Strategy

New York -- Lane Bryant has announced the opening of three new stores and one relocation of an existing store.

The specialty apparel retailer plans to open a new store in the Miracle Mile Shopping Center in Monroeville, Pa., on Oct. 25, with the grand opening running through the weekend.

Lane Bryant also plans to open a new store at Rushmore Crossing in Rapid City, S.D. on Oct. 25, with the grand opening continuing through Sunday.

New York -- Amazon.com narrowed its loss in the third quarter and posted a better-than-expected 25% increase in sales. The online giant reported a net loss of $41 million, down from $274 million in the year-ago period, in line with expectations.

Amazon reported revenue of $17.1 billion, beating expectations by about 2% on strong sales growth, particularly in the U.S. market.

Competition from digital entertainment providers may be on the rise, but with an installed base of 43,600 locations, rental activity at Redbox hit a new high in the third quarter and generated traffic for retail partners in the process.

Phoenix — The metropolitan Phoenix retail market ended the third quarter with a retail vacancy rate at 10.5%, down nearly a full point from 11.3% a year ago, according to CBRE’s Phoenix Retail MarketView report for the third quarter.

The market recorded positive absorption of 385,625 sq. ft. for the quarter and so far this year has absorbed 1.1 million sq. ft.

Atlanta -- Among the affluent households, the average expenditure for December holiday gifts in 2013 is estimated to be $2,175 down 2.8% from 2012, according to a new survey of the wealthiest 10% of U.S. households by the American Affluence Research Center. However, affluent households spent in 2012 almost 7% more than they had anticipated in the 2012 survey, supporting the premise that people often tend to spend more for gifts than they had planned.
 

Winston-Salem, N.C. — Krispy Kreme has announced the grand opening of a new Doughnut Factory in Doraville, Ga., for Oct. 29. The first 100 guests in line will receive free doughnuts for a year and commemorative T-shirts. The newly constructed, freestanding 2,300-sq.-ft. store includes a drive-through.

Today, Krispy Kreme operates more than 785 locations in 22 countries around the world.

The Walmart Foundation gave $2.5 million to Share Our Strength to help the hunger relief organization educate people about eating healthy on a budget.

New York -- Sephora announced Thursday that Calvin McDonald has been named president and CEO of Sephora Americas, effective Jan. 1, 2014.

McDonald, who previously served as president and CEO of Sears Canada, succeeds David Suliteanu.

Suliteanu, who has helmed Sephora Americas since July 2000, will become CEO of Kendo Brands, which is owned by Sephora's parent, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA.