News

Washington, D.C. - More Americans this year are expected to put their tax returns in the bank. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF)’s Tax Returns Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, 46% of those expecting a refund this year will put their money into savings, up from 44% last year and the highest percent in the survey’s history.

Hampstead, Md. - JoS. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc. has commenced a tender offer to purchase up to $300 million in value of shares of its common stock at a price of $65 per share. The closing price of the company's common stock on Feb. 18, 2014 was $54.20 per share.

Emeryville. Calif. - Jamba Juice Company has unveiled its new Jamba Insider Rewards customer loyalty program in stores nationwide. Now, typing a phone number entry on a touch-screen allows Jamba Juice customers to earn rewards, personalized offers, and free products without the need to carry a rewards card at every point of sale.   

Vancouver, Canada – Amazon.com is the top digital Canadian retailer and U.S., retailers are generally outpacing their Canadian competitors in using digital channels such as online, mobile and social. According to the new “Chasm Retail 2.0” study from Chasm Digital, the top 10 digital retailers operating in Canada are:

1. Amazon
2. Best Buy
3. Home Depot
4. Sears
5. Lululemon
6. Costco
7. Chapters
8. London Drugs
9. Lowes
10. Canadian Tire

Hamilton, Bermuda - In a deal that would combine the two largest mid-tier jewelry chains in the United States, Signet Jewelers Ltd. has agreed to buy rival Zale Corp. for about $690 million dollars. Signet will offer $21 in cash for each Zale share, representing a 41% premium over Tuesday's closing price.

New York -- Walgreens will provide a first-hand look at its net zero-energy store during Chain Store Age’s 50th annual SPECS Conference, which will be held March 9 -12, in Grapevine, Texas.  

A new concept from Jockey International, Jockey Bra offers shoppers an innovative shopping experience. The 1,170-sq.-ft. store, at Woodfield Mall, showcases Jockey’s revolutionary “volumetric” fitting system, which is designed to eliminate the frustrations associated with traditional bra shopping.  

Foot Locker has elected Steven Oakland, president of international, foodservice and natural foods at the J.M. Smucker Company, as a director of the company.

Oakland has spent the bulk of his career at J.M. Smucker serving in increasingly senior positions. He has experience in domestic and international retail operations at the company, having also served as president of U.S. retail for Smucker's, Jif and Hungry Jack, and as GM of its Canadian operations.

Shopzilla, a leading source for connecting buyers and sellers online, has acquired Connexity, a pioneer in the programmatic media buying and optimization space.

Whirlpool has elected Geraldine "Gerri" Elliott, EVP and chief customer officer at Juniper Networks, to its board of directors.