Marketing

Toronto -- Express Inc. announced that its move to parity pricing is now complete. The retailer said it has been working to make cross-border shopping a thing of the past since entering the Canadian market.
 
The company's at-par pricing ensures that consumers across North America can enjoy the same shopping experience and value, regardless of geographical location.

Online shoppers can also take advantage of the parities, including an $8 shipping fee, as well as free shipping on all orders over $125.

By Leslie Hand, research director, IDC Retail Insights

Ron Johnson's highly publicized short tenure at J.C. Penney, or JCP, as it was rebranded, will certainly make it into the textbooks and graduate theses on what to do and what not to do when undertaking a significant retail business transformation. The primary failure was not putting customer needs first in what promised to be an excellent long term strategy. Oops — forget the customer in an omni-channel customer strategy?

What a colossal mistake!

SIDNEY, Neb. — Cabela's co-founder and chairman Richard N. Cabela will be named chairman emeritus June 5, during the company’s 2013 annual meeting of shareholders. His brother, James W. Cabela, who is vice chairman and co-founder, will be named chairman at that time.

The National Retail Federation applauded a Senate vote to proceed with debate on S.743, an act to level the sales tax field for online and brick-and-mortar stores. 

NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay issued the following statement: “NRF applauds today’s Senate vote on the Marketplace Fairness Act and we commend Senators Enzi, Durbin, Alexander and Heitkamp for their skilled leadership in moving this legislation ahead.”


NEW YORK — Retailer Saks Incorporated will be closing its Saks Fifth Avenue store located in the WestShore Plaza in Tampa, Fla., May 4.

“This planned closing is in line with our strategy of using our resources in our most productive Saks Fifth Avenue stores. We regularly assess the productivity, profitability and potential of each of our stores and may determine that a closing is appropriate from time to time,” said Steve Sadove, chairman and CEO of Saks.

TORONTO, Ontario — U.S.-based specialty retail apparel chain Express has completed its move to parity pricing, in an effort to grow its customer base in the Canadian market.

Consistent North American pricing for all apparel and accessories available at the retailer will ensure that shoppers throughout the United States and Canada can enjoy the same value and shopping experience. Online shoppers will also be able to take advantage of the parities, including an $8 shipping fee, as well as free shipping on all orders totaling more than $125. 

PLANO, Texas — J. C. Penney has promoted Brynn Evanson to EVP of human resources. Evanson will lead all HR functions across stores, supply chain and the home office, including team member relations, recruiting, learning and development, compensation and benefits and talent operations. She will also join the company's executive board, reporting to CEO Myron E. Ullman.

FORT WORTH, Texas — RadioShack posted first quarter 2013 quarter sales of $849 million and a loss of $43 million, compared with $913 million last year and a loss of $8 million.

As a result of the company’s disappointing first quarter, it has ended its mobile phone partnership with Target. RadioShack said it had stopped operating its Target Mobile centers before the end of last month. The company had operated mobile phone kiosks inside Target stores. 

Bentonville, Ark. -- For the first time in the retailer’s history, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said that, through Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, it has given more than $1 billion in cash and in-kind contributions.

The Monday announcement makes Walmart the first U.S. retailer to achieve the $1 billion in giving mark, up from $872.7 million last year. The growth in global giving was largely due to increased in-kind donations in the U.S. to local food banks and families impacted by disasters.

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. said Monday it has redesigned Riteaid.com to a more personalized and engaging version.

Rite Aid worked with digital and healthcare communications firm Razorfish Healthware on the project.

“Today’s customer expects more from their online experience than ever before, so it’s critical that our website not only meets but exceeds their expectations,” said Ken Martindale, COO, Rite Aid.