eCommerce

New attitudes, behaviors and shopping preferences among Generation Z and Millennials are keeping retailers on their toes.    Emerging in-store technologies and positive social media feedback are top priorities among both Generation Z and Millennial consumers. This is according to retail advisory firm HRC Retail Advisory (HRC), which surveyed 1,350 participants in North America about their shopping experiences.  

As the International Council of Shopping Centers shut the doors on its RECon show in Las Vegas this week, Chain Store Age asked top brokers and third-party managers for their take on the temperature of physical retail. Not quite sick, not quite well, but certainly out of rehab and hard at work on recovery, was the general diagnosis.  

Hanna Andersson named a former top executive of Sears Holdings Corp. as the specialty retailer's next chief executive.  

Coach has made it official.   The upscale handbag and accessories retailer launched a formal tender offer to acquire Kate Spade & Company for $18.50 per share in cash. Coach announced its plans to acquire the brand at the beginning of May, in a deal that has a total value of $2.4 billion.   

Costco Wholesale Corp. came roaring back in its third quarter as it topped analysts' earnings and sales expectations amid strong U.S. sales.   

Ulta Beauty came out of the first quarter starting gate strong, with earnings that easily topped Wall Street estimates and big increases in store and online sales.       While online sales are growing at a fast pace, the beauty products and services retailer isn't slowing down its store growth. It said it will open 100 new stores in its current fiscal year.    

Demand for gaming and mobile products boosted Best Buy’s first-quarter comparable sales, as the retailer beat the Street on profit and sales.   Best Buy revenues rose 1% to $8.53 billion for the period ended April 29, 2017, beating analysts’ estimates of $8.28 billion, from $8.44 billion in the year-ago period. Net income fell to $188 million, or 60 cents a share, easily beating the Street and down from $229 million, or 70 cents per share a year earlier when it benefitted from some settlement proceeds.   

Staples has added a new marketing leader to its executive team.   Michelle Bottomley has been appointed chief marketing officer. In this role, she will be responsible for marketing across Staples, and helping to promote the company’s focus on its North American Delivery business. She will report to Staples’ CEO and president Shira Goodman.