News

First Look: Walmart’s next-gen test stores
So what’s the bottom line? By rethinking stores and testing new ideas with customers in real-life stores, we are improving customers’ experiences and making it easier than ever for them to get what they need as quickly and easily as possible.
Fast-food giant’s delivery service expands
More hungry customers can now get their Big Macs, fries, beverages and desserts delivered right to their door. As of Wednesday, May 17, McDonald’s is expanding its delivery service to customers in Los Angeles, Chicago, Columbus and Phoenix. Through its partnership with UberEats, the company’s “McDelivery” program now encompasses up to 1,000 restaurants in the United States.

Analysis: Target’s top issue is the quality of its stores

At headline level, Target's results are a lot better than feared. The pace at which total and comparable sales are declining has eased over the prior quarter, and the company helped itself to a 7.7% increase in net earnings. Against a tumultuous retail backdrop, this is a not so terrible performance.
Lidl to make U.S. debut June 15—with low, low prices

German discount grocer Lidl is set to shake up the competition with prices that promise to turn up the heat on its U.S. competitors, who are already engaged in a price war. Lidl on Wednesday revealed the locations of the first 20 stores it will open this summer in the United States, starting on June 15. (See end of story for listing). The stores — in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia — are the first of up to 100 locations the grocer plans to open across the East Coast by next summer.
Teen retailer posts mixed Q1 results

American Eagle Outfitters’ profit shrunk in the first quarter amid charges and discounting.
Apple launches new store initiative

Apple wants to give its shoppers more reasons to visit its stores than to make a purchase or visit the Genius Bar.
Target turnaround taking hold

Target Corp.’s efforts to turnaround its business appear to be taking hold — at least based on its better-than-expected first quarter performance. The discounter broke through the gloom that has characterized many other retailers’ first quarter results with earnings and sales that beat the Street and its own expectations. The company also gave a brighter outlook for the full year.
Received a favorite Mother’s Day gift? Thank a chatbot

This year, consumer spending for Mother's Day was on pace to reach a record high. According to the National Retail Federation's annual study, shoppers were set to spend $23.6 billion, spending an average of $186 per mom. And everything from flowers, gift cards and clothing to jewelry, personal services and consumer electronics were on shopping lists. But did all that shopping land the perfect gift?
Graduation spending to hit record high

Some good news for retailers: Consumers plan to spend more than ever on graduation gifts this year as they stuff greeting cards with gift cards and cash. That’s according to the annual survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. With more consumers buying for graduates this year – 36% compared with 34% in 2016 – total spending is expected to reach $5.6 billion. That’s the highest number in the survey’s 11-year history, topping last year’s previous record of $5.4 billion.
Ralph Lauren taps veteran P&G exec as its new CEO

Ralph Lauren Corp. has named a 25-year Proctor & Gamble executive to head up its ongoing turnaround effort. The company appointed Patrice Louvet as president and CEO, effective July 17, 2017. At the time, he will also be appointed to the board. Louvet will dual report to founder Ralph Lauren in his capacity as executive chairman and to the company’s board.