eCommerce

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — Former Gap executive Pamela B. Wallack has been named CEO of David’s Bridal, a U.S.-based specialty retailer of bridal gown and wedding-related apparel and accessories.

The specialty retailer is looking to leverage Wallack’s abilities to grow and improve well-known consumer brands to help drive the strategic initiatives underway at the company, including expanding the store base, bolstering the e-sommerce platform, enhancing customer experience and adding to the portfolio of high-fashion brands.

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — Former Gap executive Pamela B. Wallack has been named CEO of David’s Bridal, a U.S.-based specialty retailer of bridal gown and wedding-related apparel and accessories.

The specialty retailer is looking to leverage Wallack’s abilities to grow and improve well-known consumer brands to help drive the strategic initiatives underway at the company, including expanding the store base, bolstering the e-sommerce platform, enhancing customer experience and adding to the portfolio of high-fashion brands.

RESTON, Va. — E-commerce sales grew 13% year-over-year to $50.2 billion, marking the fourteenth consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and tenth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, according to comScore. It was also just the second quarter on record to surpass $50 billion in spending.

The survey also revealed that nearly half (48%) of time spent in the retail category occurred on mobile devices, with smartphones (34%) outpacing tablets (14%).

New York -- Checkout remains the number one in-store pain point for 73% of U.S. consumers, according to a survey by Synqera, a global technology startup that uses big data to bring personalized digital experiences to the physical retail store.    

The survey found that more than two-thirds of Americans prefer to shop in traditional, brick and mortar stores than online commerce sites, and that shoppers gravitate towards retail locations that offer customized shopping experiences but that

Toronto -- Canadian Tire Corp. plans to spin off most of its real estate assets into a C$3.5 billion (approximately U.S. $3.49 billion) real estate investment trust, with an initial public offering expected later this year. The proposed new REIT would acquire a majority of the company's owned real estate, including approximately 250 properties comprised largely of Canadian Tire Retail stores, Canadian Tire anchored retail developments and one distribution center.  

Palo Alto, Calif. -- Two-thirds (66%) of smartphone and tablet users have failed to complete an online transaction due to obstacles at checkout, according to a new survey from Jumio and Harris Interactive. Specific obstacles causing smartphone and tablet shoppers to abandon their shopping carts at the last minute include mobile checkout process being too long or difficult and not feeling secure in giving credit card information.

New York -- Britain’s Marks & Spencer (M&S) has completed the roll out of contactless payment to 644 of its United Kingdom stores, including its railway and airport franchise locations. The roll-out, which followed a successful trial in 25 London stores last summer, cements M&S’ position as the U.K.’s leading contactless retailer, processing over 230,000 contactless transactions every week.

Los Angeles -- Bebe Stores, Inc. is naming Keith Keegan as senior VP of marketing, effective May 13. Keegan will be in charge of all aspects of marketing and branding across all Bebe brands and report to CEO Steve Birkhold.

Previously, Keegan has worked for Abercrombie and Fitch, Limited, and Express and most recently served as VP of marketing and creative director for American Eagle and the Aerie brand.

Minneapolis – Robert S. Pick, senior VP of corporate development of Comcast Corporation, has been appointed to the board of directors of ValueVision Media Inc., a multichannel retailer operating as ShopNBC. Pick joined Comcast in 1989 and since that time has worked on ventures including the NBC Universal joint venture with GE Corporation, the acquisition of AT&T Broadband, and many other strategic acquisitions and partnerships.

New York -- TJX Cos., The Buckle and Zumiez all reported better-than-expected same-store sales for April, even as concerns about the job market bit into other retailers’ results.
   
TJX Cos. said that same-store sales in April were up 8% on strong customer traffic, better than 6.8% increase that analysts had expected. For the four weeks ended May 4, total revenue rose 9% to $2 billion.