eCommerce

New York -- Yankee Candle has agreed to be acquired by global consumer products company Jarden Corp. for $1.75 billion in cash from its private equity owner Madison Dearborn Partners. Yankee Candle, based in South Deerfield, Mass., operates about 575 stores in the United States and Canada.

Madison Dearborn bought Yankee Candle in 2007 for $1.4 billion cash and the assumption of $300 million in debt.

SAN FRANCISCO — Online retailer Piperlime continues to grow its Guest Editor program. The program's most recent addition is actress Jessica Alba, who will join current guest editors Rachel Zoe and Olivia Palermo to launch the fall 2013 season.

The partnership kicks off today, giving customers access to Alba's product picks, favorite trends and fall must-haves.

Pittsburgh -- Dick's Sporting Goods will celebrate the opening of its new store in Duluth, Minn., beginning on Sept. 6.

The Duluth location will be the retailer's ninth store in the state of Minnesota and its 529th nationwide.

As if competing against Target, Best Buy and Amazon.com isn’t challenging enough, nationwide the fast-food “strike” which took place Thursday offered a glimpse of the type of headline-grabbing, disruptive activities Walmart can expect from its opponents this holiday season.

Nashville, Tenn. -- Footwear retailer Genesco estimated second-quarter results below analysts' forecast. The company also slashed its adjusted profit outlook for the current year.

“We are disappointed that our second quarter performance fell short of expectations,” said Robert J. Dennis, chairman, president and CEO of Genesco. “Sales trends proved to be more challenging as the quarter progressed and results came in below our plan. The third quarter has gotten off to a difficult start with comparable sales down 3% through Aug. 24.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred's experienced growth in sales, customer traffic, average ticket and gross margin for the second quarter ended Aug. 3.

The company’s net income for the quarter was $3.3 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared with net income of $6.1 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, in the year-earlier period. However, the prior-year quarter included a benefit of approximately $4 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, for favorable tax credits. 

Aventura, Fla. — Best Buy has signed a long-term lease renewal for 45,729 sq. ft. at Aventura Commons in Aventura, Fla., according to the Berkowitz Development Group, the landlord.

Other national tenants in the 267,000-sq.-ft. center include Target, Whole Foods, PetSmart and Ulta.

Hamilton, Bermuda -- Signet Jewelers Ltd.’s net income fell to $67.4 million for the quarter ended Aug. 3, down from $70.7 million a year earlier, impacted by the Mother’s Day calendar shift.  

Total sales increased 3.1% to $880.2 million, fueled by strong sales at the company’s Kay Jewelers and Jared stores in the United States. Sales were soft at its British chains.

Same-store sales were up 3.6%. At Kay, same-store sales rose 5.8%.