eCommerce

New York City -- The nation’s specialty apparel retailers reported mixed results in July. as Hot Topic and Limited Brands turned in strong performances, while Gap and Aeropostale stumbled.

Hot Topic said its same-store sales rose 7.3% in July. far exceeding the 0.5% rise in analysts’ forecast. Hot Topic said the measure rose 6.2% at its namesake stores and rose 11.8% at its plus-sized Torrid division. The teen retailer also raised its second-quarter outlook.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Costco announced that it is bringing its Kirstie Kelly wedding gowns to the South during limited-time trunk shows at select locations. 

Purchase, N.Y. -- Apparel continued to show gains in July, while housing-related sectors such as electronics, appliances, and furniture remained sluggish, according to MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse, a macroeconomic report tracking national retail and services sales. (The data estimates total U.S. retail sales across all payment forms including cash and check.)

In other findings, auto parts and service posted its first decline after five months of growth.

As residents of San Jose, Calif., my wife Pamela and I have our choice of some of the nation’s leading grocers: Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Safeway. These companies set a high standard when it comes to quality and service, so it was with some reluctance, but a sense of adventure, that we gave Walmart To Go a try.

New York City -- Sears Holdings Corp has named former FreshDirect executive Monica Woo to be VP and CMO, effective Aug. 15, according to Reuters. The post has been vacant since January 2010.

Woo will be responsible for the overall marketing, brand and advertising programs for Sears, according to the report. She most recently was the chief marketing and strategy officer of online grocer FreshDirect.
 

New York City -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, the U.S. division of Tesco, has joined the growing number of retailers opening smaller-format stores. The grocery store operator plans to test a new concept, called Fresh & Easy Express, in San Pedro, Calif.

Fresh & Easy’s new format will be in the 4,000 sq. ft. range, compared with its typical 10,000-sq.-ft. footprint.

For more, go to freshneasybuzz.blogspot.com/
 

New York City -- Apple has hired executive search firm Egon Zehnder International to help it find a replacement for its retail head Ron Johnson, according to reports by The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.

The reports suggest that in hiring Egon Zehnder, which has offices around the globe, Apple may be looking for an executive with international retail experience. Apple is set to open nearly 30 stores this year outside of the United States.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Monica Woo will be joining Sears Holdings as VP and CMO for Sears on Aug. 15. She will be the key executive responsible for directing the overall marketing, brand and advertising programs for Sears.