Corporate Governance

Macy’s views omnichannel as Q4 advantage
Macy’s third quarter sales were lower than expected but the company still managed to grow profits by 30% and expressed optimism regarding the fourth quarter.

The department store retailer said same store sales declined 0.7% while total sales declined 1.3% to slightly less than $6.2 billion during the third quarter ended Nov. 1. Net income increased 22.5% to $217 million while earnings per share, aided by the repurchase of nine million shares, increased 30% to 61 cents a share.
JCPenney narrows loss, sales unexpectedly fall
Plano, Texas -– Amid restrained consumer spending and warmer weather that dulled sales of seasonal merchandise, JCPenney Co. Inc. managed to shrink its third quarter net loss more than Wall Street expected in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, but missed projections with weaker-than-expected net sales.

Chelsea Bagel leases second Manhattan location

New York City -- Chelsea Bagel, operating on West 14th Street for the past five years, has leased its second Manhattan location.
Body Central adds apparel expertise

Veteran apparel merchant Celia Clancy spent time at Bradlees, Walmart and TJX Companies. Now she is the newest member of struggling specialty retailer Body Central’s board of directors.
Birchbox launches in Canada

New York -- Online beauty retailer Birchbox is launching in Canada, marking the sixth country the company has expanded to since launching in the United States in Sept. 2010. Since our launch in 2010, we’ve had tens of thousands of customer inquiries regarding shipping to Canada,” says Birchbox co-Founder and co-CEO Katia Beauchamp. “So we’re thrilled to finally bring Birchbox north of the border.”
Kronos to release gamification feature in Workforce Central suite
Survey: Half of consumers oppose all-day Thanksgiving store hours

Cincinnati –- Half of all consumers dislike the idea of all-day Thanksgiving store shopping hours, although younger consumers are more open to it. According to a survey of 1,001 U.S. consumers by loyalty services provider Loyalty One, 50% say all-day shopping hours on Thanksgiving Day are a bad idea that detracts from the traditional celebration.
Survey: Declining prices at the pump may increase holiday sales

Alexandria, Va. — Declining gas prices may increase holiday spending this year—especially among men and those ages 18-34, according to a new national survey on consumer optimism conducted by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS).
Survey: More men buying groceries, not happy

Chicago -– The perception of men as not enjoying the process of grocery shopping may have some truth to it. More men are grocery shopping for themselves or their families now than in the past, but they’re not happy about it, reports The NPD Group.
Intersection of Opposites: An inspired approach to shopping center design

By Ahsin Rasheed

Macy’s views omnichannel as Q4 advantage

JCPenney narrows loss, sales unexpectedly fall

Chelsea Bagel leases second Manhattan location

Body Central adds apparel expertise

Birchbox launches in Canada

Kronos to release gamification feature in Workforce Central suite

Survey: Half of consumers oppose all-day Thanksgiving store hours

Survey: Declining prices at the pump may increase holiday sales

Survey: More men buying groceries, not happy

Intersection of Opposites: An inspired approach to shopping center design