News

PwC: Retail mergers & acquisition activity hits $1B
Mega deals worth more than $1 billion drove the U.S. retail and consumer sector’s strong third quarter, according to PwC’s U.S. quarterly R&C Deals Insights report.

During the three-month period ending Sept. 30, 36 deals valued over $50 million were announced for the sector, with deal value up 64% in Q3, accounting for $46.6 billion, compared to $28.4 billion in Q2. Deal volume went up 6% from Q2, but down 36% from Q3 2014.
Target, Neiman Marcus and Jet.com among Shoptalk headliners
More than 100 senior retail executives are already confirmed as speakers for a first-of-its-kind event called Shoptalk that will be held next May with a focus on next generation commerce.

Organizers of the event have confirmed speaker participants including Jason Goldberger, president of Target.com and mobile; Casey Carl, Target chief strategy and innovation officer; Joe Megibow, chief digital officer at American Eagle Outfitters; John Koryl, president of Neiman Marcus stores and online and Andrea Wasserman, senior VP and head of direct-to-consumer at Nine West Group.

Target expands same-day delivery

Target is expanding its Instacart same-day delivery service to another major U.S. city.

Following a successful pilot in Minneapolis, Target is now partnering with Instacart to offer customers in the San Francisco Bay Area fresh food, non-perishable food items, health and beauty products, pet and household supplies, and select baby items delivered to their homes in as little as one hour.
The real reasons Office Depot’s Q3 comps increased

Office Depot achieved impressive third quarter same-store sales growth and asserted that its merger with Staples could close as early as this year.
Genesco acquires Canadian footwear chain

Genesco is expanding its reach geographically and generationally with its latest acquisition.

The company has entered into an agreement with the Aldo Group Inc. to acquire the 37-store Little Burgundy retail footwear chain in Canada.
DSW elevates CIO to be new CEO

DSW Inc. has promoted its omnichannel retailing chief to be its new CEO as the company positions itself for long-term growth.

The company said Roger L. Rawlins, executive vice president and CIO, will succeed Michael R. MacDonald as CEO effective Jan. 1. MacDonald, who is retiring from DSW and from the board of directors, will remain with the company through the end of the year to help ensure a smooth transition. Rawlins will be appointed to the DSW board effective Jan. 1.
Dick’s Sporting Goods' new app part of a growing trend
Infographic: Marketers lag in visual commerce efforts

Marketers know that image is crucial to digital sales, but that doesn’t mean they are making a big effort.

According to a new infographic based on a survey of 200 marketers from visual marketing platform provider Curalate, 86% of marketers agree that “type of channel” is important when selecting images to use in marketing initiatives. Yet, 78% still share the same images across all or most channels
Nominate the Most Influential Women in Retail Tech

Who are the leading women working in retail technology? Chain Store Age is accepting nominations for its annual feature recognizing female retail executives who are helping to transform the industry through technology.

The “Top 10 Women in Retail Tech” will celebrate the achievements of retail executives from all areas of technology. The winners will be profiled in a special section of the January 2016 issue of Chain Store Age as well as in an online report on chainstoreage.com
Walmart, Hobby Lobby tops in faith-friendly retailer list

Walmart and Hobby Lobby top the retailer list of the first ever annual Faith Equality Index.

Faith Driven Consumer, a group that represents 41 million Christian consumers, has published an index rating the faith compatibility of major brands both in the consumer and entertainment spheres, as well as serving as a voice for this community.