News

Managing a diverse inventory and high transaction volume is no laughing matter.   This process becomes even harder when data is being supported by a legacy merchandising system. Ready for a change, Spencer’s conducted “an exhaustive search of the enterprise retail systems market,” according to the chain’s CIO Carey Lowrey.  

As more shoppers embrace digital solutions, apparel retailers must merge online and offline experiences to drive e-commerce sales.   This was according to “Apparel Trend Report: Reconciling the Tech with the Tactile,” a report from Criteo that highlights the latest shopping trends in the apparel and accessories retail category. The report offers insight into shifting shopper behavior and actionable intelligence for retailers and brands as they seek to fully capitalize on the apparel e-commerce ecosystem.  

PetSmart has beefed up its digital offerings with the acquisition of the leading online retailer of pet food and products.   The chain said it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Chewy, which was founded in 2011 and offers a wide selection of products for pets, ranging from cats and dogs to horses. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of PetSmart’s second fiscal quarter of 2017.  

Bass Pro Shops has lowered its bid for Cabela’s.   Under the amended merger agreement, Bass Pro will acquire Cabela’s for $61.50 per share in cash for a total deal value of approximately $5.0 bil-lion. On October 3, 2016, Bass Pro has agreed to pay $65.50 per share in cash for Cabela’s in a deal valued at $5.5 billion.  

Walmart has appointed Rahul Joshi as senior VP, customer care, U.S. eCommerce, effective immediately.       Joshi joins the discounter after more than 25 years at Citibank, most re-cently as the head of consumer operations in Asia, where he successfully led customer-focused teams. He reports to Marc Lore, president & CEO, Walmart U.S. eCommerce.   

Online home furnishings and decor retailer One Kings Lane is set to open its first store, a summer pop-up.   The 3,500-sq.-ft. space will be located in the upscale resort town of Southampton, New York. It will be open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, and offer an “immersive lifestyle experience,” the company said.  

The chief executive of Crate & Barrel is out after less than two years at the top.   Doug Diemoz left the home furnishings retailer last week. Most of his responsibilities will be taken over by Neela Montgomery, board chair of Otto Group, the privately owned German company that owns Crate & Barrel, according to Crain’s Chicago Business.  

A potential acquisition could give Amazon some leverage as it expands its brick-and-mortar presence.   BJ’s Wholesale Club is putting itself up for sale, and Amazon has expressed modest internal interest in the chain, according to The New York Post.  BJ’s, which was once a public company, was bought for $2.8 billion by private equity firms Leonard Green & Partners and CVC Capital Partners in 2011.   

Tough times have caught up with Rue 21.   The struggling teen apparel chain plans to close nearly 400 stores nationwide, the Associated Press reported. The shutterings will leave the retailer with about 700 stores nationwide.   Rue 21 confirmed the news in a post on its Facebook page, calling it a “difficult but necessary” decision.   

A new retail experience is giving shoppers — and sports fans — the chance to feel like a professional athlete.   Mizuno, one of the world’s largest specialty sporting goods manufacturers and the official baseball gear partner of the Atlanta Braves, has entered the U.S. retail arena with the opening of The Mizuno Experience Center. It is the first retail store to open at The Battery Atlanta, a 400,000 sq. ft. mixed-use development located just outside the Braves’ new home, Sun Trust Park.