Corporate Governance

Knowing efficient in-store fulfillment is key to omnichannel success, Browns Shoes has just taken a big step toward optimizing these orders.      Browns Shoes, a family-owned business established in Montreal in 1940, owns and operates more than 60 retail stores throughout Canada. When the retailer merged its e-commerce channel with its brick-and-mortar operations, Browns was ready to use its retail network as another fulfillment avenue.   

Amid slumping first quarter sales, Signet Jewelers on Thursday announced the first phase of the strategic outsourcing of its in-house credit program, in partnerships with Alliance Data and Progressive Leasing, a subsidiary of Aaron's.  

Walmart is on fire in grocery and capturing a bigger share from traditional supermarkets.   That's according to Loop Capital analyst Andrew Wolf, who estimates Walmart currently has a 21.5% market share in the U.S. traditional grocery market, reported CNBC.   "Wal-Mart is taking back share from the traditional supermarket at an accelerating rate," Wolf said.  

Ulta Beauty came out of the first quarter starting gate strong, with earnings that easily topped Wall Street estimates and big increases in store and online sales.       While online sales are growing at a fast pace, the beauty products and services retailer isn't slowing down its store growth. It said it will open 100 new stores in its current fiscal year.    

Sephora is all about offering top-notch service to its customers — even its business partners.   According to the Incentive Research Foundation and Incentive Gift Card Council, business-to-business (B2B) gifting is becoming more prevalent across U.S. companies, as they spend $22.7 billion per year on gift cards. Sephora’s new partnership will enable the company to claim a bigger portion of this market share.  

Twenty retail executives traveled to the nation's capitol on Wednesday to voice their opposition to the proposed border adjustment tax (BAT).   

Advance Auto Parks turned in a disappointing performance in its first quarter.   The chain reported earnings of $1.46 per share, down from $2.16 per share in the year-ago period. Adjusted EPS was $1.60, far short of the $2.16 per share FactSet consensus.   

A tough February couldn't keep Tilly's down, which reported better-than-expected results for its first quarter.    The teen apparel and footwear retailer narrowed its loss in the first quarter to $161,000, or 1 cent a share, compared with a net loss of $2.7 million, or 10 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Its results were better than expected.    Net sales inched up 0.6% to $120.9 million, better easily beating the Street. Same-store sales rose 0.6%.  

Start your engines: Ace Café, a motorcycle and car-themed chain, has parked itself in downtown Orlando.     The 35,000-sq-ft. entertainment, dining and retail destination is the first North American location of the London-based brand and the sixth Ace Cafe in the world. Ace Cafe Orlando spans two floors and features a full-service restaurant, four bars, a coffee bar, a stage, a mezzanine that overlooks the main floor dining area and stage, and private and semi-private spaces for groups.  

Amazon is beefing up the team responsible for its grocery store concept.    According to a job description on LinkedIn, the company is looking for an "innovative" store designer to join its Amazon Go ACE (Architecture, Construction & Engineering) team. The ideal candidate, according to the posting, is a "self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment and has a deep passion for innovative retail design."