News

Wal-Mart Stores broke the retail gloom that has penetrated so many recent first quarter earnings reports as it posted higher than expected earnings and revenue gains, and gave an upbeat view for the current period.

Wal-Mart’s strong performance in a quarter that has challenged so many other retailers, including Target, offered evidence that its efforts to improve its U.S. stores are paying off. Among other things, the giant discounter has increased associate pay and taken moves to ensure its stores are more consistently in stock.

When it comes to marketing, retailers should adopt a truly “omnichannel” approach.

According to a new consumer survey from digital marketing firm Fluent, “The Omnichannel Advantage,” consumers who are reached through a greater number of channels make in-store and online purchases from their favorite retailers more frequently.

When it comes to supply chain leadership and best practices, a fast food chain beat out the world’s leading e-commerce and discount retailers.

According to the new Gartner Inc. Supply Chain Top 25 ranking, McDonald’s led all retail chains with the number two ranking. Consumer products giant Unilever ranked first among all companies.

With a young, trend-conscious customer base, Forever 21 needs to cater to shopper demand, in and out of the store.

The Los Angeles-based, 760-store-plus specialty apparel retailer is extending this seamless, customer-centric approach to how it offers customers credit. Forever 21 is partnering with marketing and loyalty solutions provider Alliance Data Systems Corp. to provide private label and co-branded credit card services that are integrated with its loyalty program.

Not all teen apparel retailers are struggling. Just ask American Eagle Outfitters.

The company reported a better-than-expected rise in quarterly sales and profit as demand for its products rose even amid a sluggish retail environment.

American Eagle’s net income surged 39.3% to $40.5 million, or 22 cents per share, in the quarter ended April 30.

Net revenue increased 7% to $749.4 million. Same-store sales increased 6%, on top of a 7% increase in the year-ago period.

Ikea Las Vegas is open for business.

The 351,000-sq.-ft. location is the company’s first store in Nevada, 42nd in the United States, and 385th worldwide.

It also is the second U.S. Ikea location to deploy only LED lighting inside and outside the building, and to feature only LED products for sale in its lighting department.

In addition, the store features the largest single-use retail rooftop solar array in Nevada. To date, Ikea has a renewable energy presence at 90% of its U.S. locations.

Recent advances in floor care technology have made matters more complex, as retailers must decide what combination of cleaning procedures provide the best value. Today’s retail Facility Manager must determine the materials (from machinery to matting), the schedule (daily, weekly, monthly and even yearly), and the

Comp-store sales for the quarter were up 6.5% - with comps for the U.S. stores up 7.4%.   Net earnings for the three months ended May 1 were $1.8 billion, up 14.2% compared with net earnings of $1.6 billion in the same quarter last year.  

While other retailers make news by posting grim first quarter results and closing stores., the nation’s leading off-price retailer is making headlines by doing just the opposite. Amid strong first quarter results that included a 7% rise in same-store sales, TJX Cos. said it plans to open about 150 more stores during the rest of this year, on top of the 47 stores it opened in its first quarter.

Ace Hardware took home "record" first quarter revenues of $1.2 billion in the first quarter, an increase of 4.3% over last year. The message was a little more muddled for earnings. Though its first quarter net income of $26.1 million was down 12.7% year-over-year, that figure was still 12.0% ahead of plan. It was also a planned reduction owing to the timing of promotions.