News

SEATTLE — Nordstrom reported its first quarter net income fell a greater-than-expected 3%, hurt by weak demand for spring merchandise and softer performance in the Northeast and Midwest. The company also lowered its full-year sales forecast.

The results were a rare miss for the upscale department store chain whose shoppers have proved resilient throughout the uncertain economy.

Online and mobile marketing have turned the retail supply chain upside-down. Gone are the days of moving volumes of product in efficient, bulk moves to stores across the world. Today, smaller shipments rule the supply chain, delivering — literally — on brand promises to ensure receipt of single, customized packages under same-day or next-day delivery.  

Starbucks has appointed Deverl Maserang as EVP of the company’s global supply chain organization. In this role, he will be accountable for end-to-end supply chain operations globally spanning manufacturing, engineering, procurement, distribution, planning, transportation, inventory management and worldwide sourcing.

DALLAS — Kathleen Mason, former CEO of Tuesday Morning, has filed a lawsuit against her ex-employer in Dallas District Court claiming discrimination. Mason, who was fired last June, alleges that Tuesday Morning mistreated and then terminated her within months after learning she was suffering from breast cancer.

CHICAGO — A year after Groupon acquired Breadcrumb, a point of sale system and iPad app, the deal-of-the-day website has launched the suite of cloud-based iPad and smartphone tools. The free iPad app enables quick-service eateries, salons, spas and retail merchants to maximize revenue. 

Breadcrumb products include flexible iPad point-of-sale products and payments solutions for all businesses, which include a low price guarantee on credit card transaction fees, free installation assistance and 24/7 phone technical support. 

RACINE, Wis. — Fisk Johnson, SC Johnson's chairman and CEO, has been named "Friend of the Library" by the Racine Public Library. Johnson received the award for sponsoring the Racine Reads: Dream Big! program during the 2011-2012 school year. 

The program challenged 10,000 local elementary school students to read 1 million books during the school year — an average of 100 books per child. Students rose to the challenge, by more than quadrupling the national average, by reading 180 books per student and 1.8 million books in total. 

CAMDEN, N.J. — Campbell Soup Company and its Pepperidge Farm division were among those honored for consumer-driven innovation in product packaging at the DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation.

NEW YORK & CHICAGO — Global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company Accenture is acquiring Acquity Group to help it strengthen its e-commerce and digital marketing capabilities. 

New York -- The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index (Index) dipped slightly in April, primarily due to an increase in the tax rate, while other economic fundamentals remain steady. The Index tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending.

Among the many albums released by legendary rock band The Kinks, “Think Visual” stands as a forgettable collection of generic hard rock songs released in the mid-1980s, when the British Invasion pioneers were long past their creative prime and worn down from years of infighting. However, while the music of “Think Visual” may hold little importance, retailers would be wise to pay close attention to the admonishment of the album’s title.