x) up 7.0%:

 

…US +6.5%/Canada +9.1%/Other Int’l +7.5%/Ecom +14.9% “…net sales of $20.89 billion for the retail month of July, the four weeks ended August 3, 2025, an increase of 8.5 percent from $19.26 billion last year. Net sales for the first 48 weeks were $248.35 billion, an increase of 8.1 percent from $229.81 billion last year.” Press release

 

Just return it: “Rent the runway” mindset is only spreading at USA Today. “A Costco employee who has worked with the company in multiple states says trees, inflatables and other holiday decor get stacked seven feet high after Christmas…Others “rent” jewelry for black-tie events, including one customer who returned three $2,000-plus necklaces in one summer…And just this month, the employee processed a return for $500 worth of meat, cheese and dip left over from a wedding with fewer guests than expected.” Read more

 

Ingles Markets Q3 net sales down 4.0% Press release

 

Wary of sticker shock, retailers clash with brands on price hikes at Reuters. “In Europe, retailers are joining forces to increase their clout in pricing talks. Carrefour (has) created a new European buying alliance called Concordis, along with rival group Coopérative U, and is in advanced discussions with other European retailers to expand the alliance.” Reuters subs.

 

7-Eleven plans to launch 1,300 new stores in North America by 2030 Press release

 

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Aldi’s Passionate, Cultlike Following Fuels Its Rapid Expansion Plans at NY Times. “We’re growing because we’re offering customers food that is good for them and doesn’t have unnecessary additives and food dyes,” said Dave Rinaldo, the chief operating officer of Aldi U.S., noting that the chain stopped using artificial colors in 2015. And while food prices continue to rise, privately held Aldi recently cut prices on 400 of the roughly 2,000 items it sells in its stores, Mr. Rinaldo said.” NY Times subs.

 

Sen. Warren asks FTC, DOJ to consider blocking Dick’s-Foot Locker merger at The Hill

 

US Foods Q2 net sales up 3.8% Press release

 

Alibaba to shutter Costco-like members-only stores in China at Bloomberg/Yahoo. “Its supermarket chain Hema has begun shutting down premium “Hema X” outlets, which charge members an annual subscription for access, a person familiar with the matter said. China’s e-commerce leader is taking action to shore up overall profitability…” Read more

 

DoorDash Q2: Total Orders +20% / Revenue +25% Press release

 

J.D. Power: 2025 Windows/Patio Doors installation satisfaction: Lowe’s last Press release

 

Criteo Is Holding Its Ground as Retail Media Rivals Try to Steal Its Share at Adweek. “Criteo is facing off against a new wave of companies like Kevel, Koddi, Moloco, Pentaleap, Topsort, and Vantage, who pitch sophisticated tech to solve the growing challenges retail media sellers face. Criteo’s competitors are also leveraging more programmatic advertising, an area they claim Criteo has been slow to embrace.” Read more

 

Amazon is bringing its Starlink alternative to Australia next year at The Verge

 

QVC Group Q2 revenue down 7.0% Press release

 

**Get your product, service or event in front of the most powerful decision-makers in the retail community. Contact: info@eyeonretail.net