News

Wayfair keeps hot streak alive in Q3
Home furnishings retailer Wayfair increased revenue and narrowed its loss in the third quarter thanks to what the company's CEO called "customer growth accelerating at a phenomenal pace."
Survey: Black Friday “creep” remains strong
Nearly one-third of retailers surveyed by JLL say they plan to open on Thanksgiving Day in order to get a jump on Black Friday sales.

JLL’s 2015 Holiday Sentiment Report, which includes feedback from largely national or global retailers in JLL-managed shopping centers across the United States, also reveals more than half of those retailers expect an uptick in shopper traffic this year.

Personalization is key to Pier I Imports’ omnichannel strategy

Pier I Imports is getting personal in its online marketing efforts, delivering individualized content to customers that is based on their previous shopping activity.

The retailer has partnered with Certona, a provider of real-time omnichannel personalization, to deliver a “hyper-personalized omnichannel experience” to shoppers.
Specialty retailer takes beacons to next level

Specialty fashion retailer Vanity is trying to make visiting its stores as rewarding an experience as possible.
Alibaba makes $5 billion in 90 minutes

The world’s biggest online shopping holiday got off to a roaring start in China.

In the first 90 minutes of the “Singles Day” sale, which kicked off at 12 midnight in Beijing on Nov. 11, total sales exceeded $5 billion, Alibaba reported. About 74% of sales were from mobile phones.

Estimates are that annual shopping extravaganza could reach as high as $11 billion in sales.
Happy Singles Day: China is open for business

For merchants looking to sustainably grow their revenue and future-proof their business in an ever-increasing competitive landscape, there is almost no better decision they can make than expanding beyond their domestic market.
What shoppers want when it comes to holiday shopping

It turns out that the No. 1 retail perk for shoppers is not speedy delivery, according to Deloitte's 30th annual holiday survey of consumer spending intentions and trends.

The survey shows that free shipping is the top retailer policy preferred by shoppers. Furthermore, the ubiquity of personal mobile devices allows consumers to take their time researching purchases and store policies giving them opportunity to request exactly what they want.
Boot Barn gets kicked by Sheplers in second quarter

The acquisition of Sheplers weighed on Boot Barn Holdings Inc. in the second quarter as the company reported flat same store sales.

Boot Barn said that for the second quarter ended Sept. 26, net sales increased 50% to $129.7 million; same store sales increased 0.1%; and net income was $1.2 million, or 4 cents per diluted share.
Falling gas prices no Grinch this Christmas

A prolonged drop in gas prices is boosting hopes among retailers that consumers will spend more this holiday season.

According to the latest Consumer Fuels Survey by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), more than one in four (26%) consumers expect to increase their spending this month, a seven-point jump over the past month and the highest percentage this year. Last November, only 21% of consumers expected to increase their spending, according to the survey.
Amazon's new bookstore has nothing to do with books?

When Amazon.com opened its first brick-and-mortar store this month selling books, many wondered what the e-commerce giant was up to. Now Forbes is telling us what that is. [Forbes]