Direct To Consumer (DTC)

Eddie Bauer is expanding into footwear territory. The new brand’s new footwear collection is set to debut online and in store July 28.

New York -- Amazon has entered into a partnership with Twitter whereby Twitter users can link their accounts to an Amazon account, and add items to the shopping cart by responding to any tweet with an Amazon product link that has the hashtag #AmazonCart.

In order to take advantage of the service, customers have to connect their Amazon account to their Twitter account, which they can do via amazon.com/AmazonCart.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples Inc. said on Monday that it has agreed to buy PNI Digital Media, Canadian company whose software platform enables retailers to sell such personalized products as photo books, calendars, business cards, documents, wedding invitations, and stationery. The cash transaction is valued at approximately C$73.9 million ($67.5 million).

PNI’s software powers both online and in-store platforms. Its retail clients include Costco and Walmart Canada.

Online retailer Bluefly is looking to leverage Pitney Bowes’ technology and shipping services to help expand the online global reach of their brands to international buyers around the world.

The U.S. apparel and accessories e-tailer is using Pitney Bowes’s global ecommerce software and international shipping services to help simplify international transactions, improve the online shopping experience for consumers and facilitate international growth.
 

New York -- Google is reportedly expanding its same-day Google Shopping Express service to Manhattan and Los Angeles, according to the New York Post.

The service strives to make same-day deliveries from Fairway, Walgreens, Target, Costco and other retailers to anyplace in Manhattan for $4.99 per store, the report states.

The article says that the service, first launched in San Francisco last year, will expand to Brooklyn and Queens in the coming months.

Pittsburgh — The Field & Stream specialty retail concept has announced plans to open a new store in Erie, Pennsylvania, on June 13 at Millcreek Marketplace.

Field & Stream stores carry a wide variety of national outdoor brands including Remington, Sitka, Sage, Simms, Shimano and Yeti and provide a variety of in-store services. The store is not associated with Field & Stream Licenses Co. or Field & Stream Magazine. Dick’s Sporting Goods owns and operates Field & Stream specialty retail stores and FieldandStreamShop.com.

New York -- J. Crew Group Inc. is developing a new store format in the budget fashion sector. The company has created a brand called “J. Crew Mercantile,” and filed an application to trademark the phrase for selling clothing and accessories, both online and in stores, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

The trademark application is still pending, the report said. The new brand would sell merchandise and prices that are similar to its J. Crew Factory outlet concept.

Lands' End has named Becky Gebhardt as SVP, chief creative officer. Gebhardt was actually VP of creative at the company from 2004 to 2007.

The announcement comes a day after the company, which was recently divested by Sears, named Steven Rado as SVP, chief marketing officer.