Strategy

At Home, the fast-growing home decor and accessories retailer, continues to grow its store presence.   The retailer has opened its first Massachusetts location, in Seekonk. It's one of 25 stores the chain will open this year.    

Consumers are very excited about shopping at German discount grocer Lidl — even though they have never set foot inside one of the company's stores before.    Lidl's upcoming entry into North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia could remove $1 billion in local sales in the medium term, according to a report by global consulting firm Oliver Wyman which surveyed consumers in the three states cited above. It reveals that consumers are overwhelmingly excited about trying Lidl.   

Eager to strengthen operations across its enterprise, Supervalu is moving to the cloud.   Through a strategic relationship with Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS), the grocery company is replacing its mainframe technology infrastructure with a new mainframe platform that will offer cloud, back-up, and other solutions and services. The new configuration is designed to improve operations across the independent retailers it supports.   

The clear signal sent by these first quarter numbers is that J. Crew is a company in trouble. As much as the business is used to decline, the accelerated pace of deterioration, as evidenced by the 6.3% drop in overall sales and the 12% fall in J. Crew comparables, is worrying. That this weakness comes off the back of negative prior year numbers suggests that the company has not yet reached rock bottom.  

Out-of-state Web-based retailers are taking a stand against paying sales tax in the state of Massachusetts.   According to a directive from the Department of Revenue, any online retailer vendor headquartered outside of the state is required to register, collect and remit sales tax. In Massachusetts, this is 6.25%. The directive applies to companies that sold more than $500,000 annually in the state and made sales for in-state delivery in 100 or more transactions.  

Sears Canada isn't sure about its ability to remain a going concern.   The struggling retailer on Tuesday said it doesn't have enough cash flow over the next 12 months to meet its its obligations, and warned that it may have to restructure or be sold.  The company cited a "very challenging environment," and noted it has had recurring operating losses and negative cash flows from operating activities in the last five fiscal years, with net losses beginning in 2014.    

Sears Holdings is reducing headcount as part of its ongoing effort to deliver $1.25 billion in annualized cost reductions. It's also losing a key online executive.   Sears is eliminating some 400 full-time jobs at its corporate offices, in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and from its support functions. In addition, certain positions at the chain's field operations will be impacted. The eliminated jobs represent less than half a percent of the 140,000 full-time and part-time employees Sears had as of the end of January.  

J. Crew's troubles showed no sign of easing in the first quarter as the retailer posted its 11th consecutive quarter of same-store sales declines.    Total sales fell 6.3% to $532 million in the quarter, ended April 29. Total same-store sales fell 9%.   By brand, J. Crew sales decreased 11% to $428.5 million; same-store sales fell 12%. Madewell sales increased 17% to $84.7 million; same-store sales increased 10%.