eCommerce

Nordstrom Inc. is known for providing the best customer experience, and is now applying that ethos to its customer loyalty program.

The department store retailer is expanding its Nordstrom Rewards loyalty program to allow members to earn benefits regardless of how they choose to pay for purchases across its store, outlet store or digital channels.

Online specialty luggage retailer eBags is looking to attract “new” shoppers with what has come to be considered an “old” technology platform.

eBags is deploying the Criteo Dynamic Email solution to pair anonymous behavioral data with third-party, permission-based email addresses from Criteo’s publisher network. As a result, the retailer can re-engage consumers it has previously targeted with social media and display advertising, as well as reach new customers who have demonstrated an interest in its brand and/or products.

Wal-Mart Stores broke the retail gloom that has penetrated so many recent first quarter earnings reports as it posted higher than expected earnings and revenue gains, and gave an upbeat view for the current period.

Wal-Mart’s strong performance in a quarter that has challenged so many other retailers, including Target, offered evidence that its efforts to improve its U.S. stores are paying off. Among other things, the giant discounter has increased associate pay and taken moves to ensure its stores are more consistently in stock.

Going-out-of-business sales will start before Memorial Day at Sports Authority’s remaining 450 stores nationwide.

The moves comes after the retailer, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March, was unable to find a buyer.

When it comes to marketing, retailers should adopt a truly “omnichannel” approach.

According to a new consumer survey from digital marketing firm Fluent, “The Omnichannel Advantage,” consumers who are reached through a greater number of channels make in-store and online purchases from their favorite retailers more frequently.

Select Comfort continues to expand with the opening of its 500th Sleep Number store.

Located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, the new location features the brand’s latest store design and experience, which is interactive and educational. It’s one of 50 net new stores the retailer plans to open in 2016.

When it comes to supply chain leadership and best practices, a fast food chain beat out the world’s leading e-commerce and discount retailers.

According to the new Gartner Inc. Supply Chain Top 25 ranking, McDonald’s led all retail chains with the number two ranking. Consumer products giant Unilever ranked first among all companies.

In a program called LA25, Target Corp. is testing an array of new initiatives, ranging from sleeker apparel fixtures to dedicated service stations for online order pick-ups, at 25 locations in California. The retailer plans to spend $1 billion this year to spruce up its in-store shopping experience, with a portion of that being devoted to remodels, TheStreet reported.