Sales & Marketing

Although overall sales at Lowe's increased by double digits, the somewhat softer comparable numbers and the decline in net income have taken a little of the shine off first quarter performance.  

Start your engines: Ace Café, a motorcycle and car-themed chain, has parked itself in downtown Orlando.     The 35,000-sq-ft. entertainment, dining and retail destination is the first North American location of the London-based brand and the sixth Ace Cafe in the world. Ace Cafe Orlando spans two floors and features a full-service restaurant, four bars, a coffee bar, a stage, a mezzanine that overlooks the main floor dining area and stage, and private and semi-private spaces for groups.  

Twenty retail executives traveled to the nation's capitol on Wednesday to voice their opposition to the proposed border adjustment tax (BAT).   

A social media giant is getting in on the chatbot wave.    Twitter launched a new, customizable Direct Message Card that brands can use to promote and share bots and other customer experiences built in its Direct Messages tool. Direct Messages helps companies create personalized ads and interactions — ranging from customer acquisition programs to engaging bots.  

Ikea announced last week it would build a new location adjacent to a CBL property outside Raleigh, and this week CBL announced it would capitalize on that occasion to transform its Cary Towne Center into a mixed-use project.   CBL has been working with the town of Cary — an affluent and growing community in the Research Triangle — to start the zoning process to allow the construction of a multi-phase renovation of the property. Plans call for a mix of high-end retail, dining, entertainment, residential, office, and green space.

Amazon is making its debut in the bridal category —a move that will take another hit against its crafting competitor Etsy.   

Chico's FAS gave a downbeat outlook amid first quarter earnings and sales that missed Wall Street estimates.    The women's apparel retailer reported net income of $33.6 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, in the period ended April 30, compared to net income of $31.1 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, in the year-ago period. Analysts had estimated earnings per share of 29 cents for the quarter.  

Amazon is beefing up the team responsible for its grocery store concept.    According to a job description on LinkedIn, the company is looking for an "innovative" store designer to join its Amazon Go ACE (Architecture, Construction & Engineering) team. The ideal candidate, according to the posting, is a "self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment and has a deep passion for innovative retail design."