Mark Motley

Aloha Friday! 🤙🏼 Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Friday, July 26: 👨🏻‍💻 Following the announcement that Saks' parent HBC will look to acquire Neiman Marcus for $2.65 billion, Saks has confirmed a shakeup of its operations that will entail an undisclosed number of layoffs. 🍋 The potential mega-merger between Kroger and Albertsons is on hold while lawsuits play out in state and federal court. On Thursday, the two companies agreed to a temporary injunction in Colorado. 🚜 Tractor Supply Company stock erased early losses to trade flat Thursday after the retailer posted weaker-than-expected second-quarter sales and narrowed guidance to lower the top of its profit and sales ranges. 👟 Upbeat results from the HOKA and UGG brands prompted Deckers to boost its full-year profit outlook. It now expects $29.75 to $30.65 in earnings per share for the full fiscal year. 🍾 Luxury giant LVMH – the company behind Dior, Tiffany & Co., and a number of champagne labels – reported a 15% decline in Champagne sales in the first half of the year compared to the same period the year prior. 📕 As back-to-school shopping kicks off, Walmart is selling thousands of back-to-school items for less than $10, the retail giant announced. That includes pens, backpacks and lunchboxes, the retailer said. 🌯 Chipotle Mexican Grill customers were right in their complaints about skimpy portion sizes. CEO Brian Niccol disclosed that a company investigation found that 1 in 10 of its restaurants were too meager with their servings. 🏬 Wilshire Rodeo Plaza sits at one end of Rodeo Drive and its new owners are betting big the address on Beverly Hills’ iconic street will lure luxury retailers, The new owners paid more than $208 million for the property. 🦅 American Eagle Outfitters Inc. has launched a “Live Your Life” back-to-school campaign, targeting Gen Z through a mix of co-creation, omnichannel strategies and surprise activations for back-to-school. 🥤 Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. reported quarterly earnings and revenue that met analysts’ expectations on Thursday as higher prices fueled its US soda sales. Net sales rose 3.5% to $3.92 billion. 🍗 Restaurant patrons who order chicken wings marketed as boneless can't expect them to actually be boneless, according to a Thursday ruling from the Ohio Supreme Court. 🍔 Wahlburgers has major beef with a California barbecue company — and it’s taking it to the courts. It accused Backyard BBQ Village and its operator of infringing on its trademarks and unlawfully posing as Wahlburgers. 📈 Consumer confidence increased in June, with consumers feeling more positive about the job market, their household finances and their spending comfort levels. 💰 The US economy grew by 2.8% in the second quarter. A faster than expected pace as consumers continued to open their wallets despite ongoing inflation and high interest rates. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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In this new Wisdom With, I get a chance to garner valuable insights from James Jackson who leads strategic development efforts for the Category Management Association and his thoughts on better retailer and buyer engagement. 💡 Understand your Category Manager/Buyer ↗ Retailer Category Managers are charged with meeting P&L objectives and not YOUR specific brand goals. ↗ Each individual brand (and item) must clearly serve a purpose and contribute to achieving his/her objectives. ↗ Learn their how they like to receive information and tailor accordingly. Avoid off-the-shelf presentations that lack any customization for the specific customer in mind. Canned pitches have a low success rate. 💡 You Must Be Compelling ➡ Weave great insights and your product offering into a clear solution that helps address their specific category or business objectives. Compelling stories should have: 👉 A recognizable conflict (example: “50% of shoppers in this category are struggling to find an x product to relieve this symptom”) 💪 A “hero” (your brand) 👊 A believable and profitable resolution (example: “By solving the conflict, it would bring an incremental $1M in margin to the category”) 💡 Help Drive Execution ↗ Your Customer is buried with data, multiple projects, and is continuously putting out a fire. ↗ Your goal shouldn’t stop at getting distribution, it should be to STAY in distribution. 💡 Assist your Category by making effective implementation easy. ↗ Recommend the POG changes and do the work in advance ↗ Target a smart cluster of stores to launch for higher likelihood of success ↗ Create a strong promotional plan to drive immediate proof of performance ↗ Offer sales/broker support to get things rolling #wisdomwith #betterperformance #retail #merchandising #data #storytelling

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The National Retail Federation (NRF) announced on Tuesday that it anticipates retail sales for the upcoming holiday season (Nov. 1 to Dec. 31) to rise by 2.5% to 3.5% compared to last year’s figures, reaching approximately $980 billion to $990 billion. Last year’s holiday sales saw a 3.9% increase from the previous year, according to NRF. Jack Kleinhenz, NRF’s chief economist, explained via email that the expected slight slowdown in growth could be attributed to lower prices for consumer goods, which, while beneficial for shoppers, might reduce retailers’ revenue. Additionally, last year’s stronger spending and wage growth also play a role in this forecast. https://cogniz.at/3Ui26gD

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Great Bloomberg op-ed on why investing in retail store leaders is good for business. I love Andrea’s callout that big investments can raise eyebrows with analysts – like increasing our average Walmart store manager salary to $128,000/year with a new bonus program that gives store managers the potential to earn up to 200% of their base salary. But in the long run, she shows how these types of investments support retention, career growth, better run stores, strong stock value, and our ability to attract a broader range of customers.   Here are a couple of studies that stood out to me in Andrea’s piece: 💠 A 2012 study by Alex Edmans, Professor of Finance at the London Business School (then at Wharton School), found that firms on Fortune’s list of “100 Best Companies to Work for in America,” which have superior employee satisfaction scores on factors including pay and benefits, outperformed peers by 2.3-3.8% per year from 1984 through 2011. 💠 A follow-up study by Hamid Boustanifar, associate professor at the EDHEC Business School, and Young Dae Kang of the Bank of Korea found that the relationship still held: companies on the publication’s list earned an excess return of 2-2.7% per year through 2020, with particular outperformance during tough times.   At the end of the day, these investments also support the ability to build a pipeline of strong talent that stays and grows with a company. We want Walmart to be seen as an employer of choice and pay plays a big part in how we attract and retain talented people. #Compensation #TeamWalmart https://lnkd.in/gPVdAYG4

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Aloha Friday 🤙🏼 Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Friday, July 5: 🏬 The parent of Saks Fifth Avenue, in a partnership with Amazon, will buy rival department store chain Neiman Marcus in a $2.65 billion deal. Richard Baker, CEO and chairman of HBC, has said no stores will be closed. 🌽 After spiking during the pandemic, profit margins and same-store sales growth have fallen back to pre-pandemic levels for the grocery industry, FMI- The Food Industry Association said. 📦 Amazon wants to emulate Shein’s and Temu’s low-cost business model with a direct-from-China discount marketplace of its own. This seems a terrible idea, says a piece in the Financial Times. 🏊🏻‍♀️ Americans will be splashing around this summer in the backyard pools they’ve already got, but not splashing out as much on new ones. New pool construction will fall by around 15% to 20% this year. 👟 Nike‘s era of self-lacing sneakers has come to an end. The company announced that it’ll stop producing sneakers featuring its Adapt technology and will remove the accompanying app from the Apple and Android app stores. 📚 Tattered Cover Book Store will chart its own course, says Barnes & Noble CEO as he speaks about the bookstore’s sale. Barnes & Noble has offered $1.83 million in cash to buy Tattered Cover out of bankruptcy. ☕️ Want an iced coffee? Brands want you to make your own. Keurig, Nescafé are developing products to woo people away from pricey barista-made cold brews and Frappuccinos. 🌟 Walmart must face a class action lawsuit that ruled that the retailer overcharged customers with deceptive and unfair pricing practices. A plaintiff argued he was charged more at the register than the listed prices at Walmart. 👔 Private equity firm KKR has agreed to acquire Varsity Brands, a US maker of sports uniforms and school yearbooks, from buyout firm Bain Capital for approximately $4.75bn, including debt. 🪧 A California member of Congress has written to Biden administration officials to express concern about Smart & Final’s labor practices amid the West Coast grocery chain’s ongoing dispute with warehouse workers. 🍕 Popular fast-casual pizza chain MOD Pizza could soon be filing for bankruptcy — following in the footsteps of several other well-known US restaurants. 🫘 Jelly Belly Candy Company will be closing its plant in North Chicago, resulting in the layoff of 66 employees. The closure comes after Ferrara Candy, the parent company of Jelly Belly, acquired the family-owned candy company. 🍺 Constellation Brands has reported a better-than-expected first-quarter profit due to strong demand for its core beer brands. The brewer behind brands including Corona, Modelo Especial and Pacifico posted earnings of $877m. 🧾 Instacart shoppers are using the app's 'reorder items' button to see how much grocery prices increased over the years. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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This segment will continue to grow, it’s just a matter of convenience. The challenge is filling orders properly and substituting where applicable, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used this service and the person filling the order just really didn’t care. Retailers need to pick the right technology and train the shoppers and then train the shoppers again and again. How do you provide great customer service in e-commerce, by making it personal for the customer.

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I love this news!! 😍 Her vision is clear, our trajectory is 🔥 #ogisback #tupperware #tupperwarerockon #jointheparty Company Ranked in the Top 13 in Consumer Goods Orlando, Fla. April 16, 2024/PR Newswire – What makes everyone say “Wow” besides the new Tupperware® WowPop popcorn maker? It’s the exciting news that Tupperware ranked lucky number 13 on Newsweek’s list of 2024 Most Trustworthy Companies in America in the consumer goods category, after being unranked last year. Global data and business intelligence provider Statista surveyed 25,000 U.S. residents and researched companies’ online and social media reputations to determine the rankings. Newsweek’s 2024 list features 700 companies in 23 industries and Tupperware popped up as number 13 on the consumer goods companies list. According to Newsweek, "the trustworthiness of these consumer goods companies is evident from their charitable initiatives, in-touch leadership, consistent product innovation and commitment to sustainability." “I’m bursting with pride over this news. A heartfelt thanks to our talented employees and dedicated sellers, plus consumers everywhere who trust us and our amazing products – you are the reason we earned this honor,” said Tupperware President and CEO Laurie Ann Goldman. “We’ve always known and emphasized that trust is built by staying ahead of the times through product innovation and delivering time after time with product performance,” she added. One example is the new Tupperware® WowPop microwave popcorn maker, which allows consumers to create gourmet popcorn with beginner-level effort. Its collapsible silicone design saves space and makes it easy to take anywhere. Best of all, you can find 28 amazing recipes to spark your creativity in the kitchen here at Tupperware. Newsweek indicated Tupperware “made waves by bringing in Laurie Ann Goldman as the new company president and CEO,” citing Laurie Ann as a “consumer products giant” who has served as CEO of Spanx, Avon North America, and in leadership roles at Coca-Cola. About Tupperware Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP), the company that invented a solution to food waste, empowers female entrepreneurship through social selling and made the home party famous, is as relevant today as when it was founded in 1946. Tupperware is a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of authentic, high-quality and ingeniously innovative products that people love and trust. The Tupperware® brand became a part of the fabric of Americana and is now famous around the globe. Our products spark celebrations of food, family and friends at home and on the go in 70 countries through our entrepreneurial sales teams and retail locations worldwide. With a purpose of bringing people together to change lives, from what they are now to how much more they could be, we live and work as One Tupperware, One Brand, One Community, One Party!

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Retail Today / Retail Renaissance: “The Secret Behind Walmart’s Recent Record Run” Barron's The partnership between the Walton Family and Leadership, that built a retail omnichannel monster. Walmart Just the facts: 💥💥💥 +$650 Billion Dollar Company (The largest in the U.S.) 2.1 million employees $15.5 Billion in profit last year. 10,619 Golbal Stores Walton Family control 46% of Walmart shares. (Worth $300 Billion) 36 million shoppers will stop at a Walmart today. Grocery is 60% of Walmart’s total U.S. sales. Why? A big reason CEO Doug McMillon, “the right leader at the right time”. Now in his eleventh year. In the comments section, I have posted his profile. Started working in the warehouse 40 years ago. #hardworkpaysoff #leadership They aren’t done, growth opportunities, E-commerce/Digital, Ad Revenue, Lower Prices, Better Quality, etc… I have also attached recent visits showing off grocery, seasonal holiday and the “NEW LOOK” Walmart 2025! #retail #retailtrends #retailindustry #groceryindustry #brandexperience #shoppingexperience #peoplefirst #TopRetailExpert

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Retail sales reported by the National Retail Federation Retail Monitor indicated consumer spending slowed in June compared to May. Excluding automobile and gasoline, sales were up 0.47% from May, slower than the 1.35% growth reported in May. However, retail sales grew 3.42% from June 2023, which was the highest gain for total sales since last November. Retail sales were only slightly higher than the 3% inflation rate for the same period. #retailsales #nrf

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Great leaders know the impact of foundational training. It’s not just about onboarding but creating a culture where continuous learning is prioritized. Invest in your team, and you’ll see the benefits in performance and retention. Let’s make training a key part of our success strategy. #Leadership #RetailExcellence #EmployeeEngagement #ContinuousLearning

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Article…”Store Closures Are Surging This Year”… CBS. Any HEALTHY Retailer should be closing +/- 5% of their store portfolio every year and redeploying the resources to new / better locations. An annual “Portfolio Review” that includes reps from Store Ops, Finance, the Leasing Team, Construction and even Mkting and Merchandise should annually review the P&L of EVERY LOCATION along with vacancy rate, $/ft, market demos, market rents, possible alternate and/or emerging markets, population trends of EVERY CENTER and potential new market. The goal is to develop an ACTION PLAN on each location… where can indiv. Depts. make a positive impact to improve business…and what locations need to “go away”… at the end of the lease or even sooner. These sessions can be tense and intense with some “gnashing of teeth” and soul searching but it ultimately results in a more profitable Retailer with resources available to redeploy to new, more productive locations. Crossroads can assist in executing Portfolio Reviews and even work with landlords on “early out” agreements…a sometimes contentious and complicated process that in-house leasing reps may not be equipped to navigate. Our track record on settlement agreements is OUTSTANDING. Contact us at [email protected]

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If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to achieve a 99% one-to-two-day fulfillment rate, here’s your answer. From inbound to outbound, speed and efficiency are behind every step, empowering our brands to reach their customers fast.

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Walmart has removed degree requirements from most of our jobs, with over 75% of our U.S. roles now not requiring a degree.    We are collaborating with The Burning Glass Institute and other leading companies in the Skills-First Workforce Initiative, such as Bank of America, Blackstone, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, PepsiCo and Verizon. Our skills-first approach aims to open up career opportunities, meet employer talent needs and strengthen the economy. The framework will be open source and available to all U.S. employers by September 2025.    Our initial focus is on the nine most prevalent job roles across various sectors, which collectively account for over 11 million American jobs. By creating a shared language, or taxonomy, for assessing and valuing skills, we can promote the widespread adoption of this hiring approach.    Read more here: 

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Executive Leaders across Retail have two types of customer that they must consider when it comes to building their brand’s revenue generating and cost-saving strategies and roadmaps. Their external customers - their brand’s consumers. And, their internal customers - their internal people. It’s easy to be swayed toward investing far more heavily in customer-facing technologies. Because these generate revenue through enticing and encouraging consumers to purchase your product(s) - and customer experience and the customer journey is key in making this happen. But investing in non customer-facing technologies, and fostering a strong learning and development environment, is essential in enabling your internal customers to carry out their jobs in the most efficient, effective and enjoyable ways - and also in ensuring that the service offered to the external customer is seamless and positive. Top-line and bottom-line growth, and improved customer and employee experience, will come from focussing and strategically investing in both sets of customers. #retail #transformation

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Based on recent results, Walmart raised its full year guidance. In the same time period, based on recent results, Target lowered its guidance. Last quarter, 75% of Walmart’s market-share gains came from households earning more than $100,000, seemingly beating Target at its own game with discretionary categories. Is this a warning sign for other retailers, especially discounters? Probably. But its not just Walmart performing well, its also Target stumbling. Assortment challenges, inventory issues, overall operational missteps. Areas that could be prioritized and executed better, across planning, buying, pricing, supply chain, and store operations. Retail execution is never easy, especially as volume ramps up around the holidays, and the pressure to deliver solid holiday results permeates everything. Other than in-store service and DTC fulfillment, and perhaps last minute deals and promotions, the holidays are pretty much baked for most retailers. But what’s your plan for 2025? It’s never too early, or too late, to determine your capability needs and improvement priorities. The Parker Avery Group #retailexecution #inventorymanagement #pricing #storeoperations

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Employee turnover’s always been high in retail and industry pundits accept it. I’ve heard this statement more times in my career than I can count, and it simply isn’t true. Don’t believe me? A member of the board of directors of a major big box retailer recently told me that their stores have a turnover rate of 7%. The industry average is 50%! Reducing turnover is obviously possible—and it’s worth the effort. Imagine how your bottom line would look if you had a turnover rate of 7%. Imagine how it would look if it was 25%! So let’s stop thinking of high turnover as inevitable. Reducing it is a huge opportunity. #Retail #RetailManagement #Staffing

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When change happens, and your team asks for more training, it might not be the solution. Clarify expectations and explore ways to support their development. Create practice sessions, observe and coach, and encourage storytelling to reinforce new standards and inspire growth. Empower your team to succeed by understanding their real needs. #Leadership #Retail #TeamDevelopment #EmployeeEngagement #ContinuousImprovement

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