Department Store

New York -- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. has entered into its biggest deal ever — and this one is in the brick-and-mortar arena.
 
The Internet giant has invested approximately $4.63 billion in Chinese consumer electronics retailer Suning, which operates more than 1,600 stores across 289 cities in China. The investment gives Alibaba a 19.9% stake, making it the second largest shareholder in the company.

In return, Suning will invest up to $2.28 billion to subscribe to new shares of Alibaba.

The rise of e-commerce has made life increasingly difficult for shopkeepers of every size and shape. The continuing shift to online shopping, and the failure of many retailers to adapt, has pushed many retail chains into bankruptcy. Radio Shack, Wet Seal and Deb Shops are just a few once-popular merchants that have declared Chapter 11 in recent years.

Seattle – Shoppers at select Nordstrom Inc. stores are seeing a new pop-up shop. Specialty eyewear retailer Warby Parker is operating pop-up shops at six Nordstrom locations around the country until Sept. 6, and also offering an e-commerce page on the Nordstrom site.

As part of the Pop-In@Nordstrom series of themed pop-up shops, Warby-Parker will offer Nordstrom customers a curated selection of frames, as well as four exclusive pairs of sunglasses and an assortment of literary-themed specialty items such as colored pencils and watercolor markers.

Off-price shop Stein Mart's strategy of just the right product, at just the right price, at just the right time seems to be working as the retailer reported another quarterly increase in same store sales.

Stein Mart Inc. reported rising total sales in the second quarter ended Aug. 1. Total sales for the quarter rose 4% to $311.6 million, from $298.1 million. Same store sales for the quarter rose 3%.

Henderson, Nev. -- Vestar recently completed a $120 million buyout from its joint venture partner, Rockwood Capital, to take full ownership and operations including property management, leasing and marketing of The District at Green Valley Ranch, a 37-acre, 384,107-sq.-ft. mixed-use center in Henderson, Nevada.  

Build-A-Bear's recent push to reinvigorate its fading brand seems to be working as the retailer reported a big increase in same store sales in the second quarter. 

Luxury handbags seem to be as common these days as smartphones, and therein lies the problem for rival brands Coach, Michael Kors and Kate Spade, who all reported quarterly results this week.

As these three luxury heavyweights battle it out against brand saturation and bored shoppers midway through the year, it seems as though only Kate Spade has all the right moves.

Some of the most creative minds in marketing, including some top retailers, were recognized recently when Experian Marketing Services held its inaugural #SuiteLife Awards.

Among the recipients of the #SuiteLife Awards, a play on Experian’s suite of marketing solutions, were American Eagle Outfitters, Neiman Marcus, Bass Pro Shops, Finish Line and Foot Locker. The awards were presented at Experian’s recently held marketing summit attended by more than 1,000 people in Las Vegas.