Finance & Capital Management

Office Depot continues to make good on its promise to focus on its North American business.     The company announced it has reached an agreement to sell its business in Australia and New Zealand to Platinum Equity, a global private equity firm. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval in each country and is expected to close within the next several months.  

Target’s food-based innovation lab, which was targeted to be shut down, may get a second lease on life.   Target’s Food + Future lab initiative ended up on the retailer’s chopping block — along with other innovative projects — as it refocuses efforts on its core business. However, on Tuesday, April 17, sources said an inves-tor approached the chain with an offer, reported the Star Tribune.   

Three experts have joined JLL’s brokerage team in Houston. Donna Kolius, Pierce Owens, and Kaylie Walker will be focusing on multi-market dispositions, national portfolio strategies, and sale leasebacks, which will help expand JLL’s disposition business.   

Global companies agree that innovation is critical to survival but not enough projects are successfully driving growth and increasing revenue.   Specifically, two-thirds (66%) of global organizations said innovation is crucial to their longevity, but only 28% are seeing returns on their investments (ROI), according to “Innovation Matters,” a report from PA Consulting Group. The report tapped 821 senior executives across C-level, senior VP, board and director level positions.  

Neiman Marcus’ debt burden just got heavier.   The luxury retailer will make interest payments over the next six months with new debt to preserve its cash and bank line of credit.   Instead of making a current $29 million cash interest payment on $600 million notes due in 2021Neiman Marcus will issue more bonds to holders to cover the 9.5% interest, the Dallas News reported.  

Managing a diverse inventory and high transaction volume is no laughing matter.   This process becomes even harder when data is being supported by a legacy merchandising system. Ready for a change, Spencer’s conducted “an exhaustive search of the enterprise retail systems market,” according to the chain’s CIO Carey Lowrey.  

GNC Holdings’ income and revenue declined in the first quarter, but the company said it is encouraged by the results of its marketing and pricing revamp.    Net income totaled $23.9 million, or 35 cents per share during the quarter, compared with $50.8 million, or 69 cents per share, in the year-ago period year. Adjusted earnings were 37 cents per share, which was above estimates.   Revenue totaled $644.8 million during the quarter from $668.9 million last year, but still above estimates. 

There’s no denying that Amazon has changed the face of retail, but there are many misconceptions about how the company actually operates. Many wrongly believe that Amazon makes most of its profits from e-commerce, while others incorrectly view Amazon as the long-tail poster child. Unfortunately, these fallacies are leading many retail companies into making bad strategic business decisions as they try to duplicate Amazon’s success.   The following is a breakdown of some Amazon myths along with a few takeaways: