eCommerce

<The Neiman Marcus Group says currency exchange rates put pressure on traffic in the first quarter as the company reported a smaller than expected boost in same store sales. 

The retailer said same store sales increased 2.2% for the third quarter ended May 2 as the strong dollar had some impact on the retailer’s business.

Montreal, Canada — Multidev Technologies Inc., a developer of ERP and omnichannel solutions for retailers, is adding web marketplace integration to its ChainDrive enterprise retail management platform. Users will be able to market, promote and sell their products through e-commerce channels including Amazon, eBay, Rakuten, and Newegg.
 

Toys”R”Us says it is making steady progress with its “TRU Transformation” strategy despite a decline in same store sales in the first quarter.

Same store sales for the first quarter ended May 2 fell 2.3% primarily because of what the company said was "a planned decrease in promotional activity.'' International same store sales rose 1.2%, lifted by increases in the learning and core toy categories. Total sales declined by $154 million to $2.32 billion.

Walmart’s saturation of Northwest Arkansas with its Neighborhood Market format continued this week with the opening of a new location on north Walton Boulevard just a few miles from the retailer’s headquarters.

New York — Walmart continues its building boom in Northwest Arkansas, opening a Neighborhood Market store just a few miles from the chain’s headquarters in Bentonville. During the past few years, company has added new Sam’s Clubs, Supercenters, a Walmart To Go convenience store, a grocery pick up facility and nearly 10 new Neighborhood Markets to the area.   While adding another new Neighborhood Market isn’t a huge deal, but the store’s location, its layout and some of the signing elements are noteworthy.

Etsy and the West Elm division of Williams-Sonoma continue to fuel the maker movement with new initiatives that were launched to coincide with a Presidential Proclamation establishing the National Week of Making.

In conjunction with an event at the White House and a proclamation by President Barack Obama, online retailer Etsy said it planned to expand its Craft Entrepreneurship program to 30 cities by July 2016 from the current 19 cities.

Staples has empowered young students to help create and design school products that solve real-life problems.

Through a unique initiative created by Staples Inc. called Designed by Students. kids have made: a colorful all-in-one writing instrument with interchangeable writing tips. A portable desk that lets students work anywhere. A floating locker shelf that maximizes and stylizes lockers.

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix Super Markets may be considering opening a smaller-store format, according to a report in The Gainesville Sun.