News

Amazon: Sellers had ‘record-setting’ year in 2014
Seattle -- Amazon is not a company to shy away from touting its success. On Monday, the online giant announced that third-party sellers on Amazon Marketplace sold a “record-setting” more than two billion items worldwide in 2014, and that the number of its sellers adopting the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service grew more than 65% year-over-year worldwide.
TechBytes: Three Technologies That Will Disrupt Retail in 2015
Last week, I took a look back at three technologies that disrupted retail in 2014. Now that we are kicking off the first work week of the New Year, it’s time to look ahead at three technologies likely to disrupt retail in 2015.

Wearables

End of the line for Bottom Dollar Food

It's official: Bottom Dollar Food will close its 66 store locations in the greater Philadelphia and greater Pittsburgh markets by Jan. 15 and retire the banner's operations.

In November, Delhaize Group — the parent company of Bottom Dollar Food — announced the sale of Bottom Dollar's stores and associated lease liabilities to ALDI Inc., which has expressed an interest in growing its U.S. footprint.
Intel invests $25 million in wearable tech vendor

Santa Clara, Calif. - Intel Corp. has made a $24.8 million investment into Vuzix Corp., a provider of wearable display technology video eyewear and smart glasses products in the consumer, commercial and entertainment markets. Vuzix is focused on next-generation optics and displays that have the potential to fit in fashion-based wearable glasses.

Intel's investment will be used for general working capital to accelerate the introduction of Vuzix next generation fashion-based wearable display products into the consumer market.
Wet Seal gets $27 million default notice

Embattled teen retailer Wet Seal Inc. has defaulted on $27 million in senior convertible notes and related costs.

In a regulatory filing, Wet Seal said the total amount due is equal to $28.8 million, plus costs of collection, attorneys’ fees and disbursements.
Starbucks, Walmart, Kroger execs make NRF's 'List of People Shaping Retail's Future'

Washington, D.C. -- Adam Brothman, chief digital officer of Starbucks, Melissa Reiff, president and COO of The Container Store, Rick Caruso, founder and CEO of Caruso Affiliated, and Greg Buzek, co-founder of the Retail Orphan Initiative (RetailROI) and president of IHL Goup are among the 25 individuals recognized by the NRF Foundation on its “The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future.”
Rite Aid sales surge 5.3%

Rite Aid Corp. says sales at stores open at least a year grew 5.3% in December, boosted again by strengthening pharmacy sales.

Same-store sales at the Camp Hill, Pa.-based retailer grew 5.3% to $2.2. billion, beating analyst consensus of 4.5% and reflecting a 1.7% increase in front-end same-store sales and a 7.3% increase in pharmacy same-store sales.
Epicor completes acquisition of ShopVisible

Austin, Texas -- Epicor Software Corporation announced that it has completed its acquisition of privately held ShopVisible, a provider of cloud retail order management and digital commerce solutions.
Rite Aid December same-store sales up 5.3%

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid said that its same store sales for the week ended December 27, 2014, increased 5.3% over the prior-year period.

The drugstore chain’s pharmacy same store sales, which included an approximate 123 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions, increased 7.3%. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 5.1% over the prior-year period. Front-end sales were up 1.7%
Chick-fil-A probing possible data breach

The new year has brought new news of another data breach, this time involving fast food chicken giant Chick-fil-A.

Chick-fil-A Inc. confirmed it is investigating reports of potential unusual activity involving payment cards used at its restaurants. The Atlanta-based chicken chain said it received the initial report from its payment industry contacts late on Dec. 19.