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Chantilly, Va. – Operators of franchises are actively involved in the local online and social media presence of their franchise businesses, often funding and controlling digital marketing activities at the local level. A new report from BIA/Kelsey, Local Commerce Monitor Wave 17 (LCM), shows that franchises estimated their franchisors covered, on average, 43% of the online presence costs of their individual businesses, for things like website development, landing pages, enhanced listings and online video

Seattle -- Nordstrom said its net income for the fiscal second quarter, ended Aug. 3, rose to $184 million from $156 million in the year-ago period. But the department store retailer cut its yearly forecast, citing softer-than-anticipated sales trends.

Nordstrom said revenue rose 6.4% % to $3.1 billion, short of the $3.29 billion Wall Street expected. Total company same-store sales increased 4.4%.

As discount retailers such as TJ Maxx and Saks Off Fifth get comfortable in e-commerce territory, closeout retailer Tuesday Morning is bowing out of the digital space, according to reports.

HERSHEY, Pa. — The Hershey Company has appointed Mary Kay Haben to its board of directors. 

“Mary Kay is a seasoned leader who brings a great wealth of relevant food and confectionery experience to her role as a member of the Hershey board,” said James Nevels, chairman of the board of directors. “She is an accomplished executive with extensive experience managing businesses in the consumer packaged goods industry and has an impressive track record in growing brands and developing new products.”

WASHINGTON — Walgreens president and CEO Gregory Wasson will be the keynote speaker on the second day of Shop.org’s annual summit, as will the company’s president of e-commerce, Sona Chawla. 

Little Rock, Ark. -- Dillard’s saw net income rise to $36.5 million in the quarter ended Aug. 3, compared with $31 million in the same period last year.

Revenue was flat at $1.48 billion and same-store sales edged up 1%, boosted by strength from ladies accessories and lingerie.

“Positive comparable store sales and gross margin expansion combined with continued expense control enabled us to report another quarter of year over year improvement,” said CEO William T. Dillard II.

What a difference 30, 20 or even 10 years make when it comes to consumer behavior. Thirty years ago, “24x7 shopping” meant mail-order catalogs. Smartphones, tablets and social media were barely part of the discussion 10 years ago. While observers attribute the rapid pace of change to technological advances, biology may play an equally important role. Scientists have observed that the human brain is incredibly plastic, even in adulthood, constantly adapting to trauma and environmental shifts.

By Stephen Springham, senior retail analyst Planet Retail
 
After the horror show of Q1, Walmart had so much to prove domestically in Q2. And it has again come up short. A U.S. comp store decline of 0.3% was below earlier management of a 0.2% decline, guidance that was endorsed as recently as the Annual Shareholder Meeting in June. This marks the second quarter that U.S. comps have been both in negative territory and below guidance. Those accusing Walmart of ‘crying wolf’ in its bullishness (ourselves included) may feel vindicated.