Supply Chain & Merchandising

A slump in consumer prices helped to keep retail sales in check in March.   Retail sales in March inched up 0.3% over February, according to the National Retail Federation. (The NRF numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants.)   “Various factors were at play in the first quarter, but we are again seeing a pattern similar to previous years — consumer spending was weak but is expected to pick up as we move through the year,” said NRF chief economist Jack Kleinhenz.

With its profits taking a hit in 2016, Prada Group is placing a stronger focus on digital.   The luxury goods retailer’s net revenue for the year ended January 31, 2017, while revenue across its retail channel plunged13%.    Based on these results, the company plans to focus on more digital initiatives to better respond to an evolving marketplace, according to Prada’s CEO, Patrizio Bertelli.  

St. Petersburg-based Sembler Co. and Atlanta-based Berkley Development have formed a new venture to explore development opportunities in the Southeast.   “This partnership will allow us to work with an exceptional industry professional to better pursue other types of development and redevelopment – small power centers, urban redevelopment projects, even retail elements of primarily residential developments, as possible examples,” said Sembler CEO Ron Wheeler.  

Shoppers hoping to get some great bargains at the 138 stores J.C. Penney has slated for closure will have to wait a little while longer.   The retailer told CNBC that due to improving traffic and better-than-expected sales at the locations on the closure list it has postponed the liquidation sales and shutterings.   The new closure date for the stores is now July 31, which is about six weeks later than Penney originally planned, the report said.   

Two menswear brands founded online are growing their brick-and-mortar operations.   Made-to-measure men’s clothing maker Indochino, which was founded in 2007, plans to open eight new locations in 2017. Three are slated to open in the brand’s home territory of Canada, and five in the U.S.    “This year, we’re almost doubling our showroom network as we focus on significantly expanding our experiential retail model,” stated Drew Green, CEO, Indochino.  

Walmart recently announced that, starting April 19, it would order a discount on select items that are ordered online and then picked up in the store. Here is commentary on what the new initiative means for Walmart in terms of last-mile delivery as well as its competitors.  

Destination Maternity Corp. saw its loss widen in the fourth quarter and the full year amid declining same-store sales and its exit from several businesses.     The maternity clothing retailer reported a loss $32.8 million, which included a $27.8 million non-cash income tax charge. Its adjusted net loss was $3.2 million, compared to an adjusted net loss of $1.5 million in the year-ago period.   Revenue totaled $100.2 million in the period. Same-store sales fell 7.8%.   

The struggles of brick-and-mortar retailers have dominated industry headlines over the past few months with an unprecedented number of store closings announced. However, while the bad news has come from all corners, specialty retailers as well as general merchandisers, it has been department stores that have perhaps attracted the most headlines.