eCommerce

The idea of pure play retail has evaporated. Retail’s continuing transformation and complex landscape now centers on the convergence of digital and physical channels, otherwise known as “digical.” The industry can no longer talk about analytics in isolation anymore – the shopper’s journey is channel-agnostic and retailers are in catch-up mode.

New York - Barnes & Noble Inc. on Monday completed the separation of its retail store and college businesses.

Following the spinoff, Michael Huseby, former CEO of Barnes & Noble, became executive chairman of Barnes & Noble Education, which will have a separate board of directors.

Just in time for back-to-school season, Barnes & Noble's college bookstore division, which just separated from the the larger books and games retailer, is looking to acquire digital services to speed its growth.

Macy's and Bloomingdales are racing to join other retailers that are turning their stores into mini-fulfillment centers in an effort to challenge Amazon.com.

The department store company announced it is expanding same-day delivery service to nine additional markets beginning this month. Both Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s are partnering with third-party delivery service Deliv to offer same-day delivery on products purchased online at macys.com, Bloomingdales.com, and on both brands’ mobile-enabled websites.

Hangzhou, China – Alibaba is launching an omnichannel partnership with one of professional basketball’s biggest stars. Alibaba Holding Group Inc. and Kobe Inc., a newly formed company by NBA player Kobe Bryant, will collaborate with Chinese media company Sina to create a new social media platform.

Lakeland, Fla. -- Publix Super Markets is racking up another record year even as other grocers, including Whole Foods Market, are struggling under the weight of new competition.

Publix reports that sales for the second quarter were $8 billion, a 6% increase from last year’s $7.5 billion. Same store sales for the second quarter increased 4.1%.

Net earnings were $482.7 million, compared to $404.1 million in 2014, an increase of 19.5%.

J.C. Penney just poached two key executives to maximize the power, reach and integration of its omnichannel efforts.

The department store retailer named Michael Amend, former vice president of online, mobile and omnichannel for Home Depot, to the position of executive vice president of omnichannel effective immediately. He fills a position previously held by Mike Rodgers who left the company. Additionally, Mike Robbins, formerly the senior vice president of global supply chain for Target, will be joining the J.C. Penney as senior vice president of supply chain effective Aug. 10.

New York -- Another retailer is going from clicks to bricks.