News

Sears helps rebuild military families' homes
Sears is putting its decades of home improvement knowledge to work once again for military families.

The retailer has launched its eighth annual Heroes at Home campaign with Rebuilding Together to raise funds and assist military families facing hardship by making necessary repairs, improvements or modifications to their homes. The program, which has raised more than $18 million over the past seven years thanks to donations from Shop Your Way members, customers and associates, has funded more than 1,500 home rebuilds.
Study: 72% of grocery shoppers would prefer discounts on groceries instead of gas
Cincinnati -- Grocery shoppers have a resounding message for grocery retailers who have been enticing them with fuel rewards for over a decade: Fuel rewards alone aren’t winning their loyalty. Grocery discounts are the new value driver.

Smart & Final Stores posts Q1 profit; 16 new stores on tap

Commerce, Calif. -- Smart & Final Stores Inc. reported earnings of $4.9 million in its first quarter, compared with a profit of $2.5 million last year. Revenue for the period ended March 22 rose 11.9% to $822.2 million. Same-store sales climbed 6.1%.

"The year is off to a strong start, with Smart & Final Stores delivering against our business plans and financial objectives," said Dave Hirz, president and CEO.
Staples steps up to boost graduation rates

Staples is donating the tools and resources necessary to make graduation happen for thousands of students across the country -- and throwing in a little Taylor Swift to boot.
Children’s Place selects Quantum Analytics for Size and Pack

Minneapolis -- Quantum Retail Technology, a provider of merchandise optimization and inventory solutions for retail, announced that The Children's Place has selected Quantum's Q Analytics for Size and Pack Optimization. The solution joins The Children's Place's implementation of Quantum's Q for Allocation and Replenishment, due to go live this year, and their planned implementation of Quantum's Q for Order Planning.
Metro turns to XCCommerce for omnichannel tune-up

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.
Billabong taps NetSuite to power omnichannel strategy

New York -- NetSuite Inc., a provider of cloud-based financials, ERP and and omnichannel software suites, said that boardsports retailer Billabong International Ltd. selected NetSuite SuiteCommerce to help transform customer interaction with its brands through the implementation of a new global omnichannel platform.

The platform will be progressively rolled out across the retailer to provide a true omnichannel experience across its wholesale, retail and ecommerce operations.
Sam’s Club invests in future customers

Sam’s Club is celebrating National Small Business Week in a very big way.

The retailer is launching the Small Business Economic Mobility initiative (SBEM), a five-year investment in small business growth through increased access to capital and borrower education, with grants totaling $13.6 million to eight national nonprofits.
GNC gets into an omnichannel groove with Bonnaroo

GNC Holdings is partnering with the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival on a new omnichannel strategy.
Build-A-Bear Workshop posts mixed Q1; opening store in Empire State Building

St. Louis -- Build-A-Bear Workshop said its total revenue fell 5% in the first quarter amid harsh winter weather between Valentine’s Day and Easter in North America.

The chain’s profit for the quarter, ended March 29, totaled a better-than-expected $8.3 million, compared with from $5.1 million in the year-ago period.

Total revenues were $93.4 million, less than expected, compared to $97.9 million in year-ago period. Revenue was also negatively impacted by fiscal 2014 having a 53rd week, the company said.