Direct To Consumer (DTC)

San Francisco -- DHgate, an e-commerce marketplace focused on cross-border trade of Chinese goods, will provide its U.S. buyers with a consumer-rated protection plan and repair service through SquareTrade. The partnership makes SquareTrade protection plans immediately available for cell phones, tablets, computers, MP3/4 players, home audio/video and other consumer electronics products.   

New York -- The cat is finally out of the bag. Former J.C. Penney CEO and Apple retail head Ron Johnson confirmed that he is launching a new company—but it’s not a tech-gadget delivery service as was widely rumored. Instead,  the new initiative, set to launch in 2015,  is designed to help online hoppers make the right product choices.  

By Bill Bishop, Brick Meets Click   Online food shopping has grown slowly until now, but it’s about to pick up speed. In fact, momentum is so strong, Brick Meets Click now projects online grocery will exceed 10% of total grocery sales in many larger markets by 2020. For some areas in the US, online grocery spending has already reached 6% or higher.  

Bond No. 9 raises the bar for fragrance retailers with its redesigned flagship in downtown Manhattan. The space is transformed with glittering chandeliers, smoky mirrors and splashes of color.    Read More   

New York -- Winick Realty Group has secured two retail leases at the base of the 177-unit PowerHouse Condominium, located at 50-09 Second Street in Long Island City, N.Y.   The 6,422-square-foot space, which landlord V Partners refurbished following Hurricane Sandy-related flooding, was divided to accommodate incoming tenant Tiger J Taekwondo and an expansion by existing building tenant Brighter Babies.  

Watsonville, Calif. –- A tax valuation allowance related to its Canadian operations helped reduce net income at West Marine Inc. to $4.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, down 24% from $6.5 million in the same period the prior fiscal year. Net revenues were $196.5 million, a 2% jump from $193.4 million, and same-store sales rose 0.6%.  

London, U.K. - Almost half (47%) of consumers will order gifts online this Christmas with less than a week until Dec. 25. According to the latest ECustomerServiceIndex results from EDigitalResearch and IMRG, when asked what date they would be comfortable placing a holiday online order, the majority of consumers (53%) said Wednesday Dec. 17 or before.   

Boston -- Palladin Consumer Retail Partners announced a majority investment in Harrys of London, a London-based luxury shoemaker and accessories house known for combining traditional craftsmanship with the latest footwear technology.    The Palladin investment will provide Harrys with capital to expand its operating team, open additional retail stores and invest in new initiatives to fund growth including marketing, merchandising, product development, and e/m-commerce.