This Saturday is a special day for nerds and retailers alike. If the phrase “May the Fourth be with you” has any meaning, you already know. But for the rest of us, May 4 is Star Wars Day, which means a number of brands such as Lego and Disney are running sales events. Last year, major retailers like Target and Walmart offered discounts of up to 20% on Star Wars-themed merchandise.
Here’s what else is going on in retail:
In earnings: So far, just a trickle of retailers have reported their quarterly results this earnings season, but on Tuesday that trickle will become a downpour, with giants such as Starbucks, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Amazon, and Molson Coors reporting; and the companies following them up on Wednesday are no lightweights either, including CVS, eBay, DoorDash, and Kraft Heinz.
In tipping: Domino’s Pizza launched a campaign today called “You Tip, We Tip,” which gives a $3 coupon for use the following week whenever a customer tips $3 or more on an online delivery order. Senior VP and chief brand officer Kate Trumbull said in a statement that “these days, everywhere you go, there's a tip screen,” so the company decided to show some appreciation for tippers.
In promotions: This week, Home Depot is running its second Decor Days sales event “just in time for Mother’s Day.” The online-only promotion offers discounts on home products such as furniture and lighting, as well as national brands such as KitchenAid and Tempur-Pedic. It comes on the heels of Home Depot’s "Halfway to Halloween sale,” which brought in a fresh supply of its wildly popular 12-foot skeleton, “Skelly,” and a new five-foot skeleton dog.
In events: Major retailers and product makers from Johnson & Johnson and P&G to Coca-Cola and Nestlé are gathering in Dallas, Texas, this week for the American Supply Chain Summit, where they’ll discuss new technologies, cost optimization, and risk management in their supply chains.