Direct To Consumer (DTC)

Merrillville, Ind. – Buying club DirectBuy is launching its My Rewards loyalty program. The program allows DirectBuy members to earn My Rewards points by purchasing products from select brands who otherwise would not be able to offer merchandise through DirectBuy because of their minimum resale pricing (MRP) policies.

Pittsburgh - American Eagle Outfitters Inc. continues its global expansion with new license agreements in South Korea with SK Networks Co. Ltd.; in Singapore with Trendz 360 Pte. Ltd.; and in Greece with Notos Com Holdings S.A. Stores will begin opening in mid-2015, and American Eagle currently expects to open approximately 40 licensed stores in fiscal 2015

The CEO of Urban Outfitters sounded a positive note about the company's omnichannel strategy despite reporting mixed financial results in the first quarter.

Online grocery delivery service Instacart has had to add boats to its fleet of vehicles now that the growing company has decided to launch in Miami.

Customers in Miami can now order from Whole Foods Market, Costco, Winn-Dixie, BJ'S Wholesale Club and Petco stores and have everything delivered by Instacart in as little as one hour. Instacart customers do not need a Costco or BJ's membership to shop from those stores.

Philadelphia – Urban Outfitters Inc. missed Wall Street expectations for net income, sales and same-store sales during the first quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income fell 12% to $32.78 millio,n from $37.48 million the same quarter a year earlier.

Lower margins and higher delivery and fulfillment expense helped drive down net income. Sales reached a record high of $739 million, up 8% from $686.31 million, but still fell short of Wall Street expectations. Same-store sales rose 4%.

New York -- Surging rents in Manhattan have claimed another victim, and this time it's one of the city's most iconic retail establishments. F.A.O. Schwarz will close its legendary toy store on Fifth Avenue this summer, citing the high and rising costs of operating a store on one of the city's most pricey blocks of real estate. Toys "R" Us, which acquired F.A.O. Schwarz in 2009, said it will close the 45,000-sq.-ft.

Surging rents in Manhattan have claimed another victim, and this time it's one of the city's most iconic retail establishments.

Vancouver -- Fast-growing Canadian online footwear retailer Shoes.com has reported record first quarter. In its first quarterly financial report since consolidating three online businesses under one platform, the company reported an increase in gross revenue of 89% to $60 million and a 129% increase in revenue from repeat customers.

Gross profit margins remained robust at 44%.

Fast-growing retailer shoes.com is on track to generate $300 million in sales after reporting a blockbuster first quarter.

In its first quarterly financial report since consolidating three online businesses under one platform, the company reported an increase in gross revenue of 89% to a record $60 million and a 129% increase in revenue from repeat customers. Gross profit margins remained robust at 44%.

Bentonville, Ark. – Walmart will test a free online shipping service in summer 2015 that will serve as a competitor to the Amazon Prime service from Amazon.com. The service will only cost $50 for a year’s subscription, as compared to $99 for Amazon Prime.