Target Q4 comp sales decreased 2.5% “…reflecting a comp store sales decline of 3.9 percent and a comp digital sales increase of 1.9 percent…Food & Beverage, Beauty and Toys delivered net sales growth …double-digit growth from Roundel and over 30 percent growth in marketplace. Same-day delivery powered by Target Circle 360 grew over 30 percent.” Press release

 

…Target’s holiday-quarter sales and store traffic drop, as retailer tries to snap its roughly four-year slump at CNBC. “(Target) said sales and traffic trends picked up in the last two months of the holiday quarter. Then sales turned positive year over year in February, which is the beginning of the current quarter…Target CEO Michael Fiddelke described that inflection as “an important milestone on our path back to growth this year”…” Read more

 

…Fiddelke scheduled to appear on CNBC this morning around 9AM CT

 

Best Buy Q4 comp sales decreased 0.8% “…largest drivers of the comp sales decrease on a weighted basis were home theater and appliances. These drivers were partially offset by growth in computing and mobile phones.” Press release

 

…Best Buy Surges After Profit Last Quarter Tops Estimates at Bloomberg. “Adjusted earnings per share were $2.61, topping the average analyst estimate of $2.46. Comparable sales trailed Wall Street projections…Shares of the retailer rose as much as 15% in premarket trading.” Bloomberg subs.

 

AutoZone Q2 comp sales +3.3% Press release

 

On Q4 net sales +22.6% Press release

 

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Publix Q4 comp sales +0.7% Press release

 

Publix now 20 miles south of Kroger’s HQ at WSJ. “About 20 miles south of downtown Cincinnati, the new Publix sits just past a roundabout at the front entrance of a glitzy subdivision known as Triple Crown…Publix envisions a dozen locations operating in Kentucky by year’s end…Kroger wants to open more stores in Publix’s home state, including in Jacksonville.” WSJ subs.

 

Michaels revamped rewards program introduces a 9% rewards tier Press release

 

Sam Altman’s ‘Human Verification’ Startup Leans on Consumer Brands at WSJ. “Sam Altman’s project to help humans distinguish themselves from bots is increasingly banking on household names to sell its far-out concept. A Gap store in San Francisco has begun helping visitors get World IDs, the “proof of human” product from the startup Tools for Humanity, by installing one of its signature volleyball-sized “Orb” devices to take images of faces and eyes.” WSJ subs.

 

Federal court rejects Trump administration attempt to slow tariff refund process at AP

 

Brookshire Grocery Co. Chairman, CEO To Retire The Shelby Report

 

Brands are battling a surge of AI-driven return fraud at Modern Retail. “Historically, customers and professional fraudsters have relied on fake images to secure refunds…“Shamir: “AI is accelerating that type of fraud, because now it’s easier than ever to say, ‘Yeah, it’s damaged. Here’s a photo.’” Read more

 

How Confidence Changes Consumer Loyalty at Wharton. “New research from Wharton marketing professor Jonah Berger reveals that rather than a smooth, upward trajectory, the link between experience and confidence…follows a U-shaped curve: Customers often start with an inflated sense of confidence, but that soon decreases as they realize they know less than they think. As they gain more knowledge and experience in the category, however, their confidence rebounds.” Read more

 

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