News

One Kings Lane puts down physical roots
Online home furnishings and decor retailer One Kings Lane is making its temporary foray into brick-and-mortar retail more permanent. The retailer opened its first-ever physical location, a seasonal pop-up in the posh resort town of Southampton, New York, at the beginning of summer. But the company said the response to the temporary store was so positive that it has decided to make it a permanent space.
Gymboree to exit bankruptcy
Children’s apparel retailer Gymboree Corp is exiting Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a going concern. The children's apparel retailer won court approval to exit bankruptcy with a reorganization plan that includes a comprehensive recapitalization that will eliminate about $1 billion in debt. It expects to complete its financial restructuring process and emerge from Chapter 11 by the end of the month.

Target lowers ‘thousands’ of prices

The price wars among the nation's leading retailers has taken a new turn just ahead of the critical holiday selling season. On Friday, Target revealed in a blog post on its website that it had lowered prices on "thousands" of items, from cereal and paper towels to baby formula, razors, bath tissue and more. The discounter said the move would help end shoppers' uncertainty over the timing of discounts on certain products, and make for "more consistent savings."
Fast-casual concept has big ambitions

A start-up that specializes in melted-sandwiches made from high-quality ingredients is looking to go nationwide. Melt Shop hopes to grow to 100 locations during the next five years across the U.S. and internationally via franchising, The brand, founded in 2011 in New York, currently operates six corporate-owned locations in New York, one at Mall of America, Bloomington, Minn., and one in King of Prussia, Pa. It recently expanded into the Middle East and will open seven locations in the region, with four opening in Kuwait by March 2018.
Target in aggressive marketing effort for exclusive brands

Target Corp. is launching an array of private brands and the discounter is giving them a big kickoff. The discounter will launch an aggressive marketing campaign for the new labels, AdAge reported, including everything from print and television spots to in-store events and visual merchandising.
Postmates launches new subscriber perk — no more delivery fees

Postmates just made a strategic move in the online delivery war. Knowing that delivery fees can exceed the cost of a food order, the on-demand app-based delivery provider has killed delivery fees for orders over $20. This decision entitles Postmates Unlimited subscribers to free delivery for orders placed with any of its 250,000-plus merchant partners. Postmates members pay a $9.99 monthly subscription fee.
Beleaguered electronics retailer inches closer to reorganization

RadioShack is entering the latest chapter in its ongoing financial saga — but on a positive note. On Thursday, RadioShack’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan cleared a preliminary court review. This decision enables the retailer to move forward with its strategy to reorganize, and save a small portion of the company, according to Dealerscope.
Women’s apparel retailer accepts mobile payments from Chinese shoppers

Rebecca Minkoff is making it easier for Chinese customers to purchase from the brand. Through a partnership with Chinese online payment provider Alipay, upscale apparel retailer now enables Chinese shoppers to use their Alipay Mobile Wallet to make purchases at any United States-based Rebecca Minkoff store, or while shopping online. The mobile wallet is accepted in all Rebecca Minkoff stores located in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Discount giant adds another massive ‘Pickup Tower’

Walmart’s self-service kiosks that cater to online order in-store pickups have hit Nevada. The discount giant has added a 16-ft. “Pickup Tower” at its Las Vegas Walmart Supercenter. The tower is the first machine to be installed on the West Coast, according to Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Forecast: Holiday sales to be impacted by ‘lackluster’ wage growth

One of the first holiday quarter sales forecasts is out of the gate. Global retail consulting firm Kantar Retail predicts that U.S. retail sales will grow 3.7% in the fourth quarter of this year. The forecast represents an improvement relative to weak growth of only 2.9% in the year ago period. But it is underwhelming compared to average growth prior to the recession of 5.0%, according to Kantar.