eCommerce

Omaha, Neb. – The retail e-commerce landscape just got a little wider. Discount department store retailer Gordmans Inc. is jumping from operating 101 brick-and-mortar stores in 22 states to offering an e-commerce site for consumers across the country.

The online store also offers an extended assortment beyond what's available in-store. This includes broader sizes and styles in the dedicated Levi's shop, MLB, NCAA and NFL sports team apparel and an expanded selection of holiday décor.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart saw respectable U.S. sales growth in the second quarter, but it wasn't enough to overcome expense pressures and a weak dollar. These negative factors caused the company to turn in one of its worst quarterly profit performances in recent memory.

The world's largest home improvement chain is benefiting from Americans spending more on their homes than on their wardrobes, as Home Depot reported record sales and earnings in the second quarter.

Consumers may be shying away from department stores but they are still flocking to off-price retailers such as TJX, which posted impressive sales and revenue growth in the second quarter.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has formed a new brand leadership team to help drive the struggling company forward.  

Specialty retailer Francesca's is losing its head merchant.

CMO Sei Jin Alt is resigning to spend more time with her family and pursue other interests, the company said. The company has initiated a search for a new Chief Merchandising Officer. To facilitate a smooth transition, Alt will remain in her current role until Nov. 20.

Philadelphia – Although net income at Urban Outfitters Inc. slightly slipped in the second quarter of fiscal 2016 compared to the same period a year earlier, it still beat Wall Street expectations. Net income totaled $66.84 million, down 1% from $67.5 million.

Chicago -- Transwestern’s Chicago office announced it brokered the sale of Town Square of Schaumburg, a 96,014 sq. ft. retail center, in Schaumburg, Illinois, for an undisclosed amount to Tony’s Finer Foods. Tony’s Finer Foods plans to open a Tony’s in the former Dominick’s space, which closed in December 2013.

Bexley, Ohio -- Stanbery Development said it has named former Jos. A. Bank exec Stephen E. Gallant as director of construction and tenant coordination as it returns to active development of shopping centers. Gallant's experience includes responsibility for numerous retail design concepts as well as associated rollouts of new stores ranging from 850 sq. ft. to 250,000 sq. ft. Most recently, Gallant managed real estate portfolios and retail tenant construction projects for Skye Group and The Stanchion Group, respectively. As VP of facilities management for Jos. A.

Oakland, Calif. – Stores are apparently failing to deliver the goods when it comes to providing customers the products they want, when they want them. New research from supply chain technology provider GT Nexus shows that 75% of U.S. adults have found a product unavailable in a store in the past 12 months.

And 38% of U.S. adults experienced in-store stock-outs often or very often in the past 12 months.