News

Cincinnati -- In its first acquisition in 10 years, Macy’s has signed an agreement to acquire luxury beauty products retailer Bluemercury for $210 million in cash. The privately held Bluemercury, based in Washington, D.C., currently operates about 60 specialty stores in 18 states, primarily in prime street-level locations and urban lifestyle centers. Most locations include in-house spas. The company also operates an online business.

San Francisco -- The digital sizing station Me-Ality that made headlines for creating a denim size-matching solution inside Bloomingdale’s stores has now launched a new online retail shopping experience that allows shoppers to personalize their favorite brands to their own body shapes.

Wage and hour issues are ever present in the retail industry. Retailers are under constant pressure to control expenses, the largest component of which is labor. In 2015, local, state and federal officials are poised to take actions that will likely increase the cost of labor for retailers. Retailers must remain alert for these coming changes and begin planning for their impact long before their effective dates.

Cincinnati -- Macy’s on Tuesday unveiled a series of senior executive appointments the retailer says will support its new focus on omnichannel advances and overall innovation. Macy’s announced on Jan. 8 it would restructure its omnichannel capabilities and align the organization toward growth via merchandising, merchandise planning, marketing and technology.

Effective Jan. 31, the following changes were made to staffing and priorities:

The phrase “two great tastes that taste great together,” is synonymous with the Reeses brand, but a new line of chocolates shaped like feet gives new meaning to that expression.   A company called Toe-Rific Chocolates & Candy has introduced Valentoes, individually wrapped chocolate feet for those looking for a gifting alternative to flowers, jewelry and more conventional box chocolates.  

Citing the cost and complexity associated the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, National Retail Federation affirmed its opposition to the health care law in a sharply worded letter to top elected officials.

Reston, Va. – Despite the popular image of “showrooming” mobile shoppers using their devices to find better prices on in-store items, 85% of consumers actively shop with a mobile device from home, even if other devices are available. In addition, the “Mobile Spend in 2015” study from Contact Solutions shows that 26% of consumers do in fact showroom, while 27% will make mobile purchases from a store they are shopping in.

Other findings include:

Forever 21 is planning to open 600 new stores in the next three years, and is helping to ensure those stores attract shoppers with Oracle Retail merchandising and assortment planning technology. By more accurately and efficiently predicting what precise individual items (including SKU-level variations) will be in demand in specific locations at specific times, Forever 21 is making stores as customer-centric as possible.