Direct To Consumer (DTC)

RSR has been tracking retailers' e-commerce strategies for more than five years. During that time we’ve seen interest in a major platform refresh, the introduction of mobile and social as e-commerce considerations, as well as convergence – where retailers increasingly view mobile and other non-commerce online activities in the context of their overall "digital" strategy, with their e-commerce platform as the centerpiece.

The retail industry is not lacking for new concepts — new players are constantly entering the market, both online and offline. But breaking through and establishing a record of success is another matter entirely. In this special section, Chain Store Age presents the winners of its first-ever Breakout Retailer Awards, brands that have crossed the “newbie” line and are on track for growth in the coming years.

Online delivery service Instacart may be deepening its relationship with organic grocer Whole Foods, but is still keeping its options open.

Instacart is now delivering goods from Landover, Maryland-based supermarket chain Giant Food to Washington, D.C., residents. Responding to customer requests, Giant is now offering home delivery via Instacart in as little as an hour to customers throughout Washington, D.C.

Soon Canadian technology enthusiasts will have a new, faster option for fulfilling online purchases.

Digital computer and electronics retailer Newegg is opening a physical pickup center at its warehouse in Vancouver. In September 2015, Newegg sought to decrease the time and cost associated with order fulfillment to customers in Western Canada with the opening of its Vancouver warehouse.

Adding the pickup center now gives customers in the Vancouver area the chance to fulfill their orders the same day, with no delivery fee.

DSW Inc. says strong sales in the fourth quarter show that its growth strategy is working, and the retailer says it plans to open at least 34 new stores this year.

For the fourth quarter ended Jan. 30, the company reported a profit of $11.8 million, or 14 cents a share, down from $30.8 million, or 34 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 5% to $672 million. Same-store sales increased 0.7%.

Less than a month after Hudson’s Bay Company brought Saks Fifth Avenue to Canadian shoppers, the company this month is opening the first of 25 planned Saks Off 5th stores.

Three new Saks Off 5th stores are scheduled to open on March 17 in Vaughan Mills, Halton Hills and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The openings will allow Canadians to experience the ultimate "thrill of the hunt" shopping that Saks Off 5th is renowned for, with access to the some of the best brands and fantastic finds, in a fun to shop store format,” according to the company.

Less than a month after Hudson’s Bay Company brought Saks Fifth Avenue to Canadian shoppers, the company this month is opening the first of 25 planned Saks Off 5th stores.

Three new Saks Off 5th stores are scheduled to open on March 17 in Vaughan Mills, Halton Hills and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The openings will allow Canadians to experience the ultimate "thrill of the hunt" shopping that Saks Off 5th is renowned for, with access to the some of the best brands and fantastic finds, in a fun to shop store format,” according to the company.

The CEO of Toys"R"Us says increases in same store sales and profit show that the company is on the right path toward strategic growth.

For the fourth quarter ended Jan. 30, the company earned $276 million, up from $265 million a year earlier. Revenue fell 2.6% to $4.9 billion. Same store sales increased 2.3%.

ModCloth is going on tour this summer.

The online apparel retailer known for its indie and vintage-inspired styles is launching the “ModCloth IRL (in real life) Tour,” a series of five pop-up shops.

The IRL shops are modeled after ModCloth’s first-ever physical outpost, a pop-up in San Francisco. The store opened last July and is due to close March 26.