Store Systems

Brand awareness and sales growth are accelerating at Duluth Holdings where the company’s rapidly expanding store base is so young it won’t be able to report same-store sale growth until 2017.

Belleville, Wisconsin-based Duluth Holdings, known to customers as Duluth Trading Company, grew sales 27.5% to $140.4 million and net income increased 25.8% to $17.5 million, or 58 cents a share, during the quarter ended Jan. 31. For the full year, total sales rose 31.2% to $304 billion. Net income grew 16.1% to $27.4 million, or $1.06 a share.

By now, everyone has heard the adage “the store is the center of omnichannel” and seen the statistics showing that physical stores account for about 90% of retail sales. So clearly brick-and-mortar stores are as relevant as ever.
 
Well, yes and no. Brick-and-mortar stores can be relevant as ever, but only if they offer modern technological amenities expected by today’s customers. Here are three ways to make sure consumers see your stores as central to their omnichannel shopping activities.
 

Discount online apparel/accessories retailer Bluefly knows how important looking good is, but also knows there needs to be real quality beneath the shiny veneer.

To that end, Bluefly is partnering with solution providers including Mozu and DynamicAction to overhaul its e-commerce site and mobile app, from the user interface to the underlying architecture.

Rite Aid on Friday reported revenues of $8.3 billion for its fourth quarter ended Feb. 27, representing an increase of 20.8%. Retail Pharmacy Segment revenues were $6.8 billion and decreased 0.3% compared to the prior year period primarily as a result of a decrease in same-store sales. Pharmacy Services Segment revenues were $1.5 billion.
 

Kroger showed its tendency to promote longtime executives to key senior leadership roles again with the naming of a 32 year veteran to serve as president of its 138 store Smith’s division based in Salt Lake City.

Kenny Kimball was elevated to the role of president of Smith’s after previously serving as VP of operations. Kimball joined Smith’s in 1984 as a courtesy clerk and succeeds Jay Cummins who announced his retirement in February. Kimball assumes his new responsibilities April 30.

Home Depot’s is touting improved omnichannel capabilities and an innovative product offering as its seventh annual “Spring Black Friday” sales event gets underway.

Sears Holding Corp. is making a timely expansion to its seamless “Meet With An Expert” service as it looks to engage with shoppers this spring.

Sears has extended its “Meet With An Expert” service introduced last fall to its lawn and garden department. The free service allows online shoppers to schedule in-store appointments with experts in specific product areas.

Half of retailers are unprepared for future labor challenges.

That’s according to a new survey of more than 250 U.S. store managers by JDA Software Group, which finds that a perfect “labor” storm is brewing for retailers — one fueled by ever-expanding customer needs, increasing complexity and new and shifting labor regulations.