Sales & Marketing

Customers’ heightened expectations for a seamless experience are creating new profit pressures for retailers, including coping with increased return volumes. Shedding light on the new supply chain challenges associated with executing an omnichannel strategy is a new series of whitepapers from reverse logistics leader Genco. Learn more.

Earlier this month, DSW announced plans to acquire Ebuys Inc. an off-price footwear and accessories e-tailer. This news follows last month’s reports that Hudson’s Bay (the owner of Saks Fifth Avenue and other department store chains) was acquiring Gilt Group.

Charming Charlie is expanding its Middle East footprint.

The specialty retailer has opened its first location in Qatar, at the Ezdan Mall in Doha. The 2,900-sq.-ft. store is operated by Apparel Group, Charming Charlie’s international licensing partner, which has further growth planned for the brand in the Middle East this year.

Some of the best ideas regarding customer service in the digital age are coming out of the food service world with a recent example involving a new app and loyalty program from Outback Steakhouse.

Nordstrom has extended its special relationship with Hawaiians by opening a gem of a store in the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu.

The three-level, 186,000 square-foot store features new interior and exterior design concepts, a full-service restaurant and bar, cocktail lounge, new departments and an enhanced beauty shopping experience. Nordstrom has operated in Hawaii for 50 years and the new store is a replacement for a store the retailer opened at the other end of the mall just eight years ago.

Less than a month after Hudson’s Bay Company brought Saks Fifth Avenue to Canadian shoppers, the company this month is opening the first of 25 planned Saks Off 5th stores.

Three new Saks Off 5th stores are scheduled to open on March 17 in Vaughan Mills, Halton Hills and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The openings will allow Canadians to experience the ultimate "thrill of the hunt" shopping that Saks Off 5th is renowned for, with access to the some of the best brands and fantastic finds, in a fun to shop store format,” according to the company.

Reducing expenses and increasing prices are two ways for a company to make money, and Instacart is reportedly doing both.

According to the San Francisco Business Times, Instacart is reducing how much drivers get paid for each delivery, as well as the commission paid on each item. In the San Francisco market, the pay per delivery will be reduced 63% to $1.50 from $4.00, while commission per item will be cut 50% to 25 cents from 50 cents.