News

Harry & David plays social engagement game
Harry & David is using social media to bring consumers back to the fun of a childhood Easter egg hunt.

The specialty gourmet gift retailer is hosting a social media giveaway called the “Eggciting Hunt Sweepstakes” through April 15 with hundreds of dollars of gift cards as prizes. Participants register online and then are sent on a hunt for clues to find virtual eggs on Harry & David’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Big and tall retailer finds fit with DXL format
Destination XL Group is seeing strong same store sales growth from its stores branded as DXL as it continues to shift away from the smaller footprint Casual Male concept.

Destination XL Group, which bills itself as the largest omnichannel specialty retailer of big and tall men's apparel, said its total same store sales increased 3.1%, but its 137 DXL stores open for more than 13 months grew comps 8.9%.

Big and tall retailer finds fit with DXL format

Destination XL Group is seeing strong same store sales growth from its stores branded as DXL as it continues to shift away from the smaller footprint Casual Male concept.

Destination XL Group, which bills itself as the largest omnichannel specialty retailer of big and tall men's apparel, said its total same store sales increased 3.1%, but its 137 DXL stores open for more than 13 months grew comps 8.9%.
Sears Canada 2.0: The re-engineering begins

A broad slate of initiatives unveiled by Sears Canada are intended to transition the company from a business stabilization phase in 2015 to a re-engineering phase designed to restore growth.
Shoe Carnival ready to join $1 billion club

The pace of expansion slowed at Shoe Carnival in 2015 but the company produced respectable growth against a challenging prior year comparison that has it poised to achieve a major milestone in 2016.
Staples and Office Depot take another shot at FTC

The CEOs of Staples and Office Depot penned a letter to customers which reveals the extent of their deteriorated relations with the Federal Trade Commission ahead of a hearing that begins March 21 that will determine whether the retailers are allowed to merge.

In the letter, Staples chairman and CEO Ron Sargent and Office Depot chairman and CEO Roland Smith stop short of actually calling the FTC stupid, but that is the inference from more diplomatically worded prose.
Walmart eases product content conversion

Meeting Walmart’s product information requirements is not always easy for its suppliers, but the retailer is providing a new option that may make things a little simpler.

Walmart is integrating with product content technology provider Shotfarm. Walmart suppliers can now use the Shotfarm Switch Marketplace platform to directly connect with the retailer. This means suppliers can work with requirement such as the Walmart Spec program, which details the required, recommended, and optional data attributes suppliers must provide for their products.
Report: Baltimore CVS reconnects to local community

The CVS/pharmacy destroyed by fire during riots last year in Baltimore has re-opened earlier this month, the Association of Health Care Journalists reported Friday. The initial closure of the CVS/pharmacy highlighted the important role pharmacies play across inner-city communities.
Drama at the mall, Aeropostale explores options

A review of strategic alternatives is underway at mall-based specialty retailer Aeropostale following the deterioration of fourth quarter results and a supply chain disruption caused by a supplier dispute.

Sale declined 16.1% to $498 million and same-store sales, including e-commerce, declined 6.7%. Profits declined to $21.7 million, or 27 cents a share, compared to a prior year fourth quarter loss of $13.5 million, 17 cents a share.
Gordmans enters the world of omnichannel

Gordmans Stores plans to open a new store next month in its hometown of Omaha in April, the first of five new units the apparel and home décor retailer has planned for the year.