January 23, 2019 Event Coverage Register for Free Access AI Creates Smarter Living: Takeaways from the TechLIFEStyle Conference in Hong KongThe Coresight Research team attended TechLIFEStyle conference, part of StartmeupHK, held in Hong Kong January 22, 2019. StartmeupHK is an initiative launched by InvestHK to promote Hong Kong as a startup destination, connecting entrepreneurs and investors. The theme of the event was “living smarter, living better,” looking at how lifestyle technology can be woven into everyday life. These are some highlights of the event.
January 23, 2019 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access Carrefour (ENXTPA: CA) 4Q18 Update: Latin America Picks Up the Slack as France Is Hit by DisruptionCarrefour reported group comparable sales excluding automotive fuel were up 1.9% year over year in 4Q18, versus 2.1% growth in 3Q18 and ahead of the consensus estimate of 1.0% recorded by StreetAccount. Performance in France was weak and growth was driven by Latin America. Total sales at actual exchange rates were down 2.3% year over year, impacted by currency effects.
January 22, 2019 Insight Report Premium Chinese New Year Preview: Year of the Pig Celebrations to be Worth ¥1 Trillion to Retail as Digital Gifting and Traveling Continue to Go BigRetail and food-service sales during Chinese New Year grew steadily from 2011 to 2018. During the 2018 Chinese New Year Golden Week (February 15-21), retail sales reached ¥926 billion (about $146 billion), 10.2 % higher than the same period in 2017 —and more than double what it was in 2011, according to Ministry of Commerce statistics.
January 21, 2019 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access VF Corp (VFC) 3Q19 Results: Raises Guidance as Active Segment Propels GainsVF Corp. reported adjusted fiscal 3Q19 EPS of $1.31, up from $1.01 in the year-ago quarter and above the $1.10 consensus estimate. Total revenues were $3.94 billion, up 8.0% year over year (10% at constant currency). Excluding Kontoor Brands (scheduled to be spun off at the end of April), revenues rose 12%. By segment, Outdoor revenues rose 11% to $1.61 billion; Active revenues increased 16% to $1.14 billion; Work segment revenues rose 9% to $62.6 million and Jeans revenues declined 27% to $67.8 million. By channel, direct-to-consumer (DTC) rose 9%, Digital (within DTC) rose 21% and Wholesale increased 6%. By region, Asia Pacific sales rose 16%, led by China, up 23%; followed by a 9% gain in the U.S., 7% in the Americas (non-U.S.) and 4% in EMEA.
January 21, 2019 Insight Report Premium UK Holiday 2018 Retail Sales and Trading Wrap-Up: December Growth Slows as Uncertainty Accelerates Structural Shift Away from the MidmarketMomentum in the retail sector decelerated meaningfully in December, as measured by both value and volume (real terms). Value sales growth slowed from 4.2% in November to 2.1% in December. This was despite a number of retailers reporting a better month in December following an unusually tough November. Across November and December in aggregative (our definition of the holiday period), sales were up 3.0% year over year.
January 18, 2019 Deep Dive Premium US Digital Payments Take Off, with Unexpected Winners and LosersThe digital payments landscape is evolving rapidly as consumers and merchants adopt more innovative modes of payments. Cash is declining worldwide, while credit and debit cards have gained popularity. Mobile payment and wallet services are also gaining traction, supported by growing smartphone use, faster data rates and greater Internet penetration.
January 18, 2019 Deep Dive Premium Aldi and Lidl in the US: Aldi Climbs the Grocery RankingsAldi is America’s eighth-biggest grocery retailer by estimated 2018 revenues, according to Euromonitor International. It has grown revenues by an estimated CAGR of 12.7% over the past five years. After a shaky start in the U.S. market, Lidl has diversified into a range of store formats. Lidl is continuing to open stores at a steady pace, and its recent acquisition of the 27-strong Best Market Chain suggests a renewed impetus to grow its footprint in the U.S.
January 18, 2019 Event Coverage Register for Free Access Luxury FirstLook 2019—Digital Acceleration: Key TakeawaysCoresight Research attended Luxury Daily’s Luxury FirstLook 2019: Digital Acceleration conference in New York. The event was packed with senior executives from luxury brands, retailers, agencies, publishers and service providers. We were there to discuss digital acceleration, but most in the room agreed luxury companies are still in the early stages of adopting cutting-edge technology tools – not keeping up with their more digitally savvy clientele.
January 18, 2019 Store Tracker Databank Members Weekly Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2019, Week 3: Gymboree to Close 800 Stores, Chico’s Set to Close 250 Stores Over Three YearsYear to date in 2019, U.S. retailers have announced 1,725 store closures and 1,379 store openings.
January 18, 2019 Flash Report Register for Free Access Walgreens Boots Alliance and Microsoft Forge Partnership to Explore Digital Health OpportunitiesDrugstore retailer WBA and technology giant Microsoft have entered into a seven-year agreement which includes developing software and technology for patient care management and retail store operations. This alliance follows close on the heels of last month’s deal with Alphabet’s life sciences business Verily to help patients manage medication. Through this partnership, WBA will be able to leverage Microsoft’s cloud services suite Azure. The suite of tools and applications uses several cutting-edge technologies, such as cloud, AI, the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain. Microsoft has developed a host of healthcare tools, such as a smartphone app to connect users with healthcare providers and AI-based software engines to crunch masses of patient data to help detect possible health conditions sooner.
January 18, 2019 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access Casino Group (ENXTPA: CO) 4Q18 Update: French Protests Drag on Sales GrowthCasino Group reported that group comparable sales excluding automotive fuel were up 3.6% year over year in 4Q18, versus the 3.3% rate reported for 3Q18 and just shy of the 3.7% consensus estimate recorded by StreetAccount. Total group sales were up 0.2% year over year.
January 17, 2019 Analyst Corner Register for Free Access Weinswig’s Weekly January 18, 2019This week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” sums up the discussion of the future of physical stores that we heard at NRF 2019: Retail’s Big Show this week.
January 17, 2019 Deep Dive Premium 10 Tech Startup Trends Reshaping Retail in 2019: Get Ready for Digital DisruptionThe retail industry has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade, and continues to evolve quickly. In 2019, the market will be defined by emerging technologies that change the way consumers interact with brands, by new engagement formats and channels, as retailers look to collaboration more with startups to future-proof their businesses.
January 16, 2019 Event Coverage Register for Free Access NRF 2019 Day 3: Hearing About Mission-Driven Brands, China’s Digital Leadership and How Inclusion Can Fuel GrowthOver the course of the day, we heard multiple panelists emphasize that consumers want to know what companies and brands stand for, and not just what they are selling. Companies are increasingly taking stands on social and political issues and we expect this trend to continue into 2019. In 2018, Dick’s Sporting Goods took a stand on gun control; Patagonia has a long heritage of being a mission-driven company and has given over $100 million to support environmental issues including air, water, and soil. The company also announced it would donate all the proceeds of the recent corporate tax cut to entities that combat climate change, saying the environment needed the money more.
January 16, 2019 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access Boohoo (LON: BOO) 3Q19 Trading Update: Sales Surge Prompts Raise in Full-Year Revenue GuidanceFor the four months ended December 31, U.K. sales grew 33% year over year, to £180.0 million. At constant currency, rest of Europe sales increased by 54% year over year to £44.4 million, U.S. sales increased 80% to £70.4 million, and rest of world sales increased 32% year over year to £33.4 million.
