News

Costco logs a 4% increase in same-store sales
October was a good month for Costco, which reported growth in same-store and total sales.

The club retailer posted a 4% increase in U.S. same-store sales for October, excluding gasoline price deflation and currency fluctuation. sThe comp increase was 5% for the whole company.

For the month, the company saw $8.78 billion in net sales and $19.53 billion over the four weeks. Though Costco’s U.S. sales saw a slight increase, its Canadian stores saw an 8% decrease in same-store sales for the month and a 9% decline over four weeks.
Survey: Online consumers want the gift of convenience
Holiday shoppers have high expectations of their online customer experience this year.

According to the new JDA 2015 Consumer Survey of more than 1,000 U.S. consumers, 50% 0f respondents indicate that they will be unforgiving of retailers who provide less than satisfactory online home delivery experiences.

Delivery.com steps up app experience

Delivery.com is focused on providing on-demand delivery from small, local retailers, but that doesn’t stop the company from thinking big.

Delivery.com is unveiling a new iOS app with an optimized user experience within each of Delivery.com's core categories of food, alcohol, groceries and laundry. Enhancements in the new app include visual design, customized recommendations for users, and a complementary app for Apple Watch.
Study: Holiday shoppers not ready to mobilize

Mobile commerce is getting a lot of attention, but may not play much of a role in the 2015 holiday shopping season.

According to a new survey of more than 1,500 U.S. consumers from Accenture, only 2% of holiday shoppers are planning to do the majority of their holiday shopping on mobile devices, with most (43%) citing privacy and security issues as a major reason.
Saks Off 5th to co-anchor new Chicago development

Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th will open a store at Newcity, the newly opened mixed-use development located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.

The 40,000-sq.-ft. store, which will be the seventh Off 5th location in Chicago, is scheduled to open in May 2016. The off-price retailer recently announced another spring 2016 store opening in Chicago, on State Street at the corner of State and Madison.
Staples tries new holiday promotional strategy

Price match guarantees and claims of fantastic deals have become passé, so Staples is employing a new promotional tactic this holiday season that speaks directly to its core customer.

Staples is making the same claims as virtually every other retailer about its great deals, convenient shopping and omnichannel capabilities. However, to take those claims a step further in a way that speaks to its core customers, Staples has created a limited duration promotion it’s calling the “Business Savings Event.”
2015 Elections: Status quo remains; voters reject minimum wage increases

Tuesday’s election continued a trend we have witnessed over the past few years — Republicans dominated statewide contests while Democrats locked down Mayoral seats in key major metropolitan markets.

One year ago, Republicans won by historic margins at the state level, installing 31 Republican governors and winning control of 67 of the 98 state legislative chambers. On Tuesday, Republicans not only defended those advances, but added to that margin by winning decisively in Kentucky.
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Whole Foods' profit, comps tumble; still on track for expansion

Whole Foods is trying to get its groove back, but after reporting weak fourth quarter results, it is not clear when that will be as the company expressed concern about the competitive climate and the impact on its profit margins.
Infographic: Mobile payment goes native

Apps currently dominate the mobile payment space, but that may not be a permanent situation.

According to a new infographic from mobile engagement provider Mobiquity Inc., the industry is on its way to a ‘no-app’ payment landscape. Mobiquity predicts that operating systems, rather than applications, will define the future of mobile payments.

The infographic lists several data points suggesting consumers and retailers do not find mobile payment convenient. These include:
Neiman Marcus allows closer look at online shopping

Neiman Marcus is taking the capabilities of its digital lookbooks to a whole new level.

Neiman Marcus has deployed the Zmags Creator rich media marketing platform to design and publish shoppable lookbooks on its e-commerce site. The retailer’s more than 150 annual lookbooks serve as the primary way to highlight designer merchandise on its site.