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 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.” [...]
BJ’s Wholesale Club reported Wednesday a that it earned $17.2 million during the first quarter, a 26% increase over the same period a year ago. Quarterly sales of $2.3 billion increased 12.3%, and same store sales increased by 9.6%, excluding gasoline. The 3% increase in store traffic was tempered by a modest forecast [...]
As shoppers looked for bargains, both Wal-Mart and Costco turned in April sales that beat analysts’ expectations. Sales at Wal-Mart locations open at least a year were up 3.2% in April, while Costco’s sales advanced by 8%. Sales at mall stores like the Gap were generally down. As one observer put it, “If you didn’t [...]
Sky-high commodity prices have caught up with Costco and Sam’s Club shoppers, whose purchases of rice will now be limited by the chains. The New York Times (Apr. 24, 2008)
Crews on the outskirts of Albany are currently working to combine a standard-sized Wal-Mart store with a failed Sam’s Club warehouse to create a 260,000 square foot, two-story “supercenter.” The store, which will sell department store merchandise as well as groceries, liquor, automotive and other services, is 25 percent bigger than the average Wal-Mart [...]
Consumers running toward discount retailers and strong international sales were largely credited for the profit growth. “International same-store sales jumped 17%. U.S. same-store sales rose 5%, with growth of 3% excluding fuel sales.” The Wall Street Journal (Mar. 5, 2008) Paid subscription may be required.
Since supermarket sales are down for magazines, wholesalers are finding alternative venues where the demand for magazines is strong. Places such as Costco and Sam’s Club and other clubs are a great place to sell monthlies. And dollar stores, like Dollar General, sell a good amount celebrity weeklies. One reason magazines tend to do well in [...]
Costco is installing skylights and solar panel arrays on the roofs of its warehouse clubs in furtherance of its environmental sustainability goals, which the company sees as a business imperative. Six locations in California and Hawaii have been outfitted with the equipment at a cost of more than $700, 000 per store, and seven additional [...]