News

Pier 1 meets Street with Q3 profit decline
Fort Worth, Texas – Pier 1 Imports Inc. met Wall Street expectations with a 33% year-over-year decline in profits during the third quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income fell to $17.9 million from $26.8 million, with an increase in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses driving the reduction.
EBay will pay at least $35 million in exec severance
San Jose, Calif. – The New Year is looking very happy for EBay CEO John Donahoe and CFO Bob Swan. In a securities filing, EBay said that Donahoe will get a severance package worth $23 million and Swan will get a severance package worth $12 million when the company spins off its PayPal unit in 2015. Both men said they would leave their positions after the split occurs when EBay first announced the spinoff plan in September.

Dollar General remains engaged with FTC

Goodlettsville, Tenn. – Dollar General Corp. stated on Dec. 19 that it remains actively engaged in discussions with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding the extent of potential divestitures that would be required in connection with an acquisition of Family Dollar Stores Inc. Dollar General does not expect to provide any further update prior to the Family Dollar shareholders meeting currently scheduled for Dec. 23, 2014.
Tech Guest Viewpoint - Make Room for ‘Webrooming’ in Your Store

By James Han, Tyco Retail Solutions
Retail Rap: Stocking Stuffers

With 2014 almost over, another holiday shopping season is drawing to a close. The looming question on everyone’s mind, of course, is whether holiday sales managed to live up to the (mostly) positive holiday forecasts from analysts and retail organizations.
Pier 1 reports Q3 profit plunge

Despite reporting a 33% year-over-year decline in profits during the third quarter, Pier 1 Imports CEO Alex Smith said he is confident in the chain’s value proposition going forward in 2015.
Consumer spending reaches 11-month high

New York - The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index reached its highest point since November 2013, rising to 4.5 from 4 the prior month. The Index tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending. The Index comprises four components – tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages and real home prices. Highlights include: Tax Burden: The tax rate has been effectively unchanged from the previous month at 11.8%.
Return fraud will cost retailers $10.9 billion in 2014

Washington, D.C. – Apparently, a lot of fraud artists will get their names on the “naughty list” this year. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) 2014 Return Fraud Survey completed by loss prevention executives at 60 retail companies representing grocery, department, discount, specialty and small retailers, the industry will lose an estimated $10.9 billion to return fraud this year.
Walmex bank division sells for $247 million

Mexico City, Mexico - Grupo Financiero Inbursa, a banking firm owned by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, has reportedly bought the bank division of Wal-Mart de Mexico (Walmex) for $246.94 million, or 1.7 times Walmex’s bank capital.

According to Reuters, Walmex has been focusing on selling its non-core assets, such as its restaurant division, in the past year.
Study – Marketing execs have IT purchase power

Franklin, Tenn. - Vendors are leaving billions on the table because they forget to market to the chief marketing officer (CMO) rather than just the CIO and IT department. According to a new study from IHL Group, “Hidden Treasure – The CMO’s Budget in Retail,” in 2015, the amount of IT purchased through the CMO’s budget will amount to $7.5 billion in North America.