eCommerce

New York -- Jamen Shively, a former Microsoft corporate strategy manager, announced plans to invest $100 million over the next three years in a national chain of marijuana stores. The stores would sell both medical-use and adult-use (recreational) cannabis. Shively is now CEO of San Diego-based Diego Pellicer, which describes itself as the first legal premium marijuana retailer in the United States.

Starbucks Coffee Company is extending its indoor no-smoking policy to the outdoors. The company will prohibit anyone up to 25 feet from a Starbucks store from smoking, effective June 1, where permitted by its leases. 

The new rule will apply to the 7,000 shops owned and operated by Starbucks Corp., regardless of whether they have outdoor seating areas. 

New York -- Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. is on a roll. The white-hot luxury fashion and accessories company plans to open up to 50 stores in North America in its current fiscal year, plus additional units in Europe and the Far East. Michael Kors currently has 44 stores in Europe, with another 40 planned for its new fiscal year. 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Genesco, a specialty footwear and apparel retailer operating numerous brick-and-mortar and online retail brands including Journeys and Lids.com, reported declines in earnings and net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2014.

The company’s earnings declined 11% to $18.5 million from $20.8.

Net sales decreased 1.5% to $591 million from $600 million. Same-store sales fell 4%. Earnings remained slightly ahead of the company’s expectations.

NEW YORK — Costco Wholesale Corp. is looking to open approximately 150 locations over the next five years, CFO Richard Galanti said on the company’s quarterly conference call with investors.

“And if we get a little better than that, great,” he added. “But that’s certainly a good starting point given where we’ve come over the last few years.”

Of the total, about 55 of the new units would be in the United States, with the rest located in Canada or foreign markets.

GLEN ARM, Md. — Plus-size retailer Ulla Popken is looking to engage existing customers while enticing new ones to check out its e-commerce site via an online campaign that celebrates women of all sizes.

The series of just-released videos encourages potential shoppers to dress in a manner that reflects their personalities.

Floor care, water filtration devices and air purifiers generate higher average prices online than in brick-and-mortar stores, according to research from NPD Group.

The research company’s Consumer Tracking Service, looking back at the 12 months ended March 2013, found that consumers are spending significantly more for these home environment cleaning appliances purchased online. 

Chicago -- Ebay, Walmart and McDonalds are tops when it comes to in-store charity donations, according to a study by Cause Marketing Forum that ranked the largest consumer donations at the point-of-sale last year. More than $358 million was raised in 2012 through a total of 63 corporate-backed charity checkout campaigns identified by Cause Marketing.

New York -- Delia’s reported Thursday that its loss more than doubled year-over-year, as the multichannel retailer lost $9.2 million in the quarter ended May 4, compared with a loss of $4.3 million last year.

Revenue slid 15% to $35 million, and same-store sales fell 7.1%. Amid the disappointing results, the company has appointed Tracy Gardner as CEO, effective June 5, moving over from his current position as COO.

Memphis -- Fred's Inc. said Thursday that profit for the quarter ended May 4 rose 9% to $11.4 million, from $10.5 million last year. Results topped Wall Street forecasts.

Revenue edged up to $501.5 million from $500.5 million, beating analysts’ estimated $499.5 million in revenue. Same-store sales dipped 1.3%.