Sales & Marketing

Increased traffic and better than expected same store sales growth at U.S. stores were bright spots in the retailer’s fourth quarter earnings CEO Doug McMillon characterized as good despite a one cent increase in earnings per share. 

New York -- The Kmart store in Chillicothe, Ohio, has scaled back its hours and grocery offerings in preparation for its switch from a 24-hour supercenter to the retail chain's new K-Fresh concept, according to a report by the Chillicothe Gazette.

The newspaper reports that the K-Fresh concept has been piloted at two stores, one in suburban Chicago and another in Hawaii.

While Kmart has been closing many of its stores as it seeks to restructure the company, the retailer has quietly launched a pilot program to re-brand itself as K-Fresh.

The Chillicothe Gazette reports that the Kmart on North Bridge Street in Chillicothe, Ohio, has scaled back its hours and grocery offerings in preparation for its switch from a 24-hour supercenter to the retail chain's new K-Fresh concept.

Washington, D.C. - Retail CIOs agree that security and digital innovation are top priorities for 2015, according to a new report by the NRF and Forrester Research.

The study, the Retail CIO Agenda 2015: Secure and Innovate, finds that managing data security is the most urgent focus area for retail CIOs, with 97% of respondents placing it at the top of their 2015 priority lists.  

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon talks about changes at Walmart.

By Matthew K. Harding

With demand from national, local and franchise companies across a broad range of categories picking up markedly in the Northeast, this is an opportune time to take a look at the movers and shakers that are defining the next generation of retail tenancy. And interestingly, the most successful concepts are embracing a new reality that leverages technology and creative approaches for reaching consumers.

Categories to watch

London – Specialty luxury retailer Michael Kors Holdings has joined the ranks of Snapchat users. According to DigiDay, Michael Kors debuted on Snapchat earlier this week during New York Fashion Week, launching exclusive photos from Fashion Week on Snapchat.

Michael Kors has had a longtime social media presence, and was the first retailer to buy an ad on Instagram. Other New York Fashion Week social media activities for Michael Kors included live Internet streaming of the show and a live Twitter chat with the hashtag #AllAccessKors.

Raleigh, N.C. – Specialty fashion retailer Vestique recognizes the importance of the POS as a platform for omnichannel retailing. That is why Vestique chose the Springboard Retail POS platform as a foundation for aligning multi-store inventory, training employees and improving customer engagement as the company expands across the Southeastern U.S.