Wholesale prices rose 0.2% in December, less than expected at CNBC. “…(rose) less than the 0.4% increase in November and below the Dow Jones consensus estimate for 0.4%…Excluding food and energy, so-called core PPI was flat compared to the forecast for a 0.3% rise. Excluding food, energy and trade services, the measure rose just 0.1%.” Read more

 

Retailers post early holiday results at CNBC. “Lululemon now expects sales to grow between 11% and 12% to between $3.56 billion and $3.58 billion, up from a previous range of $3.48 billion and $3.51 billion…Abercrombie…nudged up its net sales growth outlook to a range of between 7% and 8%, compared with previous guidance of between 5% and 7%.” Read more

 

America’s Bourbon Boom Is Over. Now the Hangover Is Here. at WSJ. “Sales volumes of U.S. whiskey—including bourbon, Tennessee and rye—dropped 1.2% in 2023, marking the first fall since 2002, according to industry tracker IWSR. That drop steepened last year, with volumes down 4% in the first nine months of 2024.” WSJ subs. 

 

Walmart Introduces Updated Look and Feel “Walmart is excited to announce a comprehensive brand refresh…The wordmark is inspired by Sam Walton’s classic trucker hat…” Press release

 

Burlington Sees the Future of Retail. It Looks Much Smaller at WSJ. “…Burlington is aggressively expanding. It is taking aim at its larger competitors, Ross Stores and TJX…Underpinning Burlington’s transformation is an overhaul of its real estate, which is getting much, much smaller even as the company works to open 400 net new stores over the next four years.” WSJ subs.

 

How Target’s people-first culture and leadership programs are driving success at NRF. “When Target CEO Brian Cornell runs through the recent growth of his company, highlighting revenue, remodeling, new stores, new team members and the tripling of digital business, he notes that it didn’t happen in a boardroom…” Read more

 

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Advance Auto Parts Appoints Shweta Bhatia as Chief Technology Officer “Most recently, Ms. Bhatia served as senior vice president of technology at Dollar General…Ms. Bhatia also served as the vice president of technology at both Walmart…and Kohl’s Corporation.” Press release

 

Kohl’s is closing 27 stores in 15 states at Fox Business

 

How Dick’s Sporting Goods Made Billions Killing Their Own Stores at Forbes. “For 40 years, Ed Stack has been consumed with figuring out ways to stay ahead of competitors. These days that means doubling down on bigger-than-ever Dick’s Sporting Goods stores.” 11:58 video

 

Family Dollar Chief Merchandising Officer Lawrence Gatta Jr. will leave the company at Supermarket News/Yahoo

 

Why Adults Are Hitting the Arcade in Search of a $3,600 Hermès Bag at WSJ. “Gatcha may be the only place on Earth where patrons can score an Hermès bag for $50. The only requirement is a lightning-fast reaction time. At the 9,000-square-foot arcade in Queens, N.Y., a $3,600 Hermès Picotin bag, $600 Chanel wallet, and $549 Apple AirPods Max headphones are among the prizes players can take home if they’re quick with a button.” WSJ subs.

 

Coyote pulled out of shelves inside Chicago-area Aldi store at ABC 7 News. “A witness told ABC7 she saw the animal roaming the parking lot minutes earlier, and somehow, that coyote ended up inside the store’s produce section. It had been hiding in a cooler beneath a selection of fine cheeses.” Read more/Video

 

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