News

Food helps drive strong Q2 for Starbucks; 1,650 net new stores planned
Seattle – Net earnings rose 16% to $494.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015 from $427 million a year earlier at Starbucks Corp. Cost of sales grew at a slower pace than extremely strong revenue growth, which helped boost profits.

Starbucks plans to open 1,650 net new stores globally during fiscal 2015. This includes 600 new stores in the Americas, half licensed; 200 new stores in Europe/Middle East/Africa, primarily licensed; and 850 new stores in China/Asia-Pacific, primarily licensed.
Survey: Frequency, delight important indicators of customer loyalty
Hackensack, N.J. – Frequency of customer visits and customer delight are crucial indicators of customer loyalty. According to a new survey of 1,000 adult U.S. consumers from branding firm Strativity Group Inc., almost 40% of customers interact with their favorite company at least weekly.

Kay Jewelers creates a perfect Mother's Day promotion

Kay Jewelers has launched an innovative jewelry collection designed to drive traffic to its stores this Mother’s Day.

The retailer has created Miracle Links, a jewelry collection designed with interlinking circles to symbolize the special bond between a mother and her child, now available in select Kay Jewelers stores nationwide and on Kay.com.
Report: Abercrombie focusing on customers, cleaning up brand image

New Albany, Ohio – Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is overhauling both how its stores operate and how it markets its brand image. According to the Columbus Business Journal, Abercrombie will focus on the in-store customer experience with features like order-in-store technology and techniques to keep lines short.
Tech Guest Viewpoint: Margin-Friendly Promos That Convert

By Melanie Curtin, OpiaTalk

Promotions, discounts, and coupons, oh my! It’s easy to have a love/hate relationship with them. On the one hand, they’re proven to bring in business and boost conversions. On the other, they can cut into margins.

It’s often assumed that the bigger the promotion, the better it will convert. But what if it’s not about the promotion itself? What if it’s more about the delivery?
The Great One joins Sears Canada brand team

With the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs underway, what better way for Sears Canada to spark interest in its product assortment than the addition of a brand inspired by a player who on-ice exploits earned him the best nickname ever.

Beginning this fall, Sears Canada said it will introduce “#99 The Wayne Gretzy Collection” of casual menswear. Gretzy, for those who don’t know is a hockey legend and the all-time leading scorer by a wide margin.
Report: Jeffries left Abercrombie with $27 million

New Albany, Ohio – Michael Jeffries, former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch Co., reportedly did not walk away empty-handed when he retired from the company in December 2014. According to the Columbus Business Journal, Jeffries obtained at least $27 million in cash and other benefits.
QVC customers can watch on Apple Watch

West Chester, Pa. - QVC customers can now watch the omnichannel retailer’s content on their Apple Watch. The new QVC for Apple Watch app will sync with and extend the functionality of the QVC app for iPhone.
Register: The Top 100

The Top 100 is Retailing Today’s look at the best retailers in America. We comb through annual reports and regulatory filings to arrive at our annual ranking of the best retailers in America based on annual sales, number of stores, e-commerce capabilities, profitability and operational efficiency. In addition to the annual rankings based on financial and operational metrics, The Top 100 also features:
The Apple Watch is here

Cupertino, Calif. – Tech geeks rejoice: the Apple Watch from Apple Inc. is here. From a retail perspective, the device Apple Inc. calls “our most personal device yet” offers new ways to engage consumers, who are obtaining new ways to stay digitally connected.