News

IBM invests in Watson-powered shopping, travel apps
Armonk, N.Y. – IBM Inc. is making new investments in Sellpoints and WayBlazer to advance online shopping and travel apps powered by Watson. The investments are part of IBM's $100 million commitment to drive new innovations and business solutions that build on Watson.
The Howard Hughes Corp. signs retail tenants at The Metropolitan Downtown Columbia
Columbia, Md. – The Howard Hughes Corp. has signed several retail and restaurant leases for the public promenade at The Metropolitan Downtown Columbia, a new luxury apartment community located in Columbia, Maryland. As part of the transformation, The Howard Hughes Corp. recently completed the renovation of the historic Rouse Building into a flagship Whole Foods Market and a 27,000-sq.-ft.luxury spa and wellness center, as well as kicked off a multi-stage renovation of Merriweather Post Pavilion.

Urban Outfitters still struggling

The CEO of Urban Outfitters sounded a positive note about the company's omnichannel strategy despite reporting mixed financial results in the first quarter.
Walmart’s store experience efforts ding profits

Lower gas prices led to improved traffic and a 1.1% same store sales increase at Walmart’s U.S. stores division, but total company performance suffered under the weight of a $3.3 billion foreign exchange impact and expense pressures which caused profits to decline 7%.
Dick's gets clubbed by Golf Galaxy

Lackluster traffic at its Golf Galaxy stores led Dick’s Sporting Goods to report a lackluster profit in the first quarter.
Home Depot nails it in the first quarter

As other major retailers report sluggish sales, home improvement stores such as Home Depot Inc. are benefitting from rebounds in the housing market and the weather.
Stage Stores shrinks loss, revenue

Record Mother's Day sales couldn't lift profit at Stage Stores Inc., which narrowed its loss but reported disappointing same store sales in the first quarter.
TJX Cos. Inc. keeps the momentum going

Strong traffic continues to boost sales and profit at TJX Cos. Inc., which raised its annual guidance after reporting that earnings rose 4.5% in the first quarter.

The off-price retailer said that net sales for the first quarter ended May 2 increased 6% to $6.9 billion, and same store sales increased 5%. Net income for the first quarter was $475 million, and diluted earnings per share were 69 cents, an 8% increase over the prior year.
Digital insights shared in the Desert

With a title like chief retail innovation officer, Kasey Lobaugh spends a lot of time peering into the future to assess where the retail industry is headed.

The principal with Deloitte Consulting did just that May 18 at Manhattan Associates annual Momentum conference where he elaborated on new research showing that digital interactions are expected to influence 64 cents of every dollar spent in retail stores by the end of 2015, or roughly $2.2 trillion.
The Limited launches store pickup

The Limited is finally following the lead of a slew of other retailers that have rolled out buy online, pick up in store services for customers.
Sports Authority provides shoppers protection

Sports Authority wants to make purchase protection "SIMPLR" for its customers with a new partnership with Asurion Retail Solutions' SIMPLR brand.
Survey: U.S. digital ad spend will approach $60B

Digital ad spending in the U.S. will total $58.61 billion this year, and retailers’ ad outlays will comprise 22% of that figure, according to new figures from eMarketer.