News

Check out some of Amazon’s ‘Prime Day’ deals
Seattle -- Amazon has released an early preview of some of the deals that will be offered on July 15, as part of its first-ever Prime Day anniversary extravaganza. The promotion, which Amazon claims will be bigger than Black Friday, has caused Walmart to offer its own super-sale online on Wednesday.
Sears names Gymboree executive as president
With its stock trading at a 52-week low, Sears has made an interesting choice to lead its department store business.

The company says it has found a new executive to develop a strategy for the Sears format that focuses on meeting the needs of the Shop Your Way member.

Kohl’s ups cash tender offer

Menomonee Falls, Wis. - Kohl’s Corp. has increased the maximum amount of a previously announced cash tender offer for several debt notes coming due between 2017 and 2033 from $60 million to about $737.04 million. The new tender offer is subject to the same terms and conditions made in an original offer to purchase dated June 29, 2015.

Settlement of notes that have been tendered and accepted for purchase by Kohl’s is expected to take place July 17, 2015. The tender offer expires July 27, 2015.
E-tailers top YouGov Brand Index in U.S.

London - Two e-tailers, Amazon.com and Netflix, are the respective number one and two ranked brands in the U.S., according to the mid-year Brand Index from consumer research firm YouGov. Social video platform is the number three brand in the index, meaning the top three is made up of brands that focus on services delivered through the Internet.
Papa Murphy’s minds the store

Vancouver, Wash. – Papa Murphy’s Holdings Inc. is minding the store when it comes to marketing. The pizza chain has signed an agreement with marketing execution firm InnerWorkings Inc. to strengthen the impact of its point-of-purchase printed marketing materials and branded merchandise at the its more than 1,400 locations across the U.S.
Shopify honors six new startups

Cloud-based commerce platform Shopify is recognizing six new startups with awards.

This year’s winners of the Shopify Build a Better Business contest ranged from a GPS-enabled suitcase, to a wearable that zaps users to reduce bad habits, to an innovative mattress.
QVC to open first West Coast distribution center

QVC is ramping up its distribution network on the West Coast with a new, state of the art facility in Ontario, Calif.

The multichannel retailer plans to open a West Coast distribution hub there in 2016. As QVC ramps up operations, the center is expected to employ more than 500 team members by 2018. QVC anticipates hiring approximately 1,000 team members in total by 2020 as the distribution center expands fulfillment to all product categories.
Lids looks to optimize in-store ops, enhance shopping experience

Chicago -- Specialty retailer Lids has selected ShopperTrak to measure in-store traffic and provide customer behavior insights for Lids and Locker Room by Lids stores.
Target thinks outside the pencil case for back-to-school

Target Corp. is looking to make getting ready for back to school quick and easy for families this autumn with an innovative new way to shop for school supplies.

The retailer is launching a service called School List Assist. The online hub will offer a curated assortment of the most common K-8 supplies on the list and a convenient new way for guests to find what they need. Parents can purchase the school supplies their kids need and then pick them up in store or have them shipped to their homes.
Tech Guest Viewpoint: Optimize CRM with Omnichannel Approach

Now more than ever, today’s consumers want to be treated as individuals rather than a market. No matter which channel is used to interact with brands, some level of personalization is expected. Whether it’s online, mobile or in a brick-and-mortar store, customers want a shopping experience tailored to their specific needs and preferences.