Why Out-of-stocks, Data Mismatch, and Hidden Demand Still Catch Out Beauty Brands When beauty brands review retail performance, the picture often looks reassuring. Availability appears high. Sales reports feel complete. Forecasts are built on what was sold. But our conversations with brands working directly with Ulta and Sephora reveal a more complicated reality. One where... Read more »
June 18, 2014 The National Retail Federation (NRF) had forecast that Father’s Day spending would shrink this year, reaching just $12.5 billion. But it looks like the smallest of gift-giving holidays fared better than expected. Overall U.S. retail online sales for the week leading up to Father’s Day – June 9-15 – climbed more than… Read more »
June 18, 2014 Americans have the highest job satisfaction levels since the beginning of the Great Recession, according to a report released today by The Conference Board. The majority, however, continue to be unhappy at work. The report, based on a Fall 2013 survey of 5,000 U.S. households conducted for The Conference Board by The… Read more »
June 17, 2014 Declines in both single and multifamily starts pushed nationwide housing production down 6.5 percent in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of just over 1 million units, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. However, single-family permits, which can… Read more »
June 16, 2014 Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose four points in June to reach a level of 49 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. It remains one point shy of the threshold for what is considered good building conditions. “After several… Read more »
June 6, 2014 Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores CEO and president Bruce Johnson cited weather and promotions as factors affecting the retailer’s first quarter results. Net sales in the quarter decreased 1.9% to $589.9 million from $601.1 million in the first quarter of 2013, driven primarily by a 6.2% decrease in same-store sales. Lower initial… Read more »
June 5, 2014 Although comparable-store sales at Fred’s declined slightly in May, the company said sales strengthened in the last week of the month thanks to the first ad in its new marketing and branding program, designed to increase traffic and heighten customer awareness of category diversity. The company’s total sales for the month stayed… Read more »
June 6, 2014 U.S. retailers reported 5% year-over-year growth in general merchandise, apparel, furniture and other (GAFO) retail sales. Shoppers made fewer trips to the store than expected, but were very engaged and showed a lot of intent to buy. Retailers also reported 7% growth year-over-year in clothing and apparel sales and 2% growth year-over-year… Read more »
June 4, 2014 Ascena Retail Group president and CEO David Jaffe said sales in the third quarter were challenging, and despite comparable sales declines at Justice and Dressbarn, new store growth at Justice and Maurices, along with higher comparable sales at Lane Bryant, Maurices and Catherines bolstered the company’s overall results. The company’s third quarter… Read more »
June 3, 2014 Hudson’s Bay Company more than doubled sales in the first quarter driven primarily by its acquisition of Saks last year. Retail sales were $1.9 billion, an increase of $971 million from $884 million for the prior year. Consolidated same-store sales increased by 2.8%, with increases of 2.5% at DSG, 2.6% at Saks… Read more »
May 30, 2014 Exiting Canada may have taken a bite out of Big Lots’ profits in the first quarter, but the company still saw net and comparable store sales increase. Net sales for the quarter increased 1.1% to $1.28 billion, compared to net sales from continuing U.S. operations of $1.26 billion for the same period… Read more »
