Mass Merchant

Holiday sales declined at Best Buy and the company reduced earlier guidance even though CEO Hubert Joly said the company’s seasonal strategy was well-executed. What’s up with that?

In fact, lackluster consumer interest in electronics led Best Buy to report a decline in same store sales of 1.4% over the nine week period ended Jan. 2. Revenue declined .8%.

New York City is the best city for shopping in the world, according to a report by Expedia.co.uk, followed by Berlin and Los Angeles. While New York has long been a retail hub, the Expedia study, “The World’s 25 Best Shopping Cities,” also contains a few surprises — Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), for example, is ranked No. 5. [Expedia.co.uk]

There is a growing disconnect between shoppers’ growing in-store service expectations and retailers’ current service offerings and focus for the coming year.

Baton Rouge -- JLL’s Capital Markets experts announced the firm has closed the sale of Hammond Aire Plaza located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on behalf of Kimco Realty. The asset was purchased by a joint venture partnership between DRA Advisors and Viking Partners.

Managing director Margaret Caldwell, VP Diane Roberts and associate Eric Spencer led the JLL team on the transaction.

Walgreens, along with a host of other retailers, on Tuesday opted into Visa's Visa Checkout to help facilitate an omnichannel shopping experience. Walmart.com also will be incorporating the option into its services within the year, Visa reported.

QVC chief information officer Linda Dillman has joined the board of the GS1 US supply chain information standard organization.

GS1 US is a supply chain information standards organization.

Dillman will help guide the GS1 US strategy for driving the adoption and usage of the GS1 System of Standards in e-commerce. The standards uniquely identify products, services and locations globally. They are designed to assist in enhancing the consumer shopping experience while boosting online retailer efficiency, revenue and loyalty.

Burlington Stores says a big decline in cold weather apparel led same-store sales to be mostly flat over the holiday season.

Tom Kingsbury, president and CEO at Burlington Stores, said: “While we are pleased with the strong response to our gift assortments especially in fragrances, bath and body and home, these increases have been offset by headwinds affecting our cold weather assortments, especially in coats and outerwear. Accordingly, we now expect comparable store sales to be approximately flat for the fourth quarter.”

Warm weather, as well as layoffs in the oil and gas industry hindered sales Boot Barn during the holiday quarter.

Boot Barn announced preliminary results for the third quarter ended Dec. 26 as follows:

• Preliminary net sales increased 49% to approximately $194 million;

• Opened 5 new stores and completed the rebranding of 19 Sheplers stores;