Sales & Marketing

For decades, buying and installing phone systems in retail stores has remained a mundane experience. Times have changed.

A new study by Staples shows that many Americans are burnt out and working more than ever thanks to the always on mentality of the connected economy. So why are we so happy?

New research from the Staple Advantage business-to-business division of Staples looked at the work behaviors of 2,602 employees in the U.S. and Canada to create the inaugural Workplace Index. The key takeaway is that more than half of employees report feeling overworked and burnt out (53%), but the overwhelming majority (86%) are still happy at work and motivated to rise in their organization.

Montreal - Birks Group Inc., which operates 47 luxury jewelry stores in Canada, Florida and Georgia, reported a growing net loss in first quarter 2015 despite improvements in net and same-store sales. Net loss totaled $8.63 million, up from $5.8 million the same period a year earlier.

Although net sales rose 7% to $301.64 million from $281.16 million, increases in cost of sales, selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses, restructuring, debt extinguishment and asset impairment helped expand net loss. Same-store sales increased 16%.

In December 2014, Ecova released the findings of its 2015 Energy and Sustainability Predictions survey to better understand what’s on the minds of those involved in energy and sustainability management.

As food delivery increases in popularity among U.S. consumers, online grocer Peapod is launching an innovative service focused on produce.

The company is going to start offering the Peapod Local Farm Box. Throughout the summer, Peapod customers in New York City, New Jersey, Eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin will have the option of adding a box of produce from local farms to their virtual grocery cart.

Cincinnati -- Consumers, especially millennials, are willing to ante up for fee-based loyalty programs.

In a survey by LoyaltyOne, 62% of respondents said they’d consider joining a fee-based rewards program if their favorite retailer offered one. The number was even higher among millennials with 75% of 18-24 year-olds and 77% of 25-34 year-olds saying they’d consider joining a fee-based rewards program.

Accenture is looking to help retailers move more quickly to digital with its acquisition of Javelin Group, a retail strategy consulting and digital transformation services provider.

The Bon-Ton Stores is looking to help pay off a $105 million mortgage on 12 properties with a new deal.

The retailer announced it will sell six properties to CPA:17-Global, a real estate investment trust of W.P. Carey, and lease them back. The deal will generate $84 million for Bon-Ton.