Budgets/Spending/Market Size

New York — Internet ad revenues hit a record-breaking $13.3 billion in the United States in the first quarter of 2015, up 16% over the year-ago period, according to the latest IAB Internet Advertising Revenue Report figures released today by the Interactive Advertising Bureau and  PwC US.  

Montreal – A reduction in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses helped elevate net earnings at Dollarama Inc. 22% to $64.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016 from $53.2 million the same quarter of the previous fiscal year. Sales increased by 13% to $566.1 million from $501.1 million, aided by both new store openings and same-store sales growth of 6.9%.

Houston – Reductions in sales, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses, as well as in operating expenses, helped Mattress Firm Holding Corp. increase net income 41% to $7.72 million from $5.48 million the same quarter the prior fiscal year. The acquisition of 131 Back to Bed and Bedding Experts, Bedding Experts, and Mattress Barn stores in September 2014 drove a 69% jump in net sales to $562.6 million from $333.5 million.

Same-store sales rose 1.3%. Mattress Firm plans to open 220-240 new stores during the fiscal year.

Wesley Chapel, Fla. -- More than1.2 million shoplifters and dishonest employees were apprehended in 2014 by just 25 large retailers who recovered over $225 million from these thieves, according to the 27th Annual Retail Theft Survey conducted by loss prevention and inventory shrinkage control consulting firm Jack L. Hayes International. The participants were made up 25 large retail companies with 23,250 stores and over $700 billion in retail sales (2014).

Franklin, Tenn. – Retailers lose $1.1 trillion worldwide due to inventory distortion. According to new research from IHL Group, by fixing problems such as out-of-stocks and excess inventory from overstocks, retailers could improve their revenues by 7.5%.

The combined cost of poor merchandise planning alone equals $452 billion. Inventory distortion costs retailers nearly $158 for every person on the planet, and $252.2 billion annually in North America. The Asia/Pacific region contributes 39% of all inventory distortion.

Ankeny, Iowa – Casey’s General Store beat Wall Street expectations for profit and revenue during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income roughly doubled to $41.34 million from $20.94 million, fueled by a drop in cost of goods sold.

Total revenue fell 14% to $1.65 billion from $1.92 billion, but still exceed analyst estimates.

During fiscal 2016, Casey’s plans to build or acquire 75 to 113 stores, replace 10 existing locations and complete 100 major remodels.

New York -- Rising rents are causing another national chain to exit a high-profile location in Manhattan. Home-furnishings retailer Crate & Barrel will close its flagship on Madison Avenue (at 59th Street) on Aug. 2, after negotiating an early exit from its lease, according to the Wall Street Journal. The store opened in 1995.

The closing will leave the city with just one Crate & Barrel, in the Soho section of downtown Manhattan.

Crate & Barrel is joining Toys"R"Us and other retailers shutting down Manhattan flagship locations due to skyrocketing rent prices.

Brick-and-mortar stores are still relevant, with 87% of consumers planning to shop physical retail at least as often as they did in 2014, according to a study by TimeTrade Systems.

A new NRF survey reports that Father's Day spending this year is expected to reach $12.7 billion.