News

Jelly Belly sweetens online customer experience
Specialty candy supplier Jelly Belly Candy Company is modernizing its direct-to-consumer website with help from cloud-based e-commerce technology provider Mozu.

Jelly Belly has replaced its homegrown e-commerce system with Mozu’s SaaS-based cloud commerce platform. With the Mozu platform: Jelly Belly has launched 40 new global sites, expanded organic site traffic by 21%, doubled the efficiency of website speeds, established a single platform for business-to-business, business-to-consumer and worldwide commerce, and increased mobile sales by 300%.
Rue La La aligns with oldest digital platform of all
Specialty online fashion retailer Rue La La is launching a series of themed online boutiques that tie in with the original digital consumer engagement channel – TV.

Rue La La is entering an exclusive partnership with ABC's hit show "Dancing with the Stars” by offering themed online shopping experiences. The first boutique, live at 3 p.m. ET on Monday, March 21, aligns with the premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" and is merchandised for a night of dancing for both men and women.

The Bon-Ton elects new board member

The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. is adding some accounting expertise to its board of directors.

The company announced it has elected Debra K. Simon to its board, effective immediately, expanding its board membership to 10.
Neiman Marcus veteran joins CallisonRTKL

Design and architecture giant CallisonRTKL named a global leadership team in retail design that includes the appointment of retail veteran Ignaz Gorischek as VP. He is with the firm’s retail practice group, in the Dallas office.
Beverly Center to get $500 million renovation that promises more food — and light

The grand lady of Los Angeles retailing is getting a major facelift.

Taubman Centers is embarking on a $500 million remodel of Beverly Center this month that promises to transform every aspect of the iconic — and monolithic — eight-story center, which opened in 1982.
Gordmans enters the world of omnichannel

Gordmans Stores plans to open a new store next month in its hometown of Omaha in April, the first of five new units apparel and home décor retailer has planned for the year.
Big and tall retailer finds fit with DXL format

Destination XL Group is seeing strong same store sales growth from its stores branded as DXL as it continues to shift away from the smaller footprint Casual Male concept.

Destination XL Group, which bills itself as the largest omnichannel specialty retailer of big and tall men's apparel, said its total same store sales increased 3.1%, but its 137 DXL stores open for more than 13 months grew comps 8.9%.
Staples and Office Depot take another shot at FTC

The CEOs of Staples and Office Depot penned a letter to customers which reveals the extent of their deteriorated relations with the Federal Trade Commission ahead of a hearing that begins March 21 that will determine whether the retailers are allowed to merge.

In the letter, Staples chairman and CEO Ron Sargent and Office Depot chairman and CEO Roland Smith stop short of actually calling the FTC stupid, but that is the inference from more diplomatically worded prose.
Gordmans enters the world of omnichannel

Gordmans Stores plans to open a new store next month in its hometown of Omaha in April, the first of five new units the apparel and home décor retailer has planned for the year.
Study: Retailers vary and so should retail minimum wages

Should Walmart and Costco be required to pay employees the same minimum wage?

The answer is no, at least that’s the conclusion of a new study according to the National Center for Policy Analysis, a conservative think tank based in Dallas.
Sears Canada 2.0: The re-engineering begins

A broad slate of initiatives unveiled by Sears Canada are intended to transition the company from a business stabilization phase in 2015 to a re-engineering phase designed to restore growth.
Report: Baltimore CVS reconnects to local community

The CVS/pharmacy destroyed by fire during riots last year in Baltimore has re-opened earlier this month, the Association of Health Care Journalists reported Friday. The initial closure of the CVS/pharmacy highlighted the important role pharmacies play across inner-city communities.