News

San Jose, Calif. -- Propelics, a provider of enterprise mobile strategy and mobile apps, today announced strong adoption for its solutions in the retail market. The company said it helping such retailers as Family Dollar, Payless ShoeSource, and Hallmark as improve the customer, store associate, and store operations experience though the implementation of a solid enterprise mobile strategy.

Sears Canada said a one-time charge of $41 million related to restructuring and asset impairment affected its third quarter results, which resulted in a net loss of about $46.7 million USD — more than double the net loss of $21 million it posted in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.

In addition, revenues of $940.7 million were down about 6% from $1 billion. In one bright spot, same-store sales climbed 1.2%. Sears Canada is in the middle of a three-year turnaround program launched in 2012.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy reported net income of $54 million during the third quarter amid tight cost controls, compared to a net loss of $10 million during the same period a year earlier,  beating analyst predictions for a more modest net income.   The chain also warned that its margins may take a hit this quarter in what is shaping up an extremely promotional environment.

The chain posted revenue of $9.36 billion, which was flat with last year and  below analyst expectations of $9.37 billion.

Online eyewear retailer glasses.com is launching its virtual try-on app for iPhone and iPod touch devices. The glasses.com virtual try-on app launched this past July for iPad.

Seattle -- REI will open a store in Southlake Texas, in fall 2014. The 22,000-sq.-ft. store, at Park Village, will include a bike shop offering expert assembly and repair services, and provide outdoor-related classes and presentations.

Chicago -- Eighty-six percent of consumers plan to use their phones this holiday season, and it goes beyond looking up prices. Vibes, a mobile marketing technology vendor, revealed consumer research presenting the specific ways shoppers plan to use their mobile phones to check off their lists this holiday season.

Topping the list is looking up product information in order to trigger purchase decisions (53%) followed by finding specific store information such as location and hours (48%). Other key findings include:

Home Depot reaped the benefits of continuing improvement in the housing market with third quarter sales of $19.5 billion, a 7.4% increase from $18.1 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2012.

On a like-for-like basis (last year's quarter had an extra calendar week), comparable-store sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 were positive 7.4%, and comp sales for U.S. stores were positive 8.2%.

Bloomington, Minn. -- Verizon Wireless unveiled its Verizon Destination Store format, at Mall of America, Bloomington, Minn. The new concept is designed to help customers discover all that wireless technology can do for their mobile lifestyles.