Retail Callouts (4/2): UA, NKE, EBAY, MKS, DDS, FDO

04/02/14 09:51AM EDT

COMPANY NEWS

UA - 3 Questions for Under Armour's Fritz Taylor

(http://www.wwd.com/footwear-news/markets/3-questions-with-under-armours-fritz-taylor-7625997)

  • "Under Armour Inc...bolstered its running team by naming industry vet Fritz Taylor as VP of running...Taylor, who was most recently VP and GM of running at Norcross, Ga.-based Mizuno, also has worked for Seattle-based Brooks and Beaverton, Ore.-based Nike Inc."
  • What’s your take on Under Armour’s position in the running market? 
    • FT: "...Everyone here would admit that Under Armour has had some fits and starts — hit and misses, if you will — particularly on the footwear side. But the Speedform Apollo just launched, and it’s getting some really strong sell-through numbers, and it’s a shoe that people are saying [is] something unique that no one else can do. We’ve got a nice foot in the door that we can leverage for bigger things."
  • Is the consumer open to new brands and ideas in running?
    • FT: "...minimal, even though it has waned, brought some energy and excitement around new concepts. Now the big thing is maximal, but a bigger thing is that runners are more switched on to new, innovative ideas and stories that can help improve their running experience."
  • Is it different working at an apparel company that makes footwear than at a footwear company that makes apparel?
    • FT: "You can absolutely tell [the difference]. One thing I was just dealing with is that here we have to wait for apparel to set the colors [for the season], and at every other company I’ve worked for, the footwear team operated that. That immediately slapped me in the face this week: 'Oh, wait, I need to wait for apparel.'”

Takeaway: That last answer 'footwear needs to wait for apparel' is logical for a company like UnderArmour, but the reality is that it is probably the wrong answer. The best companies (Nike) run apparel and footwear product creation in tandem. The chronic underperformers (Adidas) run the business in a series circuit (first apparel then footwear in AdiBok's case). Again, that's probably ok for UnderArmour where footwear is still in its infancy. But this process will need to evolve if UA wants to be considered a real footwear company.

EBAY - eBay Signs Retail Chains to Same-Day Delivery Service

(http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abn/y14/m04/i01/s03)

  • "...the eBay Now service is exclusively for local brick-and-mortar retailers in certain cities: San Francisco and the Peninsula, San Jose, parts of New York City, Chicago and Dallas.
  • While Best Buy, AutoZone and ToysRUs were among the first retailers to participate in eBay Now, the list of retailers now participating include the following featured stores: The Home Depot; Office Depot; Walgreens; GNC; Radio Shack; Macys; Microsoft; Guitar Center, Bloomingdale's and Urban Outfitters."
  • "Others retailers include Ann Taylor Loft, Armani Exchange, Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, Champs, Crate & Barrel, Eastern Mountain Sports, FootLocker, FootAction, GameStop, Golfsmith, JCPenny, Jonston & Murphy, Journeys, Kmart, Pier One Imports, Quiksilver, Staples and Sunglass Hut."
  • "Last fall, eBay said it would expand eBay Now same-day delivery to 25 U.S. markets by the end of this year as well as international locations such as London. The company acquired Shutl last year, allowing eBay to move from hiring "valets" to deliver goods to using a marketplace approach."

Takeaway: eBay has recruited a pretty powerful list of partners in its push to build same-day delivery capabilities. This is brick and mortars response to AMZN's local express. Pretty easy sales pitch for EBAY as it gives retailers the opportunity to pool resources to compete with Amazon. Only thing that remains to be seen is if this courier based logistics network can scale to support the potential demand from bigger boxes.

MKS - Marks & Spencer plans massive international expansion

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10737831/Marks-and-Spencer-plans-massive-international-expansion.html)

  • "Marks & Spencer intends to open 250 new stores outside the UK in the next three years as part of significant global expansion plans. Marc Bolland, chief executive, revealed that the high street retailer is looking to grow its international sales by 25pc and profits by as much as 40pc."
  • "Although it is retrenching in China - closing or relocating up to a third of its existing stores in Shanghai and seeking help from a local partner before it expands nationwide - it will open new stores in western Europe, India and the Middle East. Its plans include flagship stores in major cities but also 20 standalone food stores in Paris and a collection of new dedicated lingerie and beauty stores."
  • "Marks & Spencer Lingerie & Beauty has already opened at two locations in Saudi Arabia, with 10 further stores planned in the next two years."
  • "M&S has also earmarked 20 sites in India for the lingerie and beauty concept, which is smaller than the company’s traditional stores. In total, M&S wants to have 100 stores in India by 2016."

Takeaway: Marks & Spencer is a quality retailer by most measures, and the International expansion makes a lot of sense. Though the most interesting takeaway for us is that it wants to grow in most major markets that are NOT the US. How's that for a statement by a major International retailer with over 1,000 stores that it thinks that the US is overstored?

New Balance - New Balance Sees Double-Digit Growth in 2013 

(http://www.sportsonesource.com/news/article_home.asp?Prod=1&section=4&id=50526)

  • "New Balance Athletic Shoe reported 2013 worldwide sales of $2.73 billion, a gain of 14.2 percent over 2012 reported worldwide sales of $2.39 billion."
  • "The 14.2 percent gain marks New Balance's third straight year of double digit growth with sales rising 12.2 percent in 2012 and 14.6 percent in 2011."

Takeaway: This is really impressive for New Balance. We don't often hear much about its growth due to the fact that it is private. But 14% sales globally on a base of $2.5bn ain't half bad. One thing we'd note is that NB has been aggressively growing its own retail presence, which boosts the top line to an even greater degree relative to having a pure wholesale model. But it's quality growth nonetheless.  Looked at a different way, it outgrew Nike and Adidas.

INDUSTRY NEWS

 

Japan Dept Stores' Sales Surge Ahead of Tax Hike

(http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/department-stores/japan-dept-stores-sales-surge-ahead-of-tax-hike-7627657)

  • "Japanese department store retailers saw their March comps surge at a double-digit pace as consumers rushed to make purchases before a consumption tax hike went into effect on Tuesday."
  • "Japan's sales tax increased from 5 percent to 8 percent on April 1. Economists and observers are questioning whether the tax hike- the first for the country since 1997- will derail Japan's economic recovery and dent a recent rebound in luxury goods. But for March at least,department stores enjoyed brisk business as consumers stocked up on apparel, jewelry and other items. On the lower end of the market, Fast Retailng's Uniqlo chain saw almost no impact, posting nearly flat comps for the month."

OTHER NEWS

DDS - Wells Fargo and Dillard’s Announce New Credit Card Agreement

(http://investor.shareholder.com/dillards/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=836699)

  • "Wells Fargo & Company and Dillard's, Inc. announced today that the two companies have entered into an agreement for Wells Fargo to fund, issue and service Dillard's-branded private label and co-brand credit cards. Wells Fargo will also manage the cardholder loyalty program for Dillard's."
  • "The program agreement has a 10-year term and is anticipated to become operational in the fourth quarter of 2014, following the scheduled expiration of Dillard's current program agreement. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Dillard's management believes its earnings from the new program exclusive of startup costs will be comparable to its historical earnings from the Dillard's branded credit card products and believes that earnings will increase with future program growth."

 

FDO - Family Dollar Expands Food Assortment

(http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140401006034/en/Family-Dollar-Expands-Food-Assortment#.Uzv6vvldWwQ)

  • "Family Dollar…announced today it is introducing more than 400 new food items in each of its more than 8,000 stores across the country."

 

PERY - Carmine Petruzello Exits Perry Ellis

(http://www.wwd.com/menswear-news/retail-business/carmine-petruzello-exits-perry-ellis-7626674)

  • "Carmine Petruzello has left his post as president of the Perry Ellis division of Perry Ellis International Inc. The company confirmed his departure, saying he left 'to pursue other opportunities,' and there are no plans to replace him at this time."
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