Strategy

New York -- Target Corp. is responding to customers frustrated by their inability to buy items from the chain’s Lilly Pulitzer collection. The limited-edition line went live in the stores and online Sunday morning, with most of the items selling out within minutes.

New York -- Simply Fashion Stores Ltd. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and announced plans to liquidate nearly all of its assets. In its filing, it noted that the “exact plan” for the future of the company is still being refined.

The Birmingham, Alabama-based urban fashion retailer, which caters mostly to African-American women, operates some 250 stores in 25 states.

In an article that appeared in National Real Estate Investor (NREI) Online on April 10, author Elaine Misonzhnik describes the recent store closure announcements from Walgreens and Pier 1 as part of a larger pattern of retailers “pursuing portfolio optimization and an omnichannel approach.” While I generally agree with that statement — and with the notion that increasing pressure from online sales growth is contributing to a more competitive brick-and-mortar environment — I was reminded once again of just how different the dynamics behind store closings can be.

Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing (ECRM) just did an unconventional acquisition to provide the company with a new source of growth by applying its successful model of connecting buyers and sellers to the media world.

Video game retailer GameStop is lending its support to Ronald McDonald Houses by donating 180 free PlayStations.

The retailer, in conjunction with Sony Computer Entertainment America, says it plans to donate a PlayStation 4 gaming bundle to all Ronald McDonald Houses in the United States.

Sportsman's Warehouse is resorting to a cash giveaway to ensure a strong crowd at its newest store as it expands in Oregon. 

To celebrate the grand opening, the first 200 families through the door will receive a free Sportsman's Warehouse $20 gift card and Sportsman's Warehouse hat. When the doors open at the Sportsman’s Warehouse in Klamath Falls, Ore., the store will be the retailer’s sixth location in the state of Oregon.

The Tile Shop had good results for its first fiscal quarter of 2015, with double-digit sales growth and steady progress in other key areas. But with the housing market rebounding, one may wonder why sales weren't even stronger.

HSN is leveraging the 30-year career of designer Sigrid Olsen to launch a multi-platform marketing campaign.

The retailer is producing a show on HSN with Olsen that premieres this month to coincide with the debut of the Spring 2015 collection of her first women's fashion line since 2008. The show is just one facet of a campaign on social media, mobile and online.

TargetExpress, the retailer’s newest and smallest format store yet, is now open in San Francisco and Berkeley and designed with local city dwellers in mind.

The 12,000-square-foot Berkeley store, a former Walgreens, and the San Francisco location, 18,000 square feet and housed on Bush Street in the financial district, feature a refined and modern concept. With an edgy design, high ceilings and commissioned artwork and custom graphics, MBH architects created a shopping environment that will attract loyal Target customers and on-the-go millennials.

Sam’s Club has strengthened the value proposition of its membership offering with a new range of high value services designed to differentiate it from Costco while fending off competition from well-capitalized online startup Jet.com.