eCommerce

Los Angeles -- Women are more responsive to mobile alerts detailing discounts and more likely than men to shop in-store to save on shipping costs, according to recent data from fashion shopping app Snapette, a business unit of PriceGrabber. The survey revealed that mobile ad spend grew by 81% this year, with women aged 25-34 driving the highest click through and conversation rates.

Austin, Texas — Jones Lang LaSalle has announced the addition of seven brokerage experts to its national program. Austin McWilliams joined the firm as a senior VP; Travis Sawvell and Jon Switzer joined as VPs, and Katie Carlisle joined as an associate, all based in Austin. Their additions come on the heels of the firm’s newly formed Austin Retail Brokerage practice led by newcomers Todd Wallace and Robert O’Farrell.  

Dallas — Jared, The Galleria of Jewelry, has signed leases for new locations in Lubbock, Corpus Christi and Midland, Texas, according to Venture Commercial Real Estate, which represented Jared in the transactions. All locations are under construction and expected to open soon.

Nashville – Almost six-in-10 (58%) adults say their smartphone is very important for Black Friday shopping. A survey of nearly 1,000 adults by technology protection services vendor Asurion, also reveals 49% of shoppers will make Black Friday purchases from their smartphone.

PetSmart has unanimously elected Elizabeth Nickels to fill a newly created vacancy on its board of directors. Nickels will join the 2013 class of directors, and will be eligible for re-election by the company’s stockholders at the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders.

By Ali Lipson, senior retail and apparel analyst, Mintel

Redwood City, Calif. -- Macy’s flagships in Herald Square, New York, and Union Square, San Francisco, are the first major retail locations to deploy Shopkick’s Apple iBeacon-based presence signal. The trial pairs Shopkick and Macy's, an inaugural Shopkick partner, at the forefront of the mobile in-store experience. Now in closed beta, the trial is anticipated to go live to Shopkick users within weeks.

Home improvement retailers are reaping the rewards of a healthier housing market and so is Williams-Sonoma. The company reported strong third quarter results and raised its fourth quarter outlook as a result.

Comparable brand revenue growth in the quarter increased 8.2% on top of 8.5% in the year-ago quarter. The company saw revenue growth across all its brands, but results were primarily driven by West Elm, which saw revenue jump 22.2% compared to 13% last year, and PBteen, which saw revenue jump 16.7%, compared to 2% last year.