Target, Inc.

Minneapolis -- Target on Wednesday reported a net loss of $2.6 billion (pre-tax loss of $5.1 billion) in its fourth quarter due to the impact of its exit from Canada, compared to a $520 million gain year-ago period. However, the chain’s adjusted earnings came in at $1.50 per share, beating Wall Street estimates of $1.46 per share.

Target’s sales increased 4.1% to $21.8 billion, also better than expected, on increased store traffic and online growth. It was the chain’s best sales growth in three years.

Target’s better than expected 3.8% fourth quarter same store sales increase softened the sting of a massive $5.1 billion charge the company said it would take related to its retreat from Canada.

If we wanted to show the struggles of the classic American mall, I don’t think we could come up with a better example than Northland Mall in Southfield, Michigan. When it opened in 1954, Northland was an instant hit: an icon not only for the region, but for the nation. One of the first and largest open air centers in the nation, Northland was enclosed in 1974 and today boasts space for 96 stores and nearly 1.5 million sq. ft. of retail.

Minneapolis – Target Corp. reportedly thinks having a range of organic products matters. According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Target has selected 31 new brands to participate in the second year of its “Made to Matter” program, which promotes new sustainable, organic and natural goods.

Target Corp. reportedly thinks having a range of organic products matters.

Minneapolis – Target Corp, has reportedly expanded the functionality of its mobile shopping app to allow users to directly add offers from its Cartwheel social couponing service from a list in the Target app. In addition, Mobile Commerce Daily reports the Target app now offers features including product descriptions, reviews and ratings.

Minneapolis – While some retailers have been raising their spending threshold for free shipping in the past year or so, Target Corp. is taking the opposite approach. Target now offers free shipping for orders of $25 or more. The retailer said the price cut follows an enthusiastic response to its free-shipping offer during the holiday shopping season.

That is half the $50 minimum Target previously required for free shipping. The free rate applies to standard shipments that take three to five business days to arrive.

Target is raising the stakes in the free online shipping game by undercutting not only Walmart but now also Amazon.com.

Target announced it has lowered the threshold for free shipping on online orders to $25, making it among the most competitive among major retailers. Its previous free-shipping minimum was $50, which placed it in the higher end of the spectrum.

By Shah Karim, Saferock

If it hasn't done so already, the consumer experience will undoubtedly include omnichannel shopping, mobile, and social media as part of what consumers do naturally. Based on this inevitable evolution of how customers engage with retailers, here are seven retail “megatrends” which will become reality by 2020.

Sears Holdings continues to lose money –- lots of it –- and same store sales declined again during the holidays, but the severity of the company’s losses have diminished, which has Chairman and CEO Edward Lampert believing further improvement is coming as the company transforms to what he calls “a leading integrated membership-focused company.”