Consumers WILL open up their wallets, expert says

THE CONVERSATION GOING ON THE CONSUMER, MY NEXT GUEST NOTES A RESILIENT ONE BUT ALSO HIGHLY SELECTIVE, HEAD OF CONSUMER RESEARCH, SHARON MARCUS. I'M THINKING INFLATION HAS FINALLY HIT THE WALMART SHOPPER BUT I THINK YOU THINK IT IS DEFLATION THAT'S HIT WALMART. >> THE MARKET IS PUNISHING WALMART TODAY BECAUSE OF THE NOT MEETING EXPECTATIONS. EXPECTATIONS MATTER. IF YOU EXCLUDE DEFLATION PRICES WE SAW IN PHARMACY, THAT NUMBER GOES FROM 2.6 ABOVE 3% HEALTHY TELLING US WALMART DID HAVE A ROBUST QUARTER AND ON TOP OF THAT TRAFFIC WAS WRONG, AND TRANSACTIONAL MATTERS WERE UP JUST TELLING US THE CONSUMER IS GOING INTO THE STORE. ON TOP OF THAT, FORMER GAINING MARKET SHARE FROM INCOME LEVELS AND IS SIMPLY HOW SOMETHING TRADITIONAL RETAILERS DON'T HAVE WHICH IS ITS HIGH MARGIN BUSINESSES. TODAY WE SAW ADVERTISING UP 38% AND MEMBERSHIP DOUBLE DIGITS SO IT'S MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE COMPETITORS TRADITIONAL RETAILERS TO COMPETE WITH WALMART AND ON TOP OF THAT, DURING THAT TRADE REFUNDS INTO EVERYDAY LOW PRICES SO OVERALL A HEALTHY QUARTER FOR WALMART. >> CHEAP AND CONVENIENT AND THE CONSUMER LIKES IT SO THE 10% DECLINE IS AN OVERREACTION. >> IT IS. >> , SO BY AT THIS LEVEL? >> I CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BUT IT LOOKS ATTRACTIVE. >> OVERALL CONSUMER STILL IN THE BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING SEASON AND IF YOU TALK YOU REALIZE THEY SHOW CHRISTMAS AND HANUKKAH DOWN OUR THROATS, HOW IS THE CONSUMER? >> THE CONSUMER IS HEALTHY, STILL SPENDING FOR SELECTIVE AND VALUE CONSCIOUS. CONVENIENCE IS IMPORTANT TO THEM. THIS WEEK WE SAW DOUBLE DIGIT RUNNING E-COMMERCE AT HOME DEPOT, LOWE'S, WALMART TODAY AND TARGET SAW 25% SPIKE IN SAME-DAY DELIVERY SO CONSUMERS WILL OPEN UP THEIR WALLETS IF THEY FIND THEY CAN GET THE CONVENIENCE OF SHOPPING AND STICK MODIFICATION YOU CAN ORDER SOMETHING ON HOME DEPOT AND HAVE IT DELIVERED IN THREE HOURS SO WE SEE THE DOUBLE DIGIT GROWTH IS HAPPENING AND RETAILERS INVESTING TO MAKE THINGS GO FASTER. >> MEET THE CONSUMER WHERE THEY ARE OR THEIR KIDS ARE AT MY KIDS ASK FOR SOMETHING NEXT HOUR, WE CAN'T DO THAT NOW. JUST GO TO DOOR -- WERE SAME-DAY DELIVERY. >> OR ORDER ONLINE AND PICK UP ON YOUR WAY HOME. >> WHAT PATTERNS ARE YOU NOTICING? OF COURSE ROSS IS AFTER THE BELL PRICE. >> THE PRICE, RETAILERS, CONSUMERS LOVE THE TREASURE HUNT EXPERIENCE AND TO SHUT FOR A VALUE AND IT'S NO LONGER A PROMOTIONAL WILL, IT'S A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE TO WHAT WE SEE IS IF A RETAILER WANTS TO ATTRACT THEM TO THE OR THEY MUST HAVE IGO PROPOSITION. IN COLLABORATION WITH MARKET INTELLIGENCE, THE AMOUNT OF MERCHANDISE ON SALE SPIKED UP TO A SIX YEAR HIGH SO, RETAILERS OFFER MORE ITEMS AND MERCHANDISE ON SALE TO ATTRACT THE SHOPPER. WHAT HAS NOT CHANGED IS THE PERCENTAGE OFFERED ON DISCOUNTED ITEMS SO THEY GIVE ILLUSION YOU'RE GETTING A BIG PROMOTION THEY ARE STRATEGIC WITH THE DISCOUNT PERCENTAGE OFFERED SO THEY CAN PROTECT GROSS MARGINS. >> NOW THERE'S THIS IDEA OF PERSONALIZED PRICING WERE WE COULD SHOP FOR THE SAME THING THEY KNOW YOUR SEARCH HISTORY AND CONSUMER HEAVIER SO YOU GET A BETTER PRICE OR VICE VERSA, -- >> THAT IS VERY POPULAR AMONG TRAVELING AND IMPORTANT TO CLEAR YOUR CACHET ON YOUR LAPTOP. >> WHAT I LIVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE SQUISHY'S AND EVERYTHING ELSE FOR THE HOUSE IS PRETTY GOOD. >> THEY BECOME POPULAR WITH THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON AND ACCORDING TO OUR DATA, THEY LIKELY WILL BE EARNINGS ESTIMATES THIS EARNINGS SEASON AND POST A POSITIVE SURPRISE. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE ROSS REPORTING AFTER THE MARKET TODAY, SMART HOLDINGS TELL US THE BUY SIDE AND INVESTORS FIND IT ATTRACTIVE, IT HAS POSITIVE PRICE MOMENTUM TO ITS FAVOR AND EARNINGS FROM SUSTAINABLE SOURCES SO AS WELL POSITIONED, ESPECIALLY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE CONSUMERS WANT DESIGNER FOR LESS. >> WILLIAMS-SONOMA YOU LIKE, THEY ARE THE HOME OF THE $25 SPECIAL. >> RIGHT, BUT HIGH AND CONSUMER SO BUYERS THAT ALL CYLINDERS THEY ARE STILL SHOPPING AND WHAT WILLIAMS-SONOMA DOES WELL IS THE PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITY WE TALKED ABOUT. THEY STILL HAVE PROMOTIONAL DISCOUNTS IN THE CONSUMER'S OPEN UP THEIR WALLETS, THEY ARE BEING MORE STRATEGIC, THEY PROTECT THE