Direct To Consumer (DTC)

H-E-B is blazing another new trail in the online grocery market with a special holiday promotion.

The Texas-based grocery chain is hosting 12 Days of Deals, online only, Dec. 5 through Dec. 16. Each day, HEB says, it will feature a doorbuster deal with something for everyone, from TVs and toys, to crockpots and coolers.

Many fashion brands today have ambitious goals to become the next industry disruptor but too few focus on the steps to achieve it. Indeed, most retailers recognize they can’t access the information they need to give their customers the experiences they desire today. Nor do they have a clear view into their inventory or order management system to deliver a complete customer journey.

J.Crew Group didn’t get any relief in its third quarter. On the heels of another decrease in sales and a widening loss, the company is bringing in a former Ann Inc. executive to help turn things around.

J.Crew posted a net loss for the third quarter of $759.7 million, compared to a loss of $607.8 million in the year ago period. (The retailer noted that both this year and last year reflect the impact of pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges of $845.9 million and $684.0 million, respectively.)

Amazon drones may still be in the future, but Amazon trucks are ready now.

According to Re/Code, Amazon.com has purchased thousands of trailers that it will deploy in shipments along its supply chain, but not to customer homes. The branded trailers storing Amazon merchandise will be pulled by tractor trucks provided by existing third-party transportation partners.

These shipments will occur between Amazon fulfillment centers and other internal fulfillment centers or sortation centers. At least for now, Amazon trailers will not be used for any customer deliveries.

A pullback in promotions, reduced catalog circulation, and unseasonably warm weather helped make for a very disappointing third quarter for Lands' End, whose effort to turnaround its business is having trouble taking hold.

The apparel retailer's sales fell 10% to $334.4 million in the quarter ended Oct. 31, compared to $373.1 million last year.

Net income fell 41% to $10.7 million, compared to $18 million in the third quarter last year.

Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th continues to expand north of the border.

The off-price retailer and Ivanhoé Cambridge announced an agreement to bring four new Saks Off 5th locations to Canada. The stores, the brand’s first in their respective markets, will open in four Ivanhoé Cambridge shopping centers: Tsawwassen Mills, Tsawwassen, B.C., Outlet Collection Winnipeg; Place Ste-Foy, Quebec City; and Montreal Eaton Centre, Montreal.

Here are the details on the four locations:

U.S. retailers looking for a new source of revenue may be in luck.

The number of China-based consumers shopping U.S. brands online during the holiday season has increased seven times from 2014, which is a record level according to Ant Financial Services Group’s Alipay. Alipay also found that total sales from China-based consumers purchasing U.S. products with its Alipay ePass cross-border e-commerce solution increased 15 times from the prior year.

Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th continues to expand north of the border.