eCommerce

Cincinnati -- Macy’s scaled back its earnings guidance for the remainder of the year in the wake of lower-than-expected net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2013. The retailer reported net income of $281 million, up from $279 million in the year ago period, but short of the roughly $304 million analysts had expected.

Bonn, Germany -- Mobile commerce and gamification are two of the leading trends shaping the future of e-commerce. A new report from Deutsche Post DHL, “The Future of E-commerce in the U.S.,” identifies eight trends driving qualitative changes in e-commerce beyond rapid growth. A brief summary of each trend follows.

Wayne, N.J. – Toys “R” Us on Wednesday unveiled its global growth for 2013, with the planned opening of more than 100 stores, including new locations, the relocation and conversion of 14 stores to its side-by-side format, and 22 new licensed stores. The openings represent the net addition of over 900,000 sq. ft. of retail space to the company’s store portfolio.

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us announced that it has introduced its own gift card program in its stores throughout China. Gift cards are now available for purchase in its 41 locations, and can be redeemed in any Toys “R” Us store in the country.
 

Hilton Head Island, S.C. — SERG Restaurant Group has announced that it has signed a letter of intent to create of a new restaurant for Shelter Cove Town Center. The concept for the new restaurant has been in development for three years and will open in 2014. Details were not announced.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart’s South African subsidiary Massmart Holdings Ltd reportedly seeks a 67% ownership stake in Kenyan retail chain Naivas Supermarkets Ltd. According to Bloomberg, which on Monday reported Naivas was one of several possible Kenyan chains eyed by Massmart for possible expansion, serious talks with Naivas have occurred.

Costa Mesa, Calif. -- Anna’s Linens is optimizing its e-commerce site for mobile device users. The retailer says nearly one-third of its online traffic originates from mobile devices, prompting the move.

New York -- J.C. Penney Co. announced that activist investor and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has resigned from the board of directors of the company, effective Aug. 12. His resignation comes in the wake of a very public and heated campaign in which he called for the ouster of Penney interim CEO Myron Ullman and chairman Thomas Engibous.