Retail

Cabela’s is known for transforming mere customers into raving fans. To elevate these efforts, a new optimization solution will help associates further improve in-store customer engagement efforts, from both tactical and strategic levels.  

The ability to scale solutions as a means of meeting customer expectations is the name of the game in omnichannel success.    By adding a new cloud-based retail suite, DSW is modernizing its back-office applications, and adding a new level of flexibility, security and innovation required in an always-evolving omnichannel landscape.   

Students at Boston University have a new, convenient shopping option.   Target Corp. has opened one of its smaller format stores adjacent to the West Campus section of the university, reported BU Today. Similar stores are set to open in the coming months near the University of Chicago and at Penn State.   The 16,000-sq.-ft. Boston store carries merchandise specifically geared toward college students, from food staples like ramen noodles to bedding and bath essentials.  

On the heels of announcing plans to open smaller, “local” stores, lululemon athletica hopes to further extend the breadth of its brand by expanding its ship-from-store service — just in time for the upcoming holiday shopping season.    The program, which currently encompasses 11 stores, will grow to 65 locations, a move that will streamline fulfillment of online orders, Laurent Potdevin, lululemon’s CEO, said during the company’s fiscal second quarter 2016 earnings call last week.  

With its mobile traffic growing on a seemingly daily basis, Crate and Barrel is future-proofing its mobile experience.  

Francesca’s Holdings Corp. posted better-than-expected sales and earnings for its second quarter, helped in part by higher online sales.   The retailer reported a profit of $10.6 million, or 27 cents a share, compared with a profit of $9.3 million, or 22 cents a share, in the year-ago period.      Sales increased 9% to $115.3 million, helped by a net gain of 44 stores over the year-ago period. Online sales rose 37%.    

If any retail CEO is going to endorse a candidate in this year’s presidential race, Howard Schultz would certainly rank at the top of the list.  

Wayfair is making it even easier for shoppers to purchase home furnishings and décor from their mobile devices.