eCommerce

Marks & Spencer's new store merges online and physical shopping

Technology is revolutionizing the way consumers shop, both in stores and online. Here is how one retailer is working to bridge both worlds.

British retailer Marks & Spencer is taking a giant leap forward in its goal to becoming a multichannel leader and merging the worlds of physical and online shopping with the opening of its new concept store in Amsterdam.

SEATTLE — Nordstrom has appointed Intuit president and CEO Brad Smith to the company’s board of directors. 

His addition brings the total number of directors to 12, 9 of whom serve as independent directors. Nordstrom directors serve one-year terms and the company requires annual elections of all board members.

Smith was named president and CEO of Intuit in January 2008, culminating a five-year rise through the company where he led several of its major businesses. 

Austin, Texas – Digital coupon provider RetailMeNot is expanding into Canada with the launch of its new RetailMeNot.ca site. The site provides Canadian consumers with access to thousands of digital coupons for more than 6,000 retailers doing business in Canada.

DALLAS — 7-Eleven is looking to leverage social media this summer with a limited duration offer designed to generate traffic at the retailer’s more than 10,000 worldwide locations.

The announcement comes on the heels of Dunkin’ Donuts’ decision to focus more on its beverages and Starbucks’ announcement that it would be raising prices on select beverages. 

Los Altos, Calif. – Catalog Spree, which promotes itself as a “digital mall” providing online access to retail catalogs, has added several brands to its mobile shopping app. Retailers — including Forever 21, JC Penney, Kohl's, Target, Toms Shoes, Torrid and Urban Outfitters — now have Catalog Spree “lookbooks” that provide online browsing of catalog-style product selections. Catalog Spree also has added a price watch feature that sends users automatic notifications when prices on desired goods drop to a certain point.

Improvements in the housing market that have lifted the fortunes of Home Depot and Lowe’s so far this year extended to leading home goods retailer Bed Bath & Beyond, which reported solid sales growth late Wednesday.

The company produced earnings per share of 93 cents that met analysts’ consensus estimate and fell with the guidance range of 88 cents to 94 cents, on sales that grew 17.8% to slightly more than $2.6 billion. Same store sales rose 3.4% during the first quarter ended June 1, on top of a prior year comp increase of 3%.