News

America’s favorite grocery retailer is….
Louisville, Colo. -- Trader Joe’s is America’s favorite grocery retailer for the third year in a row, according to a study of more than 7,200 consumers by Market Force Information. Publix ranked a close second and Aldi was third.
Survey: American consumers like giving at the register
Austin, Texas – Americans are known for their generosity, and that stereotype holds true when they go shopping. A new survey of 3,030 U.S. consumers across all ages by social responsibility firm Good Scout, “Change at the Checkout,” shows that 71% of respondents have donated to charity at the register.

Consumers surveyed listed “charity brand recognition” as the number one reason they feel compelled to give to charity at the register. The second leading reason is personal connection to the cause.

REI now powered by 100% renewable energy

Seattle -- REI has met its commitment to be powered by 100% renewable energy through energy efficiency, solar generation, long-term renewable energy contracts, and renewable energy certificates (RECs). That’s just one of the findings in the outdoor retailer’s 2014 Stewardship Report.
Private equity firm Roark Capital acquires 155-store Pet Supermarket

Sunrise, Fla. -- Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm focused on consumer brands, said that that its affiliate has acquired pet specialty retailer Pet Supermarket from Charles E. West, Jr., the company's founder. Pet Supermarket will remain headquartered in Sunrise, Florida, and continue to be led by Diane Holtz, its CEO.

Pet Supermarket operates 155 pet specialty retail stores in 11 states generating over $300 million of revenue.
Century 21 upgrades enterprise with Mi9

New York - Century 21 Department Store has selected Mi9 Retail to replace its current enterprise systems. The retailer was in need of a merchandising and analytics system that would streamline business operations.
Dov Charney sues American Apparel for defamation

New York -- The founder and ousted CEO of American Apparel, Dov Charney, is suing the company and its chairwoman Coleen Brown for a minimum of $20 million in damages, accusing them of defamation and mental and emotional distress.

Many of the allegations revolve around a letter Brown wrote to American Apparel employees in which she claimed that Charney had agreed in writing to never return in any capacity to the company. According to the lawsuit, Charney never signed any agreement.
Tanger Factory Outlets debuts social pop-ups at grand openings

Greensboro, N.C. -- Tanger Factory Outlets is enhancing the grand opening events of its new centers with social media. The company is blending the traditional shopping experience with the excitement of social interaction though three social media activations, or pop-ups.
Macy’s falls short in Q1; to open 32 new stores by 2018

Cincinnati -- Bad weather, decreased spending by international tourists due to the strong U.S. dollar and delayed merchandise shipments from the West Coast port slowdown all contributed to Macy’s missing Wall Street projections for profit and revenue in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income fell 13% to $193 million, from $224 million in the same quarter a year earlier.

Net sales dropped about 1% to $6.23 million, from $6.28 million. Same-store sales declined 0.7%.
Study: Digitally influenced brick-and-mortar sales to reach $2.2 trillion

New York - Digital interactions are expected to influence 64 cents of every dollar spent in retail stores by the end of 2015, or $2.2 trillion. According to Deloitte Digital's latest study, "Navigating the New Digital Divide,” this figure has grown considerably from 14 cents of each dollar spent in brick-and-mortar stores in 2012, the first year Deloitte Digital conducted the annual study.
The monsters are due on Maple Street – courtesy of GameStop

Grapevine, Texas – It’s not something from an episode of the classic black-and-white TV series “The Twilight Zone.” Monsters are coming to a street near you, courtesy of GameStop and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
Tango messaging service provides full e-commerce

Austin, Texas – Video and text messaging app Tango is partnering with Wal-Mart and Alibaba to offer full e-commerce functionality inside the Tango app. Tango is rolling out functionality to U.S. users, which will provide them with the ability to browse and purchase items available from Wal-Mart and the AliExpress international shopping site, which is hosted by Alibaba.
Children’s Place, investors trade shots

Secaucus, N.J. – The Children’s Place Inc. and a group of dissatisfied activist Children’s Place investors, called Shareholders for Change at the Children’s Place, have exchanged accusations in a pair of open letters to shareholders. The retailer struck first with a letter supporting the election of its three independent board nominees, including chairman Norman Matthews, at the upcoming May 22 annual meeting.