Direct To Consumer (DTC)

Los Angeles – Accepting an online order and then cancelling it due to inventory shortages is probably the most damaging customer interaction an omnichannel retailer can have. Vertical specialty footwear retailer Chinese Laundry, which operates a direct-to-consumer website as well as two stores in Las Vegas and one in Canoga Park, California, is well aware of this problem.

Seattle - Amazon.com continues tweaking its shipping policies. A week after offering free same-day delivery for members of its Amazon Prime loyalty program in select cities, the retailer is now offering all customers free shipping on lightweight items in a program called Fulfillment by Amazon Small and Light.

The eligible goods include cosmetics and mobile phone accessories. There is no minimum purchase requirement, and membership in Amazon Prime, which offers free shipping on all purchases, is not required.

St. Petersburg – HSN Inc. is partnering with the Card Services division of Alliance Data Systems Corp. (ADS) to provide private label credit card services for its Cornerstone business unit. Alliance Data will develop loyalty-driven card programs for five of Cornerstone's seven multichannel brands -- Ballard Designs, Frontgate, Garnet Hill, Grandin Road and Improvements – each incorporating a tailored approach for their unique customer base.

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores is signing up for a new e-commerce product from Pinterest that allows users to shop in a whole new way.

Fort Wayne, Ind. - Vera Bradley, Inc. announced that Theresa Palermo has been named executive VP, CMO, effective June 22.

Dallas - Donald T. Grimes will be joining Neiman Marcus Group as executive VP, COO and CFO. Grimes will succeed Jim Skinner, who will continue to be part of the company’s management team in the newly created role of vice chairman, Neiman Marcus Group.

Cincinnati -- George Zimmer, the founder and former head of Men’s Wearhouse, is back with a new business, called ZTailors, that will enable customers to order on-demand tailors to provide alterations. Using the service’s website or app, customers can schedule a tailor to come to their home or office to take the necessary measurements, with the altered items returned in several days.  

“It’s Uber for tailors,” Zimmer told the New York Times.

Dollar Tree has agreed to sell 330 of its stores to the private-equity firm Sycamore Partners in order to get regulatory approval for its $8.5 billion purchase of Family Dollar.

Sycamore Partners intends to operate the 330 stores, which represent approximately $45.5 million of operating income for Family Dollar, under the Dollar Express banner.