R3: REQUIRED RETAIL READING
March 28, 2011
RESEARCH ANECDOTES
- A Radio Shack store in Montana is truly pushing the envelope with its latest gift-with-purchase deal – a free gun with subscription to the Dish Network. In perhaps an indication that the deal for either a specified handgun or shotgun is less outlandish than it would first appear, the store’s owner claims that sales have tripled since start of the promo back in October. In the event a customer doesn’t pass the required background check the offer translates into a $50 Pizza Hut gift card – amazing.
- In the latest effort to tax online sales, the California State Board of Equalization is considering shifting its focus from retailers directly to consumers. According to the proposal, the state would go after residents that have purchased over $5,000 worth of goods online by paying third-party vendors to identify offenders. While there are precedents for states taking such measures like Virginia collecting taxes from residents shipping furniture from NC, we suspect the move if passed will do little to engender a positive shift in consumer sentiment within the state.
- According a recent report by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, footwear remained the top product seized for the fourth year in a row, however its share decreased meaningfully in the past year to 24% from 38%. The report attributes the 54% decline in the value of seized footwear to a decline in Chinese-based product. The categories also remaining among the Top 5 were handbags/wallets/backpacks and wearing apparel.
OUR TAKE ON OVERNIGHT NEWS
Wal-Mart to Reopen Half of Japanese Stores Affected by Tsunami - Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, is resuming normal operations at half the stores hampered by Japan’s strongest earthquake as residents struggle to find water, food and other necessities. A dozen of Wal-Mart’s Seiyu stores in the quake-hit Sendai area are restarting full operations today after being limited mostly to relief efforts for two weeks, Scott Price, Wal-Mart’s Asia chief, said in an interview yesterday. Of the remaining 12 stores, 10 will be opened as soon as possible and two may take a “long time” because they’re covered in mud, he said. Retailers from Wal-Mart to 7-Eleven operator Seven & I Holdings Co. are racing to open stores and replenish shelves after the March 11 disaster left hundreds of thousands in the Tohoku region, northeast Japan, scrambling for shelter, food and water. The magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami knocked out more than 1,000 stores in the Tohoku and Kanto regions, according to estimates at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. <Bloomberg>
Hedgeye Retail’s Take: No surprise to see WMT on the front lines of the “rebuilding” effort; however, the horrific nature of the Japanese disaster will actually drive demand for basic food and staple supplies that simply haven’t been available relative to other retail categories that have become an afterthought for most consumers in the tragedy stricken country.
Men's Wearhouse sees Competition from Jos. A Bank on Tux Rentals - With one-third of the market, Men's Wearhouse appears to have a lock on tuxedo rentals. But even founder George Zimmer can't guarantee it. The reason: Upscale rival Jos. A. Bank Clothiers last year entered the tuxedo-rental business, which generates some $1.2 billion in annual sales. Like Men's Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank has a nationwide network that is convenient for groomsmen from different cities seeking matching tuxedos at local stores. That should help Jos. A. Bank take market share from the remaining competition, predominantly small, privately owned stores. Mr. Zimmer's share of the market may also be at risk. While Jos. A. Bank sells some clothing that competes directly with Men's Wearhouse, it is typically more expensive. That could mean Jos. A. Bank has a chance to win rental business from many of its own customers who have previously gone to Men's Wearhouse to rent tuxedos. <WallstreetJournal>
Hedgeye Retail’s Take: With the number of weddings at 2.2Bn per year down from the peak of 2.5Bn in 1982 representing ~70% of MW’s tux rental business, the market appears to be constrained in terms of its long-term growth prospects. Despite its highly attractive strong cash flow generating business model, the reality is that the entry of JOSB has created added pressure on the margin for MW which has been accustomed to competing against smaller mom and pop stores. The prospect of more competitive pricing among the industries two biggest players looms like a black cloud over the balance of the highly fragmented industry's players.
Louis Vuitton Expands into Florida and Dubai - Louis Vuitton is doubling up — and then some — in South Florida. The French luxury brand plans to exit Bal Harbour Shops on June 30 and establish a new location roughly double the size at the Aventura Mall, where Vuitton already operates a leased department at Bloomingdale’s. What’s more, Vuitton plans to add a unit in the burgeoning Miami Design District in the coming years, said Vuitton chief executive officer Yves Carcelle. He said details on the global store at Aventura are still being worked out and that Vuitton would open a temporary store there on July 1 to ensure a continuation of the business in a dynamic region for the brand. The size, location and concept for the design district boutique are also being fine-tuned. Vuitton decided to exit Bal Harbour upon the expiration of its lease as the complex would not allow it to expand or open a second location in the area, according to Carcelle. <WWD>
Hedgeye Retail’s Take: While exclusivity is an understandable preference, the operator at Bal Harbour may want to reconsider its policy excluding tenant expansion in the area, which typically coincides with the success and health of business. The mall is in effect forcing the hand of its best performing businesses while keeping tenants that either don’t have plans to grow locally, or simply can’t.
Zappos closes its Canadian storefront - Shoe and accessory e-retailer Zappos.com announced today that it will close its Canada.Zappos.com storefront and no longer ship to customers in Canada as of April 1. Zappos.com Inc.’s Canadian e-retail business encountered multiple obstacles that prevented it from delivering service that was up to the e-retailer’s standards, wrote Chris Nielsen, the retailer’s chief operating and financial officer, in a blog post. “One of our core values is to ‘deliver wow through service,’” he says. “Our Canadian customers know that we have not lived up to these service levels.” The same message appears on the home page of Canada.Zappos.com. <InternetRetailer>
Hedgeye Retail’s Take: Customs finally gets the best of the e-retailer. That said, we tip our hat to Zappos for pulling the plug on a business that could ultimately jeopardize company’s key brand mantra – service.
CEO ups Stake in American Apparel - American Apparel Inc. chairman and chief executive officer Dov Charney has injected more of his own money into the cash-strapped company by purchasing six million shares, WWD has learned. The firm is expected to divulge the transaction in a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission today. In the purchase, Charney spent $2 million to buy 1.8 million shares at $1.11 each. Additionally, he has converted a $4.7 million personal loan he made to the company some years ago into another 4.2 million shares, relieving American Apparel of that debt obligation. Fifty percent of those shares have been issued immediately and the remaining 50 percent will be issued if and when the company’s stock price reaches $3.50. However, the price of the conversion will also be $1.11 per share. On Friday, shares of American Apparel closed at 91 cents, down two cents. The cash infusion will be used to fund the company’s ongoing operations. <WWD>
Hedgeye Retail’s Take: This one continues to hang on…barely.
L.L.Bean Launches Year-Round Free Shipping - L.L.Bean said it is now offering permanent, no-strings-attached free shipping to U.S. and Canadian addresses. Only a few websites such as Zappos.com currently offer free shipping outside holiday selling. The free standard shipping will be effective March 25. L.L.Bean's free regular shipping includes fast delivery with customer packages arriving in 2-5 business days. The company noted that the founder and inventor of the original Maine Hunting Shoe, Mr. "L.L." Bean, introduced the concept of free shipping in 1912 by adding "post paid" in catalog copy. "We tested free shipping offers with no minimum purchase for several months and the customer response was overwhelming," said Chris McCormick, president and CEO, L.L.Bean. "Our customers want and value free shipping. It's our opportunity to offer free shipping for all U.S. and Canadian customers with no minimum purchase, no end date, no conditions -- guaranteed." <SportsOneSource>
Hedgeye Retail’s Take: Adding to the everyday value of L.L. Bean, studies show that free shipping has proven to be a key deciding factor in consumer’s purchasing decision. Add this to the list of pressures on low-cost retailers – many of which operate e-commerce sites at a loss due to the cost of staying competitive.
Retailers Hit a High Note With Jessica Simpson - Jessica Simpson’s teenage and twentysomething customers aren’t her only admirers. Retailers are singing Simpson’s praises as her brand prepares to launch sportswear in the fall. The singer-cum-actress-cum-designer with the disarming honesty and ability to laugh at herself is also a shrewd businesswoman. Simpson’s brand generated $750 million in retail sales in 2010 and is poised to break the $1 billion mark in 2012. With the Camuto Group, which has made Jessica Simpson footwear since 2005, she has inked licensing partnerships for 22 other categories, ranging from jeans, sportswear, fashion accessories, swimwear and dresses to outerwear, watches and fragrance. Department and specialty stores are eager to get their hands on the next piece of the franchise — the sportswear — which is aimed at better junior areas for fall. At Belk’s, Simpson’s ready-to-wear will be sold in the young contemporary section of better sportswear departments. “The two businesses [denim and rtw] will be housed side-by-side,” said Kathryn Bufano, president and chief merchandising officer. “We see adjacencies with Kenzie Girl and Miss Me denim. <WWD>
Hedgeye Retail’s Take: With Simpson’s sportswear line launching in over 650 doors beginning fall 2011 and the exclusive partnership between the Camuto Group and Jones New York, we expect the event to get plenty of air-time on JNY’s 2H conference calls as one of the few bright spots in the business.
