MINNEAPOLIS — Target (NYSE: TGT) reported a 24.3 percent increase in total digital and in-store sales during the second quarter compared with the same period a year ago, the highest quarterly growth in the Minneapolis-based discount retailer’s history. Same-store sales grew by 10.9 percent during the quarter, while digital sales experienced a whopping 195 percent growth year over year. CNBC reports that during a call with reporters, Target CEO Brian Cornell stated that the volume of sales fulfilled by the company’s curbside pickup program grew by more than 70 percent, and that the company’s digital customer base expanded by some 10 million shoppers. Target’s stock price opened at $148.50 per share on Wednesday, Aug. 19, up 12 percent from the previous day and up 72 percent from $86.23 per share a year ago.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — NAI Global has opened a new office at 6391 Thompson Road in Syracuse that will operate under the name NAI Bridgeway Commercial and which will serve the Central and Upstate New York areas. The new commercial real estate services firm will offer a range of services, including brokerage and leasing, property and facilities management, investment and capital market services, due diligence, global supply chain and logistics consulting and related advisory services. Tom Lischak, who founded Bridgeway Commercial Realty in 2014 prior to its acquisition by NAI, will lead the new office.
BENTONVILLE, ARK. — Walmart’s e-commerce sales jumped 97 percent in the second quarter, which ended July 31. The Bentonville-based retailer increased its e-commerce capabilities, including increasing same-day delivery and curbside pick-up options as well as hiring at least 200,000 people during the pandemic. Walmart includes a grocery section, deeming the retailer essential and allowing it to remain open through the crisis. Additionally, the U.S. government passed the CARES Act, which included stimulus checks for millions of Americans. As a result of increased spending, Walmart’s same-store sales increased 9.3 percent in the second quarter. Total revenues rose 5.6 percent to $137.74 billion from $130.38 billion a year earlier. The company incurred $1.5 billion of COVID-related costs during the second quarter, including benefit payments and inventory purchases. Sales at Sam’s Club locations were up 8.8 percent in the second the quarter. E-commerce sales increased 39 percent.
ATLANTA — The Home Depot released its second-quarter results, which revealed the home improvement retailer saw a 23.4 percent increase in sales on a year-over-year basis. Sales totaled $38.1 billion in the second quarter, which ended Aug. 3. Because of the coronavirus outbreak and The Home Depot’s status as an essential retailer, meaning the stores have remained open through the pandemic, the company invested approximately $480 million in benefits for its associates, including weekly bonuses for hourly associates in stores and distribution centers.
SEATTLE — Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) plans to create 3,500 new tech and corporate jobs across six cities with the expansion of its Tech Hubs in Dallas, Detroit, Denver, New York, Phoenix and San Diego. The Seattle-based e-commerce company will invest more than $1.4 billion in the new offices, which will host teams supporting businesses across the company. The Tech Hub and corporate office expansions include: Adding more than 100,000 square feet of space and 600 tech and corporate roles at the company’s existing Dallas Tech Hub in North Dallas. The acquisition of more than 25,000 square feet of office space in Detroit and the addition of 100 jobs. An expansion of 20,000 square feet of office space and 100 jobs at the Denver Tech Hub. The opening of a 630,000-square-foot office, creating 2,000 new jobs, in New York City at the former Lord & Taylor Fifth Avenue building. A 90,000-square-foot expansion at the Phoenix Tech Hub allowing for more than 500 new jobs. The addition of more than 40,000 square feet of office space at the San Diego Tech Hub for the creation of 200 new jobs. Teams in these cities will support various businesses across Amazon, including AWS, Alexa, …
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis-based Magid HTL Forecast Tracker has released its predictions for the upcoming 12 months for the hotel industry. The forecast suggests the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to a 29 percent decline in annual hotel occupancy. The results will be a projected approximately $75 billion revenue loss for the industry. The estimate is according to the Magid HTL Forecast Tracker and Horwath HTL, a global hotel, tourism and leisure consulting brand. The forecasted decline is driven by the disappearance of business and leisure travel coupled with a projected 22 percent decline in consumer sentiment for attending meetings or conferences over the next 12 months. “The forecast shows the continuing significant impact COVID is having on hotel occupancy,” says Rich Garlick, vice president and strategy consultant for Magid. “Currently, the forecast suggests a 39 percent decline in occupancy for the next month. If the average occupancy at this time of the year (summer) is 70 percent, this would put current occupancy around 43 percent.” The most recent wave of research, conducted July 29 to August 2, shows that 71 percent of consumers expect to next stay in a hotel 24 months from now — a result that …
By Alex Patton During the business lull caused by the outbreak of COVID-19, fast casual sandwich chain Jersey Mike’s made news by rolling out a $150 million nationwide retrofit project for its stores. The project will include aesthetic and comfortability upgrades for 1,700 franchise stores, as well as expanded functionality for delivery and pick-up services — all paid for by the company. “Paying for the retrofits ourselves is a tactical move on our part,” says Peter Cancro, CEO of Jersey Mike’s. “Whenever you put money in your business, it always comes back. It’s an investment into our people — every dollar we put into the project we’ll get back in loyalty and trust from our franchise owners and our customers.” The Manasquan, New Jersey-based company operates approximately 1,750 stores across 48 states and plans to expand to 2,000 by the end of 2021. Though the company is growing its store count quickly, it is still a relatively small player in the national sandwich game. By comparison, Jersey Mike’s two closest competitors, Subway and Jimmy John’s, operate 24,000 and 2,800 stores in the United States, respectively. Amid state-mandated temporary closures of retail stores and restaurants, Jersey Mike’s was able to continue …
NEW YORK CITY — Rent the Runway, a New York City-based online service that provides rentals of designer clothes and accessories, will close its stores around the country in order to focus on building its digital platform, according to reports from CNBC and The Wall Street Journal. The New York City-based company will close its stores in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., while its flagship store in New York City will be converted into a permanent drop-off site for product distribution. CNBC reports that the company intends to grow its network of drop-off locations, and has partnered with apparel retailers Nordstrom and West Elm as part of that initiative.
PORTLAND, ORE. — Link Senior Development and Insight Senior Living have launched the Ativo Senior Living brand, with three upcoming communities currently announced in the Southwest. The first property, Ativo Senior Living of Yuma, Arizona, is currently under construction with a planned opening in early 2021. The Portland-based company also has communities planned in Prescott Valley, Arizona; Buckeye, Arizona; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and other projects in various design phases throughout the Southwest. “This relationship between Insight Senior Living and Link Senior Development was forged based on our mutual enthusiasm for the health, well-being, and happiness of our vibrant senior population,” says Ron Ziebart, president and CEO Link Senior Development. Insight Senior Living specializes in new-development senior living communities, providing consulting during development and pre-opening and management services after opening. Link Senior Development focuses exclusively on the development and management of seniors housing.
LOS ANGELES — Fresh. Authentic. Tasty. (FAT) Brands has agreed to purchase the Johnny Rockets restaurant chain from an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners for $25 million. The deal will be funded through cash on hand and proceeds generated from FAT’s securitization facility. The transaction is slated to close in September. With the acquisition of Johnny Rockets, FAT Brands will have more than 700 franchised and company-owned restaurants around the globe with annual system-wide sales exceeding $700 million. Johnny Rockets was founded in 1986 with its first location on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. The 1950s-themed restaurant serves freshly made, classic burgers and hand-spun real ice cream shakes. Johnny Rockets currently has more than 325 locations across the United States and internationally, including nine company-owned locations. Duff & Phelps served as financial advisor to Sun Capital Partners and Morgan Lewis & Bockius acted as legal counsel to Sun Capital Partner. Loeb & Loeb acted as legal counsel to FAT Brands and Andersen Tax served as tax advisor to FAT Brands.