Marketing

Lost jobs, ugly architecture, picky consumers and stiff competition are among the reasons why Costco may have a tough time achieving success in France, according to a Seattle Times report.

The newspaper says the Washington-based retailer is building its first warehouse in France and envisions opening as many as 15 stores in that nation over the next 10 years. But whether Costco will succeed in attracting the French consumer is an important question.

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New York -- Local politicians and local New Yorkers differ in their views on Walmart.

Fifty-five percent of New York City residents want elected officials to let Walmart open a store within the five boroughs, according to a poll by Quinnipiac University.

The results are similar to a poll conducted by the university four years ago, when the retailer made a failed push to open in Brooklyn.

Vancouver -- Online ordering is coming to Papa Murphy’s.

Take-and-bake pizza company Papa Murphy’s Holdings has selected a Deloitte Digital, digital consulting agency within Deloitte Consulting, to enhance its online ordering and precision marketing efforts.

Under the agreement, Deloitte Digital will redesign Papa Murphy's website, including adding advanced online ordering capabilities to improve the customer experience. Papa Murphy's plans to launch the new platform in the first half of 2016.

Indianapolis -- The calendar may read August, but Hhgregg is already looking to firm up its holiday hiring.

The appliance, electronics and furniture retailer announced it is hiring 550 full-time and part-time in-store sales associates. As the holiday shopping season continues to tiptoe earlier into the calendar year, Hhgregg said it is looking to have their stores fully staffed and associates trained and ready to greet shoppers getting a jump on the holiday rush.

New York -- Chick-fil-A is set to open its largest location to date in one of the nation’s busiest cities.

The quick-serve restaurant chain will open its first freestanding location in New York City, at the corner of West 37th Street and 6th Avenue in the Garment District, on Oct. 3. The three-story, 5,000-sq.-ft. restaurant will be Chick-fil-A's largest in the country and will be independently owned and operated by local resident Oscar Fittipaldi.

Minneapolis -- Parents and others shopping for toys at Target will no longer be offered product suggestions based on gender.

The retailer announced it plans to start removing gender-based signage in several departments, including toys, bedding and entertainment. Target said it made the decision after feedback and suggestions from customers.

Retailers know the power of social media in influencing customer attitudes, but how many of them change their merchandising strategy seemingly based on one tweet?

Swedish furniture giant IKEA is always coming up with inventive and innovative products to appeal to its core shoppers, but this time the retailer is marking a first in the industry.

IKEA announced it will become the first major global retailer to offer a 100% LED light bulb assortment. In a bid to make its products more sustainable, the retailer will switch all of its available bulbs to LED bulbs by the end of September.

As retailers feel pressured to raise wages for employees, GameStop is focusing on education by giving staffers an incentive to hit the books.

Seattle – Online jewelry retailer Blue Nile Inc. had profit and sales results in the second quarter of fiscal 2015 that crested beyond Wall Street expectations. Net income rose 4% to $2.3 million from $2.2 million the same quarter a year earlier.

An increase in interest and other income, as well as cost of sales growth that did not match the growth pace of sales, drove the increase in net income. Net sales rose 7% to $113.69 million from $106.57 million.