News

Is it any wonder that online giants Google and Amazon are both reportedly planning to test the waters with physical stores? Certainly not when you look at some of the retail stats from Apple’s amazing first quarter (ended Dec. 31, 2011). The company had record revenues of $46.3 billion, and its stores continue to astound.

Consider:

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems announced it has signed a multi-year renewal agreement to continue providing private label credit card services to The Buckle, Kearney, Neb., which operates more than 430 stores in 43 states, as well as a robust e-commerce business.

Buckle cardholders will continue to earn "B-Reward" points with every purchase. Exclusive to cardholders, the B-Rewards points-based loyalty program allows cardholders to accumulate points that can be redeemed for dollars-off certificates for in-store or online purchases.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Publix Super Markets and Nordstrom are the highest ranked bricks-and-mortar retailers in a report released Tuesday by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). While supermarkets overall are up 1.3% to 76, Publix remains the grocer to beat, with a score of 84.

The best of the best among all retailers — traditional or online — is Amazon, with a score of 86, followed by online retailer Newegg at 85. Next in line are two more websites: Overstock at 83 and eBay at 81.

New York City -- Belk plans to remodel almost 30 stores this year as the department store company focuses on upgrading its existing space, the Charlotteobserver.com reported.

Last year, Belk spent about $70 million on store remodels and renovations. In 2012, the chain plans to increase that slightly, to $75 million, and then spend up to $130 million a year in 2013 and 2014, according to the report.

Glendale, Ariz. -- Westwood Financial Corp. has sold Olive Square, an 86,225-sq-.ft. retail center in Glendale, Ariz., to seller North American Realty Acquisition Corporation for $6.3 million.

New York -- Advance Auto Parts achieved record sales, profits and store expansion last year and with many of the economic factors that contributed to its 2011 success, expected to remain in place this year expectations are high that 2012 will be another one for the record books.
 

SAN FRANCISCO — Three-of-every-4 consumers using smartphones and tablets respond to a call to action after seeing a location-specific message, according to the Mobile Audience Insights Report issued by JiWire on Wednesday.

Naperville, Ill. -- OfficeMax announced that it intends to hold its annual meeting of shareholders at 2 p.m. (Central Daylight Time) on April 30.

The meeting will be held at the Hotel Arista at City Gate Centre, Naperville, Ill.