Mix Shifts, Margins, and Misfires: A Between-the-Lines Take on Target and Walmart

Walmart and Target are harbingers of retail’s health, yet raw sales numbers don’t tell the full story. The one-two punch of earnings reports from these two power players underscored the impact that inflation, supply chain snags, and inventory pileups are having on retail. Carol teases out uncommon takeaways from both retailers’ Q2 earnings reports and what it signals for the holiday shopping season and beyond.

In this episode you’ll learn:

·      How retailers’ convenience arsenals are killing margins     

·      Why merch sales won’t always matter

·      How private brands are feeding inventory overload

·      Why suppliers will struggle as retailers eat spinach