News

There's a new player in TV commerce game
Apple TV reportedly has a formidable new rival in the emerging channel of TV commerce.

According to GeekWire, Amazon is providing direct purchase capabilities through its Fire TV devices, without fanfare. A pilot has been underway for about two weeks, with sources indicating performance so far has exceeded expectations.

The pilot allows Fire TV and Fire TV stick users to directly browse and purchase items including Hershey’s candy, FitBit personal fitness devices, and Mattel toys from banner ads on the TV screen.
Another big name throws hat in mobile payment ring
Mobile payment keeps getting more popular, at least on the provider side.

According to Re/Code, Amazon.com is launching a mobile “Pay with Amazon” button that will let consumers automatically use their Amazon payment information to make purchases on other retailer’s e-commerce apps. While not exactly a mobile wallet app, the Pay With Amazon button is definitely an attempt to obtain a piece of the mobile payment market which Apple, Samsung, Google, and several other entities are trying to take an early lead in.

Jordan’s Furniture’s new store will put customers on the roaps—literally

Jordan’s Furniture, known for its larger-than-life stores that combine retail with all manner of entertainment, is outdoing itself in its next location.

The retailer is building a 192,500 sq.-ft. store in New Haven, Connecticut—its first in the state—that will feature a massive indoor roap course, billed as “IT Adventure Roaps Course,” that includes two 60-feet high ropes courses. Jordan’s is devoting 20,000 sq. ft. to the attraction.
Report: Target tests global digital waters

Target Corp. may have shuttered its Canadian stores, but that doesn’t mean the discounter is done with global retailing.

According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Target has expanded a 2014 pilot program that made about 200,000 items available to U.K. customers via eBay to 64 countries. Target is also partnering with international shipping logistics firm Borderfree in a test of a new global e-commerce site, intl.target.com.
Report: TV commerce has new player

Apple TV reportedly has a formidable new rival in the emerging channel of TV commerce.

According to GeekWire, Amazon is providing direct purchase capabilities through its Fire TV devices, without fanfare. A pilot has been underway for about two weeks, with sources indicating performance so far has exceeded expectations.
Columbus discovers new mobile payment service

Consumers in Columbus, Ohio, are being given a new option for mobile payment.

CurrentC, the mobile payment application from retailer-backed consortium Merchant Commerce Exchange, is now being piloted at stores in Columbus. Major retailers currently participating in MCX include Walmart, Sam’s Club, Sears, Target, CVS and Kmart.

MCX briefly announced the Columbus beta test on the CurrentC webpage, with few details. Reuters reports that 12 major retailers are testing the service at 200 store locations, and the test may be expanded in early 2016.
Tuesday Morning turnaround well underway

Just a few weeks after losing its CEO, Tuesday Morning posted impressive financial results for the first quarter, including an increase in same-store sales.

For the first quarter ended Sept. 30, the Texas-based off-price retailer posted a same-store sales increase of 3.6%. Net sales were $202.3 million, slightly higher than the prior year period. The company ended the first quarter with a store count of 757, a decrease of 44 stores year over year. Operating loss for the first quarter was $6 million.
Online fashion retailer upgrades omnichannel experience

For pure play retailers, having the right digital commerce platform is absolutely critical.

San Francisco-based digital fashion retailer ModCloth is ensuring that it can support the kind of unified omnichannel shopping experience that will bring customers back and support global expansion initiatives.
QVC unveils latest shopping channel

Home shopping retailer QVC is going to enter consumer homes via a new device.

QVC is launching an app for Apple TV. Customers will be able to make purchases directly through Apple TV with a click of the remote, as well as search for products. QVC for Apple TV will be available in the U.S. immediately upon the release of the Apple TV, with the U.K. and Germany to follow in the coming weeks.
For Walgreens CEO, Rite Aid deal may not be his last

In the wake of the news that Walgreens Boots Alliance would be acquiring Rite Aid, Walgreens CEO Stefano Pessina told the New York Times that he is open to opportunities that would expand the company’s footprint around the globe.“Due to my age, I won’t have a possibility to make many more acquisitions,” Pessina told the Times. “And unfortunately, I cannot amuse myself dealing directly with small acquisitions, and dealing directly with owners and so on. ...
Walmart COO says ‘trust me’ this holiday season

Easier shopping every day is the value proposition Walmart touting this holiday season as it contends shoppers are tired of pricing games played by other retailers.

As it does every holiday season, Walmart claims it will have low prices on a broad assortment and the hottest holiday items, but it is also touting an improve store experience and a strengthened omnichannel approach.
Fifth straight quarter of comp growth for Build-A-Bear Workshop

Build-A-Bear Workshop logged an increase in same-store sales in the third quarter even as the company enters what is historically its most profitable season.

Same-store sales at the specialty retailer increased 2.1% in the third quarter ended Oct. 3. This was the fifth consecutive quarter it grew same-store sales.