Distribution

A familiar U.S. retailer will soon make its exit from the U.K. retail scene.    Staples, which operates some 105 stores in the United Kingdom, has agreed to sell its U.K. retail business and operations to Hilco Capital Limited. The use of the Staples brand in the U.K. will be phased out over the coming months.   In May, Staples announced plans to explore strategic alternatives for its European operations as part of its new strategy.  

Order pick-up is getting easier at Target stores.   In a posting on its website, the retailer detailed several enhancements to make it quicker and faster for shoppers who order online and pick up in a store.         To make it easy to spot designated Target team members who can help with orders, Target associates in 325 stores nationwide have been outfitted with “Order Pickup” t-shirts, and offer order pickup reusable bags be used throughout the holiday season and beyond. 

Here’s a daunting statistic: The value of merchandise ordered via same-day delivery is expected to exceed $4 billion by 2018 — it was $100 million in 2014. The big reason for this jump is the grueling pace set by Amazon Prime Now, which offers two-hour delivery for consumers in 27 US markets and counting.   

Dick's Sporting Goods Inc. on Tuesday reported better-than-expected sales and earnings for its fiscal third quarter but tempered its good news with a weak outlook for the fourth quarter.    Dick’s posted net income of $48.9 million for the quarter ended Oct. 31, up from $47.2 million in the year-ago period.   On a per-share basis, the Coraopolis, Pennsylvania-based company said it had profit of 44 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were 48 cents per share.  

Ikea continues to expand its use of renewable energy.   The retailer plans to install the largest rooftop solar array in the state on Illinois on its distribution center in Joliet.   

Beleaguered American Apparel has filed its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in just a little over a year. But this time around its future as a retailer looks even more uncertain.  

To compete with Amazon’s pickup points and lockers, Newegg now offers order pickup service across more than 2,500 locations.   While most online shoppers ship items to their homes, a growing number of people prefer the security and convenience of retrieving their packages at a store or retail location. Through a partnership with FedEx, Newegg shoppers can now order and pick-up packages at more than 2,500 FedEx locations throughout the United States, including 1,800 FedEx Office retail stores.   

Dollar General is working out details to construct a $91 million distribution center in Orange County, New York.   The chain is eyeing the creation of a 750,000-square-foot distribution hub on a 100-acre site in the town of Florida, N.Y., the Albany Business Review reported.      The building would supply merchandise to 1,000 stores in the Northeast, and could bring more than 500 jobs to the Albany, N.Y., region over the next five years, according to the report.