Today in Retail: Tempur Sealy Expects 15% YoY Growth; FTD Uses Data to Cultivate Customers

Today in retail, Tempur Sealy expects to report 15% year-over-year growth for fiscal 2022’s first quarter, while FTD uses data to grow lifelong customers of the ever-evolving brand. Plus, Faire serves as a cross-border, B2B marketplace across Europe and the increased demand for COVID-19 tests and booster shots boosts Walgreens in Q2.

Tempur Sealy Expects 15% Q1 YoY Growth

Tempur Sealy International said it expects to report 2022 first-quarter consolidated net sales growth of about 15% year over year when it gives its quarterly update during its earnings call with investors and analysts next month. That optimism is tempered by the company’s international sales, which have been affected by the Russia-Ukraine war and falling consumer confidence, as well as the continued spread of the pandemic, particularly during the height of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

FTD Blooms as Fresh Data Insights Prompt Refocus on Lifetime Value Over Top-Line Growth

Floral ordering service FTD, which has been in business for more than 100 years, is meeting the floral gifting needs of consumers everywhere in a true 21st century digital fashion. FTD has undergone a major, rapid reboot to better serve a dual customer base that is equally split between consumers and small businesses. To do so, it has leaned heavily on technology and data analytics to help it nip problems in the bud while nurturing positive trends, so they bloom and grow.

Wholesale Platform Serves as Cross-Border Matchmaker for 300K US Retailers, Countless EU Brands

Cross-border, B2B online wholesale marketplace Faire launched in 15 European countries last year — it’s up to 16 nations now, with the recent addition of Portugal — and tackling the Europe challenge has meant putting local teams in place to maximize compliance with laws and regulations specific to each country or city they operate in. Adapting to country-specific payment methods across the region — such as France’s local card network carte bancaire, PayPal and cash payments in Germany or the Dutch online payment system iDEAL — has also been critical to Faire’s regional growth.

Walgreens’ Q2 Performance Buoyed by Rising Demand for COVID-19 Tests and Boosters

Walgreens rode a spike in COVID-19 tests and booster shots to higher-than-expected earnings in the second quarter of fiscal 2022, doling out 11.8 million COVID-19 vaccine shots and 6.6 million tests in the three-month period that ended Feb. 28. Walgreens also debuted the Walgreens COVID-19 Index to track the spread of the omicron variant and other coronavirus strains by state.

Walmart Uses Tech, Innovation and 90% of Population That Shops There to Ramp Global Ad Biz

Walmart has rolled out a three-pronged advertising strategy dubbed Walmart Connect that will link its massive customer base with a roster of brands looking for new ways and places to connect. Walmart Connect is similar to the core money-saving mantra of its stores and website, but it marks an entirely new revenue stream that has rapidly grown into a $2 billion business.

Kohl’s Tries to Rally Investors Against Activist Takeover

Kohl’s is calling on its investors to reject a bid by activist investor Macellum Advisors to add new members to the department store chain’s board. A letter accuses Macellum of “promoting an ever-changing narrative, misinformed claims, and value-destructive proposals, all of which reveal a reckless and short-term approach that is not in the interest of driving long-term, sustainable value.”

H&M Stock Continues to Tumble as Sales Growth Slows

H&M stock has tumbled after the clothing retailer’s sales slowed down in March as the Russia-Ukraine war had consumers rethinking whether they needed to update their wardrobes now or were better off saving money. The company’s net sales for the first four weeks of March were up 6% after an 18% jump in the first quarter of fiscal 2022, which ended Feb. 28.

Modern Digital Clearing Brings Efficiency, Rapid Reimbursement to Old-Fashioned Coupon Biz

The coupon-clipping sector still relies heavily on paper, making it one of the most friction-filled ways of getting a discount. Now, technology is stepping in to save the coupon from itself. Brands and retailers want to bring couponing into the digital connected economy, clip the processing inefficiencies, and make the whole thing a money-saving proposition for everyone. Sylvain Mansier, general manager of payments at Inmar Intelligence, told PYMNTS that advances in electronic clearing are transforming the space.