eCommerce

Seattle – Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Holding Group Ltd. has disclosed it holds a 9.3% stake in online retailer Zulily. Alibaba has purchased about 4.8 million class A shares for $56 million. This represents about 17% of Zulily’s Class A stock.

Secaucus, N.J. – The Children’s Place Inc. is publicly criticizing a report from proxy advisory service Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) recommending that shareholders elect one of two board nominees from activist investors Macellum SPV II L.P. and Barington Companies Equity Partners L.P. ISS supports election of Robert L. Mettler but recommends against electing Seth R. Johnson.

Toys”R”Us is looking to excite toy shoppers with an all-new assortment of toys from Fisher-Price based on the hit Nickelodeon show, “Blaze and the Monster Machines.”

The show features the heroic monster truck, Blaze, his 8-year-old driver, AJ, and many other characters helping preschoolers learn Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) concepts. The Toys line of road-ready vehicles, die-cast and plush are available only at Toys"R"Us stores nationwide and Toysrus.com, now through the end of July.

Both first-time and repeat customers were on the rise for Wayfair in the first quarter, suggesting the company is doing what it takes to grow into a powerful player in e-commerce.

Alibaba Holding Group Ltd. went on a buying spree at Zulily this month, but the Chinese Internet retailer wasn't buying baby shoes.

Alibaba purchased about 4.8 million class A shares in Zulily, about 17% of Zulily’s Class A stock. The stake, valued at more than $150 million, was disclosed in a securities filing that showed Alibaba this month spent $56 million buying Zulily stock as the U.S. company’s shares plunged following a disappointing earnings report.

Amazon.com is looking to facilitate its same-day deliveries in the New York City area by opening another 1 million-square-foot fulfillment center in New Jersey.

The National Retail Federation is calling on Congress to pass Trade Promotion Authority legislation, which Congress is expected to debate this week.

Surging sales at Old Navy helped Gap Inc. offset sales declines at its namesake division and its Banana Republic stores in the first quarter.

Gap Inc. reported that for the first quarter of fiscal 2015, Gap Inc.’s net sales decreased 3% to $3.66 billion compared with $3.77 billion for the first quarter last year.

Toronto -- Canada’s Loblaw Companies Ltd. said it will pull its Joe Fresh brand from J.C. Penney stores in the United States at the beginning of next year as it looks to concentrate on freestanding Joe Fresh stores and e-commerce.  

Orlando, Fla. – Customer needs and expectations are rapidly changing, and woe to the retailer who does not keep up. This was the key message delivered by participants in a panel discussion, “Engage Customers Through Omnichannel Opportunities,” at SAP’s annual Sapphire conference.

Steve Fournier, executive VP and chief customer officer of Discount Tire Co., said his company realizes it cannot afford to lag behind customer demand.