eCommerce

National Retail Federation SVP David French told the House Judiciary Committee in a letter this week that legislation is needed to level the playing field between local retailers and out-of-state competitors, as the NRF continues to push Congress to pass legislation that would require online and remote sellers to collect state and local sales taxes.

Los Angeles — Brixton Capital has acquired TownGate Center in Moreno Valley, Calif., for $41,971,000, a 6.9% cap rate, according to CBRE, which represented both the buyer and seller in the transaction. The seller was a partnership between Walton Street, a private equity firm, and Fritz Duda Co.

The CBRE marketing system distributed more than 460 offering memoranda to investors and brokers. The managed bid offer process generated more than nine offers. The purchase price mirrored CBRE’s pricing guidance to the seller.

The journey to South by Southwest (SXSW) begins long before the leading technology conference even begins. As first time attendees it quickly became apparent that winging it doesn’t work in Austin yet being open to possibilities is also essential essential.

Stepping of the plan we wondered if we had planned enough. Everyone looked like they knew where they were going and what they were doing and who they were doing it with. We were just trying to find our hotel!

Inclement weather has hurt some retailers’ quarterly sales results, but it has been no match for Dick’s Sporting Goods. The company’s fourth-quarter results exceeded the upper end of guidance range it provided in its third quarter press release.

New York -- Plus-sized retailer Ashley Stewart has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. As part of its restructuring plan, the company announced it will immediately close 27 underperforming locations. Ashley Stewart currently operates some 168 stores. The company previously filed Chapter 11 in 2010.

In a separate statement, the company said potential buyers have expressed interest in buying the chain.

New York -- Dick’s Sporting Goods reported consolidated net income of $138.6 million, for the 13-week period ended Feb. 1. Results also exceeded the company’s performance in last year’s fourth quarter, which had an additional week. For the 14-week period ended Feb. 2, 2013, the company reported consolidated net income of $129.7 million.

A little more than a month ago, Robert Hanson resigned as CEO of American Eagle Outfitters, following disappointing holiday sales, and caused shares to drop 10%. Shares dropped again, nearly 7% this time, following what the company called “highly disappointing” fourth-quarter results.

New York -- Swatch Group SA is suing Target Corp. for illegally selling watches that copy Swatch watches.

Swatch, in a lawsuit made public on Monday, accused the retailer of infringing its designs for "multi-colored" and "zebra watches." The watchmaker said the quality of the Target watches is inferior compared to its own and that their sale is likely to confuse consumers and hurt Swatch's sales.