Supply Chain & Merchandising

Consumers who want free two-day shipping of their Amazon.com orders but don’t want to make an upfront commitment have a new option.

Amazon is now making Prime membership available to U.S. customers on a month-by-month basis for $10.99 per month. Previously, Prime had only been available for $99 per year, which breaks down to $8.25 per month.

Angeles-based Sport Chalet has initiated going out of business sales at its 47 stores and closed down its online operation.

On Monday, Vestis Retail Group LLC, which operates Sport Chalet along with Eastern Mountain Sports and Bob’s Stores, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The filing was not unexpected and follows in the wake of Sports Authority’s Chapter 11 filing in March.

Michaels Companies Inc. is tailoring its promotions, markdowns and prices to current customer demand.

The arts and crafts retailer is deploying Revionics merchandising solutions including the vendor’s promotions, markdown and price suites.

A very real challenge for retailers — who now market to the most technology-enabled, in-control shoppers ever — is to avoid the promotional downward spiral vortex and sidestep the vicious “race to the bottom” on competitive pricing. These traps severely erode margins, profits and brand image.

Target Corp.’s latest limited-edition collaboration, with the Finnish brand Marimekko, was not a bust, but it also didn’t spark the excitement and shopping frenzy that marked the launch of the retailer’s previous exclusive collections — particularly its past partnerships with Missoni and Lily Putlizer.

Consumers are making omnichannel grocery purchases at a respectable rate, but could retailers drive higher participation?

A new infographic from business intelligence provider Market Track indicates that omnichannel grocery shopping could be even more popular if retailers made sure it were affordable.

A survey of 1,000 shoppers by Market Track shows that 26% have purchased groceries online. Twenty-one percent have ordered groceries online to be delivered, an increase of 10% from the previous year.

Yes, but only if you listen — to both of them

In the early days of retail, the store proprietor knew customers by sight. As mostly mom-and-pop businesses, they naturally spent time getting to know their customers, who probably were also neighbors and friends. They knew from experience and immediate feedback what merchandise would or wouldn’t sell. It was the ultimate in customer intimacy.

Dick’s Sporting Goods and Academy Sports + Outdoors have submitted letters of interest to buy some of the assets of Sports Authority Inc. that will go on the block in a bankruptcy auction, according to Reuters.

Modells Sporting Goods is also reportedly interested in some of the assets of the chain, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early March.

A ruling in the dispute between the Federal Trade Commission and Staples could hinge on whether the judge in the case is an Amazon Prime member who appreciates the online giant’s disruptive business model and potential to impact the business-to-business marketplace.