eCommerce

Just in time to streamline the upcoming holiday e-commerce sales rush, Hudson’s Bay Co. is touting a new robotic fulfillment system.   Called the first of its kind in Canada, the new state-of-the-art robotic fulfillment system is housed in the department store chain’s 752,000 sq.-ft. Scarborough distribution center, which manages the chain’s e-commerce operations.    

J. Crew Group is exiting the bridal business, which it entered back in 2004.   The company has marked down its entire collection of wedding gowns and bridesmaids dresses by up to 70% online and in stores, reported Business Insider.    Once the merchandise sells out, the retailer will no longer offer a wedding line, according to the report.  

On Nov. 16, the Mall of America will open the doors on a revolving collection of pop-up shops that will come and go throughout the year.   Branded as Debut, the 2,500-sq.-ft. space will be kicked off by an eclectic selection of nine brands including Askov Finlayson, West Elm Local, Woolrich, Pomegranate, and Laurel Way by Pam Mondale.  

Saks Fifth Avenue has opened its third location in Miami, and seventh location year to date, at the just opened Brickell City Centre in the city’s financial district.   

It may only be the first week of November, but American shoppers are steadily crossing items off of their holiday shopping lists.   As of the end of September, one-third (33%) of consumers had already started their holiday shopping, up significantly from 25% in 2015. Further, they expect to spend an average of $908, an 8% increase from last year ($839 in 2015). Among affluent consumers, this threshold increases to an average of $1,513.  

Amazon is synonymous for stealing marketshare from established retail brands. Now it upping the ante with private-label merchandise.    By leveraging its online shelf space to introduce its own line of new private-label products, Amazon is changing the dynamic in the marketplace once again, according to a report by 1010data Market Insights. This time among category leaders, as Amazon’s private label line directly competes with national suppliers.  

Architectural firm P+R Architects (Perkowitz + Ruth Architects), based in Long Beach, California, has changed its name to Retail Design Collaborative.   

Black Friday may be considered one of the biggest shopping events of the year, but interest among consumers continues to dwindle.   Specifically, 31% of respondents in the United States said they have always disliked shopping on Black Friday, and 29% believe it is simply a marketing trick with retailers manipulating pricing to convince consumers they are getting a good deal.