Direct To Consumer (DTC)

Corte Madera, Calif. – Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc., which is set to launch two businesses in its third quarter, had generally rewarding second quarter of fiscal 2015.

Net income rose 9% to $29.93 million from $27.25 million the same period a year earlier, with costs and expenses not growing at the same rate as sales.

Washington, D.C. - The National Retail Federation (NRF) is not backing down from its opposition to an expanded definition of “joint employer.”

The NRF is publicly asking Congress to pass legislation introduced this week that would reverse a recent National Labor Relations Board ruling that significantly broadens the definition of a joint employer.

According to the NRF, the move would unfairly make companies that work with franchise locations or subcontractors responsible for actions they do not control.

New York -- eBay is about to launch a shipping club that seems somewhat fashioned after Amazon Prime — but it’s not starting out in the United States.

The company will debut its shipping program in Germany, The Street reported. Called eBay Plus, it will reportedly cost 19.90 euros (about $22) a year and will allow buyers to receive certain orders within two days plus free returns.

New York -- Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant, was named “Retailer of the Year” at the World Retail Awards gala dinner in Rome, Italy.

Markdowns and the costs of expansion hurt Lululemon profits in the second quarter, but the athleisure retailer did post an impressive jump in same store sales.

Fast-fashion giant H&M is expanding its upscale store brand, Cos, in the United States.

New York -- While the use of technology in shopping is almost universal, brick-and-mortar stands strong, with the “omnishopper” choosing physical stores for better customer service and a faster, more social buying experience.

That’s one of the key findings of a report released on Wednesday by MasterCard, which notes that the continued appeal of physical retail might be a contributor to e-commerce’s relatively flat growth as a share of total retail sales (7.5% globally).

New York -- Fast-fashion giant H&M is expanding its upscale store brand, Cos, in the United States.

Cos, known for its minimalist-styled fashions, will open its first store in Boston, on Newbury Street on Sept. 25. The new space, the brand’s third location in the United States, will offer womenswear and menswear collections with 2,960 sq. ft. of sales area, spread across two floors.