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☆ Walmart's hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas, is booming.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWalmart's hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas, is booming. CNBC’s Melissa Repko joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss Walmart's hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas, which has become a boomtown.

Persons: Melissa Repko, Walmart's Locations: Bentonville , Arkansas

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow Walmart turned Bentonville, Arkansas into a boomtownWalmart's hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas has become a boomtown with many amenities you might expect to find in New York or San Francisco – fancy restaurants, craft cocktails, bike paths and a world-class art museum. The town has more cranes per capita than any other U.S. city as Walmart builds a 350-acre new headquarters. Bentonville's population is expected to triple by 2050. But with the boom comes big-city economic challenges. CNBC's Melissa Repko travels to Bentonville for the story.

Persons: CNBC's Melissa Repko Organizations: Walmart Locations: Bentonville , Arkansas, New York, Francisco, Bentonville

☆ Craft cocktails, mountain bikes and art: Walmart's hometown is booming, and getting more expensive
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

— When Gil Curren's family moved into a run-down farmhouse in Walmart's hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas, in 1971, the now-retail giant wasn't yet a decade old. Craft cocktails, hipster coffee shops and chef-driven restaurants have popped up around the city. Realtor Kristen Boozman, who works for Sotheby's, helps clients search for homes in the Bentonville area, including many buyers who are relocating from another city. Home values have shot up in the Bentonville area. A Walmart spokeswoman said the Walton Family Foundation funds and advocates for affordable housing projects in the Bentonville area.

Persons: Gil Curren's, it's, Sue, Gil Curren, Melissa Repko, Hunt, Tyson, Shawn Baldwin, Sam Walton, Walton, Walton's, Steuart, Tom Walton, Sam Walton's, Alice Walton, Bridges, She's, Crystal Bridges, Kristen Boozman, There's, Donna Morris, Morris, Tracy Robinson, she's, CNBC Tracy Robinson, Robinson, Stanley, Matthew Cooper, Tom, Cooper, he's, district's, It's, Jeff Webster, Bentonville Shawn Baldwin Organizations: Cyclists, Kansas City, CNBC, Walmart, Craft, Fortune, Tyson Foods, PepsiCo, Hershey, Mattel, . Census, Cushman &, Sage Partners, of Commerce, Northwest Arkansas Council, D.C, Ropeswing Hospitality, Bentonville Schools, Excellerate Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, Walton Family, Bentonville Locations: BENTONVILLE, Ark, Walmart's, Bentonville , Arkansas, Bentonville, Kansas, Austin , Texas, New York, U.S, Silicon, It's, Arkansas, Cushman & Wakefield, American, Crystal, Austin, Boise , Idaho, Dallas, Fort Worth, Atlanta, Toronto, New York City, Miami, Washington, New York City , Washington, Bentonville's

☆ Walmart rolls out new training programs for skilled trades as it tries to fill high-demand roles
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Walmart on Wednesday said it will offer new training programs and certifications to fill high-demand roles across its business, such as HVAC technicians, opticians and software engineers. The retail giant aims to retain market share gains, particularly in the grocery department, during a period of high inflation. Walmart also kicked off a $9 billion project to upgrade and modernize more than 1,400 of its stores, representing more than a quarter of the total Walmart stores across the country. The company's total annual compensation for the median employee was $27,642 in the most recent fiscal year, according to the company's 2024 proxy report. Those skilled trade jobs pay between $19 and $45 per hour, said Lo Stomski, the company's chief talent officer.

Persons: Lo Stomski, Stomski, it's Organizations: Walmart, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, Target, Amazon, Workers Locations: Dallas, Fort Worth, Bentonville , Arkansas

Take Gap and Foot Locker — two unlikely winners that posted results on Thursday. Under CEO Mary Dillon, Foot Locker has worked to change its stores, where it does more than 80% of its sales. It has tried to create not only a better shopping experience for consumers but also a better place for its critical brand partners. Instead of two walls of shoes with competing brands mixed together, Foot Locker is changing its fleet so the brands have their own unique displays. With refreshed stores and better product displays, consumers are converting more, too, and paying full price — even Foot Locker's lower-income shopper.

Persons: Locker, Richard Dickson, Anne Hathaway, Zac Posen, Mary Dillon, Foot Locker, Dillon, Dick's Organizations: U.S, Abercrombie, Fitch, TJX, Eagle, Navy, Banana, CNBC, Dick's Sporting Goods Locations: Banana Republic, New Jersey, North America

☆ Fashion retailers turning to denim to attract customers
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFashion retailers turning to denim to attract customersCNBC’s Gabrielle Fonrouge and Melissa Repko join 'Power Lunch' to discuss retail earnings, trends and consumer spending.

Persons: Gabrielle Fonrouge, Melissa Repko

☆ Nordstrom misses Wall Street's earnings expectations, as off-price chain Rack lifts sales
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Nordstrom on Thursday fell short of Wall Street's quarterly earnings expectations, as its off-price chain Rack outperformed the rest of its stores. Despite the earnings miss, the Seattle-based department store operator posted sales growth and stuck by its full-year forecast. Nordstrom has leaned on its off-price chain, Nordstrom Rack, to drive growth. For its fiscal first quarter, Nordstrom posted a net loss of $39 million, versus a net loss of $205 million in the prior-year period. In the quarter, Nordstrom said active, kids' and women's apparel had strong double-digit growth versus the prior year.

Persons: Nordstrom, It's, Bruce Nordstrom, Erik Nordstrom, Pete Nordstrom Organizations: Nordstrom, LSEG Locations: New York, Seattle, Maxx

☆ Best Buy posts another quarter of sluggish consumer electronics demand
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A Best Buy store stands outside of a Brooklyn mall on August 29, 2023 in New York City. Best Buy on Thursday missed Wall Street's quarterly sales expectations, but stressed higher profits and lower costs as softer demand for consumer electronics continues. Adjusting for one-time items, including restructuring charges, Best Buy reported earnings of $1.20 per share. She did not specify the number of layoffs, but said Best Buy would invest in areas that could drive growth, like artificial intelligence. Best Buy on Thursday adjusted its full-year capital expenditures forecast to an estimate of $750 million, down from as much as $800 million.

Persons: Corie Barry, Barry, Matt Bilunas Organizations: LSEG, Apple, Microsoft Locations: Brooklyn, New York City, U.S, Minneapolis

☆ Target shares slide as consumers buy fewer groceries and home goods
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Target on Wednesday posted a year-over-year sales decline and missed Wall Street's earnings estimates, as consumers fatigued from high prices bought both fewer discretionary items and groceries. On a call with reporters, CEO Brian Cornell said the company's results reflect "continued soft trends in discretionary categories." Target also announced Monday it was cutting prices on thousands of everyday items, including milk, bread, paper towels and diapers. Like other retailers, Target has tried to win over consumers who are not spending as freely on clothing, home goods or other discretionary items. Walmart, for example, has gained market share from higher-income shoppers and recently introduced a premium food brand with most items under $5.

Persons: Brian Cornell, John David Rainey Organizations: Target, LSEG, Walmart, Aldi Locations: Miami , Florida, Minneapolis

☆ Why Target and McDonald's are cutting prices and offering deals
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Target 's weak quarterly earnings underscored why it cut prices on thousands of household staples: It's struggling to win over bargain hunters. Elsewhere, Aldi dropped prices earlier this month on more than 250 items, including chicken, steak, granola bars and frozen blueberries. Target made its move on Monday, saying it has already reduced prices on about 1,500 items and plans to cut prices on thousands more this summer. Multiple major grocers and restaurants cutting prices or offering deals could offer relief at the checkout, at a time when consumer prices are still climbing more than 3% from last year. The company declined to share details of that split, but Chief Growth Officer Christina Hennington said Target's vendors know the company is committed to passing on savings to its customers to drive traffic.

Persons: Target's, Christina Hennington Organizations: Walmart, Aldi, Federal Reserve

☆ Macy’s beats earnings estimates, as turnaround plan shows early progress
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Macy's fiscal first-quarter earnings topped Wall Street's expectations on Tuesday, as the retailer said it saw early signs of momentum in its turnaround strategy. Macy's raised its full-year earnings expectations to reflect the first-quarter beat, along with the low end of its sales outlook. That's more than a quarter of namesake Macy's locations. Yet the retailer said it will invest in parts of the business that have fared better, including the roughly 350 Macy's stores that will stay open. It plans to open more Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury locations, and smaller Macy's stores in suburban strip malls.

Persons: Macy's, Tony Spring Organizations: Inc, LSEG Locations: Herald, New York

☆ Lowe's beats on earnings and revenue, even as consumers spend less on DIY projects
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Lowe's topped Wall Street's quarterly earnings and revenue expectations on Tuesday, even as do-it-youself customers bought fewer pricey items. It marked the fifth quarter in a row that Lowe's posted a year-over-year sales decline. Roughly half of Home Depot's sales come from pros compared to about 20% to 25% at Lowe's. Lowe's is lapping a year-ago quarter when the company slashed its full-year outlook and posted a year-over-year sales decline. For each of the three quarters since then, Lowe's sales have also dropped from the year-ago periods.

Persons: Lowe's, Marvin Ellison, Ellison Organizations: Home Depot, LSEG

☆ Macy's and Lowe's beat on earnings: Here's what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMacy's and Lowe's beat on earnings: Here's what you need to knowCNBC's Melissa Repko joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss retail earnings from Macy's and Lowe's.

Persons: Melissa Repko

☆ As their customers age, Macy's, Kohl's and Nordstrom are chasing younger shoppers
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

In this article JWNKSSM Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTSignage of Macy's, Kohl's and Nordstrom retail stores. Department stores like Macy's , Kohl's and Nordstrom face an existential crisis, as they try to persuade investors to bet on their futures while sales slow and their core customers age. Melissa Repko | CNBCTo attract younger shoppers, Kohl's is adding trendier clothing for teens, opening more Sephora shops and bulking up its baby department. At the same time, Macy's is trying to go where younger shoppers are, including suburban strip malls and beauty aisles. The company plans to open up to 30 of its smaller off-mall Macy's stores over the next two years.

Persons: hasn't, Nordstrom, Oliver Chen, Cowen, Chen, Kohl's, Melissa Repko, Tom Kingsbury, Maxx, Kingsbury, Macy's, It's, Tony Spring, He's, TD Cowen's Chen, Scott Olson Organizations: Nordstrom, Getty Images Department, Department, Wall, Baby Boomers, Boomers, CNBC, Target, Costco, Getty Locations: Kohl's, Macy's, Sephora, Bluemercury, Bloomie's, Zara, Chicago , Illinois

☆ Walmart says more diners are buying its groceries as fast food gets pricey
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Walmart wants diners to find a value meal in its grocery aisles. As fast food gets pricier, the nation's largest grocer sees a sales opportunity. As customers see some grocery items stay the same price or even become cheaper, the gap between buying menu items and cooking food at home has grown even wider, he said. As of April, the price of food at home, a category that measures the total cost of food purchased at grocers or other food stores, was up 1.1% year over year. The price of food away from home rose significantly more: 4.1% year over year.

Persons: John David Rainey, McDonald's, Chris Kempczinski, John Furner, Furner, — CNBC's Amelia Lucas Organizations: Walmart, CNBC, Yum Brands, Management Solutions, Restaurant, U.S . Labor Department, Walmart U.S Locations: U.S, Connecticut

☆ Home Depot misses on revenue, as high interest rates hurt sales
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

It said it expects total sales to grow about 1% in fiscal 2024, including those extra days. Home Depot on Tuesday posted quarterly revenue below Wall Street's expectations, as shoppers postponed bigger discretionary projects like bath and kitchen remodels because of higher interest rates and made spring purchases late. The logo of U.S. home improvement chain Home Depot is seen in Mexico City, Mexico, on Jan. 15, 2020. In the fiscal first quarter, customers made fewer visits to Home Depot's stores and website and tended to spend less when they did. Home Depot has seen sales moderate after more than two years of explosive demand during the Covid pandemic.

Persons: Richard McPhail, McPhail Organizations: CNBC, LSEG, U.S, Depot, Home Locations: Mexico City, Mexico, Texas

☆ Walmart is laying off, relocating hundreds of corporate workers across the country. Read the memo
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Walmart is laying off hundreds of corporate workers across the country as it relocates many employees to its Arkansas headquarters. The majority of employees working remotely and in offices in Dallas, Atlanta and Toronto have been asked to relocate. Walmart is the nation's largest private employer with about 1.6 million employees, most of whom work at its stores across the country. Walmart has another reason to bring more employees to Bentonville: It is building a nearly 350-acre campus there. In February 2022, we made the decision to bring Home Office associates back into our campus offices.

Persons: Donna Morris Organizations: Walmart, Walmart Health, Street Journal, Home Office, Toronto Global Tech, Office Locations: Arkansas, Bentonville , Arkansas, Dallas , Atlanta, Toronto, San Francisco Bay, Hoboken , New Jersey, Arkansas , Florida, Georgia , Illinois, Texas, Bentonville, Morris, Hoboken, New York

Walmart opened its first Walmart Health clinic in Georgia in 2019, and then gradually opened more clinics next door to its big-box stores. Walmart struggled with high executive turnover and cycled through numerous leaders of Walmart Health. Going forward, Walmart will return to the health services it offered before the Walmart Health push: It will continue to operate its thousands of pharmacies and vision centers. Walmart Health marks the latest failed push into health care by a high-profile company, following the disbandment of a joint venture between JPMorgan Chase , Berkshire Hathaway and Amazon in 2021. Meanwhile, Amazon 's health clinic operator One Medical now has more than 125 locations nationwide.

Persons: Brett Biggs, Doug McMillon, Berkshire Hathaway, Walgreens Organizations: Walmart Health, Walmart, CNBC, CVS, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Walgreens Locations: Sugar, Arkansas , Florida, Georgia , Illinois, Texas, U.S, Georgia, Florida

☆ Walmart launches new grocery brand, as it tries to hang on to inflation-fueled growth
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

And its low-priced reputation has helped the company attract higher income grocery shoppers as inflation pinches budgets. On Tuesday, the big-box retailer said it will roll out a private label called BetterGoods, a line of more trend-and chef-driven foods. Walmart is debuting a new grocery brand, as the discounter tries to retain the shoppers it has attracted during a period of high inflation. Another grocery brand it debuted, Favorite Day, is made up of creative takes on ice cream bars and trail mixes. The new private brand will join Walmart's existing collection of private brands in the grocery department, which includes Great Value — the country's largest private grocery brand by revenue, according to Numerator, a market research firm.

Persons: Costco's Kirkland, Kroger Organizations: Walmart, Aldi, Grocers, Target, Smart Locations: U.S

At stake is the role of a wide spectrum of players, from fintech firms to card companies and established banks. Walmart's Fintech startup One is now offering BNPL loans in Secaucus, New Jersey. Buy now, pay later has gained popularity with consumers for everyday items as well as larger purchases. A Capital One Walmart credit card sign is seen at a store in Mountain View, California, United States on Tuesday, November 19, 2019. Meanwhile, Walmart said last year when its lawsuit became public that it would soon announce a new credit card option with "meaningful benefits and rewards."

Persons: Joe Raedle, Goldman Sachs, Omer Ismail, Hugh Son, BNPL, Jason Mikula, Amazon's, Karma, John Furner, John David Rainey, Dot, " Rainey, Rainey, Morgan Stanley, Walmart's, Yichuan Cao Organizations: Walmart, Getty, CNBC, New Jersey Walmart, Apple, Electronics, Adobe Analytics, Bank of Walmart, Robinhood, Walmart U.S, Coastal Community Bank, Capital, PayPal Locations: Hallandale Beach , Florida, Bentonville , Arkansas, Manhattan, Secaucus , New Jersey, New Jersey, U.S, Mountain View , California, United States

☆ Walmart-backed fintech One introduces buy now, pay later
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWalmart-backed fintech One introduces buy now, pay laterCNBC's Melissa Repko and Hugh Son join 'Power Lunch' to report on. Walmart’s fintech startup One beginning to offer buy now, pay later loans for big-ticket items at some stores in the U.S.

Persons: Melissa Repko, Hugh Son Organizations: Walmart Locations: U.S

☆ FTC sues to block Coach parent Tapestry's acquisition of Capri Holdings
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Monday sued to block the $8.5 billion acquisition of Capri Holdings by Coach and Kate Spade's parent company, Tapestry . With the transaction, the luxury brands could be poised to better compete with European luxury names, such as Burberry and LVMH's Louis Vuitton. Both Tapestry and Capri have been under pressure, as consumers continue to be choosier with discretionary spending. Yet Capri, in particular, has been more vulnerable because of its heavier reliance than Tapestry on department stores and other wholesale retailers. The vast majority of Tapestry's sales are through its own website and stores, with wholesale accounting for only about 10% of sales globally in the most recently reported fiscal quarter.

Persons: Kate Spade's, Kate Spade, Stuart Weitzman, Capri's Versace, Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors, LVMH's Louis Vuitton, Joanne Crevoiserat, Tapestry, Crevoiserat Organizations: U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Capri Holdings, Burberry, Tapestry, CNBC Locations: Europe, Japan, Capri

☆ Macy's proxy fight is over, but the battle for the department store's future wages on
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Arkhouse then launched its proxy fight and put forward nine nominees to Macy's 15-person board. Turning the tideOther department store chains have faced challenges from activists in recent years, and even when those efforts fall short, the pressure can bring about sweeping changes. That includes Macy's locations with stronger sales as well as its two chains that have outperformed the namesake brand, higher-end department store chain Bloomingdale's and beauty chain Bluemercury. Arkhouse claims Macy's refused to engage with it, and Macy's rebuffed Arkhouse saying it didn't have the financing for the takeover it proposed. Arkhouse, for its part, has said it plans to keep Macy's stores open.

Persons: Bing Guan, Tony Spring, Arkhouse, Neil Saunders, Macy's, Michelle Gass, Levi Strauss, Chip Bergh, Ben Hider, —, GlobalData's Saunders, It'll, Gavriel Kahane, Kahane, it's Organizations: Macy's Inc, National Retail Federation, Bloomberg, Getty, Arkhouse Management, Capital Management, American, Brigade, Levi, Herald, Sears, CNBC, Macy's, Fortress Investment Group, One Investment Management Locations: Herald, New York, Macy's, New York City

☆ Department stores face another squeeze. This time, with store credit card revenue
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

For fiscal year 2023, credit card revenue totaled $619 million for Macy's and approximately $475 million for Nordstrom . The three companies do not break out how much of total credit card revenue comes from late fees. All of that adds up to dwindling credit card revenue for retailers, who can now expect to see it shrink even further. Target's credit card revenue fell to $667 million last year, down from $734 million in the prior fiscal year. Gap does not disclose credit card revenue, but its Chief Financial Officer, Katrina O'Connell, said on an earnings call that losses from late fees will be "largely offset in 2024 by other levers within our credit card program."

Persons: Robert Nickelsberg, it'll, Jane Hali, Kohl's, David Silverman, Silverman, —, Michael Fiddelke, Macy's, Adrian Mitchell, It's, Nordstrom, Katrina O'Connell Organizations: Getty Images Department, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Associates, Nordstrom, Fitch, TD Bank, Shoppers, Adobe Analytics, Citi, Sam's Locations: New York City

☆ Ulta shares fall as CEO warns beauty demand is slowing
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

People walk past an Ulta Beauty store in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 8, 2022. Ulta Beauty shares tumbled about 13% on Wednesday as CEO Dave Kimbell warned of cooling demand for beauty products. "We have seen a slowdown in the total category," Kimbell said at an investor conference hosted by JPMorgan Chase. Target has opened a growing number of Ulta Beauty shops in its stores. So far this year, Ulta shares are down nearly 8%, trailing the nearly 10% gains of the S&P 500.

Persons: Dave Kimbell, Estee Lauder, Kimbell, JPMorgan Chase, Ulta Organizations: Coty, JPMorgan Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S

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