Direct To Consumer (DTC)

Amazon.com is working with the U.S. Postal Service to deliver packages on Sunday, starting in the Los Angeles and New York metropolitan areas, and plans to roll out the service to a large portion of the U.S. population, including Dallas, Houston, New Orleans and Phoenix, in 2014.

Amazon Prime members, who receive unlimited, free two-day shipping, are eligible for the service.

New York -- Amazon is teaming up with the U.S. Postal Service to deliver packages on Sunday, with the service starting this week in the Los Angeles and New York metro areas. The online giant plans to roll out the service to additional markets, including Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, and Phoenix, in 2014.

Amazon Prime members, who receive unlimited, free two-day shipping, are eligible for the service.

Record downloads of its app and North American revenue growth have Groupon feeling good about mobile initiatives and its ongoing evolution from a provider of daily deals via email to a full bore e-commerce marketplace.

Warrendale, Pa. – Rue21 has launched its e-commerce site, Rue21.com. Prices on the site will be the same as prices in the retailer’s stores.

In honor of the launch rue21 is hosting a "Shop & Win" contest in which five winners will receive a $50 gift card by talking about their favorite rue21 items on the internet. Using hashtag #shoprue21.com, fans can post pictures or comments on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, and Google+.

Dallas — CBRE Capital Markets arranged financing for the acquisition of a portfolio of 16 shopping centers totaling approximately 417,000 sq. ft. Located across the country, each of the 16 strip centers is adjacent to a Wal-Mart Supercenter shadow anchor. CBRE worked on behalf of the borrower, a partnership between Dallas-based Fountain Capital and Cheney & Mathes Properties, to obtain a 10-year, $41.6 million fixed-rate, non-recourse loan through the Goldman Sachs Mortgage Co.

Englewood, Colo. -- Blockbuster L.L.C., will end its retail and by mail DVD distribution operations by early January 2014. The company will close its approximately 300 remaining U.S.-based retail stores, as well as its distribution centers.

New Albany, Ohio -- Abercrombie & Fitch reported weak net and comparable store sales and laid out plans to restructure its Gilly Hicks brand as part of a strategic review in advance of releasing its full results for the third quarter of fiscal 2013.

HSNi reported impressive financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2013. Net income soared about 137% to $42 million, compared to $17.7 million in the same quarter a year prior.

In addition, net sales grew almost 3%, to $789.9 million from $778.8 million. The elimination of a roughly $18 million loss related to debt extinguishment recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 drove much of the quarterly net income growth. Mindy Grossman, CEO of HSN, also cited digital and mobile growth as boosting the company’s overall performance.