eCommerce

Alex Cesar, who had been running JLL’s retail department in Brazil, has been hired by RKF to head up its Miami office.   “Alex will be a crucial driver of our expansion in South Florida and will strengthen the bridge between the Latin American and U.S. retail markets,” said RKF CEO Robert Futterman in announcing the move.  

The July Fourth long weekend was not a happy one for many users of the Etsy online marketplace, which has been hit by lingering transactional problems.   Since July 1, what Etsy has described as a third-party payments processing issue has left thousands of purchases in limbo. A thread in the “Bugs” section of the Etsy online community forum has registered more than 4,000 complaints from buyers and sellers who cannot complete transactions. Etsy users have also been venting their frustrations on Twitter and Reddit.

Sephora is adding a new false lash virtual try-on to its Virtual Artist app, as well as a new way to teach beauty with step-by-step virtual tutorials using augmented reality technology.   The launch is the latest in a series of digital enhancements powered by the Sephora Innovation Lab to customize the retailer's expanding beauty experiences.  

With nearly 1,300 locations spread across 34 states, Ross Dress for Less makes the claim that it is the nation’s largest off-price apparel and home fashion chain. With a mass grand opening of 24 more stores set for July, the chain clearly intends to hold on to that distinction.   New Ross locations will spring up in 14 states, with Wisconsin hosting four of them -- in Brown River, Onalaska, Racine, and West Green Bay.   

As consumers continue shifting to mobile-only shopping experiences this summer, retailers have a greater need than ever for an e-commerce platform that delivers responsive, consistent experiences across any given device or channel.

The online space doesn’t have a lock on new retail concepts, but with its lower start-up costs and potential audience reach it has proved itself a great breeding ground for disruptive retailers.   Here’s a look at four innovative e-tailers that are generating buzz and revenue increases — enough to place them among the top 15 fastest-growing e-retailers in a recent study.*   Casper

Petco will not be taking it easy this summer.   As part of a 2016 growth plan which includes 26 new Petco stores and one new Unleashed by Petco location, the specialty pet supplies retailer will open five new Petco stores across the country in July. In addition to the five new stores, the company is also remodeling 12 stores in Seattle, one in San Diego, expanding one store in Heath, Ohio, and relocating one store in Middleburg Heights, Ohio.  

Dyson, the consumer electronics brand best known for it pricey vacuum cleaners, has opened a store in the heart of London’s main shopping district.   The sleek, futuristic-looking store, on Oxford Street, is designed to allow shoppers to see and test Dyson’s complete line of vacuum cleaners, fans, heaters, humidifiers and other products, with some 65 items on display. It also has 64 different dust/dirt samples and four floor surfaces available on which customers can to test vacuum cleaners.