Strategy

The earlier Easter holiday put a damper on traffic at L Brands’ stores, which reported a 1% drop in same store sales for May.

But the retailer reported an overall 1% increase in sales to $724.6 million for the four weeks ended May 2, compared to net sales of $717.6 million for the four weeks ended May 3, 2014. The company reported net sales of $2.512 billion for the 13 weeks ended May 2, an increase of 5% compared to sales of $2.391 billion for the 13 weeks ended May 3, 2014. Same store sales for the 13 weeks ended May 2, increased 5%.

New York -- H&M will open its largest store in the world, in Manhattan’s Herald Center, on May 20. The 63,000-sq.-ft. store, located at the southwest corner of 34th Street where Broadway and Avenue of the Americas converge, will be the fast-fashion giant’s 13th location in Manhattan. To celebrate opening day, music superstar John Legend will perform and cut the ribbon and twenty lucky winners will be chosen at random for a meet and greet.

New York -- Off-price retailer Loehmann's announced that Jeffrey Cripe is joining the Loehmann's advisory board, as the company builds its online marketplace. Founded in 1921, the company closed its brick-and-mortar stores after its bankruptcy in 2013. Now under new ownership, the brand is being expanded online.

Shedding light on how Walmart plans to achieve digital and physical balance in its supply chain this week was Tracy Rosser, the retailer’s senior vice president of transportation and supply chain.

Speaking at an Institute for Supply Management conference in Phoenix, Rosser elaborate on Walmart’s plans to blend its traditional pallet drive supply chain focused on serving large format stores with new distribution challenges driven by shoppers evolving fulfillment expectations. T

Phoenix -- Big Shopping Centers USA and Red Development have announced a joint venture partnership to maximize market presence and performance of select U.S. retail properties in the Midwest and West. The alliance seeks to acquire established, first-tier community, lifestyle and power centers with strong tenant line-ups and sales figures that are well positioned in markets throughout the United States.

H&M is making a big statement in Manhattan.

The Swedish fast fashion retailer will open its largest store in the world, in Manhattan’s Herald Center, on May 20.

Stein Mart says customers responded very positively to its spring assortment, boosting same store sales for the chain up nearly 5%.

The Florida-based company, which is planning an aggressive expansion plan for 2015, says total sales for the quarter increased 7.5%.

"We are very pleased with the response our customers are having to our spring assortment," said Jay Stein, Chief Executive Officer. "Our first quarter 4.8 percent comparable store sales increase continues the trend we saw at the end of last year and is a great way to start the year."

Whole Foods Market set another sales record in the second quarter – but that’s not enough for the grocery chain, which announced it is launching a new store concept targeted to the Millennial shopper.