Sales & Marketing

ARLINGTON, Va. — More than one-quarter of U.S. retailers lack a mobile presence, according to new research conducted by 2ergo.

Based on data collected from 161 retailers across six categories, 2ergo found that only 58% of retailers have not optimized a mobile website and just half of them are offering consumers one smartphone application for either Android, Blackberry or iPhone devices. Among them, 7% of these top retailers have launched applications for all three platforms, 2ergo noted.

New York City -- Barneys New York said Monday it is teaming up with pop singer Lady Gaga on a holiday campaign and Christmas window display to be called Gaga’s Workshop.

The luxury department store retailer said that, in addition to the Gaga-themed window display, it will devote an entire floor of its Madison Avenue flagship to Gaga’s Workshop. The campaign will also feature limited-edition gift items and specially themed holiday shopping bags and packaging.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Despite the absence of top line growth at Walmart’s U.S. stores division, second quarter earnings grew 12.4% to $1.09 and came in a penny ahead of analysts’ estimates, which was enough for the company to narrow and increase the range of its full year profit forecast.

By Mac Nadel, [email protected]

Target has a lot of things going right for it right now with some decent sales momentum and a mix of current and long term initiatives to drive growth. Even so, Target is in the same boat as other retailers who are posting solid profits, but doing so in an uncertain economic climate where fragile consumer confidence makes it hard to get to aggressive when it comes to forecasting future performance.

Seattle -- Cooking retailer Sur La Table said Monday it will open a flagship store in Hearst Tower, New York City, in late 2011.

The chain’s first NYC space opened in SoHo in 2005 and a second store in the Upper East Side opened in 2010.

The new store will include Sur La Table’s largest kitchen and cooking class program. Customers will be able to take cooking classes, as well as attend events with media partners and renowned chefs from around the world. Cooking classes are currently slated to start in early December.

CHICAGO — The first CityTarget in downtown Chicago won’t open until next summer and already the store is assured of healthy lunch and dinner time traffic thanks to the addition of a Pret A Manger restaurant.

 For those who don’t speak French, Pret A Manger means “ready to eat,” and serves as a reference to the restaurant’s offering of such fresh and preservative free food as sandwiches, soups, salads and coffee. Regulars refer to the restaurant simply as Pret.

NEW YORK — Barneys New York, announced that it has partnered with Lady Gaga for its 2011 holiday campaign.

According to a company press release, Barneys will convert an entire floor of its Madison Avenue flagship in New York City into a dedicated space for the holiday initiative.  Starting in mid-November, "Gaga's Workshop" will be brought to life throughout the fifth floor of the Men's Store at the Madison Avenue flagship, and will also be supported in the store's iconic Madison Avenue windows, the company reported.