News

Study: Amazon dominates U.S. smartphone shoppers
Seattle - While Amazon is winning the battle for smartphone shoppers in America, it has yet to achieve the same dominance in at least 10 other countries internationally. This is the key finding of a monthly report from Informate Mobile Intelligence that tracked and measured consumer use of smartphones in 12 countries during February 2015.

The new report reveals shopping apps as having the highest penetration in the U.S. at 60%, followed by India at 46%. The other 10 countries measured, by comparison, only had a median reach of about 18%.
Survey: Ace is nation’s most favorite home improvement chain
Louisville, Colo. -- Ace Hardware is America’s favorite home improvement store and Costco is the favorite for home furnishings, according to a new nationwide survey by Market Force Information. The findings are based on consumers’ satisfaction levels and their likelihood to recommend the retailer to others.

In the home improvement sector, Ace Hardware earned the top spot with a composite loyalty score of 61% (out of a potential 70%). Menards came in second, at 50%, followed by Lowe’s, Home Depot and Walmart.

Survey: U.S. in no rush to buy wearable devices

Charlotte, N.C. -- Shoppers in the United States are in no hurry to buy a wearable device, according to a survey by Carlisle & Gallagher Consulting Group, a business and technology consulting firm exclusively focused on the financial services industry. The findings suggest that future adoption of the technology will be driven by attractiveness, alerts and payments functionality.
Kohl’s celebrates Earth Day with volunteerism, ongoing sustainability efforts

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Thousands of associates from Kohl’s Department Stores are celebrating Earth Day by volunteering in their local communities during the company’s sixth annual National Go Green event today through the end of June.
Retailers embrace key trade legislation

Major retailers, trade groups and politicians sounded a euphoric and bipartisan tone last week following the introduction of trade legislation with potentially huge implications for the retail industry and the U.S. economy.
Costco cash machine pays out again

Costco shareholders are a happy lot these days between the company’s surging share price, huge special dividends and now another substantial increase in the company’s regular quarterly payout.

Late Friday, with shareholders already sitting on a 30% increase in the stock price during the past year, the company gave them another reason to smile by hiking its dividend 12.3% to 40 cents a share, or $1.60 on an annual basis, from the current quarterly dividend of 35.5 cents, or $1.42.
Gap, CVS and Target make corporate responsibility list

What’s wrong with the retail Industry? Corporate Responsibility Magazine is out with the 2015 version of its 100 Best Corporate Citizens and only three, that’s right, only three retailers were worthy of inclusion on the list.
Whole Foods hosts toxic swimmer for Earth Day

Whole Foods celebrated Earth Day by serving as the kickoff site for environmental activist Christopher Swain’s historic swim in a toxic canal.
Foot Locker on hunt for footwear innovators

Foot Locker is looking to the future of the footwear industry with a new partnership designed to drive innovation.

The retailer is collaborating with Pensole Footwear Design Academy on a class that will help design the new ASICS Tiger this summer.
DSW veteran takes marketing helm at HSN

HSN Inc. has appointed a new chief marketing officer to drive growth for the $3.6 billion multichannel retailer.

The company named John Aylward as executive VP and chief marketing officer for HSN.
A 'good thing' for Staples and Martha Stewart

Staples is looking to Martha Stewart once again to re-invigorate its home office product assortment.

The retailer and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia have announced a new, multi-year strategic direct retail collaboration for the manufacture and distribution of a brand new line of Martha Stewart Home Office products.
Sears Hometown and Outlet CEO to leave Aug. 1

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc., which had disappointing financial results in its last quarter, said CEO W. Bruce Johnson will leave the company Aug. 1.

The company also announced that the board of directors has commenced a search for a new CEO and has retained Heidrick & Struggles, a leading global executive search firm, to assist the Board in identifying and evaluating external and internal candidates.