News

Family Christian is going out of business.   The company said Thursday, Feb. 23 that it plans to close all 240 stores across 36 states, according to Reuters.    Family Christian filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2015 with more than $120 million in debt. Since then, the chain continued to face a sales slump amid growing competition from online stores.  

Despite a softer sales environment, Foot Locker reported strong fourth quarter earnings — surpassing analyst estimates.   For the fourth quarter ended January 28, 2017, the specialty athletic retailer’s profits hit $189 million, or $1.42 per share, compared with net income of $158 million, or $1.14 per share in the same period of 2015. This exceeded analyst estimates of $1.31 per share.  

Retailers are increasingly relying on mobility for customer engagement, however their marketing strategies are lagging.    The fourth quarter 2016 marked the first time mobile engagement has trended down as the mobile click-to-open (CTO) rate declined by 12.6% quarter-over-quarter, and 14.4% year-over-year, according “Q4 2016 Email Benchmark Report: The Mobile Engagement Shift,” from Yes Lifecycle Marketing.  

A jolly holiday season helped Gap Inc. post fourth-quarter earnings and sales that beat expectations, leading to speculation that the chain’s turnaround may be starting to take hold.    The nation’s largest apparel retailer reported net income of $220.0 million, or 55 cents per share, up from $214.0 million, or 53 cents per share, last year.   Sales totaled $4.43 billion, up from $4.39 billion and ahead of the $4.41 billion analysts had expected.   

On the heels of announcing a comprehensive restructuring plan, Sears eliminated 130 jobs at its corporate office on Thursday, Feb. 23.   The layoffs, which are part of a $1 billion cost-cutting plan, were relayed in an email sent to corporate employees Thursday afternoon, according to Business Insider.   

Bartaco, an expanding food and beverage concept that combines beer, fresh-squeezed juices, and yes, tacos, will debut in Texas at Trademark Property’s WestBend development in Fort Worth.   The mixed-use facility just completed construction on its first phase, which includes office as well as retail space and aims to create a new hub of activity near the campus of Texas Christian University. It features new landscaping, gathering areas along the Trinity River and Trinity Trails, along with a rotating public art program.

1. The import tax wild card. The Trump administration has floated a new tax policy that would apply a 20% tax on imports from Mexico, as well as other countries with which the United States has a trade deficit. If implemented, this tax could have a disproportionally large negative impact on merchants that export much of the goods they sell — i.e., almost all of our readers.  

Saks Fifth Avenue is giving New York City a new “boy’s club.”    The chain’s first-ever Saks Downtown Men’s store is a stand-alone 16,000-sq.-ft. location dedicated to men’s categories. Featuring a strong focus on modern fashion, it carries more than 100 brands, including a dominant assortment of designer footwear and accessories.    Located at 250 Vesey Street in lower Manhattan, the store also features an “experiential shopping environment.”