EVENTS TO WATCH
TUESDAY (6/10)
- ULTA - Earnings Call: 5:00pm
WEDNESDAY (6/11)
- RH - Earnings Call: 5:00pm
THURSDAY (6/12)
- LULU - Earnings Call: 9:00am
ECONOMIC DATA
ICSC - Chain Store Sales Index
Takeaway: +3% compared to 2.2% in 2013. YTD growth rate is equal 1.96% YY compared to 2.4% in 2013. But, numbers in 2Q-to-date are down just 6 bps compared to the 2.4% growth rate in '13. Nothing spectacular, but a little stability after a tough start to the year.
COMPANY NEWS
NKE - NIKE FOOTBALL LAUNCHES "THE LAST GAME"
(http://nikeinc.com/news/nike-football-launches-the-last-game)
- "Today Nike Football released part three of its #riskeverything campaign. The film – 'The Last Game' – is a five-minute animated feature starring some of the world's greatest footballers on a mission to save football from the hands of a villainous mastermind, The Scientist."
Takeaway: NKE taking a page out of the Space Jam playbook in the last part of its #riskeverything campaign for the World Cup. We're surprised we haven't seen more product and marketing from brands leading up to the World Cup in Rio.
TGT - Target CEO Memo: Less Committee, More Leadership
- "The retailer is relocating all of its top executives to same floor in its Minneapolis headquarters, part of a several changes announced Monday by Target interim Chief Executive John Mulligan as the company tries to move on from the era of former CEO Gregg Steinhafel."
- "Target’s renaming its executive committee the 'leadership team.' It is modernizing or eliminating four its longstanding groups — the supply chain council, the prototype committee, design committee and capital expenditure committee — removing a layer of approval."
- “'All across Target, we need more ‘leadership’ and less ‘committee,’ Mr. Mulligan said in the letter reviewed by the Wall Street Journal."
- "The top executives like Chief Marketing Officer Jeffrey Jones and Chief Information Officer Robert DeRodes will be relocating to the 26th floor in Target Plaza South, where Mr. Mulligan and Executive Vice President Kathryn Tesija currently have their offices. The floor will be getting a more open plan than its current layout of office and hallways, aimed at fostering greater collaboration."
Takeaway: The reality is that the narrative on this name will change dramatically over the next 12 months after a real CEO is hired and major strategic decisions. We’ll be talking about a new CEO’s vision to both transform the company, and fix all the mistakes made over the past 5 years. That might sound like great news, but it will be expensive news.
9983 - Uniqlo Raises Japan Prices by 5%
(http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/mass-off-price/uniqlo-raises-japan-prices-by-5-7721860)
- "Uniqlo is raising its pre-tax retail prices in Japan by an average of about 5 percent this fall to combat rising material costs and the depreciation of the yen."
- "A spokesman for Fast Retailing specified that the price hikes are only applicable to Japan. Uniqlo's prices in international markets will not be affected as they are set on a market by market basis, he said."
Takeaway: Damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario for Uniqlo in Japan. With 60% of its store base in Japan, the company had to do something to offset the margin squeeze from FX. But, the 5% price increase coupled with the country's 3% tax hike means that consumers have to pay an extra 8% at the register. The fact is that everyone is likely feeling the squeeze in Japan from both FX and the uncertainty surrounding the tax hike, but its much more pronounced for a brand like Uniqlo who is much more dependent on the Japanese economy.
JCP - Stephen Sadove Joins Traub Associates
(http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/people/sadove-joins-traub-associates-7721460)
- "Stephen I. Sadove, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Saks Inc., has joined Marvin Traub Associates as cofounder and head of Traub Accelerator, a new division focused on technology and innovation."
Takeaway: Scratch another name off the potential CEO list at JCP. Sadove is on the board, and if he were interested in the full-time gig it would have happened by now. Based on the 1Q14 conference call, it does not sound like Ullman plans on going anywhere anytime soon. While we think that's negative at face value, let's give the guy credit…he's getting it done. If he could keep this momentum going, then maybe he should stay.
OTHER NEWS
Toms - Shoemaker Toms put up for sale
(http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/caa93bda-f022-11e3-a4feabdc0.html?siteedition=intl#axzz34EXoUhBo)
- "Toms...has hired bankers and is working on a sale, according to several people familiar with the matter."
- "The exact value of Toms...is unclear. However, people who have viewed the prospectus said it could fetch as much as $600m."
- Toms had estimated revenue of $250m in 2013, with 30 per cent of sales coming from its website
- "In November [Tom's founder and CEO] Mr Myckoskie launched Marketplace, an online department store showcasing 200 products from 30 fashion brands with a charitable component to the business model."
GPS - Gap Inc. to Produce Apparel in Myanmar
(http://www.wwd.com/business-news/government-trade/gap-inc-to-produce-apparel-in-myanmar-7721491)
- "Gap Inc. plans to produce apparel at two factories in Myanmar, making it the first American retailer of note to enter the market since the U.S. lifted a nine-year ban on imports from the country last year."
- "...U.S. retailers and brands have been exploring the new opening in the country, which could be a potential fresh apparel-sourcing destination for companies that have been grappling with rising labor costs in China and turmoil in other Asian countries. However, many industry officials have said investment and sourcing will be a slow-moving process because serious concerns remain about workers’ rights and safety. Apparel imports to the U.S. from Myanmar were $5.6 million for the year ending April 30."
WMT - Walmart.com CEO Joel Anderson to Step Down
- "Joel Anderson, chief executive of Walmart.com in the U.S., is leaving the world's largest retailer later this month for a job at a new company, according to a memo sent to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. employees on Monday."
- "Fernando Madeira, who is currently president and CEO of Latin America at Walmart eCommerce,will replace Mr. Anderson and take on a broader role to lead Walmart.com in the U.S., Latin America and other growth areas, according to the memo, which was written by Neil Ashe, who runs Wal-Mart's e-commerce business, and reviewed by The Wall Street Journal."
- "Mr. Anderson's last day at Wal-Mart is June 20. The memo didn't say which company Mr. Anderson was joining."
FIVE - Former President and CEO of Walmart.com, Joel Anderson, Named President
(http://investor.fivebelow.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=853728)
- "Joel Anderson has been named President, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the retail sector, most recently as President and CEO of Walmart.com, the multi-billion dollar U.S. dotcom business unit of Wal-Mart. In his new role, he will lead all aspects of merchandising, stores and marketing."
URBN - 2Q15 sales updated (10-Q)
- "Thus far during the second quarter of fiscal 2015, comparable Retail segment net sales are approximately flat."
CHS - Chico’s explores sale to private equity
(http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/bd0e680e-ecb9-11e3-a4feabdc0.html?siteedition=intl#axzz348hgXNU2)
- "Chico’s, the US womenswear chain, is exploring a sale to private equity and has discussed a deal with potential suitors that could lead to one of the largest take-private transactions so far this year.
- The final asking price could not be ascertained but one industry source said Chico’s would likely command a premium of about 30 per cent to its $2.36bn market capitalization."
