Lowe’s Q4 Comp Sales +5.1% “For the fiscal year, sales were $65.0 billion, a 10.1 percent increase over the same period a year ago, and comparable sales increased 4.2 percent.” Press release

 

…CNBC: Lowe’s topped analysts’ estimates across the board Wednesday “For the first time in awhile in this quarter we actually had normalish weather, so Lowe’s may have benefited more from that than Home Depot” Nagel said.” Read more

 

Best Buy Domestic Q4 Comp Sales -0.9% Press release

 

…Fox Business: Best Buy Reports Drop in Same-Store Sales, Shares Sink “Net revenue fell 1 percent to $13.48 billion, missing the average analyst estimate of $13.62 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.” Read more

 

Target CEO Appears on CNBC “Many of our competitors are aggressively rationalizing their assets. They’re cutting costs just to keep their heads above water,” Cornell said. “This contraction will create opportunities for Target to pick up market share over the long term.” Video/Read more

 

Q4 Comps: Dollar Tree +2.3% | Family Dollar +0.2% Press release

 

Inside Amazon’s first brick-and-mortar bookstore in Massachusetts by Kelly J O’Brien at Boston Business Journal. 17 pics/Read more

 

…has a Peet’s Coffee and Tea, the first Amazon Bookstore to have a coffee shop by Jordan Graham at Boston Herald. Read more

 

ACSI: Retailers Improve Customer Satisfaction Amid Store Closings “Department and discount stores: Dillard’s takes first place…In second place, JCPenney is the biggest gainer, up 11 percent to 82…Specialty retailers: Costco (+2%) leads with an ACSI score of 83, followed by a trio (Sam’s Club) at 81…With a big jump, Home Depot (+10% to 80) edges ahead of rival Lowe’s (+7% to 79) for the first time, as well as Menards (+1% to 79).” Press release

 

…Walmart scores jump 9% by Aimee Picchi at Moneywatch. “Walmart received a customer satisfaction score of 72, or 9 percent higher than its year-earlier score of 66.” Read more

 

Sneak peek: ​Cabela’s prepares for its first opening in D.C. area by Rebecca Cooper at Washington Business Journal. “Representatives of the Gainesville store are expecting thousands of people to attend the March 9 grand opening.” 26 pics/Read more

 

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Amazon Web Services outage reveals critical lack of redundancy across the internet by Nat Levy at GeekWire. “…outage knocked out access to a litany of websites and apps that run on AWS, including but not limited to Expedia, Slack, Medium, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.” Read more

 

CST growth loses steam with fourth quarter earnings report by Katie Burke at San Antonio Business Journal. “…net income of $324 million for year-end 2016, nearly double the $149 million it posted for the year prior. However, that jump was announced alongside a considerable drop in fourth quarter income, which fell from $25 million to $18 million.” Read more

 

Ross Stores Q4 Comp Sales +4.0% Press release

 

Nearly one year after launch, Apple Pay finds limited traction in China by Emma Lee at TechCrunch. “Apple Pay is now accepted by 36 percent of merchants in the U.S., thus making it one of the most widely available mobile payment methods in the country. However, to date it has received a lukewarm — or perhaps even cold — reception in China.” Read more

 

Big 5 Q4 Comp Sales +3.1% Press release

 

Huh? Cramer says Target’s survival has everything to do with pizza by Abigail Stevenson at CNBC. “We have to question the entire relevance of Target, particularly if prices go up 20 to 25 percent … Three-year plan? How about a survival plan. There is no long-game anymore,” the “Mad Money” host said.” Video/Read more

 

Meet YouTube TV: Google’s Live TV Subscription Service by Tom Huddleston, Jr. at Fortune. Read more

 

Office Depot Q4 Total Sales -2.0% Press release

 

Apple to release $1k iPhone with curved screen and USB-C by Matt Burns at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Tommy Hilfiger Looks to Technology as It Combats Macy’s Decline by Stephanie Hoi-Nga Wong at Bloomberg. Read more

 

After Alberta pipeline spill goes undetected for 45 days, Murphy Oil fined $172,500 at Toronto Star. Read more

 

Home Depot store honors customer who died suddenly – lets family build his casket in store at KIRO 7. “Building the casket has helped Scott’s brothers deal with the sudden loss. “When we have something to focus on, it’s almost eliminated the heartbreak. You know, until tomorrow,” Keith said. Employees from the Home Depot store will be attending the funeral service Friday.” Video/Read more

 

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Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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