Mass Merchant

Hudson’s Bay Co. has brought in professional advice regarding its potential merger with Neiman Marcus.    The Canadian department store company has hired a debt restructuring adviser, investment bank Evercore Partners Inc., to review the potential acquisition and provide Hudson’s Bay Executives with ways on how it could proceed without Hudson’s Bay assuming Neiman Marcus’ full debt, according to a Reuters report on CNBC.com.     

Things may not be bad as they first looked for Gander Mountain Company.   Although there is a banner on the bankrupt company’s website announcing that all of its stores are going out of business, its new owner says that’s not exactly the case.  

Target is planning to test a next-day delivery of essentials ordered online in the Minneapolis area.   Called Target Restock, the service will pilot this summer in the discounter’s hometown. Once the pilot is live, shoppers who have a Target REDcard will be eligible to visit a dedicated online experience to access thousands of household essentials.  

Gymboree Corp. is planning a significant reduction in its store fleet.   The retailer is looking to close hundreds of stores part of a restructuring under bankruptcy court protection, The Wall Street Journal reported. The final number of stores, however, has yet to be determined.  

Amazon’s signature Dash button may be getting some competition from a rival very soon.   A patent filing by Walmart reveals that the retail giant could be developing an Internet of Things-based device that tracks how shoppers use products in their homes and then electronically reorders merchandise.  

Is Neiman Marcus about to be involved in a lawsuit as opposed to a merger?  

The nation’s largest retailer is introducing special financing for its credit cards that comes with an appealing hook.    The new offer provides no-interest financing plans for the Walmart Credit Card and the Walmart Mastercard Credit Card, with plans extending across either six months or 12 months on purchases. Similar to most plans, customers don’t pay any interest during the promotional period. But the Walmart offer is different from most others in that the interest also does not accrue during the promotional period.