eCommerce

New York -- Standard & Poor's Ratings Services is further lowering its credit rating on J.C. Penney Co., attributing the move to a continuing weak performance.

J.C. Penney’s corporate credit rating has been lowered to "B+" from "BB-." The junk rating is four notches below investment grade. The move marks the second downgrade from S&P since mid-May.
 

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Eddie Bauer is engaging the software services of ChannelAdvisor to broaden online visibility and simplify the selling process on shopping engines, ChannelAdvisor anounced. Specifically, Eddie Bauer is using Managed Marketplaces and Managed Comparison Shopping solutions.

Minneapolis -- Christopher & Banks Corp. said Thursday it has entered into a new $50 million senior secured revolving credit facility with Wells Fargo Capital Finance.

The new facility provides committed revolving funding through July 2017, and replaces the company’s $50 million credit facility that was scheduled to mature on June 30, 2014.
 

Walmart and Target were both winners this week as Target announced a deal with Neiman Marcus that makes the distinction between it and Walmart even sharper.

Yikes! After a monstrous earnings miss, Supervalu suspended its earnings guidance and dividend and said it was exploring strategic alternatives.

If Hong Kong is part of your global expansion initiatives, be prepared to pay the freight.

The most recent retail rent report from CBRE Group labeled Hong Kong as the world’s most expensive retail destination, bettering New York City (No. 2) and Sydney, Australia (No. 3).

Seattle -- Nordstrom and British fashion brand TopShop said Thursday they have formed a partnership to launch TopShop and TopMan in-store departments in 14 Nordstrom stores, as well as on Nordstrom.com beginning Sept. 10.   

The joint venture makes Nordstrom the only large U.S. retailer to sell a broad assortment of the British fashion brands' merchandise in-store and online.

TopShop and TopMan have flagship stores in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas and Los Angeles (opening spring 2013).

NEW YORK — The popular British fashion brand Topshop, which has flagship stores in New York, Chicago and Las Vegas, is making its mass retail debut in the United States at Nordstrom this fall.

Beginning Sept. 10, 14 Nordstrom stores will carry an assortment of Topshop and Topman merchandiese. Items will also be available online, making it the only large U.S. retailer to do so.