eCommerce

The holiday season got off to a horrible start at Bed Bath & Beyond and things went downhill from there, judging from the industry leader’s uncharacteristic and concerning profit warning.

The company badly missed its third quarter sales and profit forecast for a period that included most of Thanksgiving weekend, and said its same-store sales for the fourth quarter were likely to increase 1%.

When it comes to reaching today’s consumers, Richardson, Texas-based vertical specialty apparel/accessories retailer Fossil Group Inc. is not living in the past.

“We are focusing on image creation for our social promotions,” said Jencey Keeton, marketing manager, digital branding and global marketing for Fossil, during an interview with Chain Store Age. “Images are now the way consumers are speaking. To be relevant, social platforms must include images.”

The core capabilities of the National Basketball Association (NBA) do not include fulfilling purchases made at its New York flagship store. According to Re/code, the NBA is partnering with online specialty athletic retailer Fanatics to provide tablet-based “endless aisle” fulfillment to its store via the Fanatics warehouse. [Re/code]

Photo: Chef Nobu Matsuhisa

Three City Sports stores are being given a new lease on life.

Modell’s Sporting Goods has acquired three prime Northeast locations from City Sports, which filed for bankruptcy protection in October 2015 and subsequently announced plans to close all its stores. Beginning in early 2016, the stores, which range from 7,500 sq. ft. - 9,000 sq. ft. and are located in Philadelphia, Boston and Washington, D.C., will start to transition to the Modell’s format.

A new retail brand called Main & Vine is entering Kroger’s extensive store portfolio soon and it could spell more trouble for Whole Foods Market and other competitors.

A website for the new concept is filled with beautiful photos of fresh products and bills the store as a place, “where eating is healthy, affordable and fun!” The site does not offer an indication of when the store will open other than soon.

Batavia, Ill. -- Mid-America Real Estate Corp. announced its Investment sales team brokered the sale of The Shoppes at Windmill Place in Batavia, Illinois. Cincinnati-based Phillips Edison purchased the 122,176-sq. ft. grocery-anchored property.

The Shoppes at Windmill Place is anchored by Jewel Osco and features national retailers including Comcast, Dunkin’ Donuts, Mattress Firm, Subway and more.

Sweaty Betty, the London-based athleisure brand, is gearing up for expansion in the United States.

The retailer named Erika Serow president and CEO of its U.S. business, effective Jan. 18, Women’s Wear Daily reported. Serow has served as retail practice leader for the Americas region for Bain & Co. since 2013, with a focus on the apparel sector. She started at Bain in 1995.