News

Staples debuts merchandise designed by students
Staples has empowered young students to help create and design school products that solve real-life problems.

Through a unique initiative created by Staples Inc. called Designed by Students. kids have made: a colorful all-in-one writing instrument with interchangeable writing tips. A portable desk that lets students work anywhere. A floating locker shelf that maximizes and stylizes lockers.
Same store sales grow 2.2% at Neiman Marcus
<The Neiman Marcus Group says currency exchange rates put pressure on traffic in the first quarter as the company reported a smaller than expected boost in same store sales.

The retailer said same store sales increased 2.2% for the third quarter ended May 2 as the strong dollar had some impact on the retailer’s business.

Fewer promotions put pressure on Toys sales

Toys”R”Us says it is making steady progress with its “TRU Transformation” strategy despite a decline in same store sales in the first quarter.

Same store sales for the first quarter ended May 2 fell 2.3% primarily because of what the company said was "a planned decrease in promotional activity.'' International same store sales rose 1.2%, lifted by increases in the learning and core toy categories. Total sales declined by $154 million to $2.32 billion.
Report: Publix to open smaller format in Fla.

Publix is exploring the possibility of opening smaller format stores in the North Florida area, according to the Gainesville Sun.

The Sun is reporting that the Southern grocery chain has been talking to Gainesville, Fla., city officials about a site near the University of Florida.

Read more by clicking here.
Two retailers ‘making’ moves with the White House

Etsy and the West Elm division of Williams-Sonoma continue to fuel the maker movement with new initiatives that were launched to coincide with a Presidential Proclamation establishing the National Week of Making.

In conjunction with an event at the White House and a proclamation by President Barack Obama, online retailer Etsy said it planned to expand its Craft Entrepreneurship program to 30 cities by July 2016 from the current 19 cities.
Survey: e-commerce growth up 18% in first quarter

New York — Online traffic rose 18% in the first quarter, according to Demandware's latest Shopping Index. The study also reveals that the duration of mobile shopping visits decreased 43% in the first quarter, down to 8.4 minutes. Overall shopping episodes were also down 31% to 8.9 minutes.
Whole Foods: New store concept to be called ‘365 by Whole Foods Market’

Austin, Texas — Whole Foods Market unveiled the name of its new banner of smaller, value-focused and millenial-targeted stores: “365 by Whole Foods Market.”
U.S. Internet Q1 ad revenue hits $13.3 billion

New York — Internet ad revenues hit a record-breaking $13.3 billion in the United States in the first quarter of 2015, up 16% over the year-ago period, according to the latest IAB Internet Advertising Revenue Report figures released today by the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PwC US.
Five tips for retailers to personalize interaction with customers

By Joe Dalton As technologies advance, social channels proliferate, and consumers become more plugged into digital marketing, personalization and contextualization is becoming the key to connecting with customers. While consumers build their online identities simply by using their devices for everything from browsing to averting traffic, they leave trails of their preferences, behavior, and values that retailers can draw upon to appeal to the interests of each individual customer.
Hudson’s Bay swings to Q1 loss, will open 12-15 stores in 2015

Toronto, Canada – Hudson’s Bay Co. Inc. (HBC) swung a net loss of $54 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 from net earnings of $176 million in the year-ago period amid higher selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses even as as sales showed strong improvement.
Michaels, Gymboree team up on Instagram promotion

Irving, Texas – The Michaels Companies Inc. is teaming up with The Gymboree Corp, on a summer Instagram promotion. Customers who share on Instagram how their family is crafting in style using the hashtag #CraftingInStyleSweeps and follow both Michales and Gymboree on Instagram will be entered to win a $100 gift card to both retailers.

Three winners will be chosen at random each week.
U.K. self-serve coffee retailer leverages Watson Analytics

London, U.K. — Honest Cafe, an automated coffee house chain in London, is using IBM Watson Analytics to unearth client insights to help determine everything from coffee products and pricing, to marketing and promotions. Honest Cafe is a new venture from Revive Vending where three cafes currently in operation, and four more planned, are all unmanned.