Coupons/ Rebates/ Pricing

Another July, another Amazon Prime Day. With the e-tail leader already confirming this retail “holiday” will be back for a third time next July, let’s take a look back at the 2016 edition.   While a lot went well for Amazon during Prime Day this year, we may as well start with the biggest blunder. Namely, the widespread checkout issues that occurred during the morning hours. A glitch caused some U.S. and U.K. shoppers to have difficulties loading items into their shopping carts and/or making purchases.  

Walmart has not been sitting idly by while Amazon racks up sales and attention for its Prime Day event.   The discount titan launched its own online sales promotion July 1. Offerings include a free 30-day trial of its ShippingPass program, which offers consumers unlimited, two-day free shipping for a year, special online rollback prices which will last 90 days or more, and free shipping with no minimum purchase on its e-commerce site from Monday, July 11 – Friday, July 15.  

Consumers have spoken, and they have a favorite chain when it comes to buying appliance products.  

One day after announcing a general salary increase for all U.S. corporate store employees, Starbucks Corp. is preparing to increase some prices.   As of July 12, Starbucks made what it calls a “small price adjustment” in U.S. company-operated stores. Depending on the market, customers will experience increases of 10 to 20 cents on select sizes of brewed coffee, and 10 to 30 cents on espresso beverages and tea lattes.  

A shift in the timing of a major holiday was cause for celebration at home furnishings retailer Havertys Furniture Companies Inc.   Sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2016 at Havertys rose 4% to $194.8 million, from $187.7 million the same period a year earlier. Same-store sales increased 2.8%. Written total and same-store sales for the second quarter both rose 6%.  

Walmart was offering its own July online savings event before Amazon Prime Day was officially announced, and now the discount giant is sweetening its deal.   Walmart is offering all customers free shipping with no minimum purchase on its e-commerce site from Monday, July 11 – Friday, July 15. This builds on a previously announced online promotion that offers a free 30-day trial of the retailer’s ShippingPass program, which provides consumers unlimited, two-day free shipping for a year.  

Walmart is not the only big-name retailer preparing a July 12 online sales extravaganza.   Toys “R” Us is launching an online discount event so simple even a child could take advantage of it. All day Tuesday, July 12, shoppers on the Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us e-commerce sites can receive 15% off regular-priced items. There will also be more than 50,000 toys and baby products on sale sitewide.  

Market Track compared retail circular advertising in June 2016 vs. June 2015 and noted trends occurring across top retail chains.    Kroger increased their total circular pages by nearly 42% in June. Whereas in 2015 their 6/28 circular featured a handful of deals on patio furniture and accessories, their 6/29 circular this year featured a July 4th theme with several pages dedicated to grilling proteins, grilling accessories, patio equipment, and other holiday food and drink categories.