News

A major Canadian grocery chain has a new partner in its quest to improve its omnichannel capabilties.

Metro Inc. has partnered with XCCommerce Inc. to install XCCommerce’s Promotion Solution Suite in support of Metro’s omnichannel promotion and targeted coupon strategy.

Omnichannel may not be Netsuite CEO Zach Nelson’s favorite word, but that didn’t stop him from using it extensively and sharing a vision of what it means during the cloud commerce leader’s annual SuiteWorld conference.

Menlo Park, Calif. -- Former J.C. Penney CEO and Apple Store guru Ron Johnson on Wednesday launched a high-end, high-tech gadget shopping site that comes with a personal touch. Called Enjoy, and initially available only in the San Francisco Bay area and, on May 13 in New York City, the new service bills itself as a “personal service platform.” It allows shoppers to buy select consumer electronics online and then, for no charge, sends an expert to install and set up the product at the consumer’s home.

Milwaukee – A lot of pure-play e-commerce retailers have interesting origin stories. According to (dubious) legend, eBay started as a way to buy and sell collectible Pez candy dispensers. Aftcra, an online marketplace for American handmade products, has a verifiable tale of its roots fitting its all-American product selection.

By Ken Westin, Tripwire

For the second time in a year, Sally Beauty Holdings, which owns U.S. Sally Beauty stores, is currently investigating reports of unusual activity involving payment cards used at some of their stores.

New York – American Express is launching a new loyalty program called Plenti. The program lets consumers use loyalty points accrued at one participating retailer and use them at another.

Initial participating organizations include AT&T, Exxon, Macy’s, Mobil, Nationwide, Rite Aid, Direct Energy, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Hulu. The program is expected to include more brands in additional categories over time.

Oak Brook, Ill. - McDonald's Corp. is trying to make fast-food even more convenient for New Yorkers. The retailer is launching a delivery test with Postmates, a direct-to-consumer delivery service, in the boroughs of Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn.

Customers can go to Postmates.com or download the Postmates mobile app to order McDonald's food for delivery within an hour. The test involves 88 select McDonald's restaurants.

Canton, Mass. - In honor of the birth of the royal baby, Dunkin' Donuts is running a special Twitter sweepstakes for the chance to win a trip for two to London. From May 4-5, Dunkin' Donuts is asking its Twitter followers to share who in their life deserves to be treated like royalty.

San Francisco – The Gymboree Corp. shrank its net loss in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 to $7.4 million, from $167.2 million in the same quarter a year earlier. The elimination of a non-recurring $157.2 million non-cash impairment charge in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 contributed to the reduction in net loss.

Net sales rose 7% to $375.6 million, from $351 million. Same-store sales rose 5%. In fiscal 2015, Gymboree plans to close 30-40 stores and open about 12 stores.

Hibbett Sports’s expansion plan hit an important milestone in Texas this month.

The retailer announced the opening of its 1,000th store in Sealy, Texas, at 2290 Highway 36 South in Brazos Village.