eCommerce

Current retail thinking that the high and the low ends are driving the industry has gotten a boost from CBRE Group.   High street rents are off the charts worldwide, according to company’s just-released Global Retail Rents report. Rents in prime shopping locations during the second quarter were up 30% in Rome, 24%, 20% in Milan, and 14% in Sydney and New York.  

U.S. shoppers love mobile commerce, yet mobile payments still account for just 2% of all transactions.  

Google is expanding the reach of its online delivery service.   Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 25, Google Express is now available in another 13 states, according to USA Today. Shoppers access the online marketplace via Google’s web site or through an app. Deliveries, which are made by third party delivery companies, arrive within two days.   

Spence Diamonds is dropping anchor in the United States with an innovative store concept and unique product offering.    The diamond retailer will open a store in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 7, followed by a location in San Jose, Calif., on Nov. 10. A store in Scottsdale, Arizona is planned for first quarter 2017, with additional markets to be announced soon.  

While many retailers still struggle with how to leverage the Black Friday sales frenzy, REI has other plans in mind.   For the second year, REI will remain closed on both Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year. “Instead of feeding the Black Friday frenzy, we're closing our 149 stores and giving our 12,287 employees a paid day off,” REI’s website reported.   

Ed Burstell will join Hudson’s Bay Company’s leadership team as head of partnerships.    In this newly created position, Burstell will develop and lead partnerships to drive innovative and exclusive offerings across all of HBC’s banners globally — a move that will help differentiate the company across the marketplace. Burstell, who comes aboard on Dec. 5, will report to the company’s CEO Jerry Storch.  

Nordstrom may be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but a new team of associates will be ready to serve shoppers come Black Friday.    The chain will hire approximately 11,400 seasonal employees that will be trained to serve customers at its Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores, as well as in its fulfillment and distribution centers that support stores, Nordstrom.com, Nordstromrack.com, HauteLook and Trunk Club.   

American consumers will generate an accelerating 4.1% year-over-year increase in 2016 holiday sales, well exceeding 2015’s tepid 3.6% growth.