News

And the nation’s favorite fashion retailer is …
For the fourth consecutive year, a department store has nabbed the top spot in a survey of the nation’s favorite fashion retailers.

Nordstrom took the top spot in the study, by Market Force Information. Interestingly, severak discount retailers moved up the list this year, with Marshalls landing in the No. 2 spot. H&M and Ross Dress for Less tied for third, Kohl’s was fourth and Macy’s was fifth.
Tech Guest Viewpoint: Driving Impulse Buy with Technology
The term “impulse buy” has a negative connotation to many. Picking up that guilty pleasure snack in the checkout line at the supermarket, that gadget you don’t really need, or those shoes that are on sale all qualify.

Report: The Fresh Market is on the auction block

The Fresh Market is being viewed as a takeover target with recent media reports indicating that some of the biggest names in the grocery game are interested in the company.

Reuters reports thatKroger is in the second round of an auction process for Fresh Market that has also attracted other companies and private equity firms. Apollo Global Management, KKR & Co and TPG Capital are among the buyout firms participating in the auction.
Online jewelry retailer continues leap into brick-and-mortar

Blue Nile made its brick-and-mortar debut last June, and the company is so pleased with the results that it plans to add more stores.

The online jeweler announced it will open its second physical outpost, at the Westchester Mall in White Plains, New York, by early summer. It is the first of up to four locations the company plans to open this year.
Nordstrom teases New Yorkers with a glimpse of the future

Nordstrom revealed dramatic plans for a massive and elaborate flagship in Manhattan designed to wow residents of a city accustomed to the best retailers have to offer.

The approximately 363,000-sq.-ft. store will encompass four individual properties in the Columbus Circle neighborhood of Manhattan, along Broadway between West 57th and West 58th Streets. Slated to open in 2019, it will be the retailer’s second largest store to date (the largest, at 383,000 sq. ft., is in its Seattle hometown).
Toys"R"Us names new global leader

Toys“R”Us has promoted its senior vice president of store operations to a global leadership role.
What went wrong at Advance Auto parts

Warm weather hurt sales at Advance Auto Parts in the fourth quarter, but other factors were in play too as the company’s performance lagged competitors.

The retailer said same store sales were negatively impacted by the timing of the New Year's day holiday, which fell in the 53rd week last year, by the foreign exchange currency fluctuations from its Canadian business, and by warmer winter weather.
O’Reilly eyes more stores following record year

More than 200 O’Reilly Automotive stores are expected to open in 2016 after the nation’s third largest auto parts retailer logged strong fourth quarter results and its 23rd consecutive year of same-store sales growth.
Sun Capital sees significant expansion ahead for latest acquisition

Private equity firm Sun Capital Partners plans to accelerate growth of Furniture Factory Outlet following its acquisition of the 36 store chain.

Based in Fort Smith, Ark., Furniture Factory Outlet (FFO Home) operates 36 stores in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Sun Capital said it acquired the company, billed as a value-oriented home furnishings retailer, from Alpine Investors and believes significant expansion opportunities exist. The company also manufactures bedding under the Comfort Coil and Natural Elements brands.
eBay thinks retail

Following a disappointing 2015 holiday season, eBay is changing its mindset to become more competitive with e-commerce peers such as Amazon. According to Fortune, eBay CEO Devin Wenig recently outlined plans for eBay to approach the marketplace more like a retailer and less like a technology platform. [Fortune]