News

Retailers’ mobile engagement initiatives are headed in the right direction, but shoppers are still dissatisfied.   According to DMI’s second annual “Mobile In-Store Experience Rankings” report, which assessed mobile experiences among 120 retailers, in-store mobility influences where 74% of the general population and 88% of “mobile reliants” shop.   

Did Walmart's $3.3 billion acquisition of e-tail startup Jet — the largest buyout in American e-commerce history — help it this holiday season?     A new report from Ugam finds Walmart's first holiday season following its acquisition of Jet.com last summer saw fewer out-of-stocks, but that the chain still has room for improvement on pricing and assortment.  

Trion Properties, which is in the business of acquiring and turning around distressed properties, has sold its Valencia Town Center Plaza outside of Los Angeles for $9.8 million.   The 21,186-sq.-ft. Santa Clarita center was less than 50% leased when Trion acquired it for $6.8 million in 2013, according to Managing Partner Max Sharkansky, and now is near full occupancy. He said the center “presented an opportunity for us to increase net operating income through aggressive leasing and cosmetic upgrades.  

While the path-to-purchase often starts online, a majority of interactions with a brand's website do not end in conversion.   In fact, 92% of consumers’ initial visit to a brand's website doesn’t lead to a sale, according to “Reimaging Commerce,” a study from Episerver. The study tapped more than 1,100 consumers to learn the importance of relevant and engaging content throughout the purchase journey.  

More North American shoppers will have access to Alipay.   Through a partnership with leading luxury travel retailer DFS Group, Alipay’s in-store mobile payment service will be available in DFS’ Honolulu International Airport store, and its downtown T Galleria by DFS, Hawaii store in advance of the Chinese New Year. DFS Group launched Alipay in its airport stores in SFO, LAX, and JFK in 2016.  

Nordstrom is realigning and streamlining its top technology positions.    The company said that Dan Little, Nordstrom’s chief information officer, plans to retire next fall. Little joined Nordstrom in 2002, as VP, supply chain strategy. He was named to his current position in 2014.  

Nine West Holdings has entered into an agreement to purchase a 30-years plus women’s apparel company.     Nine West said it has used the net proceeds from the December 2016 sale of its Easy Spirit wholesale business to purchase the Kasper Group. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.        The Kasper Group's apparel is sold under its flagship Kasper and other well-known brand names.    

Nearly half of retailer leaders will be out of business if they don’t transform themselves digitally.   This is according to “Reinventing Retail: Cisco Reveals How Stores Can Surge Ahead on the Digital Transformation Journey,” a study based on data from 200 retail executives from North and South America and regions of Europe. Companies represent brick-and-mortar retailers, e-commerce, apparel manufacturers, food service and other segments of retail.  

Yankee Candle is all about catering to its customers. A new point-of-sale will help associates further drive this experience.  

A Wireless, which operates more than 1,140 Verizon-branded stores in 46 states, has appointed 26-year retail veteran George Sherman as its new CEO.   Most recently, Sherman was president and also served as interim CEO for Advance Auto Parts. Prior to that, he was senior VP, global services and president, Best Buy Services for Best Buy from 2009 until 2013.