Mass Merchant

Nimble small- to mid-level retailers steal share from larger, traditional chains
Think online is the biggest challenge traditional retailers face? Think again.
Home goods retailer falls short in Q1
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.’s first quarter profit declined amid flat sales and increased expenses that cut into its bottom-line. The company’s profit fell to $122.6 million from $158.5 million in the year-ago period, less than analysts had expected. Sales remained flat year-over-year at $2.74 billion, also below estimates. Same-store sales decreased 0.5%.

Survey: Shoplifters, dishonest employees continue to plague retail industry

With all the attention placed on cybercrime, it is easy to overlook the threat posed by old fashioned shoplifters and dishonest employees.
Fast-fashion giant profit slides; remains upbeat about store growth

H&M isn’t letting a weak second quarter performance stand in the way of its ambitious expansion plans. The Swedish retailer’s profit in the quarter, which ended May 31, fell 17% to 5.357 billion Swedish kronor ($649.6 million), according to MarketWatch, as unusually cool weather dimmed sales of spring clothing and a strong U.S. dollar added to its costs. The strong dollar will have a negative impact on purchasing costs for the third quarter and a neutral effect in the fourth, the chain said.
Former consumer electronics powerhouse charging up for store reboot

Circuit City is reportedly getting closer to a relaunch. The new owner of the defunct consumer electronics chain is currently working with brokers from CBRE to open a 6,000-sq.-ft. to 9,000-sq.-ft. prototype store in Dallas, reported consumer electronics industry publication Twice. The relaunched business will also include a dedicated e-commerce site, as well as a presence on digital marketplaces such as Amazon.
eBay promotion puts customers in charge
Michael Glimcher steps down from the company founded by his father

WP Glimcher announced that CEO and vice chairman Michael Glimcher has resigned from the REIT founded by his father, Herbert. Board member Louis Conforti was named interim CEO at the company slated to be rebranded as the Washington Prime Group. Several other senior leadership changes were announced, including the replacement of Mark Ordan as board chairman with Robert J. Laikin, who had been the board’s lead independent director. Ordan stays on as a director.
Drug Store News, Mack Elevation co-host new 10x Thought Leadership Forum

The roster of speakers for the Aug.
Walmart shows shoppers a good time

Long dependent on low prices to draw customers to stores, Walmart is trying a new traffic-boosting tactic: fun.
Discount retailer in expansion mode

Meijer is on the move again. The company on Tuesday opened a 192,000-sq-.ft. supercenters in Flossmoor and Round Lake Beach, Illinois. The two new stores are part of an investment of more than $400 million in new and remodeled stores that Meijer is making this year, which is creating 3,000 new jobs across the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer's six-state foot print.