Supply Chain & Merchandising

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Belk has engaged the services of ChannelAdvisor, a global e-commerce platform provider, for comparison shopping strategy and data feed management. Belk is utilizing ChannelAdvisor’s Comparison Shopping and Flex Feed solutions to skillfully create, optimize and distribute Belk’s product data feeds to multiple shopping engines such as Shopzilla, Shopping.com, Nextag and PriceGrabber as well as to a variety of other commerce partners.

I’ll say this for Ron Johnson: He has turned staid J.C. Penney into the most talked-about retailer in the nation. The company accounted for five of the 10 most-viewed stories on this website in the first half of 2012 (see story). And industry analysts and consultants can’t stop speculating on the chain’s fortunes, in print, on the web and on television.

New York -- Coach Inc. reported Tuesday that net income for the quarter ended June 30 rose 24% to $251.4 million, from $202.5 million in the same period last year, topping Wall Street projections.

The company’s revenue in the quarter rose 12% to $1.16 billion, below analysts’ expectations of $1.2 billion. Slowing growth at the company’s factory-outlet stores impacted sales. Coach reinstated coupons at its factory stores late in the quarter amid increasing discounting among retailers.

NEW YORK — Macy's has partnered with fashion designer, B. Michael, for the launch of his new collection, b michael America Red. Set to debut in ten Macy's locations across the country by Aug. 15.

"I am excited by the opportunity to share my point of view of Advanced American Style with a broader audience. We are especially pleased to have Macy's as the retailer to launch the collection -- the quintessential american department store."

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation and its National Council of Chain Restaurants division joined a coalition of manufacturers, shippers and transportation providers to file an amicus brief before the U.S. Court of Appeals opposing new federal trucking regulations on drivers’ hours-of-service, stating the regulations were arbitrary and capricious.

Lowe’s made an offer, but Rona refused.

The two North American home improvement giants will continue to operate as competitors in Canada, where Lowe’s has been growing organically for the past several years amid rumors that just such an acquisition play was in the cards.

Hong Kong -- A Tuesday report by Bloomberg said that J. Crew will open its first Asia store – in Hong Kong – as early as 2013. CEO Millard “Mickey” Drexler told the news service that the retailer is also seeking sites in Beijing and Shanghai.

“We feel that we’re ready to go international,” said Drexler. “Going international is a strong learning curve and it could distract us from building our business in the United States, but we feel that the time is right now.”

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club announced that Dale Talde, celebrity chef and owner of Talde and the soon-to-be opened Pork Slope Restaurant, both in New York, joins the Sam's Club Simply Delicious Chef Brigade to help families serve up healthy, restaurant-quality meals in their own backyard.