Omnichannel

Nike has brought its “community store” concept to California, opening a 19,000-sq.-ft.-plus location in East Los Angeles.

Many retailers are still on a quest to offer customers a seamless experience.

Mall owner Westfield Corporation has created a new big data and analytics unit and made a key hire to oversee the important function.

Westfield named Raghav Lal as its new chief data and analytics officer to lead a newly established big data and analytics group that will be responsible for conceptualizing, developing and deploying the company’s data strategy. The move is a significant hiring investment to centralize the company’s wealth of data effectively, efficiently and safely for its customers and retailers alike, Westfield said in a statement.

A veteran retailer has taken the reins at Vince, a leading-edge contemporary fashion label and retailer.

The company named Brendan L. Hoffman as CEO, effective immediately, replacing interim chief. He is the former chief executive and president of The Bon-Ton Stores Inc, a position he held from February 2012 to August 2014. Prior to that, Hoffman was CEO and president of Lord & Taylor.

Amazon.com’s third quarter sales increased 23% to $25.4 billion and the online retailer and tech giant posted a huge improvement in profitability.

The company said operating income increased to $406 million in the third quarter ended Sept. 30, compared to an operating loss of $544 million in third quarter 2014. Net income increased to $79 million, or 17 cents a share, compared with net loss of $437 million, or 95 cents a share, the prior year.

In what promises to be the most omnichannel Christmas ever, Kohl’s contends it will offer shoppers a seamless experience that is faster and more convenient that ever.

Williams-Sonoma has entered into an agreement with Mexico’s leading department store retailer to open stores in that country.

Williams-Sonoma said it will open 13 stores across its various brands — Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen and West Elm — In Mexico City, by the end of 2015. The stores are opening through a franchise partnership with Mexican department store retailer Liverpool.

With the rise of multichannel retailing and a saturated retail market, today’s customers expect to find the products they want, when they want and in a way that is most convenient to them. Be it via speedy delivery, in-store pickup or traditional store visits, shoppers today want to be connected to their purchases quickly. Retailers that don’t provide such services will be outperformed by competitors that do this Christmas season.