Tuesday Tipsheet: D.Gen Q1 Comp +1.5% | Candy Canes in May | Wmart Week

 

“Dollar General Q1 Comp Sales +1.5% ”  Net sales increased 6.8 percent to $4.52 billion in the 2014 first quarter compared to $4.23 billion in the 2013 first quarter. Same-store sales increased 1.5 percent resulting from increases in both customer traffic and average transaction amount. Sales increases in consumables significantly outpaced the Company’s non-consumable categories, led by increased sales of tobacco products, perishables and candy and snacks.”  Read more 

 

“Fortune 500: Five Retailers Crack the Top 25 (Walmart #1, CVS #12, Costco #19…)”  See the Top 500 List

 

“Walmart Week:  Univ. of Arkansas Expects to Earn $1.26 Mil from Walmart Meeting Guests” by Kim Souza at The City Wire.  “That breaks down to $436,000 from the use of its dorm facilities, according to Steve Voorhies, manager of media relations at the UA. He said there will be 4,500 Wal-Mart guests staying on campus, as the retailer has reserved 2,250 room at a nightly rate of $28.  Food services for the week will also rake in about $500,000. ”  Read more

 

“Walmart Kicks Off Shareholders Week” (Company Release).  “This week, Walmart will host 14,000 shareholders, including thousands of associates from 27 countries, at its annual Shareholders meeting in Bentonville.”  Read the release

 

“Target board defends its role before and after data breach” by Kavita Kumar at Star-Tribune.  “She didn’t explicitly address the criticism the retailer has faced in recent months, including from a U.S. Senate committee in March, that it missed multiple opportunities to thwart the attack on its systems, including alerts from its own anti-intrusion software.”  Read more

 

“Christmas Creep:  Hobby Lobby Puts Out the Candy Canes in May” by Laura Northrup at Consumerist.  “The last time we noted the first display of Christmas decorations at Hobby Lobby was in 2010, when they first put out the decorative items in mid-June. That’s only about six months before the holiday, though: clearly they’ve been missing out on some sales. That’s why this year, the Christmas decorations are out before the end of May.”  Read more

 

***A message from Lock-it Block-it: Keep the Bad Guys Out and Let the Fresh-Air In. Adjustable window security bar blocks criminals from entering a home through open windows. Windows can be open AND homes remain secured. Prevents children from falling out of open windows. Easy installation! Grow category sales with a truly unique product.  Inventory in-stock for online sales. Watch the video & see it in action. www.lockitblockit.com  Contact info@shiftmarketinggroup.net for more information.

 

“Nashville:  Walgreens Faces Public Hearing on Proposed Store in Heart of the Honky-Tonks” by Adam Sichko at Nashville Bus. Journal.  “…ordinance would require new businesses or tenants planned for those properties to have a venue for live music — or, if it’s a retailer (such as Walgreens), 75 percent of their products would be required to “support the cultural heritage district by promoting the district or musicians, craftsmen/makers or performance venues.”  Read more

 

“Hurry:  Florida’s Hurricane Sale Tax Holiday Ends June 8th” at WEAR ABC 3.  “Across Northwest Florida Home Depot has organized a bucket of storm ready supplies they call the “Grab and Go Hurricane Kit.” Jason wood is a manager at Home Depot and he says “We have gloves, batteries, flash light, emergency radios, first aid kits which is great to have around in case you have an emergency.”  Read more

 

“RetailMeNot Survey:  Dads Get the Shaft on Father’s Day”  “Nearly half (48%) of consumers surveyed believe that people spend more on Mother’s Day gifts than on Father’s Day gifts…20% of consumers surveyed admit they are more creative with gifts for their mom on Mother’s Day than for their dad on Father’s Day.”  Read the release

 

“Delhaize sells three grocery chains for $246M” by Jennifer Thomas at Charlotte Bus. Journal.  “Delhaize has sold its Sweetbay, Harveys and Reid’s operations to Bi-Lo Holdings for $246 million in cash….Details about store locations included in the deal were not provided…In a separate $28 million transaction, Delhaize sold its Plant City, Fla., distribution center to C&S Wholesale Grocers.”  Read more

 

Random:  “Woman Arrested For Stealing A Bible From Walmart” at The Smoking Gun.  “The Bible and the other items “were recovered and are resellable” cops noted.”  Read more

 

***

About Eye-on-Retail

Eye-on-Retail is a daily tipsheet that is must-read material for thousands of Retail Merchants/Executives every weekday morning. Eye-on-Retail is unique because it’s timely, smart and fun. It’s created bright and early every morning and delivered around 7 am CST. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s really happening in the world of retail. Enjoy!

Send story tips, news releases, comments & questions to: info@shiftmarketinggroup.net