eCommerce

Chicago -- A Thursday report compiled by Reuters and published in the Chicago Tribune said that U.S. authorities are weighing whether or not to launch a wide-scale investigation of the retail industry for bribery violations.

The news comes after Wal-Mart de Mexico came under scrutiny for potentially violating an anti-foreign bribery law, allegedly orchestrating bribes of $24 million to facilitate its growth in the region.     

HAMILTON, BERMUDA — Specialty retail jeweler, Signet Jewelers, has named a Procter & Gamble executive to its board of directors.

Virginia Drosos, group president global beauty, skin, cosmetics and personal care for Procter & Gamble, who will retire from this position effective Sept. 1, joined the Signet board on July 25.

Toronto -- Canadian retailer Hudson's Bay Co. said Thursday it will shutter most of the remaining 64 Zellers stores that aren’t being converted to Target locations.

The Zellers parent sold the majority of the leases to Target Corp. last year. Many of the remaining 64 stores are expected to close by March 2013. Those that aren’t closed could potentially open under another retail banner, said Hudson’s Bay.
 

ARMONK, N.Y. — IBM's fifth annual Online Retail Holiday Readiness report has uncovered that 2012 may just be the year of mobile.

Based on data from more than 500 U.S. retailers, the report found that online mobile sales increased 88.8% in second quarter 2012, compared with year-ago period.

What's more, IBM is forecasting that mobile sales will reach 20% of total online holiday sales this holiday season, and that mobile traffic will close in on 25%.

Assessing the strength of the American consumer has become something of a national past time, especially during an election year. And as conflicting data points paint a picture of a lumpy economic recovery both presidential candidates can find something in retailers’ sales results that lend credence to their arguments.

SIDNEY, Neb. — Revenues rose 11.6% to $627.3 million at Cabela's during its second quarter, consisting of a 16.9% increase in store revenue, a 0.7% decrease in direct revenue and a 12.8% increase in financial services revenue. Same-store sales rose 4.7%.

Net income for the quarterr increased to $33.9 million compared with $21.7 million and earnings per diluted share were 47 cents compared with 31 cents, each compared with the year ago quarter.

Chestnut Hill, Mass. -- WS Development announced that Lululemon Athletica has signed a lease to join the Chestnut Hill Shopping Center, in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The 3,100-sq.-ft. lululemon joins other new signings at the 406,000-sq.-ft. center, including Pottery Barn, The Sports Club/LA, Cinema de Lux, Polarn O. Pyret, Shake Shack, Pinkberry, Treat Cupcake Bar, and gourmet Asian restaurant Bernard’s.
 

Melville, N.Y. -- Commercial real estate consulting, advisory and investment group A&G Realty Partners announced that Peter Lynch and Andrew Margolick have joined the firm as partners.

Lynch joins A&G from DJM Realty, where he was a principal and senior managing director, and Margolick was president of his own firm, ARM Consulting, as well as a former VP at Hilco Real Estate.