eCommerce

Fred's Inc. says the expansion of its specialty pharmacy business helped drive an increase in sales in June.

Fred's total sales for the period ended July 4 increased 12% to $212.9 million from $190.8 million in June 2014. Excluding $7.4 million from last year's June sales for 56 subsequently closed locations, total sales increased 16% for the month. Same store sales for the month increased 1.6% compared with a decrease of 0.6% in the same period last year.

The online checkout space keeps getting more crowded.

Headwinds from fuel price fluctuations and currency exchange rates lessened for Costco in June as the retailer posted a bump in same store sales.

The warehouse club reported net sales of $11.01 billion for the month of June, the five weeks ended July 5, an increase of 1% from $10.88 billion during the similar period last year. Same store sales, excluding the negative impacts from gasoline price deflation and foreign exchange, were 6%. 

Toys“R”Us Inc. plans to bring its U.S. e-commerce operations in-house, including building and managing a new platform for Toysrus.com, Babiesrus.com and FAO.com, by the end of summer 2016.

Overstock.com is expanding its already popular online produce delivery service by teaming up with farmers in 35 states.

New York -- Blue Apron. Dollar Shave Club. Real Real. Honest Company. All start-ups, all relative newcomers to the retail scene,  and all generating big buzz and sale increases — enough to place them among the top 20 fastest-growing e-retailers in a recent survey. What’s more, they are all pure players (at least for now).

Here’s a brief snapshot of these four up and comers:
 

Athens, Ga. -- Say hello to Snagshout, a new website that offers shoppers a discount in exchange for a review.

The site, which launched on Wednesday, offers deep discounts on a wide range of retail products for purchase, use and review. It connects shoppers looking for deals with merchants looking to gain traction with new items on Amazon.  

Hangzhou, China – Nobody can accuse Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. of sitting back and resting on its past success.

The global e-commerce giant is constantly making investments and launching new businesses, and in the past 24 hours has made two new business moves of significant interest to its online retailing competitors.

Chicago – As grocery shoppers’ lives keep getting busier, Ahold’s online grocery delivery service Peapod keeps trying to make shopping easier.

Peapod has completely redesigned its mobile and tablet app, with larger, high-resolution photos and a host of new features designed to streamline and simplify online shopping.