Retail

Total U.S. shopper traffic in retail stores and malls for October 2012

Columbus Day and Halloween have historically brought more shoppers to stores in October. This year, however, the month saw a 4.1% decrease in retail foot traffic compared with September. October 2012 did manage to narrowly continue a trend of year-over-year improvements by posting a 1.4% increase in retail foot traffic when compared to the same month last year.

PURCHASE, N.Y. and AMSTERDAM — MasterCard and ING Group are testing a new online payment program in the Netherlands. 

The companies ar testing the ability for customers to use MasterCard's PayPass application on their mobile phone to make a purchase either in store or online.

Cincinnati – Macy’s on Wednesday reported a better-than-expected 4.3% increase in third-quarter net income, helped by sales gains, and slightly raised its full-year profit outlook.  

Macy’s also announced that it will discontinue reporting monthly sales, beginning in fiscal 2013. Sales will continue to be reported quarterly, along with earnings and cash flow.

By Jason Hamilton, employersolutions@snagajob.com

Reston, Va. -- Online retail spending in the United States reached $41.9 billion in the third quarter, up 15% versus year ago, according to comScore. This represents the twelfth consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and eighth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth.

NEENAH, Wis. — Menasha Packaging on Wednesday announced receipt of two awards as part of the 69th annual National Paperboard Packaging Competition.

“Innovation and efficiency are cornerstones of the work we do every day at Menasha Packaging, so it is an honor to win these awards and be recognized by a panel of industry leaders,” stated James Snyder, general manager of Menasha Packaging’s Folding Carton facility, who accepted the award on behalf of Menasha Packaging.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. and SAN JOSE, Calif. — VeriFone Systems and Fujitsu have partnered to offer retailers sophisticated mobile retailing solutions powered by VeriFone GlobalBay and integrated with the Fujitsu GlobalSTORE solution, or as a standalone mobile point of sale.

Atlanta -- Aaron’s said Tuesday it is opening five of its lease-to-own stores in the Midwest, south and on the East Coast.

From mid October to early November, Aaron's stores have opened in Delaware, Ohio; Ionia, Mich.; Franklin, Ky.; Indianola, Miss., and Towson, Md.

In September, the company opened its 2,000th store – located in the Bronx, N.Y.