eCommerce

New York -- In a surprise move, Kate Spade & Company announced it is closing all 19 of its lower-priced Kate Spade Saturday stores and all 12 of its Jack Spade menswear stores. Both brands will remain in the luxury company's portfolio, with Kate Spade Saturday being folded into Kate Spade, and Jack Spade being sold at other retailers and online. The company also announced a new joint venture to speed its growth in China, where it sees a long-term potential for 100 stores.

Port Washington, N.Y. – Office and school supplies generally do not have any issues with fit or texture, making them an ideal e-commerce item. Data from the NPD Group backs this assertion up.

Retail spending on office and school supplies grew 1% in 2014 (52 weeks ending January 3, 2015) compared to 2013, with e-commerce serving as the push behind the increase. The e-commerce channel crossed the billion-dollar threshold for the first time, reaching $1.1 billion in sales, and was the only channel to experience growth across all categories.

Paris – Valentine’s Day has its origins in ancient Roman times, but that doesn’t mean the holiday isn’t keeping pace with modern technology. By analyzing data from 48 million online transactions made via desktop, smartphones and tablets from more than 200 U.S. retailers, advertising company Criteo determined that three out of 10 Valentine’s Day purchases will be made on mobile.

It's official: The long-struggling RadioShack has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The 94-year-old retailer made its filing in  U.S.

Profit for rent-to-own giant Aaron’s, which has struggled with declining foot traffic and sluggish sales, fell 35% for 2014 and about 2.75% in the fourth quarter of last year.

James Peters held key leadership roles at Office Depot, Staples and Ross Stores but now the veteran operator is in a new role at a company giving new meaning to e-commerce.

Peters was named president and COO at San Francisco-based Delivery Agent where he had served on the board since last October. Delivery Agent’s business model is to turn viewers into revenue generating customers for brand and media companies.

Arlington, Texas -- Red Wing Shoes will open a 1,500-sq.-ft. store at Arbrook Square Shopping Center in Arlington, Texas. The center is located at the southeast corner of Arbrook Boulevard and Matlock Road.

Cynthia Bailey of WindStar Properties represented the landlord, Arbrook Square Investors, L.P. The tenant was represented by Cameron Haddad of NAI Robert Lynn Company.
 

San Diego – Early results of 2015 suggest it will be a happy New Year indeed for PriceSmart Inc. For the month of January 2015, net sales increased 13.3% to $219.2 million from $193.5 million in January a year earlier.

The retailer’s growth to 36 warehouse stores from 32 a year earlier helped boost sales. In addition, same-store warehouse sales grew 1.7%.