COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
WWW - Q1 Online Traffic Strong
Takeaway: Here are 3 charts that look at the online traffic trends for 3 of WWW's biggest brands: Sperry, Merrell, and Saucony. We've been cataloging this data for close to two years for 250 brands and retailers. And, this is the first time we've seen WWW firing on all cylinders. With 3 of the most meaningful needle movers in the company's 14 brand portfolio registering a traffic rank up 30%+ YY. Traffic rank is a calculation of both unique visitation and page visits/user that denotes the relative performance of a site compared to the internet in aggregate.
Online is still a tiny piece of the WWW pie, only about 4% of total sales, but when we synched the quarterly traffic trends with the aggregate sales growth in the quarter for each brand (at the bottom of each chart) the trend has been spot on with the slope of the traffic rank line.
WWW is investing heavily in this channel for good reason as it will carry the bulk of the growth (at least in the athletic portion) for the next 6 years. If WWW can execute here, that's upside to the international opportunity as the company continues to scale its PLG brands onto its Global infrastructure.
AdiBok - adidas Launch the Lightest Football Boot Ever
Takeaway: These very well could be the best soccer boots on the planet. But, we couldn't help making the connection between Adi's 'lighter and faster' claims and the old PF Flyers. The fact that it's the lightest boot on the market may help with the run faster claims.
Chain Store Sales
Takeaway: This is the first really solid number we've seen reported by ICSC in 2015 to date. With numbers up on a 1yr, 2yr, and 3yr basis. The 2yr number at 3.1% was the best reading we've seen against tougher compares that started in the first week of April.
OTHER NEWS
EBAY, AMZN - March Acceleration for both AMZN and EBAY in ChannelAdvisor Comps
BBY - Best Buy Announces Retirement of Board Chairman, Hatim Tyabji, Names Hubert Joly as Chairman & CEO
(http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=83192&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2034554)
ASOMF - ASOS Board Change
http://otp.investis.com/generic/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=497&newsid=504933
AMZN - Amazon, HarperCollins Reach Multiyear Publishing Deal
(http://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-harpercollins-reach-multiyear-publishing-deal-1428971720)
TGT - Target Appoints Veteran Grocery Leader, Anne Dament, to Drive Food Reinvention
PLCE - The Children’s Place Rejects Activists’ Board Nominations
SPLS, SHLD - Sears board member new addition at Staples
(http://www.retailingtoday.com/article/sears-board-member-new-addition-staples)
Academy does deal with Cardinals
(http://www.retailingtoday.com/article/academy-does-deal-cardinals)
WMT - Walton family to sell part of Wal-Mart stake
(http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/walton-family-sell-part-wal-mart-stake)
Stuart Weitzman names president, global retail
(http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/stuart-weitzman-names-president-global-retail)