News

Build-A-Bear wants shoppers to build a bunny this Easter
Build-A-Bear Workshop is hoping that its new Easter Collection will persuade shoppers to hop right in for a chance to buy one of the retailer’s new customizable holiday toys.

Build-A-Bear’s new Easter line features an assortment of customizable furry friends with unique personalization options, from sounds to accessories.
Williams-Sonoma launches first mobile app
Williams-Sonoma is looking to appeal to its increasingly digital savvy customers with the launch of a free recipe tool for smartphones.

The retailer, in collaboration with Weldon Owen Publishing, a division of Bonnier Corp., and Culinate Inc., has released the Williams-Sonoma Recipe of the Day app on Apple's App Store.

Gordman's reports 10th straight comp decline

Off-price retailer Gordmans Stores Inc. on Friday reported a decline in same store sales for the 10th straight quarter.

Gordmans said fourth-quarter net income was $2.3 million, or 12 cents a share, down from $2.7 million, or 14 cents as share, a year earlier. Sales at stores open at least one year fell 2.7%. Net sales rose 2% to $204 million.
Big Lots gives back in a big way

Big Lots hopes to give back to the communities it serves with a new charity focused on hunger, housing, health care and education.

Big Lots has announced that it has launched a nonprofit foundation to guide its charitable endeavors into the future.

The Big Lots Foundation will help strengthen the Company's philanthropic initiatives and support its commitment to making a difference in the communities where it operates.
NY & Co. posts loss, will close stores

Deep holiday discounts and the West Coast port dispute hurt profits at New York & Company Inc. during the fourth quarter.
Tiffany not so sparkling in fourth quarter

A strengthening dollar hurt Tiffany & Co. a lot more than Wall Street was expecting in the fourth quarter, as the upscale jeweler reported a surprising sales decline.
Haggen opens in California, names expansion team

As burgeoning food retailer Haggen charts a path of expansion across the West Coast, the company is also making some key executive moves to support its growth in the Southwest.

The grocery chain Haggen named the first five senior members of its Pacific Southwest leadership team this week:
Profits up at Toys 'R' Us amid restructuring

Cost-cutting efforts ongoing at Toys “R” Us Inc. helped the retailer report a profit in the fourth quarter.

Overall, for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, Toys “R” Us reported a profit of $265 million, compared with a year-earlier loss of $210 million.
Amazon is a giant step closer to drone delivery

A few months ago it seemed as though drone delivery was not going to happen for Amazon.com. Now the retailer's dreams of Amazon packages flying through the sky are a lot closer to reality, thanks to the FAA.

Amazon.com has received preliminary approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to research, develop and test drone delivery -- but that doesn't mean customers can expect their orders to arrive by drone anytime soon.
Mattress Firm to open as many as 220 stores

Mattress Firm Holding Corp. is revving up its growth in fiscal 2015, with plans to open as many as 220 new stores this year.
Exclusive: New Jet marketplace cleared for takeoff

The Next Big Thing in e-commerce is set to launch in late May according to Marc Lore, CEO of a new online Marketplace called Jet that blends aspects of the traditional warehouse club model with a new approach to dynamic pricing and fulfillment.

Lore said the Jet board of directors is scheduled to meet on May 7. At that time he expects the platform will be ready for launch and the board will pick a specific launch date within the following two week window.
Walmart to hold domestic sourcing event

New York -- Cindi Marsiglio, VP of U.S.manufacturing for Walmart, shared new details about the company's first-of-its-kind event, which is designed to advance the retailer’s $250 billion domestic sourcing agenda. The event is planned for early July in Bentonville, Arkansas.

During a fast-paced presentation Thursday morning organized by a group called Doing Business in Bentonville, Marsiglio shared wide-ranging insights regarding the company’s 10 year, $250 billion domestic sourcing commitment unveiled in January 2013.