Mass Merchant

Foothill Ranch, Calif. -  The troubles keep mounting for teen retailer Wet Seal Inc., which reported a wider loss for the third quarter amid lower revenues and fees related to its exit from its former Arden B business.  The retailer posted a loss of $35.9 million in the quarter emded Nov.1, up from a loss of $12.5  million the previous fiscal year.    

Timing is everything. The Bentonville Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce had already secured Judith McKenna as a speaker for an upcoming event when she was given a major promotion this week.

New York - Back in the fall, reports were rampant that Amazon would open a physical store in mid-town Manhattan in time for the holiday rush. The online giant had rented space across from the Empire State Building,  according to reports, with plans to open a space that would double as a store and mini-depot where select orders could be picked up and returned.  But with the holiday season in full-swing, there is no Amazon storefront on West 34th Street—and it doesn’t appear any is likely in the near future.  

RadioShack CEO Joe Magnacca contends the company’s core strategies are working even though evidence of the success was hard to see between a steep third quarter loss and double digit same store sales decline.

Same store sales were down 13.4% in the third quarter ending Nov. 1, driven by traffic declines and soft performance in the mobility business, the company said. Total sales and operating revenue were $650.2 million, compared with $775.4 million last year.

Gap Inc., is the only retailer to appear on a flawed list called The Civic50 that presumes to recognize the nation’s most community-minded companies.

Now in its third year, the lack of retail representation on The Civic50 is highly curious considering retailers enjoy a high level of visibility within the communities where they operate and are typically quite generous in supporting local charities and national causes. The consumer packaged goods was also under-represented on The Civic50 although companies such as ConAgra, General Mills and Hershey were included.

Bentonville, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores has promoted Judith McKenna to COO for Walmart U.S., effective immediately.  She succeeds Gisel Ruiz, who has been appointed executive VP of Walmart’s International People Division, effective immediately.    McKenna  will continue to report directly to Walmart U.S. president and CEO, Greg Foran. Ruiz will report to Walmart International president and CEO, David Cheesewright. 
  

The holiday season started strong at Costco where U.S. same store sales advanced 7 percent during the company’s first quarter ended Nov. 23.

Total company sales during the period increased 7 percent to nearly $26.3 billion from $24.5 billion. Membership income grew slightly slower, advancing 6 percent to $582 million. Same stores sales excluding the effects of the strengthening U.S. dollar and fuel price deflation were 7 percent and U.S. and international locations.

By Steve Jones   What’s going to keep people coming back to physical store locations, as comfort levels with e-commerce rise every year? Savvy retailers are fighting technology with technology, refreshing the look and feel of their stores by integrating more gadgets, and using data in a more integrated way to inform strategy.  In-store tech helps retailers beat e-tailers at their own game