News

More and more consumers are browsing, creating baskets and making purchases from their smartphones, according to the latest Demandware Shopping Index.

Globally, phones accounted for 94% of the year over year increase in e-commerce traffic, 74% of the increase in basket creation and 47% of the order growth.

GameStop, which has long been known as an innovative company, has become one of the first major retailers to accept Google's new mobile payment system.

GameStop has announced that customers can start using Android Pay, which was rolled out by Google only on Thursday, immediately to pay for purchases in its more than 4,200 U.S. video game stores. GameStop has already completed a nationwide rollout of Android Pay, which uses the NFC feature on mobile devices to allow users to transform mobile payments with an easy and secure way to pay. 

Rite Aid associates plan to honor 274 students who have been named recipients of Folds of Honor educational scholarships provided by the Rite Aid Foundation’s KidCents program.

Gymboree increased same store sales and profit in the second quarter, but the kids' retailer still plans to close dozens of stores and sell a distribution center.

Lynnwood, Wash. -- It was tough going for Zumiez Inc. in the second quarter as its profit fell 57% amid increased promotional activity.

The skate and surf apparel retailer reported net income of $3.2 million in the quarter, compared to net income of $7.5 million in the year-ago period. The results included include costs of approximately $0.4 million, for charges associated with the acquisition of Blue Tomato.

Total net sales for the quarter increased 1.8% to $179.8 million, from $176.7 million a year ago.

Minneapolis – A “merchandising misstep” took its toll on Christopher & Banks in its second quarter as sales decreased more than expected.

The company posted a net loss of $710,000 in the quarter, compared to earnings of $3.36 million in the year-ago period.

Montreal - Dollarama Inc. is reporting a significant increase net earnings and sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2016.

 Gross margin improvements and a reduction in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses as a percentage of sales drove net earnings to $95.5 million, up 39% from $68.9 million.

This special report by WD Partners examines one of the most crucial questions confronting the retail industry:  the role of the physical store in a digital age. It provides a call to action for a new retail experience, and offers insights and guidance on how retailers can position themselves for success in this new age.

Click here to download the report.
 

Dallas -- Kip Tindell, co-founder, chairman and CEO of The Container Store, has joined a global list of who’s who in retailing.

Tindell was inducted into the World Retail Hall of Fame during a closing day ceremony at the World Retail Congress in Rome, Italy. Now in its ninth year, the World Retail Hall of Fame has honored founders of some of the retail world’s most iconic brands.

Bentonville, Ark. -- In the latest move in its battle against Costco, Sam's Club is going to start accepting the very form of payment that Costco rebuffed earlier this year.

Starting Oct. 1, all Sam’s Club locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico will take American Express cards at checkout. Earlier this year Costco ended its 16-year relationship with American in favor of Visa after the two companies could not come to an agreement on new terms.