Logistics

MC Sports, a longtime fixture in the Midwest that filed for bankruptcy in February, has put leases on its stores in seven states up for auction.   The 58 stores range in size from 11,000 to 46,000 sq. ft. and are located in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Bids are due by April 7 to A&G Realty Partners, which is handling the auction.  

Adidas Group wants to kick off its expansion in China on the right foot.   The sportswear brand plans to bolster its retail sales network to 12,000 outlets in China by 2020, with much of the growth slated for smaller cities. However, the company also knows that conducting international trade within China can be difficult and complex due to challenges presented by huge import and export volume, and minimal advance notice of regulatory changes.  

Payless could be the newest retailer headed toward bankruptcy.   The struggling retailer could file for bankruptcy as soon as next week. In the meantime, Payless is already making plans to reorganize operations by shuttering stores, according to Bloomberg.   

Costco Wholesale Corp. is making it easier for customers to shop for groceries.   Shipt, a membership-based delivery service for online groceries, has partnered with Costco to deliver groceries orders placed by Costco customers directly to their homes.      The service will launch initially in the Tampa area, with plans to expand to 50 markets and more than 30 million households by the end of the year.  It is limited to grocery, and does not include apparel, furniture or electronic

Determined to fight back against online rival Amazon, eBay made a strategic move in the competitive online delivery game.   Beginning this summer, the e-commerce retailer will launch a new program, called “Guaranteed Delivery,” that will offer U.S. shoppers guaranteed delivery on 20 million eligible products in three days or less — with millions of the items offering free shipping.   In addition, shoppers will also be able to search for and filter items by one- and two day delivery.

Bankrupt Hhgregg Inc.’s proposed purchase by an anonymous buyer has collapsed.   

New Jersey’s answer to Chipotle has signed a lease for another location in that state.   Bubbako’s Burritos, a made-to-order chain that got its start in the popular Jersey shore town of Point Pleasant, has signed a lease for a 1,900-sq.-ft. restaurant at Aldrich Plaza in Howell. Other tenants there include Bed, Bath & Beyond, Retro Fitness, and Boston Market.  

Amazon is making its next global logistics move.    The online retailer plans to enable its Chinese sellers to fly their goods internationally as air cargo, according to MarketWatch.