News

Consumers not rushing to Amazon Dash
Although Amazon.com recently more than tripled the number of items available via its Amazon Dash buttons and cited some impressive growth statistics, actual use may be relatively low.

According to daily analysis of a panel of more than 4 million online shoppers from digital commerce research firm Slice Intelligence, fewer than 50% of people who had bought a Dash button before Amazon expanded the assortment on March 31 had ever actually made an order using one.
Best Buy bolsters appliance portfolio
Whirlpool Corp. will bring its Maytag brand of appliances to 600 Best Buy stores this month rounding out what was already an extensive offering.

Maytag brand products will hit the sales floor at 600 Best Buy stores in mid-April and also be sold online, the retailer said. The move expands Whirlpool’s assort at Best Buy which already includes the leading appliance manufacturer’s Whirlpool, KitchenAid and Amana brands. Best Buy also offer appliances from LG, Samsung, Frigidaire, Bosch and Electrolux.

Kroger promises Spanish version ultimate foodie event

For only the third time in three years, Kroger has created a new installment of its Savor World Flavor globally themed promotional effort.
Start-up wants to make it easy for customers to return online goods — in malls, stores

Two e-commerce vets are looking to tackle one of the retail industry’s most vexing problems: returns of online purchases.

David Sobie, former senior VP of marketing & business development at flash site HauteLook, and Mark Geller, former head of mobile at the company (which Nordstrom acquired in 2011), are launching Happy Returns, which seeks to eliminate the “pain” of returns by mail by establishing a network of “Return Bars” in malls and stores where shoppers can return merchandise purchased online and get an immediate refund.
Macy’s adds real estate expert to its exec team

Amid ongoing pressure from investors to maximize the value of its real estate holdings, Macy’s has appointed Douglas W. Sesler as executive VP for real estate, effective April 5.
Lowe’s sees real future in holograms

Lowe’s Companies Inc. is expanding its use of augmented and virtual reality to help customers truly “visualize” home improvement projects.
Staples puts stores to work with new test

Staples is looking to connect with a key customer segment and improve the productivity of its selling space with a new pilot program involving shared workspace provider Workbar.
Christopher & Banks board member withdraws name

For about three hours the morning of April 4 it looked like Christopher & Banks had found itself a new board member, but then the company discovered a conflict that prevented the high level executive from accepting the nomination.
Amazon stakes major claim in payment landscape

Amazon.com is serving notice to Apple, PayPal and other leading online payment providers that it is looking to challenge their turf.

The online retail giant is launching a new program called the Amazon Payments Partner Program that enables e-commerce platforms to provide Amazon Payments functionality to their users. Previously, Amazon had made its proprietary payments service available to individual third-party online retailers.
Analysis: Consumers not rushing to Amazon Dash

Although Amazon.com recently more than tripled the number of items available via its Amazon Dash buttons and cited some impressive growth statistics, actual use may be relatively low.

According to daily analysis of a panel of more than 4 million online shoppers from digital commerce research firm Slice Intelligence, fewer than 50% of people who had bought a Dash button before Amazon expanded the assortment on March 31 had ever actually made an order using one.
Speedy meals, green design mark Chick-fil-A’s newest Manhattan eatery

Just five months after making its Manhattan debut with the opening of its largest restaurant to date, Chick-fil-A has opened a second outpost in the Big Apple.
How Express is building its brand

Apparel retailer Express has been building its brand and upping its cool factor among millennials by signing up famous athletes and models to serve as “brand ambassadors.”

It’s just one of several tactics that the chain is using to drive its performance under the leadership of CEO David Kornberg, who took the reins in January 2015.

Click here to read more.