News

Report: Amazon eyes new AmazonFresh markets
After an 18-month hiatus on expansion, Amazon.com is reportedly preparing to roll out its AmazonFresh grocery delivery service to new markets including Boston and the U.K.

According to Re/Code, Amazon had initially planned to introduce the service to U.K. customers in 2015.

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Feature: Asda gets goods where they need to go
Asda, the U.K. subsidiary of Walmart, wants customers to have unencumbered access to desired products.

On the front end, this has meant creating a click and collect service called toyou. On the back end, Asda enables toyou with a seamless fulfillment infrastructure based on Manhattan Associates technology.

Chico’s nominates Walmart and Hudson’s Bay vets to board

Chico’s FAS is nominating two new independent board members as two current members prepare to retire and an investor says it will nominate its own two candidates.
Expenses hit Kirkland’s Q1 profit as sales miss

Increases in cost of sales, operating expenses and depreciation resulted in net income dropping at Kirkland’s Inc. during a generally disappointing first quarter of fiscal 2016.

The specialty home décor chain’s net income totaled $916 million, down 64% from $2.53 billion in the first quarter of the previous fiscal year. Net sales rose 10% to $129.91 million from $118.31 million, below expectations. Same-store sales edged up 0.5%.
Meet the next generation of store associate

Retailers will be excited by the prospect of employees that are never late and don’t need to take breaks or even be paid, but will customers accept them?
Barnes & Noble Education expands college turf

Amazon.com has been encroaching on Barnes & Noble Education’s collegiate bookstore business with a rapidly expanding network of campus pickup locations, but Barnes & Noble is striking back.

Fourteen colleges and universities have selected Barnes & Noble College as their partner of choice to operate their campus bookstores. The 14 new contracts represent 23 new campus and virtual bookstores. The schools represent a projected additional 140,000 students and their faculty.
Zimmer wants another shot at Men’s Wearhouse

Men’s Wearhouse may not have seen the last of original co-founder George Zimmer.

In an interview with Inc., Zimmer discusses conversations he has had about a possible acquisition attempt with private equity firms.

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DSW profit, sales miss in tough Q1

Despite improved net sales, DSW Inc. saw net earnings decline substantially during the first quarter of fiscal 2017.

The footwear retailer reported net income of $30.01 million, down 37% from $47.37 million in the prior year quarter. Growing cost of sales and operating expenses, as well as a pretax expense from the February purchase of online footwear retailer Ebuys Inc., cut into profit even as net sales rose 4% to $681.27 million, from $655.47 million. Ebuys contributed $15.1 million in net sales.
Best Buy Q1 profit surges; finance chief to exit

Best Buy Co. Inc. surpassed Wall Street expectations with rising profits and declining revenues for the first quarter of fiscal 2017, and CFO/CAO Sharon McCollam announced she will retire June 14.
Commentary: Meet the next generation of store associate

Retailers will be excited by the prospect of employees that are never late and don’t need to take breaks or even be paid, but will customers accept them?