News

Study: April sales fall despite traffic boost
San Francisco – Retail sales in several top retail verticals fell despite increased shopper traffic in April 2015. According to a report from Wi-Fi location analytics provider Euclid, early Easter did not cause a drop-off in visits to the store, but consumer caution around spending tax refunds prevented a commensurate sales boost.

Euclid estimates sales growth in the following retail verticals of:

• 1.1% decline year-over-year in general merchandise, apparel, furniture and other (GAFO) retail sales.
Study: Technology can enhance women’s shopping experience
Seattle - The intersection of technology and retail, online, in-store, apps, mobile, can enhance the shopping experience for women 25-40. According to a new report from Waggener Edstrom, “Romancing the Store: Reconnecting in the Empowered Shopper Era,” when done correctly, tech offerings can be a seamless part of the overall experience and help bolster sales.

U.K.’s Soletrader steps forward with omnichannel technology

London – British shoe retailer Soletrader sees delivery of an excellent customer experience across all retail channels as crucial to company growth while also providing competitive edge. Soletrader selected MNP Retail’s Order Management System to serve as a real time-inventory, order, and customer data hub.

This has enabled Soletrader to scale growth by way of digital stores and click and collect in-store tablet solutions.
Bebe posts Q3 loss

Brisbane, Calif. -- Bebe Stores Inc. reported a loss of $11.2 million in its third quarter, citing port delays and prolonged cold weather that also created pressure on sales.

Net sales for the quarter, ended April 30, increased 4.1% to $92.7 million, as compared to $89.0 million in the year-ago period. Same-store sales increased 1.2%.
Dov Charney sues American Apparel shareholder Standard General

New York -- Dov Charney, the embattled founder and ousted CEO of American Apparel, is suing the retailer’s controlling shareholder, Standard General, for damages of at least $30 million.

Charney accused the hedge fund of an array of misdeeds, including defamation, false light, intentional interference with actual and prospective economic relations, unfair business acts and false advertising, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Brookshire Grocery makes marketing personal with SAP

Tyler, Texas – Millennials are gaining buying power, and a substantial shift to Millennials in the retail marketplace will occur by 2020. For 152-store supermarket retailer Brookshire Grocery Co., the time to start reacting to this developing change is now.

“We needed to figure out how to market to this customer base and make it relevant to them,” said John D’Anna, senior VP and CIO of Brookshire Grocery.
Jins Eyewear, San Francisco

Jins Eyewear, one of Japan’s largest eyewear brands, opened its first-ever U.S. store, in San Francisco's Union Square neighborhood. The 4,900-sq.-ft. space features more than 1,200 different styles of Jins' exclusive frames.
Walmart to acquire only 13 Target locations in Canada

When Target pulled out of Canada, it was widely expected that Walmart would snap up some of Target's locations. But Walmart has decided to acquire only 13 stores, in a deal worth $136 million.

Walmart announced it has reached agreements to acquire one distribution center, 12 store leases and one owned property in Canada. The retailer says it expects to invest another $153 million to renovate the 13 stores and distribution center, bringing Walmart’s total investment to approximately $289 million.
B&N aims to make taking the train more entertaining

Barnes & Noble is targeting train passengers by offering a curated collection of free eBooks and eMagazines to Amtrak customers.

During Amtrak Train Days, which runs from May 9 through November, Amtrak passengers with Nook e-readers will be able to access bestselling eBooks from HarperCollins, in addition to other classics and popular self-published titles from Nook Press that have been customized to appeal to every reading preference, including romance, mystery, thrillers, children’s and business titles.
Sprouts grows same store sales again

Sprouts Farmers Market cited strong top-line sales growth as among the reasons for the retailer’s 4.8% comp increase for the first quarter.

Net sales for the first quarter ended March 29 were $857.5 million, a 19% increase compared to the same period in 2014. Net sales growth was driven by strong performance in new stores opened and a 4.8% increase in same store sales growth, the company said.
Kay Jewelers gets social for Mother's Day

Kay Jewelers is leveraging the visual power of Pinterest and Instagram by running an innovative social media promotion for Mother’s Day.

The retailer said that visitors to its Instagram and Pinterest accounts will have an opportunity to interact with the brand through eye-catching visuals that showcase the company's jewelry in unique and creative ways, as well as win huge prizes.
Gap, Ellen team up for girls' line

Gap Inc. is teaming up with popular TV host Ellen DeGeneres and her lifestyle brand ED on a unique fashion range that is designed to empower girls.

The new collection, GapKids x ED, will be an apparel collection and social movement designed to help all girls realize they have the power to do extraordinary things, the company says. The collection will be available for purchase starting Aug. 17 through Gap.com, in all GapKids stores in the United States, and select stores in Canada, United Kingdom, China and Japan.