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Strategy

  • Study: Sales associates not well-equipped to perform job

    Digital retailing is intensifying, yet retail associates still don’t have the technology they need to serve customers when they visit in-store.   That's according to “The 2017 Retail Associate Technology Study,” from Salesfloor. The report, which surveyed 254 North American retail associates across a variety of product categories, compensation models and store sizes, explores the connection between store-level employees and the technology they use to serve customers.   

  • Report: Office supplies giant names new CIO as it gears up for big initiative

    Staples named a new technology chief who is expected to step up the company’s IT initiatives.  

  • Things looking up at 99 Cents Only Stores

    The turnaround at extreme-value retailer 99 Cents Only Stores appears to be taking hold.   The retailer reported that net sales for its first quarter, ended April 28, increased 6.7% to $547.5 million, from $512.9 million in the year-ago period. Same-store sales increased 6.9%, with higher customer traffic of 4.2%, and a higher average ticket of 2.5%.  

  • Department store giant announces big job cuts as part of major restructuring

    Hudson's Bay Co., whose banners include Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor, has lowered the ax.  

  • Amazon lends more than $3 billion to third-party sellers

    Amazon’s lending program has hit epic proportions, with one-third of loans being granted in the last year, alone.   The online giant’s Amazon Lending program has surpassed $3 billion in loans to small businesses since the service launched in 2011. Specifically, Amazon has lent more than $1 billion to small businesses in the last 12 months, and more than 20,000 small businesses have received a loan from Amazon.  

  • Ikea expands breadth through third-party sales

    Ikea is getting in on the online marketplace game.   The home furnishings giant is embarking on a test that will focus on selling its products on websites other than its own. This move will get merchandise in front of more online customers, according to Reuters.  

  • Analyst: Across the board adoption of Amazon Prime not imminent

    Approximately 80% of low-income households will not opt for Amazon's new discounted Prime program.    That's according to a broadlines and hardlines retail report by Gordon Haskett Research Advisors analyst Chuck Grom, which looks at Amazon, Walmart, Dollar General and Dollar Tree as Amazon announced discounted Prime membership for those on federal assistance. Here are excerpts from Grom's report:   

  • Industry Commentary: Nordstrom

    Greg Portell, lead partner in the retail practice of A.T. Kearney, a global strategy and management consulting firm, answers a few questions regarding the news that Nordstrom may go private.    What does this move mean for Nordstrom — how might it play out?  
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