Store Systems

While the Confederate flag has been an increasing source of controversy in recent years, retailers have long sold items featuring its image with no major outcry. But following the tragic shooting in Charleston, consumer sentiment against the “Stars and Bars” intensified to a degree that made selling Confederate flag-themed merchandise unacceptable to a large portion of the public within a few days.

The new fiscal year is off to a good start at Bed Bath & Beyond according to CEO Steve Temares who credits a wide range of omnichannel initiatives.

Sales in Bed Bath & Beyond’s first quarter ended May 30, increased 3.1% to $2.738 billion and same store sales increased 2.2%. Net income declined to $158.5 million from $187.1 million while a strong stock buyback program allowed earnings per share to remain flat.

Digital media company Catalina is launching a new solution that personalizes the deals found in weekly retail ad circulars. 

The program, called My Favorite Deals, is designed to increase ROI in a major area of marketing spend for U.S. retailers.

North York, Canada - Leon’s Furniture has launched a newly upgraded e-commerce site featuring a fully responsive design, using technology and development services from Blueport Commerce. The new Leon’s website features design and functionality improvements including JavaScript technology to improve homepage, product detail page and shopping cart speed.

Naples, Fla. – Retailers often may not have the tools they need to effectively fight omnichannel fraud. More than half (54%) of retailers in the U.S. and Europe still have to consolidate their fraud management solutions across all channels, according to new research conducted by Forrester Consulting for ACI Worldwide.
 

Carpinteria, Calif. -- With more Americans using credit, debit and prepaid goods to pay for goods and services, the amount merchants pay to process those cards continues to rise.

North Plainfield, N. J. -- Nearly one-third (31.1% ) of retailers report that their companies have opened or will open new stores this year, according to a survey by retail real estate management firm Levin Management. It is the highest mid-year percentage in the four years for which comparative Levin survey data is available.

Retail consulting firm McMillanDoolittle has posted an interesting blog on Gap Inc.’s ongoing efforts to turnaround its troubled namesake brand. Here is the full posting: