News

Target decks the dorm
Minneapolis – Target Corp. is decking the dorm with a new application aimed at students preparing to go back to college this fall. Target’s Made for U College Styler is an interactive tool that assesses a college student’s personal style and creates tailored room designs they can shop and customize via phone, tablet or desktop.
Limited Too makes a comeback
New York – In a consumer culture obsessed with nostalgic “throwbacks,” a retail brand from the not-too-distant past is coming back. Specialty apparel brand Limited Too, which was consolidated into the Justice banner by then-parent company Tween Brands in 2009, is making a return.

Simon courts teen girls across channels

Indianapolis - Mall operator Simon knows teen girls are a key part of its consumer base, and is courting them this summer. Simon and Teen Vogue are partnering to present the fourth annual Teen Vogue Back-to-School Saturdays (BTSS) omnichannel promotion.
Hudson’s Bay capitalizes on real estate

Toronto - Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) is capitalizing on 42 real estate assets. The retailer has closed a joint venture with Simon Property Group focused on credit tenant, net-leased and multi-tenanted retail buildings in the U.S. and internationally.
Rising expenses take toll on Under Armour Q2 profits

Baltimore – Even a reduction in income taxes couldn’t fully offset the impact of rising expenses on profit at Under Armour during the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income decreased 17% to $15 million, compared with $18 million in the prior year's period. The decline in net income came even as net revenues increased 29% to $784 million, compared with $610 million. Direct-to-consumer net revenues, which represented 32% of total net revenues for the second quarter, grew 33% year-over-year.
T.J. Maxx pricing policy challenged

Framingham, Mass. – Off-price retailer T.J. Maxx provides “compare at” prices that tell shoppers how much cheaper an item is than it would be at a full-price department store, but how truthful are those comparisons? According to a class action lawsuit brought against T.J. Maxx in San Francisco by two customers, Staci Chester and Daniel Friedman, “compare at” pricing leaves a lot of wiggle room for the retailer.
Survey: Young female with kids? Sell on Etsy

Brooklyn, N.Y. – If you’re wondering whether you should become an Etsy seller, being young, female, and a parent may be factors in your favor. According to a new survey of 4,000 U.S. Etsy sellers conducted by the online handmade crafts marketplace, 86% of Etsy sellers are women. In addition, Etsy sellers are twice as likely to be under the age of 35 and many are parents with children at home.
Sears Hometown gives customers a voice

Hoffman Estates, Ill. - Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc. is giving customers a voice via social media. The retailer is working with customer content marketing platform Yotpo to generate verified customer feedback in stores and online.
IDC: Future of tech looks cloudy

Framingham, Mass. – The future of technology looks cloudy, and IT professionals should be pleased. In a new study, International Data Corporation (IDC) predicts the number of new cloud-based solutions will triple in the next four to five years.
Target centralizes security efforts

Minneapolis – Target Corp. is taking a centralized approach to security to help ensure that data breaches such as the one which inflicted serious financial and branding damage in late 2013 do not happen again. Target has opened a Cyber Fusion Center (CFC) that brings Target’s key information security teams together.
Tractor Supply profit harvest meets Street; plans 110-115 new stores

Brentwood, Tenn. – Tractor Supply Company met Wall Street expectations with profit growth that was part of an overall bountiful financial harvest in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income rose 15% to $153.3 million from $133.4 million the same period a year earlier, aided by selling, general and administrative expenses, which stayed flat as a percentage of increasing sales.
Wal-Mart takes control of e-commerce in China

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is taking control of its e-commerce operations in China. The discount giant has acquired the 49% of its Chinese e-commerce arm Yihaodian it did not previously own, taking full ownership of its e-commerce business in China.