News

Sears puts ‘S’ in seamless experience
Sears Holdings is quite the omnichannel innovator and it just launched another new capability melding digital and physical.
Target plans a very social Halloween
Target is reaching out directly where consumers digitally congregate for its new Halloween promotion.

Target has launched a six-part YouTube interactive video series, “The House on Hallow Hill,” for Halloween this year. The interactive videos will take viewers through a haunted house and give them options to visit different themed rooms, such as “The Ghoulish Graveyard.”

Restoration Hardware gives shoppers a view of the Rockies

RH (Restoration Hardware Holdings) has unveiled the latest iteration of the brand’s next-generation design galleries concept at Cherry Creek Shopping Center, in Denver.
DirectBuy: Mobile is everywhere

Mobile devices are becoming the norm for every facet of consumers’ lives, including shopping.

According to a new infographic from membership-based retailer DirectBuy, 29% of U.S. adults describe their smartphone as something they can’t live without, 44% sleep with a smartphone by their bed to avoid missing notifications, and 67% check smartphones for notifications even without receiving some type of notification.
Amazon gets into the restaurant delivery biz in Oregon

Hungry consumers in Portland just got a new option for convenient eating.

Amazon.com is enabling Prime Now customers in Portland to obtain free delivery from local restaurants and food carts. Using the Prime Now mobile app, Portland customers can view participating restaurants, browse menus, place orders, track the status of their delivery, and watch as the driver travels from the restaurant to the delivery address in real time.

Once an order is placed, Amazon delivery drivers pick up and deliver the food within an hour or less.
Infographic: Mobile is everywhere

Mobile devices are becoming the norm for every facet of consumers’ lives, including shopping.

According to a new infographic from membership-based retailer DirectBuy, 29% of U.S. adults describe their smartphone as something they can’t live without, 44% sleep with a smartphone by their bed to avoid missing notifications, and 67% check smartphones for notifications even without receiving some type of notification.
Express curates menswear site

Express is partnering with 17 specialty men’s apparel brands to launch a new e-commerce site.

The exclusive online-only shop will launch on express.com beginning October 2015 and will feature brands including Creative Recreation, Havaianas, Timex, Robert Mason and more. Product categories will include footwear, watches, bags & small leather accessories, electronics, small accessories & giftables and jewelry.
Holiday forecast: Cold temps, hot sales

Favorable weather, an extra shopping day and new tech gadgets should attract more shoppers this holiday season, according to a new report.

The U.S. Holiday 2015 Forecast from the FBIC Group says retailers should expect a happy holiday 2015 selling season, with combined spending in November and December to rise between 3% and 4% over 2014 levels to between $626 billion to $633 billion.
Target plans social Halloween
ShopperTrak: Holiday sales to rise 2.4%

Price-conscious consumers looking for a good deal are expected to fuel a sales surge on Black Friday, but not enough to lift overall holiday sales higher than last year, according to ShopperTrak.

The analytics firm predicts that Black Friday 2015 will surpass Black Friday 2014 due to the shopper who is motivated by sales and exhibits a growing tendency toward shopping earlier. In addition, an early Hanukkah, which begins 10 days sooner this year than last, will generate November sales at the expense of December.
The Fresh Market explores bid for company

Just a few weeks after installing a new CEO, the Fresh Market is planning to conduct a strategic review that may include a sale of the specialty grocery chain.

The company says it has retained J.P. Morgan Securities as its financial advisor to assist in this process, which may result in the company continuing to pursue value-enhancing initiatives as a standalone company, capital structure optimization, or a sale of the company or other business combination.
Report: Co-founder of Warby Parker has a new venture capital fund

Andrew Hunt, the co-founder of the hot eyewear retailer Warby Parker, has raised $138.3 million for a new venture capital firm, reports Boston Business Journal. The Boston-based firm is called Elephant Partners and is reportedly focused on consumer Internet, mobile and software. (Boston Business Journal)