Apparel

New York –- For the upcoming holiday season, Macy’s is introducing the Holiday Arcade---in-store gifting shops that will launch at six Macy’s locations from late October through mid-November, including Macy’s South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Calif., Macy’s Union Square in San Francisco, Calif., Macy’s Dadeland in Miami, Fla., Macy’s State Street in Chicago, Macy’s Herald Square in Manhattan, N.Y., and Macy’s Center City in Philadelphia. 

New York -- Nordstrom came out on top in a ranking of luxury retailers by the Luxury Institute.    According to the group's 2014 Luxury Multichannel Engagement Index, Nordstrom had the highest incidence of customers spending online (26%) and in-store (45%). It also led in its share of total fashion spend (17%).   

America’s most affluent prefer Nordstrom’s brand of omnichannel retail over some of the biggest luxury retailers out there, according to a new study.

An organization called the Luxury Institute released findings from its 2015 Luxury Multichannel Engagement Index (LMEI) survey of large multi-brand retailers. Responders had a minimum annual income of $150,000, an average annual income of $318,000 and an average net worth of $3.1 million.

New York -- Shoppers plan to spend more during the upcoming holiday season with omnichannel shoppers having even higher spending expectations. According to Deloitte’s 29th annual holiday survey, total holiday spending is predicted to increase by 13% to $1,299 per household, including gifts, socializing away from home, entertaining at home, non-gift clothing for family or self, home/holiday furnishings, and any other holiday-related spending not in the other categories.  

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- Fifty-seven percent of consumers use their smartphones to assist shopping activities in store. According to new data from CFI Group's report "Holiday Shopping 2014: Shutting Down the Showroom Effect," which surveyed 1,000 U.S. consumers and is sponsored by EBay Enterprise, 60% of survey respondents compare retailer's prices to their online competitors, while 63% use their phones to check prices at other local stores.  

Milan, Italy –- Specialty eyewear retailer Luxottica Group S.P.A. reported increases in profit and revenue during the third quarter of fiscal 2014. Net income grew 10% to $259.2 million from $236.8 million in the third quarter of the prior fiscal year, while net sales rose 5% to $3.01 billion from $2.85 billion.  

Blue Nile, the original online jeweler, has added a couple of gems to its roster with Sloane Street and Lisa Jenks joining the ranks of the Blue Nile Designer Collective.

With technology products at the top of many wish lists this Christmas, The NPD Group’s top analyst covering the product category weighed in with a dozen expectations for the holiday season.

“The tech industry faces even more intense pricing and promotion than last year’s holiday shopping season,” said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD. “The challenge of surpassing the impressive start to last year’s holiday season will be addressed head-on by the market’s emphasis on competitive offerings.”