Coupons/ Rebates/ Pricing

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.  

The online space doesn’t have a lock on new retail concepts, but with its lower start-up costs and potential audience reach it has proved itself a great breeding ground for disruptive retailers.   Here’s a look at four innovative e-tailers that are generating buzz and revenue increases — enough to place them among the top 15 fastest-growing e-retailers in a recent study.*   Casper

A computer error caused Starbucks to overcharge some customers and forced the coffee giant to disclose a planned price increase.   In a brief statement released on the retailer’s corporate blog at about 8 p.m. ET Friday, July 1 and updated about 11 a.m. ET Saturday, July 2. Starbucks said a price adjustment was prematurely entered into the POS systems of U.S. company-owned stores. As a result, some customers were overcharged by as much as 30 cents for their beverages.  

The people have spoken – and they like limits on debit card swipe fees the way they are.  

The online space doesn’t have a lock on new retail concepts, but with its lower start-up costs and potential audience reach it has proved itself a great breeding ground for disruptive retailers.   Here’s a look at four innovative e-tailers that are generating buzz and revenue increases — enough to place them among the top 15 fastest-growing e-retailers in a recent study.*   Casper