News

Big Lots launches effort to help sick kids
Big Lots is giving customers a chance to support a cause likely to appeal to a large part of its core market: pediatric health care. Customers will have a chance to donate in-store at all 1,464 store locations and online to support Nationwide Children's Hospital. The program will run through Oct. 31 with 100% of the proceeds raised going to support Nationwide Children's.
Study: Major retailers lacking in online satisfaction
When it comes to satisfying online customers, the little guys may have an edge. Online review site Bizrate Insights (a division of marketing solutions firm Connexity) has released its 16th annual Bizrate Circle of Excellence awards, and only a few major retailers are included.

Five retail IT trends for holiday 2015

The holiday season is rapidly approaching, so of course everyone is thinking about the latest trends in... retail IT. Okay, nobody outside of the industry has visions of technology solutions dancing in their heads, but retailers do need to know what is developing on the IT front as their busiest season arrives.
Lucky Brand rock revival set for 2016

A strong roster of rock icons is coming to Lucky Brand stores and wholesale customers thanks to a licensing deal with Epic Rights.

Lucky Brand will create a new line of tops and headwear that feature artists represented by Epic Rights including KISS, Journey, Def Leppard, Billy Idol, The Doobie Brothers, Jefferson Airplane and CBGB. The apparel will be sold exclusively at Lucky Brand retail and wholesale locations nationwide and online beginning in spring 2016.
It's all about image at eBay

Proponents of the motto “image is everything” will be pleased with a new partnership eBay Inc. is launching.

The online retail platform is teaming up with visual commerce platform Curalate to give publishers the ability to drive traffic and revenue from images sourced from Instagram.

The partnership offers Curalate Like2Buy, which allows users to directly click to purchases from Instagram images, to more than 100,000 publishers in the eBay Enterprise Affiliate Network.
Bring your dog to work day at Pet Supplies Plus
Running Specialty Group to unify all stores under one brand

The Running Specialty Group is uniting its various store banners under one of its newest brands: JackRabbit.
Tech Guest Viewpoint: Mobility Matters in the Material World

There’s no time like face time. Whether closing a multi-million dollar business deal or selling discount apparel, nothing moves the needle like human engagement. And although modern POS solutions have been revolutionary in integrating inventory, customer data, omnichannel sales, and a slew of other retail success factors, large cash-wraps have driven a physical wedge between merchant and customer.
Restaurants and entertainment venue to join Downtown Dallas development

Dallas -- Trademark Property Co. announced that BuzzBrews,’ Cinépolis USA and Café Victoria will join Victory Park, a 75-acre mixed-use development in downtown Dallas. BuzzBrews’ and Café Victoria to open in early 2016 and Cinépolis USA, targeted for 2017.
Athletic footwear sales were soft this summer

With nearly 1,100 stores in malls nationwide, it appears that 2015 was not the summer of the sneaker for Finish Line.

The retailer reported weaker-than-expected sales for its second quarter ended Aug. 29. The results weren’t awful, with sales advancing 3.5% to $483.2 million and same-store sales up 1.5%. However, gas prices were in free fall for much of the year and the unemployment rate was in decline, which should have left Finish Line’s core customer with money in their pockets and no reason to not drive to the mall.