News

WASHINGTON -- Mobile and social initiatives are becoming increasingly important to retailers. According to “The State Of Retailing Online 2011: Marketing, Social, and Mobile” report conducted by Forrester Research Inc. for Shop.org, 91% of retailers currently have a mobile strategy in place or in development (up from 74% a year ago). Additionally, 72% of retailers say they will increase their spending on social networks this year over last year. “

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings on Tuesday announced that its same-store sales for the first quarter fell 3.6%. The retailer forecast a loss for the quarter ended April 30 of $145 million.

Same-store sales decreased 1.6% at Kmart, and 5.2% at Sears in the quarter. Sears Canada projects same-store sales will be down 9.2%.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Sears Holdings will host its annual meeting on May 4, and attendees present will likely want to know how the company plans to improve sales and return to profitability under the leadership of its new CEO, Lou D’Ambrosio.  

Hampstead, Md. -- JoS. A. Bank Clothiers is now allowing international customers to place orders on its website. The retailer is now able to deliver website orders to customers in over 90 countries. JoS. A. Bank will utilize a third-party provider, FiftyOne Global Ecommerce (“FiftyOne”), New York City, to facilitate the checkout of the orders and to export and deliver the orders to the international destinations.

Kansas City, Mo. -- Einstein Noah Restaurant Group announces partnership with Service Management Group, a leading customer analytics agency focused on loyalty and service improvement, to increase customer loyalty and drive same-store sales.

Through this partnership Service Management will identify new business opportunities through customer analyses that integrate guest experience metrics with transaction data and Einstein restaurant attributes.

NAPERVILLE, Ill.  -- OfficeMax announced that it has been recognized as a JDA Software Group 2011 Real Results Winner for best in demand management. Now in its sixth year, the Real Results Awards recognize companies that have demonstrated business-process excellence and achieved quantifiable benefits through the adoption of industry best practices and use of JDA's industry-leading solutions and services, according to a company press release. OfficeMax was honored at FOCUS 2011, JDA's annual user conference in Orlando, Florida, May 1 to 4.

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association announced that Christine Pollack has joined the association as VP government relations, focusing on healthcare policy and serving as one of RILA’s lead advocates on core retail industry priorities.

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Kroger and Procter & Gamble have teamed up to support the USO in its efforts to help American troops and their families.