Mass Merchant

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet delivered strong sales growth in its first quarter as a public company and expects the second half of the year will see more of the same from its rapidly expanding store based and extreme value positioning.

Chicago – The introduction of Amazon Prime Day on July 15 created a new mid-summer e-commerce event that had a profound impact on back-to-school shopping.

According to a new study from Market Track, Prime Day and the resulting widespread competitive response created a brand new shopping event only two weeks before the peak back-to-school shopping period.

Dallas -- Kip Tindell, co-founder, chairman and CEO of The Container Store, has joined a global list of who’s who in retailing.

Tindell was inducted into the World Retail Hall of Fame during a closing day ceremony at the World Retail Congress in Rome, Italy. Now in its ninth year, the World Retail Hall of Fame has honored founders of some of the retail world’s most iconic brands.

Shoppers who love a good deal on designer duds have a new reason to shop Century 21 in New York City.

The retailer has partnered once again with famous street artist Mr. Brainwash on a second mural honoring the city and the attacks of Sept. 11. His second interpretation of the events that changed the city and the nation forever are located on a 65-square-foot by 225-square-foot wall of the storefront on Church Street, depicting painted images of iconic NYC sights and sceneries.

New York -- Two very different retail companies have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Supermarket retailer Haggen filed for bankruptcy after struggling for months to digest a huge acquisition that has proved troublesome from the start. Surfing and skate apparel chain Quiksilver Inc. also sought protection, a victim of online competition, fast-fashion merchants and teens’ fickle tastes.  

Here is more information on both:

A former New York NFL star is bringing his unique sense of fashion to the men's department at JCPenney.

The retailer says it is teaming up with former N.Y. Giant and current ABC talk show host Michael Strahan (seen above with co-host Kelly Ripa) on the Collection by Michael Strahan, an exclusive brand of men's tailored clothing, dress shirts, neckwear and accessories now available in over 200 JCPenney stores and at jcpenney.com. 

New York -- Fast-fashion giant H&M is expanding its upscale store brand, Cos, in the United States.

Cos, known for its minimalist-styled fashions, will open its first store in Boston, on Newbury Street on Sept. 25. The new space, the brand’s third location in the United States, will offer womenswear and menswear collections with 2,960 sq. ft. of sales area, spread across two floors.

Two months after opening its first All American Sports Center, Dick’s Sporting Goods is extending the concept to two new markets in Ohio.