Gap May Comp Sales -5.0% “Comparable sales by global brand for May 2016: Gap Global: negative 3 percent versus negative 6 percent last year. Banana Republic Global: negative 11 percent versus negative 5 percent last year. Old Navy Global: negative 7 percent versus positive 6 percent last year.” Read the release

 

Amazon Prime trial users turn into paying customers 73% of the time by Alison Enright at Internet Retailer. “CIRP survey data also shows Prime customers renew their memberships at a high rate. At the end of the first year, 91% renew their membership, CIRP estimates. Second-year customers renew 96% of the time.” Read more

 

Five Below Q1 Comp Sales +4.9% “For the second quarter of fiscal 2016, net sales are expected to be in the range of $216 million to $219 million based on opening 28 new stores and assuming an approximate 3% increase in comparable store sales.” Read the release

 

Fox Business: Five Below Moves Above the Retail Fray Read more

 

Happening Today: Walmart 2016 Shareholders Meeting Webcast

 

Walmart will test last-mile grocery delivery via Uber, Lyft and Deliv by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “The first tests will go live this week or the next in Denver and Phoenix. In one market, Uber will be trialed, while the other will use Lyft. (The company will test with UberX drivers, it says.)” Read more

 

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Walmart, Dillard’s and Sam’s Club Executives to Speak at Conference via University of Arkansas. “The Center for Retailing Excellence at the Sam M. Walton College of Business is hosting the 16th annual Emerging Trends in Retailing Conference on June 14…Keynote speakers include David Glass, former Walmart chief executive officer …Tony Rogers, chief marketing officer, Walmart U.S….and Steve Bratspies, chief merchandising officer, Walmart U.S.” Read more

 

NY Post: ‘Gun-loving’ Wall Street firms close in on Cabela’s by Josh Kosman. “Despite weeks of radio silence regarding the sale of Cabela’s…bids are expected by the end of the month…Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, which has teamed with Bass Pro Shops, is seen as the favorite to win the auction, The Post has learned. Henry Kravis’ private equity powerhouse, KKR & Co., has also shown recent interest sources said.” Read more

 

Saks elevates plane travel through United Airlines collaboration via Luxury Daily. “For the United Polaris front cabin passengers, Saks teamed with the airline to create a custom bedding.” Read more

 

Publix deli worker dedicates days off to feeding homeless by Kelly Ring at Fox 13 News. “She came from Thailand with the gift of giving in her heart and she’s proof you don’t have to have a lot, to give a lot.” See the video / Read more

 

From Walmart’s Blog…

Fresh Things are Happening at This Sam’s Club “At our new, full-service fresh area, you’ll see chefs preparing sushi and sashimi on the spot…We opened up our walk-in coolers to allow members to shop directly inside…” Read more

A Peek Inside Walmart’s New Test Kitchen “..we designed test kitchens as if they were going into our customers’ homes. From ovens and grills to microwaves and stoves, these varied setups help us understand the experience customers will have when they bring an item home.” Read more 

 

Amazon abruptly ending Prime Now bicycle courier program in Seattle by Todd Bishop at GeekWire. “One contracting firm told couriers in an email that the bike delivery program in Seattle was an exception, and that Amazon’s shift to full vehicle delivery was intended to create a more uniform process for its Prime Now cities.” Read more

 

Walmart continues to test drones for warehouse inventory control, delivery, other options by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “…for workers to complete this task they must be harnessed to the forklifts and move up and down and along side racks of inventory and they must manually scan the boxes inside the bins. It takes them about a month to complete the scans for the entire building, something the drone can do in 24 hours.” Read more

 

eBay does not want to be a lesser version of Amazon via Mashable. “I don’t have to be like Amazon, I don’t need to be like anyone else. The world doesn’t need an almost-as good Amazon, it needs a better eBay,” (CEO Wenig) said.” Read more

 

Loblaw shuts down last U.S. Joe Fresh outlet as it ‘re-evaluates’ strategy for the market by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “The Loblaw Cos.-owned brand, which at its U.S. peak in 2013 had six prime locations in New York City and a vast distribution deal with J.C. Penney at nearly 700 stores, recently closed its final store in the trendy neighbourhood of Soho.” Read more

 

Hoverboards That Hopefully Won’t Explode Return to Amazon by Don Reisinger at Fortune. “Segway-owned Ninebot announced that it will start selling its miniPRO hoverboard in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico this month. Pre-sales have already begun on Amazon and official sales will start June 29 for $999—or $300 off the $1,299 list price.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

USA Today: Walmart remakes grocery aisles with sushi, gourmet items

A year after Macy’s, Bluemercury growing like gangbusters

Target Puts Emphasis on Mobile with Updated Target.com Experience

Birchbox Finds Cute Boxes Filled With Makeup Aren’t Enough

Twitter talks to Yahoo about merger

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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