eCommerce

Amazon is reportedly looking to launch an artisanal-goods marketplace called Handmade, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The newspaper obtained invites that Amazon has sent to sellers at Etsy. Neither Amazon nor Etsy has agreed to comment on the Journal report.

Atlanta - Hooters of America LLC has finalized an agreement with global commercial real estate services firm Colliers International to have the firm advise Hooters on real estate needs and provide strategic counsel as the brand expands domestically and internationally. Colliers International’s Bob Browning, VP for retail services, and Robert Hantgan, senior VP, are managing the exclusive assignment.

Nordstrom is looking to increase its capital efficiency by selling its credit card portfolio to a Canadian bank.

Nordstrom and Toronto-based TD Bank Group announced an agreement under which TD will acquire Nordstrom's existing U.S. Visa and private label consumer credit card portfolio, which currently totals about $2.2 billion in receivables. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.

Declining sales and mounting losses at online retailer Geeknet weren’t enough to deter Hot Topic from paying a steep price to acquire the retailer of products designed to appeal to the geek in everyone.

Los Angeles-based Hot Topic, operator of 650 specialty stores, entered into an agreement with Fairfax, Va.-based Geeknet to acquire the company for $17.50 a share, a 122% premium above Geeknet’s closing share price of $7.90 on Friday, May 22.

Manchester, U.K. - Global online fashion retailer Boohoo has selected cross-channel marketing attribution software company Visual IQ, to provide marketing attribution management solutions across TV and digital channels in support of its 2015 growth initiatives. Boohoo leverages a number of traditional, digital and mobile channels to connect with consumers.

The chairman of the board at 99 Cents Only Stores has assumed the role of CEO and president effective immediately.

Andrew Giancamilli will become the new interim president and CEO, replacing Stéphane Gonthier.

Waban, Mass. - Chick-fil-A took the second spot in the annual Temkin Customer Service Ratings, tops among all retailers and food service chains. Other retailers and food service companies in the top 12 include Aldi, Trader Joe's, Publix, Panera Bread, H-E-B, Amazon.com, and Bed Bath & Beyond.

Supermarkets, retailers, and banks, as an industry, earned average ratings of "strong.” Retailers RadioShack and Sears were ranked at least 15 points below retail industry average.

Weddings are becoming increasingly pet-friendly, and a new collection from Martha Stewart and PetSmart aims to leverage that trend.

The pet products retailer has announced it will be teaming up with Martha Stewart Pets on a wedding collection for dogs.