eCommerce

Dallas -- Tuesday Morning Corp. is ceasing e-commerce operations to focus on providing in-store assortments. A statement on the retailer’s website says that due to the nature of its closeout business, it will no longer sell items online but instead focus on the quality and price of assortments in its stores.

SEATTLE — Despite reporting a net income of $184 million for the second quarter, ended Aug. 3, up from $156 million in the year-ago period, Nordstrom cut its yearly forecast, citing softer-than-anticipated sales trends.

Nordstrom said revenue rose 6.4% % to $3.1 billion, short of the $3.29 billion Wall Street expected. Total company same-store sales increased 4.4%.

As the turmoil with hedge fund manager Bill Ackman winds down at J.C. Penney, another of the company’s investors is making headlines. This time it’s George Soros, who according to regulatory filings, has added two million shares to his current 19.98 million in Penney holdings.

This latest venture makes Soros Fund Management Penney’s second-largest investor — behind Ackman.

What a difference 30, 20 or even 10 years make when it comes to consumer behavior. Thirty years ago, “24x7 shopping” meant mail-order catalogs. Smartphones, tablets and social media were barely part of the discussion 10 years ago. While observers attribute the rapid pace of change to technological advances, biology may play an equally important role. Scientists have observed that the human brain is incredibly plastic, even in adulthood, constantly adapting to trauma and environmental shifts.

By Stephen Springham, senior retail analyst Planet Retail
 
After the horror show of Q1, Walmart had so much to prove domestically in Q2. And it has again come up short. A U.S. comp store decline of 0.3% was below earlier management of a 0.2% decline, guidance that was endorsed as recently as the Annual Shareholder Meeting in June. This marks the second quarter that U.S. comps have been both in negative territory and below guidance. Those accusing Walmart of ‘crying wolf’ in its bullishness (ourselves included) may feel vindicated.

Seattle -- Nordstrom said its net income for the fiscal second quarter, ended Aug. 3, rose to $184 million from $156 million in the year-ago period. But the department store retailer cut its yearly forecast, citing softer-than-anticipated sales trends.

Nordstrom said revenue rose 6.4% % to $3.1 billion, short of the $3.29 billion Wall Street expected. Total company same-store sales increased 4.4%.

While the dust continues to settle from Walmart’s disappointing showing in the second quarter, it is worth noting positive developments and intriguing initiatives in key areas that got lost in the shuffle.

LOS ANGELES — Sporting goods retailer Sport Chalet swung to a loss in the first quarter, as it continues turnaround efforts that include a new store concept, closing under-performing stores and reducing staff. 

The company generated a loss of $2.8 million for the quarter, compared with a profit of $100,000 in the year-ago period. Sales dipped 2.8% to $81.5 million from $83.8 million, and same-store sales dropped 0.7%.