eCommerce

A merchant that grew from a small boutique in West Hollywood with a celebrity clientele to a multi-store operation is going out of business.

Kitson announced that it is closing its 17 stores, which are located in California, Oregon and Nevada. As of December 11, its e-commerce site had already been shut down.

So far this holiday season, consumers are turning to their desktop PCs for shopping more than ever before.

According to new data from comScore, through the first 36 days of the November-December 2015 holiday season (Nov. 1 – Dec. 6), desktop spend totaled $35.36 billion. This marks a 6% increase from $33.38 billion for the equivalent period in 2014. Although rate of year-over-year growth is below the 9% previously predicted by comScore, the total figure still sets a new record.

Weak traffic at Saks 5th Avenue stores did not keep Hudson's Bay Company from reporting higher sales and profit in the third quarter.

For the third quarter ended Oct. 31, the company posted a profit of $1 million, compared with a $13 million loss a year earlier. Total sales increased 34% to $2.57 billion, up from $1.91 billion. Consolidated sales growth was 34.1%, up $653 million from prior year with same-store sales growth of 12.9%. But Saks Fifth Avenue logged a same store sales decrease of 3.6%.

Industry estimates show in-store conversion rates (percentage of visitors who take the desired action to purchase) are below 30% and dropping. This means 70% of store visitors leave without buying. Never before has there been greater competition for sales and a smarter, more connected consumer base.

Restoration Hardware Holdings’ (RH) innovative store growth initiatives are starting to bear fruit, as the luxury home furnishings retailer reported record sales and profits in the third quarter.

For the period ended Oct. 31, the company reported net income of $20.7 million, or 49 cents per share, compared to $19.4 million for the same period last year.

Revenue increased 10% to $532.4 million, from $484.7 million in the year-ago period. It was the firm's 23rd consecutive quarter of double-digit revenue growth. Same-store sales increased 7%.

RH's innovative growth initiatives are starting to bear fruit, as the home furnishings retailer reported record sales and profits in the third quarter.

So far this holiday season, consumers are turning to their desktop PCs for shopping more than ever before.

Former Target CMO Michael Francis will reportedly serve as a marketing consultant at Walmart when the retailer’s current CMO steps down.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Stephen Quinn will retire as executive VP and CMO in January after spending nearly a decade at the Walmart. Francis, who spent 27 years with Target, is expected to join Walmart to initiate a broad marketing revamp and work closely with Quinn’s successor, The Journal said, citing a person it said was familiar with the situation.

The National Retail Federation called on Congress to reject a customs reauthorization bill set for a vote this week unless it includes a provision allowing states to require online merchants to collect sales tax the same as local stores.

Retailers looking to provide a positive customer experience this holiday season should realize time is of the essence.

According to a new survey of 1,267 U.S. consumers from LoyaltyOne Consulting, 94% of respondents said they expect retailers to take extra measures to keep checkout lines moving during the holiday rush. When asked why they avoided stores completely during the holiday season, 36% of shoppers said their primary reason is waiting too long at the checkout.