Corporate Governance

Off-pricers in big expansion push
Forget about online. The biggest threat to Macy’s and other department store retailers is coming from bricks-and-mortar. Speaking at a recent conference in New York City, Macy's CFO Karen Hoguet said off-price retailers have proven a bigger long-term challenge to the company than the Internet, CNBC reported.
DHL expands its breadth to accommodate omnichannel retailers
DHL is helping high-volume retailers speed up “the last mile” of their omnichannel shopping experience. DHL eCommerce, a division of logistics company Deutsche Post DHL Group, is expanding the functionality of its fulfillment centers in Columbus, Ohio, and Riverside, California. Specifically, the logistics company is investing in storage and mechanization to support the growing needs of its U.S.-based e-commerce retail partners that ship between 300 and 15,000 orders per day. They will also manage both B2C and B2B transactions.

Home decor brand bolsters offering through predictive analytics

With increased competition in the home furnishings category heats up, Pier 1 Imports wants to feature better assortments and pricing decisions to attract and retain shoppers. The retailer is adopting a new predictive analytics solution from First Insight, which is designed to help it make quicker and more accurate design, buying and pricing decisions, as well as evaluate opportunities for new product launches.
Two states accounted for nearly 30% of grocery store openings last year

The Lone Star State and Golden State are ripe areas for grocery store expansion. In 2016, more than 440 grocery stores opened in the United States, adding 18.8 million sq. ft. of space. And 27% of those stores opened in two states: Texas and California. That’s according to JLL’s latest Grocery Tracker JLL’s latest Grocery explores four trends transforming the grocery shopping sector.
Home furnishings giant plugs in another fuel cell system

Ikea continues to grow its U.S. renewable energy portfolio, with a goal of being energy independent by 2020. The retailer has completed installation of its fifth biogas-powered fuel cell system in California – and in the country – at its East Palo Alto location in the San Francisco Bay area.
Party City buys franchise stores

Party City Holdco Inc. is increasing its corporate-owned store count. The company has entered into an agreement to acquire a master franchise group representing 18 franchise stores in North Carolina and South Carolina for a purchase price of $31 million. Prior to the acquisition, the company’s retail operations included 765 company-owned Party City stores and 164 franchise stores.
Discounter on hunt for new chief merchandiser

The chief merchandising officer of Dollar General Corp. is retiring. The retailer announced that James “Jim” W. Thorpe, executive VP and chief merchandising officer, will retire from Dollar General effective April 15, 2017. Dollar General said it has started a search for a successor and will consider both internal and external candidates for the job.
Dollar General beats Street; to open 1,000 stores and hike store managers pay

Dollar General on Thursday reported better-than-expected fourth quarter sales and earnings and said it planned to raise compensation and increase training for store managers. The discounter also said it plans to open approximately 1,000 stores and remodel or relocate 900 existing stores in fiscal 2017.
The Science Behind Successful Online Gifting & What To Avoid To Protect Your Brand

People love to give gifts.
Williams-Sonoma Q4 profit tops Street

Williams Sonoma Inc. on Wednesday reported adjusted fourth-quarter earnings above expectations and said its board of directors authorized a dividend increase. In a separate announcement, the company said Sandra Stangl, president of its Pottery Barn brands, will resign from the company March 31. http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/leadership-changes-home-furnishings-retailer
Leadership changes at home furnishings retailer

New leaders are set to take the reins at Pottery Barn and its sister brands. The company announced that Sandra Stangl, president of Pottery Barn Brands, which includes Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and PBTeen, is resigning from the company on March 31, 2017, after 23 years of service.
Gifting retailer unloads product line, but gains new business partner

1-800-Flowers.com’s latest business move puts the company in a strategic position to more cost-effectively expand its assortment. The gifting retailer said Wednesday that Ferrero International S.A will acquire the company’s Fannie May Confections Brands, including its subsidiaries Fannie May Confections and Harry London Candies.