News

The retail industry is ramping up its efforts against House Republicans’ proposed border-tax proposal.      The National Retail Federation has launched the next phase of a television and digital ad campaign against the tax, which is included in the House Republican tax reform plan.   The campaign features three small retailers who tell their own stories and convey their fears that the BAT would put them out of business.   

American Girl is building a new and bigger flagship in the Big Apple.     The specialty retailer will open a new, 40,000-sq.-ft. American Girl Place at 75 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan. The new location, scheduled to open in fall 2017, will replace the brand’s existing flagship at 609 Fifth Avenue.    The new location is being built by Englewood Construction, and is the 12th project Englewood has completed for American Girl.      

A new survey confirms what many retailers are already living: getting up to speed with digitally speaking is a priority.   The most in-demand new technology for retailers is mobile payment capabilities (65%), followed by self-checkout (49%), scan as you shop (44%), click and collect (41%) and in-store customer analytics (37%), according to research from Zynstra, a U.K.-based enterprise-grade IT software provider, which polled 300 IT managers and c-level professionals in the retail space across the U.S. and U.K.  

Destination Maternity Corp. saw its loss widen in the fourth quarter and the full year amid declining same-store sales and its exit from several businesses.     The maternity clothing retailer reported a loss $32.8 million, which included a $27.8 million non-cash income tax charge. Its adjusted net loss was $3.2 million, compared to an adjusted net loss of $1.5 million in the year-ago period.   Revenue totaled $100.2 million in the period. Same-store sales fell 7.8%.   

Google hopes its new visual search tools will become a new accessory for its fashion shoppers.    To assist customers eager to buy merchandise featured in online lifestyle images, Google introduced two new mobile image-based search tools this week that will help customers locate their desired pieces more easily.   

With its profits taking a hit in 2016, Prada Group is placing a stronger focus on digital.   The luxury goods retailer’s net revenue for the year ended January 31, 2017, while revenue across its retail channel plunged13%.    Based on these results, the company plans to focus on more digital initiatives to better respond to an evolving marketplace, according to Prada’s CEO, Patrizio Bertelli.  

Petco continues to grow its retail presence.    The specialty retailer of pet food, supplies and services, will open five new stores in April.    In addition to featuring a wide range of pet food, toys and accessories, each new store will include dog training areas, adoption centers and grooming salons.    Last year, Petco opened 71 new stores and one new Unleashed by Petco store, and remodeled 41 locations.