Department Store

There has been a great deal of discussion and analysis in recent years regarding the ongoing struggles of many traditional department store giants. Brands like Sears, J.C. Penney and Macy’s are scratching and clawing to continue to stay afloat, together with a number of big-box retailers that are also struggling to remain competitive in an evolving retail marketplace.

A strong report on Friday from the Labor Department shows that retail employment was up 51,100 jobs in February on the heels of a gain of 52,100 in January.

Compared with February 2015, retail jobs were up by 247,300. The numbers exclude gasoline stations, automobiles and restaurants.

Ross Dress for Less announced three new stores, part of the retailer’s 2016 expansion program, which calls for 70 new locations.

Ross will open a new store and relocate a store in Mobile, Alabama on March 5. The new 25,000-sq.-ft. West Mobile store is located in Westwood Plaza, one mile east of the Mobile Regional Airport. The Mobile location is a 25,000-sq-ft. store that relocated into the McGowin Park East Shopping Center at the southeast corner of Interstate 65 and Highway 90.

Zara has opened an eco-friendly flagship in the heart of Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood. It is the Spanish retailer’s eight location in Manhattan.

Market Track compared retail circular advertising in February 2016 vs. February 2015 and noted trends occurring across top retail chains.

Kohl’s added four comparable circulars in February 2016, promoting mainly short duration sales like “50% Two-Day Sale,” “Doorbusters,” and “Make a Point to Shop.” They attempted to leverage their rewards program with 3X the points during the “Make a Point to Shop” sales.

While the phrase gateway markets can be a little bit nebulous – and different people have different ideas about the exact list of cities that qualify – the term is well understood to refer to large mature cities with a track record of population growth, great demographics and a strong and diverse economic foundation.

Kohl’s announced it donated more than $51 million in 2015 through various charitable efforts and programs.

The donations include nearly $16 million in corporate grants through Kohl’s premier associate volunteer program and approximately $19 million donated through Kohl’s Cares® cause merchandise, in addition to other philanthropic giving.

Warm weather was a problem for most retailers in the fourth quarter, but Houston-based Stage Stores also got hit by weakness in the energy sector and the Mexican Peso.