News

HRC report finds retail economic metrics are not sustainable
Amid continued market share growth by Amazon and a rapidly changing digital environment, traditional retail profitability metrics are under siege and not sustainable.
Ashley Furniture optimizes supply chain operations
Optimizing shipments between warehouses and customers homes is not an easy task. For Ashley Furniture this process becomes even more complex as it continues to create more efficient means to manages more than 7,000 storekeeping units (SKUs) filtering through the company’s retail network, which is comprised of 660 Ashley HomeStore locations in 35 countries.

Report: Anxious online shoppers not doing enough to protect themselves

A majority of self-described security-savvy online consumers are not taking the preventive measures they should be.
Study: U.S. mobile payments pale in comparison to mobile usage

U.S. shoppers love mobile commerce, yet mobile payments still account for just 2% of all transactions.
Moody’s: Slow supply chains are department stores' Achilles heel

Relatively slow supply chains are hindering department stores’ ability to compete effectively in today’s retail market.
First Look: Teavana’s new store design

Starbucks Corp. has unveiled a new store environment for its Teavana division. In the new store design, tea is not hidden in tins. Instead, loose-leaf teas are boldly displayed in large glass cylinders for customers to see and smell as employees help them create custom blends.
Five Ways to Prevent Data Hacks at the Point-of-Sale

The chip card (EMV) era has arrived with the promise that data in retail environments will be better protected. Cardholders will have much greater security at the point of sale with their own card data. But, while it will be much more difficult for thieves to steal card data at the point of swipe, the hackers are still hacking and data is still being lost – almost daily.
Implementing the New Overtime Rules

Walmart recently announced that it provided pay increases for its managers who are currently making approximately $45,000 per year. By raising their salaries to $48,500 and keeping their duties intact, Walmart will not need to worry about the new federal overtime rules that go into effect on Dec. 1. As we all know, Walmart sets the pace for change (e.g., selling unboxed deodorant and antiperspirant, selling groceries and general merchandise in the same store, etc.) but will retailers follow suit here by simply increasing wages? Likely not.
Canadian retailer to enter U.S. with ‘disruptive’ concept

Spence Diamonds is dropping anchor in the United States with an innovative store concept and unique product offering. The diamond retailer will open a store in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 7, followed by a location in San Jose, Calif., on Nov. 10. A store in Scottsdale, Arizona is planned for first quarter 2017, with additional markets to be announced soon.
Nordstrom on the hunt for new CFO

Nordstrom’s longtime CFO is stepping down. Nordstrom announced that executive VP and CFO Mike Koppel has decided to retire from the company in spring 2017. Koppel will remain in his role until then to support the search for a new CFO and assist with his successor's transition. Koppel joined Nordstrom in 1999 and has been the company's finance head since 2001.
Nordstrom hiring less holiday employees this year

Nordstrom may be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but a new team of associates will be ready to serve shoppers come Black Friday. The chain will hire approximately 11,400 seasonal employees that will be trained to serve customers at its Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores, as well as in its fulfillment and distribution centers that support stores, Nordstrom.com, Nordstromrack.com, HauteLook and Trunk Club.
Hudson’s Bay adds position to lead partnerships

Ed Burstell will join Hudson’s Bay Company’s leadership team as head of partnerships. In this newly created position, Burstell will develop and lead partnerships to drive innovative and exclusive offerings across all of HBC’s banners globally — a move that will help differentiate the company across the marketplace. Burstell, who comes aboard on Dec. 5, will report to the company’s CEO Jerry Storch.