News

A total of 425 new H&M stores are slated to open this year, including the new market of Puerto Rico, and the fast fashion retailer also will expand its e-commerce efforts to Japan and 10 additional markets.

The global retailer disclosed its aggressive physical and digital growth plans with the release of financial results for the period ended Feb. 29, which were negatively affected by the strong U.S. dollar. H&M is based in Stockholm, Sweden.

A new study of 2,600 consumers by Blackhawk Engagement Solutions, titled "Where It's At: a Connected Shopper Study,” shows that across retail categories, shoppers would prefer a higher value rebate versus some lower value offers. Additionally, 68% of shoppers said rebates are an attractive offer in-store and 65% said rebates are an attractive offer when shopping online.

A new ad campaign from Food Lion, airing in select markets, promotes the message that the retailer has raised its standards, but not its prices.

The new campaign plays on familiar themes in the grocery industry — convenience, freshness, price and trust — and is designed to support Food Lion’s effort to upgrade the store experience in key markets, where major remodeling and remerchandising efforts have occurred.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists “retail salesperson” as the most common job in America, but the retail industry is evolving rapidly as is the nature of work. A new $5.5 million research grant from Walmart and the Aspen Institute aims to understand how.

The largest portion of the grant is dedicated to exploring alternative models to provide career pathways for frontline retail workers, according to a statement from Walmart and the Aspen Institute, an organization known for pioneering new approaches to complex problems.

Online marketplace Etsy is announcing two new ways for sellers to promote their brands, both on and off Etsy.

Pattern by Etsy is a new service that lets sellers create their own custom websites on their own domains, powered by their Etsy shops and integrated with the platform’s tools. Research from the company shows that more than a third of its sellers are interested in opening a commerce site of their own, but many have found the process to set up and maintain a custom site too difficult.

The federal judge presiding over the Federal Trade Commission’s effort to block a merger between Staples and Office depot urged the parties to resolve their difference, but that seems unlikely given both sides are firmly entrenched in their positions.

Thrive Market, a fast-growing fee-based online retailer that sells organic groceries, is expanding. According to TechCrunch, the company offers members wholesale prices and two-day shipping for $1.95 per order, or free for orders of more than $49. To read more, click here.

After posting record results in 2015, leading rent-to-own retailer Aaron’s is looking to keep the momentum going with a new ad campaign that highlights the company’s

Amazon continues to elevate customer expectations throughout the retail industry with its latest move involving the availability of free same-day delivery service in 11 new markets.

The number of Saks Off 5th stores will surge dramatically as will investments in technology as Hudson’s Bay Company said it will make higher than normal investments in growth initiative this year.