eCommerce

New York -- Private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice on Tuesday announced a definitive agreement to acquire the 300-store David’s Bridal in a deal that values the bridal dress retailer at $1.05 billion.
 
Leonard Green & Partners will remain a minority partner. CD&R operating partner Paul Pressler, former CEO of Gap Inc. and former senior Disney executive, will assume the role of chairman at the close of the transaction, expected in the fourth quarter.
  

NEW YORK — U.K. retailer John Lewis has become the first company outside of the United States to partner with Barnes & Noble for the sale of Nook devices.

John Lewis will offer Nook products at  37 U.K. stores and on www.johnlewis.com. As previously disclosed, Barnes & Noble will also offer Nook devices and content to U.K. customers this autumn through its own online storefront, www.nook.co.uk.

St. Louis, Mo. -- Brown Shoe Co Inc. on Tuesday  posted a smaller second-quarter loss, helped by cost-cutting and higher sales at its Famous Footwear stores. The retailer also raised the lower end of its full-year profit outlook.

Brown Shoe’s quarterly loss narrowed to $2.5 million, compared with a loss of $4.6 million a year earlier.

Revenue decreased  to $599.3 million. Same-store sales rose 3.9%.
 

New York -- Barnes & Noble announced that it will enter into a partnership with British retailer John Lewis to offer its Nook electronic readers in the United Kingdom.

John Lewis is the first Nook partner for Barnes & Noble outside the United States.

“John Lewis is where knowledgeable customers turn for trusted advice on the best products to purchase, and they are a perfect partner to help launch Nook in the U.K.,” said Jamie Iannone, president of digital products at Barnes & Noble.
 

Philadelphia -- Ulta Beauty will open a flagship in Philadelphia on Rittenhouse Row in the Center City district. The store will be the beauty retailer’s first location in Center City.

“Ulta will open an exciting three level store much like its only other signature urban store in Chicago,” said Steve O’Malley, partner at Fameco Real Estate, who represented the retailer in the transaction.

Palo Alto, Calif. — Shopkick has been named by the World Economic Forum as one of the world’s most innovative technology startups for 2013. Shopkick is one of two mobile companies selected worldwide.

Previously honored companies include Twitter, Dropbox, Wikipedia, Palantir, Bloom Energy and Google.

By Jordan Socran, [email protected]

York, Pa. -- The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. said that it plans to close its Carson's store in the River Oaks Mall in Calumet City, Ill., when the lease expires in January. 

The department store company said doesn't expect costs tied to the closing to be material.

Bon Ton received the leasehold interests in the store as part of its Northern Department Store Group acquisition in 2006.