eCommerce

Chicago -- A Tuesday report by the Chicago Tribune said that Urban Outfitters has opened its second BHLDN store, the apparel retailer’s fledgling bridal concept that first debuted in Houston last summer.

SEATTLE — A Tuesday report by the Seattle Times said that Eddie Bauer chief Neil Fiske, who joined the retailer in 2007 and led it through bankruptcy, will leave his post effective March 2.

The company has not given a reason for Fiske’s sudden departure. David Chamberlain, executive chairman, will serve as interim CEO until a permanent replacement is named. Fiske will remain with the company as a consultant to ensure a smooth transition.

New Albany, Ohio -- Margin squeezes and flagging same-store sales hurt Abercrombie & Fitch Co.’s fourth quarter profit dropped nearly 80% drop, to $19.6 million from $92.6 million a year earlier, amid margin squeezes and flat same-store sales.

Plantation, Fla. -- Multichannel retailer Dreams, which focuses on the licensed sports products industry, said Wednesday that it has partnered with Hibbett Sports to become its exclusive online provider for team merchandise in the licensed sports category.

Hibbett’s new online platform is stadiumshop.hibbett.com and represents the bricks-and-mortar sporting goods retailer’s first entrance into e-commerce.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Wednesday by the National Retail Federation and KPMG found that retailers in 2012 will invest heavily in IT, e-commerce, customer service and mobile platforms in order to build customer engagement.

The report, “Retail Horizons: Benchmarks for 2011, Forecasts for 2012," polled 247 retail executives from various sectors regarding their top strategic initiatives for 2012.

Toronto -- Target Canada Co. and Starbucks Coffee Canada announced Wednesday an agreement that will put Starbucks licensed stores inside most of the 125 to 135 stores that Target plans to open in the region.

"Our goal is to bring the true Target brand shopping experience to our Canadian guests, so expanding our relationship with Starbucks as we enter the Canadian marketplace is a natural fit," said John Morioka, senior VP merchandising, Target Canada. There are currently 1,097 Starbucks locations within Target stores in the United States.

Target was ranked 27th on the 2012 Harris Poll Reputation Quotient study behind five notable retailers and in roughly the same position with the same score as the prior year, the market research firm announced on Monday.

Sales in the consumer electronics space would have been abysmal in 2011 were it not for tablet and e-readers, according to data from market researcher The NPD Group, which shows Target has an opportunity to gain share.

Target’s recent moves to deepen its relationship with Apple could be beneficial in that regard, as it was Apple that drove CE activity in 2011 and is likely to do so again in 2012. Currently, Target is not among the top five CE retailers, which NPD lists as Best Buy, Walmart, Apple and a tie between Staples and Amazon.