News

Washington Spotlight: Is Ivanka a Retail Partner or Issue Adversary?
The retail community has had a curious relationship with the Ivanka Trump brand over the last year or two. Some prominent brands proudly display her clothing, shoe and accessories lines. Others carry it, but really don’t highlight it too much, and some have decided to drop it all together.
Off-price apparel chain revamps the front end
Forman Mills is on a growth spurt — now it needs its point-of-sale (POS) to grow with it. The off-price retailer has grown from a single store to a 36-store chain of “big box” warehouse-style stores across multiple states. As the retailer enters its next stage of expansion in connection with a recent investment from New York-based Goode Partners LLC, Forman Mills needed a front end solution that could support its growth, and drive more efficient checkout processes.

Ralph Lauren to reduce headcount, close flagship, deploy new online platform

Ralph Lauren Corp. is shaking things up—and cutting costs. The company, which has been struggling with weak sales, on Tuesday said it would reduce corporate staff, close its Polo flagship on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, and move its online platform to Salesforce’s CommerceCloud solution.
Pet supplies giant acquires digital start-up

Petco has acquired a digital pet services company and, in so doing, got itself an experienced tech entrepreneur to drive its digital initiatives. Petco has purchased PetCoach, a pet advice web site and app that helps pet owners take better care of their pets, connecting them with veterinarians for personalized answers to their questions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Extreme-value chain to open 700 more stores

Canadian discounter Dollarama is upping its store growth plans—and by a considerable number. The chain, which operates some 1,000 stores across Canada, has revised its long-term target from 1,400 locations to 1,700. “This provides Dollarama with several years of additional footprint growth,” stated Neil Rossy, president and CEO, Dollarama, which sells a variety of merchandise at fixed price points up to C$4.00.
British retailer to make U.S. debut

A British lifestyle brand will open its first store in the United States this summer. The White Company will open a 3,000-sq.-ft. flagship in the Flatiron section of Manhattan. Described as the first international flagship of the brand, the store will stock a curated selection of lifestyle, homeware and fashion products. A selection of The Little White Company products featuring white baby clothes and nursery equipment will also be housed in the space.
Kmart exec to head up Pier I

A former executive at Sears Holdings Corp. has has been named president and CEO of Pier I Imports. Alasdair James, 46, will take the reins of the home décor chain on May 1, 2017. He replaces Alex Smith, who was ousted from the company at the end of last year amid slumping sales.
Report: Staples in talks with buyout firms

Is Staples looking to go private? Less than a year after its deal to acquire Office Depot Inc. fell through due to antitrust concerns, Staples is in early discussions with private-equity bidders, according to The Wall Street Journal. Staples had no comment on the report, which said that based on typical takeover premiums, the office supply chain could be valued at roughly $7 billion or more. But the news sent its stock soaring to a four-year high on Tuesday morning
Report: Walmart seeks to build big new DC in its hometown

Walmart is looking to expand its logistics capabilities. The discounter recently submitted plans to city planners In Bentonville, Ark, for a 1.27 million-sq.-ft. distribution center, according to a report by Talk Business & Politics-Northwest Arkansas Business Journal.
U.S. grocer taps former Lidl exec as new CEO

As German discount giant Lidl prepares to enter the U.S. market, Save-A-Lot is bringing in a new chief executive officer whose resume includes a 13-year stint at the European chain. The discount supermarket chain has appointed Kenneth McGrath as CEO, effective April 21, 2017. He succeeds Eric Claus, whose departure was described as a “mutually agreed” parting of the ways.