Resources

March 6, 2014 In the sales versus margins battle at Costco, sales got the upper hand during the holiday season and the company’s second quarter, ended February 16. Costco managed to grow sales by 5.8% to $25.76 billion and same-store sales, excluding fuel, at U.S. clubs rose a healthy 5%.  However, in a shortened and... Read more »

March 6, 2014 Ongoing weakness at Staples’ North American retail division has resulted in the planned closure of 225 units as part of a larger expense savings program and increased emphasis on digital initiatives. The store closure announcement, part of a larger plan expected to save $500 million by the end of 2015, was announced... Read more »

March 5, 2014 Severe winter weather was unable to put a damper on Walgreen’s February sales and overall second-quarter results for the period ended February 28.  The company reported February sales of $6.1 billion, an increase of 5% compared to the same month in fiscal 2013.  Total sales for the quarter were $19.6 billion, up... Read more »

March 6, 2014 Walmart’s tepid sales performance in the fourth quarter is water under the bridge, so when Walmart U.S. CEO Bill Simon spoke this week at an investor conference he quickly focused on the growth of smaller stores, which are being expanded at a more rapid pace. Simon spoke Tuesday at the Raymond James... Read more »

March 6, 2014 Markets in 59 out of the approximately 350 metro areas nationwide returned to or exceeded their last normal levels of economic and housing activity, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI), released today.  This represents a net gain of one from the previous month. The index’s... Read more »

March 4, 2014 Lowe’s has named Michael A. Jones as the company’s chief customer officer, effective April 30.  Jones currently serves as Lowe’s chief merchandising officer, overseeing the full merchandise offering for all Lowe’s U.S. stores and Lowes.com, as well as all global sourcing activities. Jones will succeed Gregory M. Bridgeford, who plans to retire... Read more »

March 4, 2014 The nation’s leading home improvement retailer is no stranger to e-commerce, but its efforts to offer a more robust omnichannel experience took a major step forward recently with the opening of the company’s first direct fulfillment center. The approximately 1 million sq. ft. facility less than an hour south of Atlanta in... Read more »

March 3, 2014 New Orders, Employment and Inventories Growing; Production Contracting; Supplier Deliveries Slowing Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in February for the ninth consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 57th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.  The report was issued... Read more »

February 28, 2014 The Home Depot has promoted Craig Menear to president, U.S. retail.  Menear was previously EVP, merchandising, responsible for all merchandising departments and merchandising services and strategy; the company’s supply chain network; global sourcing; vendor management; marketing; and online sales. In his new role, Menear will add responsibility for all U.S. store operations,... Read more »