Omnichannel

Burlington, Mass. -- E-commerce solution-provider Demandware said Wednesday that lifestyle brand Life is good has selected Demandware Commerce as the central platform to support its digital growth strategy.

New York -- Aeropostale said Thursday that net income for the first quarter narrowed to $10.6 million, from $16.4 million in the same period last year.

Sales for the quarter ended April 28 rose 6% to $497.2 million, from $469.2 million, and same-store sales edged up 2% on the strength of its online performance. Without e-commerce results, same-store sales for the quarter were flat.
 

Does J.C. Penney have time on its side? Or to put it another way: How long will investors wait for J.C. Penney’s transformation? Because, based on the chain’s awful first quarter, it doesn’t appear to have even taken root yet. I’m not surprised.

The steady erosion of newspaper circulations naturally has led many to predict that the printed ad circular is not much long for this world and will quickly disappear as consumers demand more digitized ads and coupons. Last year, the Associated Press, along with 32 other publishers and 30 retailers, launched iCircular to help stave off declining ad revenue.

Austin, Texas -- Isis, the mobile commerce joint venture created by AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless,  announced that Aeropostale, Champs Sports, Dillard’s, Foot Locker, Jamba Juice and Macy’s are among the first national merchants to join with Isis in advancing mobile commerce. The company also announced the first of its local merchant partners across Austin, Texas and Salt Lake City.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — First it was OfficeMax, now Staples reported sales and earnings that were reflective of a struggling retail sector. The company reported that total sales for the first quarter of 2012 were $6.1 billion, a decrease of 1% in U.S. dollars and flat on a local currency basis compared with the first quarter of 2011. Net income for the first quarter of 2012 decreased 6% year-over-year to $187 million. Diluted earnings per share, on a GAAP basis, decreased 4% t to 27 cents from 28 cents achieved in the first quarter of 2011.

As part of Chain Store Age’s lead-up coverage to RECon 2012, to be held May 20-23 in Las Vegas, we talked with DLC’s Daniel Taub about what his expectations are for the big real estate show. Visit DLC’s booth at RECon, Upper South Hall, S2235.

TAMPA, Fla. — Sam's Club has signed a deal with Triad Retail Media to provide pet care information on its website, Triad said Wednesday.