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Brands: Give Retailers the Partnership They’re Looking For

| Lynn Herman

The same techniques you use to develop your brand and your audience make you an attractive partner for retailers. They want to see mature brand identities. Standing out from a crowded field of competitors takes a clear commitment to a core mission and values, and consistent messaging with a defined target audience. Retailers and customers look for brands that are sincere, consistent and original.

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Target Joins the Warning Parade

| Mike O'Brien

Target joined fellow retail bellwethers Walmart, Home Depot and Amazon in warning about softness in consumer demand for 2023 as it reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue for Q4, although the figures cleared a lower bar.

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Walmart Cautious in 2023 Outlook

| Mike O'Brien

Walmart reported ecommerce growth of 17% in Q4 to $80 billion, representing 13% of total sales, and beat expectations overall, but warned of a challenging climate for the rest of the year based on consumer sentiment and macro signals, sending uneasiness through the industry and the markets.

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Bed Bath & Beyond Tosses Share Sale Hail Mary

| Mike O'Brien

Ailing home refresh retailer Bed Bath & Beyond is hoping more than $1 billion in proceeds from two separate stock sales will be enough to pay down interest and some debt to creditors and stave off bankruptcy, but many analysts are doubtful. The denouement may end up as a Chapter 7 liquidation instead of a Chapter 11 restructuring.

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Target Sees Q3 Earnings Slump, Warns of Q4 Softness

| Mike O'Brien

Target brought bad news Wednesday, with Q3 earnings miss plus a warning about a softer Q4, as families make tough budget calls on essentials vs. nonessentials heading into the holidays while high inflation lingers, registering a 7.7% rate in October. The company is calling for a low single-digit decline in Q4 comparable sales, and an operating margin of 3%.

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Walmart Lowers Guidance, Sends Shockwaves

| Mike O'Brien

Walmart like Target lowered its quarterly and year-end guidance, citing the continuing drag of overstocked inventory and shoppers focusing on lower-margin essentials and less on general merchandise. The scenario is causing a negative effect on pricing and profit, causing a hit to its stock and others in retail.

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Walmart Misses Q1 Bottom-Line Expectations

| Mike O'Brien

Walmart reported a disappointing earnings picture for the first quarter, blaming inflation, overstaffing, excess inventory and supply chain issues as the key culprits that sent profits below what analysts had been expecting. The top retailer reported $2.05B, in net income, down from $2.73B a year ago; ecommerce inched up 1%.

Advance Auto Parts Buying DieHard Brand from Sears for $200 Million

| Mike O'Brien

Another Sears brand is being peeled off as Advance Auto Parts will acquire the DieHard brand and its popular, iconic battery line from Sears’ parent company for $200 million, providing a much-needed cash infusion, according to CNBC. This follows acquisitions of Craftsmen and Sears Hometown brands.

Walmart Launches Four New Private Brands

| Daniela Forte

Walmart announced it is launching four new private brands in the apparel category, two for women and one each for men and children. The company said the new brand rollout is intended to create a one-stop destination for fashion as well as everyday essentials, electronics and the rest of the broad assortment of categories.