eCommerce

To keep up the pace of its growth — and continue delivering merchandise to the right location at the right time — The Aldo Group is adding a new supply chain platform.   The footwear brand operates a complex omnichannel supply chain that supports wholesale customers, franchise and company-owned retail locations, as well as its direct-to-consumer operations. This requires enterprise-wide visibility, as well as the flexibility to anticipate, plan for and respond to changing consumer preferences.  

The largest proposed mall and entertainment center in North America  has been granted its first approval.    The comphrehensive master plan of the massive,  6.2 million-sq.-ft.  American Dream Miami project won preliminary approval from the Miami-Dade County Commission, reported The Read Deal.  

After all was said and done, the formerly high-flying and now bankrupt Nasty Gal had only one suitor.   Online British fashion retailer Boohoo moved a step closer to acquiring the Los Angeles-based fashion brand after no other qualifying bidders came forward.  

Apple is going really big in Manhattan.   The retailer is expanding its flagship at the General Motors building on Fifth Avenue from its current 32,000-sq.-ft. to over 77,000 sq. ft. The Apple space is renowned for the glass cube located on the street level.    While the store is undergoing the expansion, Apple has temporarily moved into a space in the building that was formerly occupied by FAO Schwarz.     

To tap growing global demand among shoppers in Australia and New Zealand, Alibaba opened its new international office in Melbourne.   On Saturday, Feb. 4, the e-commerce giant opened its new headquarters as a means of extending its reach — and product availability — to shoppers across the two countries, Reuters reported.   

While it missed some analysts’ aggressive $44.7 billion quarterly revenue estimate, Amazon continues to record solid growth. Fourth-quarter sales were up 22% year over year to $43.7 billion. The retailer also maintained profitability throughout 2016, indicating that the flywheel continues to accelerate, especially in North America.   

Eastern Outfitters, the parent company of Eastern Mountain Sports and Bob’s Stores, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.     The company listed assets and liabilities in the range of $100 million to $500 million in its filing        British sporting goods retailer Sports Direct International has engaged in extensive talks with Eastern Outfitters to become a stalking-horse bidder in a bankruptcy auction, Reuters reported.    

Mobility’s influence on retail sales has never been stronger. Too bad the same can’t be said for its impact on conversions.   I know what you are thinking — the industry had a stellar holiday shopping season, and it was driven by mobile. Indeed, the 2016 holiday season brought in a total $91.7 billion in online sales, an 11% increase year-over-year. Mobile alone brought in a total of $28.43 billion in revenue, a 23% increase over last year, according to Adobe.