eCommerce

Chicago -- A report released Tuesday by ShopperTrak revealed that December holiday sales remain flat year-over-year but are showing signs of growth in the days and weeks ahead. Double-digit increases in week-over-week sales show shoppers are spending this holiday season.

According to ShopperTrak, the week ending Dec. 10 saw a 10.6% increase in retail sales from the previous week, good tidings as retailers prepare for historically two of the highest GAFO sales weeks of the year for retailers.

New York City -- The IBM Benchmark snapshot, released Wednesday, of online retail data showed growing strength in the category.

According to the data, online sales for the week of Dec. 5 were up 7.3% year over year. On Monday, Dec. 12, online sales were up 11.8% over the same day in 2010.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Kohl’s Corp. said Wednesday that it has expanded its partnership with Vera Wang Group to launch Princess Vera Wang, a junior collection that will be sold exclusively by Kohl’s beginning August 2012.

The line will be available both in-store and online.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy says its third-quarter net income fell 29% $154 million, from $217 million in the year-ago period, worse than analysts had expected. The retailer’s profits were hurt by declining sales in some categories, plus a $150 million one-time charge associated with the planned closing of 11 big-box stores in the United Kingdom.

Total company revenue rose 1.7% to $12.1. Same store sales rose 0.3%.

New York City -- Chain Store Age invites design firms, architects, retailers and suppliers to submit entries for its 30th annual Retail Store of the Year Design Competition. Eligible projects are those completed between November 2010 and December 2, 2011. Deadline for submission is December 20, 2011. Extensions are available.

Twenty-one competition categories are featured, ranging from supermarkets and discount/mass merchants to specialty stores and pop-up stores.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale reported that net sales for the first quarter of 2012 increased 13% to $21.18 billion from $18.82 billion during the first quarter of fiscal 2011. 

Total comps for the quarter increased 10%, which included a 10% increase in U.S. comps and an 11% increase in international comps.

Excluding the impact of fuel and strengthening foreign currencies, total comps for the quarter were up 7%, U.S. comps rose 6% and international comps rose 10%.

New York City -- Retail sales rose 0.2% in November, following a 0.6% advance in October that was more than initially reported, according to figures released Tuesday by the Commerce Department in Washington. The November increase was the slightest gain in five months. Economists projected a 0.6% November increase, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey. Purchases excluding automobiles also rose 0.2%.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Sears, a name that comes to mind when thinking of places to fix the car or shop for tools, will soon be associated with travel thanks to a new partnership with International Cruise & Excursions Inc.