News

Less than a month after Hudson’s Bay Company brought Saks Fifth Avenue to Canadian shoppers, the company this month is opening the first of 25 planned Saks Off 5th stores.

Three new Saks Off 5th stores are scheduled to open on March 17 in Vaughan Mills, Halton Hills and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The openings will allow Canadians to experience the ultimate "thrill of the hunt" shopping that Saks Off 5th is renowned for, with access to the some of the best brands and fantastic finds, in a fun to shop store format,” according to the company.

Earlier this month, DSW announced plans to acquire Ebuys Inc. an off-price footwear and accessories e-tailer. This news follows last month’s reports that Hudson’s Bay (the owner of Saks Fifth Avenue and other department store chains) was acquiring Gilt Group.

Reducing expenses and increasing prices are two ways for a company to make money, and Instacart is reportedly doing both.

According to the San Francisco Business Times, Instacart is reducing how much drivers get paid for each delivery, as well as the commission paid on each item. In the San Francisco market, the pay per delivery will be reduced 63% to $1.50 from $4.00, while commission per item will be cut 50% to 25 cents from 50 cents.

Rite Aid's 22nd annual Miracle Balloon campaign for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals is now underway, the company announced Monday. From now through April 30, Rite Aid customers can support their local children's hospital by purchasing $1 paper Miracle Balloons at any Rite Aid store.

Weis Markets last week announced that its fourth quarter sales increased 2.8% to $734.1 million while its comparable store sales increased 2.8%, compared to the same period a year ago.

Ahold shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the company`s proposal to merge with Delhaize Group.

Ahold is buying Delhaize for $11 billion in a deal announced last year that will create one of the largest food retailers on the U.S. East Coast, as Ahold operates Stop & Shop and Delhaize operates Hannaford and Food Lion.

Some of the best ideas regarding customer service in the digital age are coming out of the food service world with a recent example involving a new app and loyalty program from Outback Steakhouse.

The “March Madness” college basketball tournament will no doubt a major trending topic on social media for the next few weeks, and sporting goods retailer The Finish Line Inc. is joining the craziness.

The Finish Line is offering customers two opportunities to digitally celebrate March Madness games this year. The retailer is offering a Finish Line Bracket Challenge for its Winner’s Circle loyalty program members with a top prize of $5,000, as well as the #CallYourShot social campaign that will last the duration of the tournament.

Albertsons, the second largest grocery chain in the United States, has selected a new partner for point-of-sale data, consumer panel insights and strategic growth initiatives to support joint business collaboration.

The technology department at Nordstrom continues getting smaller.

According to Geekwire, Nordstrom has laid off 120 IT employees. The cuts follow 10 technology staff reductions the retailer made at the beginning of March. All the layoffs have been part of an organizational restructuring and leveling of IT spending.