eCommerce

The big news for retailers this holiday season has been the strong surge in online shopping. It’s not that high online volumes weren’t expected; estimates placed online purchases to be as high as 20% of total holiday sales this year.

It seems we’ve hit a tipping point, however, where online promotions are of equal or greater importance to Black Friday retail success than in-store promotions, and where Cyber Monday has morphed into Cyber Week.

Barnes & Noble’s new CEO Ron Boire, who took the reins of the company in September, wants to transform the chain into a “lifestyle brand” by expanding its selection of toys, games, gadgets and other gifts, according to a report in The New York Times. [The New York Times]

Amazon drones may still be in the future, but Amazon trucks are ready now.

The Internet giant on Friday said it has purchased thousands of trailers that it will deploy in shipments to shuttle inventory along its supply chain, but not to customer homes. The Amazon-branded trailers will be pulled by tractor trucks provided by existing third-party transportation partners.

Amazon made the announcement at an event in Chicago where employees prepared 2,000 care packages to be sent to soldiers overseas. The packages included Amazon Fire tablets.

Many fashion brands today have ambitious goals to become the next industry disruptor but too few focus on the steps to achieve it. Indeed, most retailers recognize they can’t access the information they need to give their customers the experiences they desire today. Nor do they have a clear view into their inventory or order management system to deliver a complete customer journey.

Strong same-store sales in the third quarter did not keep Genesco Inc. from lowering its guidance, as the company takes steps to reduce inventory through promotions and discounts.

The specialty retailer of hats and accessories said that for the third quarter ended Oct. 31, same-store sales increased 7%. Income was $32.9 million, or $1.43 per diluted share, compared to earnings from continuing operations of $28.8 million, or $1.21 per diluted share, for the prior year quarter. Revenue was $774 million from $723 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015.

Despite overall declines in several key metrics, there were some good signs for brick-and-mortar retailers during November.

Sears Hometown and Outlet stores narrowed its loss in the third quarter despite weak sales growth in the appliance and garden categories.

The retailer said same-store sales decreased 1.6% in the third quarter ended Oct. 31. Net sales fell 3.2% to $547.1 million as the company reported a loss of $3.8 million, or 17 cents a share, compared with a loss of $171.2 million, or $7.55 a share, a year earlier.

Amazon drones may still be in the future, but Amazon trucks are ready now.

According to Re/Code, Amazon.com has purchased thousands of trailers that it will deploy in shipments along its supply chain, but not to customer homes. The branded trailers storing Amazon merchandise will be pulled by tractor trucks provided by existing third-party transportation partners.

These shipments will occur between Amazon fulfillment centers and other internal fulfillment centers or sortation centers. At least for now, Amazon trailers will not be used for any customer deliveries.