News

Parents may be using mobile to look for deals this back-to-school season, but most purchases are happening in-store.   Sixty-eight percent (68%) of shoppers will make their back-to-school purchases in-store vs. 32% who would prefer to shop only online, according to the “2017 Back-to-School Sales Report,” from ChargeItSpot.  

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores is changing the way it connects with shoppers.    Coinciding with efforts to “modernize” its brand, the arts and crafts retailer is adopting mobile technology as a means of fostering collaboration and enhancing the shopping experience. Jo-Ann’s new mobile app will enable users to shop for supplies, find project ideas, redeem mobile coupons, and find and share project “How-To’s.”  

Foot Locker reported grim results for its second quarter, and suggested that it may be mulling store closures.   

Walmart is ensuring all in-store merchandise is ready for shoppers when they want to make a purchase.  

Wegmans Food Markets is expanding its footprint with a new concept.    In a first for the 101-year-old grocer, Wegmans said it will open a two-level store, at Natick Mall, Natick, Mass., with direct access to the shopping center. The 134,000-sq.-ft. store will be located in a building that formerly housed one of the mall's anchors, J.C. Penney.    

Dunkin’ Brands is giving mobile customers another way to fulfill their caffeine fix.    In a bid to add more convenience to their “Order on the Go” service, the quick service giant is adding curbside delivery to its menu of order fulfillment options. Once customers place their order via their mobile app, they can pick up their order in-store, at drive-thru, or pull into a dedicated parking spot where an associate will deliver it to their car.  

There's a new person running things at Sears Canada.    Brandon Stranzl, executive chairman of Sears Canada has been removed from his day-to-day responsibilities of running the company in order to work on a management bid for the retailer, the Globe & Mail reported. Sears COO Becky Penrice is now leading the chain's executive team.   

U.S. consumer sentiment rose to its highest level since January in early August, reflecting optimism in the overall economy and in personal financial prospects.     The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index rose to 97.6 in the first half of August from 93.4 in July, which was an eight-month low.  Economists estimated the index would hit 94 in August.   

Two urban-focused athletic footwear and apparel retailers have merged.   Private equity firms Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co. and Goode Partners completed a transaction that will merge DTLR and Sneaker Villa (Villa). The merged company will operate nearly 240 stores covering 19 states and the District of Columbia, spanning the East Coast from New York to Florida, the Midwest, the Southeastern U.S. and Texas.    

Walmart reported better-than-expected results for its second quarter amid surging online sales and an increase in store traffic.    Walmart's total revenue for the period ended July 31 rose 2.3% to $123.36 billion for the quarter, better than analysts had expected. U.S. store visits increased 1.3% over the year-ago period.