eCommerce

With its share price in free fall after badly missing analysts’ fourth quarter profit estimate, Amazon.com has decided to spend billions buying back its own shares.

Amazon.com disclosed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it named a new board member and its board authorized the company to repurchase up to $5 billion worth of the company’s common stock. The new authorization replaces an existing $2 billion authorization that was approved in 2010, of which only $1.237 had been expended.

Online retail platform Jet is getting a better idea of how well its customer service efforts are working with a new tool from service measurement/optimization company StellaService.

Cabela’s EVP and Chief Commercial Officer Scott Williams has been elevated to the role of president and given additional responsibilities in a move that positions him to succeed longtime CEO Tommy Millner. 

Williams will continue to report to Millner. Williams will take on additional responsibility for U.S. retail operations and all operations in Canada.

One of the major components of JCPenney's transformation strategy is getting a boost this week when the retailer launches its new Belle + Sky collection aimed at millennials.

Retail industry sales will grow an estimated 3.1% in 2016, outpacing the 10 year industry average, as economic headwinds diminish, according to a forecast released by the National Retail Federation.

The NRF sales forecast of 3.1% excludes automobiles, gas stations and restaurants and exceeds the 10 year growth rate of 2.7%. Non-store retail sales are forecast to growth between 6% and 9%.

So much for the argument that the U.S. market is saturated with retail stores and e-commerce is hurting mall traffic. Tanger Factory Outlet Centers brought four new properties online in 2015 and still managed to achieve a portfolio occupancy rate in excess of 95% for the 35th consecutive year.
 

Women’s apparel retailer Joyce Leslie is calling it a day.

The company announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Court for a sale of its intellectual property and retail store leases, along with the lease of its corporate office and distribution center.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) is publicly supporting what it calls “e-fairness” legislation that would extend the reach of state sales taxes to online transactions.

Under present regulations, a state can only charge a sales tax on an Internet sale conducted by an entity that has some type of physical presence in that state.

Retail industry sales will grow an estimated 3.1% in 2016, outpacing the 10 year industry average, as economic headwinds diminish, according to a forecast released by the National Retail Federation.

The NRF sales forecast of 3.1% excludes automobiles, gas stations and restaurants and exceeds the 10 year growth rate of 2.7%. Non-store retail sales are forecast to growth between 6% and 9%.

One of the major components of J.C. Penney's transformation strategy is getting a boost this week when the retailer launches its new Belle + Sky collection aimed at millennials.