Comag Marketing Group, LLC » Mass Merchandise

Retailers Report August Declines in Same-Store Sales

Jennifer — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:58:02 +0000

Costco Wholesale Corporation and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., bucked the trend with August same-store sales gains of 9 percent and 3 percent, respectively. The New York Times (Sept. 4, 2008)

Wal-Mart Calls for “Bottom Up” Magazine Wholesaler Allotments

Jennifer — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:10:59 +0000

July 22, 2008 — Wal-Mart called for rigorous, “bottom up” distribution practices as a key means of achieving its 50-percent efficiency goal for the magazine category in a memorandum sent to single copy supply chain partners last Friday. The memo appears in its entirety below.

To: All National Distributors and Publishers

From Christy Jenkins

Subject: Magazine Bottom Up Distribution

As many of you are aware Wal-Mart has a major Sustainability project underway to eliminate waste by improved efficiency. One of the projects we have focused on to assist in achieving our 50 efficiency goal is bottom up distribution. This process utilizes individual store specific sales information based on consumer demand to determine inventory needs by store which then rolls up to allotment needs by wholesaler to the DC level.

This project can only be successful if all parties throughout the channel support the initiative. Wholesaler allotments need to be adjusted to reflect our true needs not the prorated portion of copies printed. In the true spirit of sustainability we hope these copies would be completely eliminated from your print order and distribution channel.

Please support us and the environment as we move forward in this initiative.

7/18/2008

Wal-Mart Beats Expectations In June

Jennifer — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:36:23 +0000

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. announced yesterday that its same-store sales in June surpassed expectations, growing 5.8%. “At Wal-Mart’s namesake discount stores and Supercenters, same-store sales rose 6.1 percent, while total sales were up 10.1 percent. The retailer’s Sam’s Club unit saw a 4.6 percent boost in same-store sales and an 8.9 percent jump in net sales.” The gains can largely be attributed to Strong grocery sales and boosts from tax-rebate checks. Progressive Grocer (July 11, 2008)

Self-Service Kiosks On Their Way To Trillions

Greg — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:42:42 +0000

Transactions at self-service kiosks in North America will surpass $607 billion this year, and is projected to triple to $1.7 trillion by 2012, according to a study conducted by retail technology consultancy IHL Group. The study examines the use of six types of self-service kiosks: self-checkout systems, ticketing kiosks, check-in kiosks, food ordering, postal systems, and other retail kiosks. Progressive Grocer (June 18, 2008)

Summer Giveaways Are All The Craze

Greg — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:59:39 +0000

Summer giveaways are the hottest thing right now for women’s magazines such as Marie Claire, Tatler, Glamour, and many more. On the carefully designed covers, potential buyers are enticed with offers for free sunglasses, bags, and flip flops with just a purchase of the magazine. While giving away free products is very expensive, the boost in sales gives publishers no choice but to partake in the promotion, in order to keep up with rival magazines. The Independent (June 15, 2008)

Austin Ventures To Obtain Entrepreneur Media

Greg — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:35:38 +0000

The Texas based, Austin Ventures is said to be the leading candidate in the negotiations to acquire Entrepreneur Media, the publisher of Entrepreneur magazine. Austin Ventures is reportedly offering the $200 million dollars that Entrepreneur Media was seeking. The acquisition has moved on to the due diligence phase and the deal could be finalized as early as mid-to-late July. Folio (June 13, 2006)

New Wal-Mart Canada chief does it the British way

Brian — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:12:37 +0000

Canadian WALMART stores carry three times the inventory of the British ASDA outlets. WIth longer distances, in Canada, from warehouse to retail, Walmart needs more time to bring the product to market. David Cheesewright is focusing on reducing these challenges.

The Globe and Mail, Toronto

Buyers Demand Faster Updates of Rapid Report Stats

Greg — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:39:00 +0000

Disappointed that publishers have made very little progress posting circulation numbers quickly enough to the Audit Bureau of Circulations’ Rapid Report, some print buyers are considering measures to prod magazines. Monthly magazines are reportedly filing 6 percent faster while weeklies have remained basically the same. Some agencies are considering extra credit and other incentives for meeting guidelines. MediaWeek (June 9, 008)

The Atlantic’s New Idea

Greg — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:34:26 +0000

The 150 year old magazine, The Atlantic, will be trying something completely new with their July/August issue and dedicating it entirely to “ideas.” In an effort to revitalize the magazine, The Atlantic will be offering themed issues that will focus on politics and people shaping the future, in addition to the already published State of the Union special issue. The idea behind the “ideas” issue is to showcase the magazines less known, non-political coverage. MediaWeek (June 2, 2008)

Wal-Mart Weathers Tough Economy, Revenues Up

Jennifer — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:15:50 +0000

In what it termed a good start to its fiscal year, Wal-Mart Stores has reported a 10% increase in revenue to $94.1 billion for the quarter, ahead of forecasts. Same-store sales in the U.S. market were up 2.9% in the quarter, Wal-mart’s best same-store performance in 2 years. The company is weathering tough economic times largely on discounted food and daily use items. However, chief executive of U.S. stores Eduardo Castro-Wright said “customers do shop for what they want, not just what they need. They are making room for entertainment products, especially as they stay home more often.” CNN (May 13, 2008)