News

Analysis: What Dollar Shave Club’s Sale Means For Retail
News of Dollar Shave Club’s recent $1 billion sale to global packaged-goods giant Unilever came like a splash of cold water to the face of most in the retail business. But it shouldn’t have come as a surprise. The booming success of subscription services is just the next step in the evolution towards seamless, contactless retail that emphasizes ease, convenience, common sense and just a touch of personality and cheeky humor.
August 2016 Weather Report
Temperatures for the U.S. will trend the warmest in at least five years. August begins with an active pattern along the East Coast with showers and thunderstorms. Heat will be building across the Central U.S. with a heat wave likely developing in the first week of August. The heat spreads to the East Coast later in the week. Another heat wave during the second retail week of the month will keep it feeling firmly like summer.

Amazon puts spotlight on start-ups

Amazon has launched an online shop dedicated to innovative products from start-up companies. Amazon has teamed up with popular crowdfunding site Kickstarter to showcase a collection of products that have been successfully funded on the platform. The Kickstarter Collection is featured on Amazon’s Launchpad section, the company’s storefront for hardware startups and crowdfunded projects. The new collection has more than 300 products, and covers a wide range of categories, from electronics and toys to home and kitchen.
Lowe's to open Nashville distribution hub

Lowe's is amping up its distribution game with a new direct fulfillment center near Nashville. At a square footage of 1.1 million, the facility will be a Lowe's first in that it will ship packages directly to customers.
Amazon prepares for holiday surge with big uptick in DC openings

Online retail giant Amazon is not looking for a repeat of holiday 2015, when increased fulfillment costs due to a surge in orders took a bite out of its holiday quarter earnings. The company is adding 18 warehouse facilities this quarter in preparation for the holiday surge, according to a report by Recode. Last year, it added six.
Report: Retail M&A activity strong in Q2

Deal volume in the retail and consumer sector is up, but deal value is down. Deal volume in the second quarter in the sector reached its highest level in the past 12 months, with 282 announced deals, up 5% over the first quarter, according PwC’s Q2 2016 retail and consumer M&A report.
Aaron’s Q2 profits down; hints at store closings

Rent-to-own giant Aaron’s saw its revenues rise but profit drop in the second quarter, and the retailer said it would review its store base going forward.
Combatant Gentlemen, Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, California
Bonobos location destined for Madison Avenue

Clicks-to-bricks phenomenon Bonobos’ retail journey will soon extend to Manhattan’s Madison Avenue. The company has signed a 10-year lease for 1,725 sq. ft. on the ground floor of 488 Madison Avenue near St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Neighbors of Bonobos at its new location include Saks Fifth Avenue, Tourneau, Burberry, and Nordstrom’s Trunk Club. The Feil Organization recently completed major renovations on the building, including a two-story glass curtain wall in the office lobby.
Report highlights salary of GNC interim CEO
Under Armour exec jumps ship to join Starbucks

A key player in Under Armour’s effort to increase sales of women’s goods is leaving to join Starbucks Corp. But first she has to learn how to serve up espresso.
Kroger names IRI as preferred market insights partner

Kroger has reached a long-term agreement with IRI that will enable the firm to provide the nation's largest grocery chain with market measurment serices that further enhance its "Customer 1st" strategy.