eCommerce

Boston – Retailers including CVS and Starbucks, as well as Tavern in the Square and an independent bookstore, are soon coming to the South Station transportation terminal in Boston.

According to the Boston Globe, real estate management firm Equity Office says CVS will open a two-story store in South Station in March 2014. Construction, including an elevator and escalator, is expected to start in November 2013.

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores will reportedly close 20 underperforming stores in China next year as part of an overhaul of its Chinese operations. According to Bloomberg, Wal-Mart is restructuring its business in China, including a new management structure and more efficient purchasing operations.

However, Wal-Mart still plans to open 100 stores in China during the next three years. A Wal-Mart executive said the stores being closed there do not have ideal locations or layouts.

Washington, D.C. – Many online retailers are starting or have started their holiday preparations early this year. According to Shop.org’s eHoliday survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, 74% of online retailers had started preparing for the 2013 holiday season by July of this year, and 51% plan to start their holiday promotions by Halloween.

Supervalu’s renewed focus on driving sales and cash in all segments of its business seem to be paying off. The company has been working toward turning identical sales positive and posted net sales of $3.95 billion for the second quarter ended Sept. 7, up 0.2% from $3.94 billion for the prior-year quarter.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. – The Wet Seal Inc. revising its financial guidance for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 ending November 2, 2013. The company now expects to report a same-store sales increase in the low-single digits, compared to previously forecast mid-single digits, as well as a larger net loss than previously estimated.

Washington, D.C. - Consumers will take a conservative approach to spending this holiday season. According to NRF’s holiday consumer spending survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, the average holiday shopper will spend $737.95 on gifts, décor, greeting cards and more, 2% less than the $752.24 they actually spent last year.  Despite this reduction in individual holiday budgets, NRF is forecasting holiday sales will increase 3.9% to $602.1 billion.

Seattle — Skanska USA Commercial Development Inc. has broken ground on 400 Fairview alongside its first major office tenant — Tommy Bahama.

Skanska is the first developer to start work in the South Lake Union area of Seattle since the City Council rezoned the one-time industrial hub for office and retail.

The 400 Fairview building will be a 13-story tower with 320,000 sq. ft. of office space and 17,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail. Skanska is targeting LEED Gold certification on the building.

Global ecommerce and payments leader eBay said its third quarter revenues increased 14% to $3.9 billion and noted exceptional strength from mobile initiatives.

Profits declined to $689 million, or 53 cents a share, compared to $837 million, or 64 cents a share, but on an adjusted basis to exclude non-recurring expenses increased to $837 million, or 64 cents a share, compared to $718 million, or 55 cents a share.