Retail

New York – Barnes & Noble reported decreases in revenue for both its retail and Nook segments during the nine-week 2013 holiday season as compared to the same period in the prior year. The retail segment, which consists of the Barnes & Noble bookstores and BN.com, had revenues of $1.1 billion, decreasing 6.6% from the prior year.

Former Sam’s Club merchant Jason Reiser just got his second promotion in seven months at Family Dollar and now the newly anointed chief merchandising officer has to restore sales growth at the retailer’s 8,000 stores.

Union, N.J. -- Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.’s third quarter net earnings rose to $237.2 million, less than Wall Street expected, from $232.8 million in the year-ago period, as higher costs and expenses impacted sales growth. The company trimmed its full-year earnings outlook.

Revenue for the three months ended Nov. 30 rose 6% to $2.87 billion, from $2.7 billion. Same-store sales increased 1.3%.

With a new year come new challenges and opportunities. As consumer patterns continue to evolve, so must retailers and their supply chain operations, influenced by technological advancements and other external factors. Coming off a modestly successful holiday shopping season, retailers are geared up for 2014 and prepared to address what promise to be the top five challenges of 2014.

Omnichannel

Naples, Fla. - Retail and consumer products industry veterans Vince Burke, Jim Gillis and Rich Juliano have founded of the Burke Gillis Juliano Group, a global consultancy focused on the supermarket, mass retail, convenience, drug and specialty retail trade channels. Burke Gillis Juliano Group offers executive management, market strategy, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, business development, product marketing, trade relations and related services to retailers, suppliers and vendors in the U.S. and globally.

In partnership with PlaceWise Media, CBL & Associates Properties has launched websites with technology that connects retailers and customers at 27 of its malls.

The technology collects deals offered by retailers and puts them in front of shoppers via smartphones and tablets. It provides every retailer and restaurant in a mall with an online presence that enables each to engage local customers.

New York -- Polaroid Fotobar will open an 8,500-sq.-ft. flagship at The LINQ, a new retail, dining and entertainment district in Las Vegas by Caesars Entertainment.

The retail format made its debut in 2013, with  three stores in Florida ( Delray Beach, Orlando and Miami). Upcoming plans include another location in Florida, in Boca Raton.

Tennis is an individual game, and tennis players have individual tastes when it comes to buying gear and apparel. For Houston-based Tennis Express, a specialty retailer of tennis equipment, apparel, footwear and accessories, segmenting customers in order to better meet their individual needs and tastes is shaping up to be a winning effort.