News

By Kent Smith, Galleria RTS   Well-stocked shelves and falling sales is a dilemma faced by many retailers today. New technology advancements such as mobile discount apps are the latest threat to grocery retail sales. Many people simply complete their grocery shopping from the convenience of their own home.    

By Lindsay Carlson,  Adam Biegel and Kimyatta McClary, Alston & Bird LLP   Over the past 18 months, there has been a significant increase in litigation and enforcement activity concerning comparative price advertising in the retail industry. Companies can face substantial reputational and cost consequences if targeted, and should consider examining their price advertising models and prepare to defend these models.  

New York & Company has devised an interesting sweepstakes-based approach to ensure customers are lined up when its stores open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

The operator of more than 500 stores said the first 200 shoppers to enter its stores beginning at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving will be entered to win $100,000 in the company’s first ever Win Big in New York sweepstakes. In addition to the $100,000 grand prize winner, each store will also have one $500 prize winner.

American Eagle Oufitters has turned an April Fool’s joke into a business opportunity by launching its first-ever clothing line for “dogs and their owners,” American Beagle Outfitters, for a limited-edition Holiday 2014 release.

Leading third party logistics provider Transplace acquired fellow 3PL Logistics Management Solutions in a deal that extends the company’s expertise to chemical and industrial manufacturing.

Eversight, the provider of cloud-based software has partnered with Periscope, a McKinsey Solution, to bring promotion “Offer Innovation” to the retailers and consumer goods manufacturers in the U.S. and abroad.

Through this partnership, Periscope and Eversight will deliver a comprehensive set of software and service solutions which enable companies to innovate in-store promotions by digitally testing unique offers with real shoppers. 

Patrick Spear has joined GMDC as president to fill a role previously held by the organization’s long-time CEO Dave McConnell.  Spear brings 25-plus years of experience in the consumer and office products industry to GMDC’s senior management team.  

SearsRugs.com is the name of a new online marketplace that promises to make shopping for high end affordable rugs easy and fun.

The site launched recently and promises access to tens of thousands of the best handmade and machine-made rugs from around the world. SearsRugs.com, a licensee of Sears Holdings, said it is working with the retailer to provide an easy and fun shopping experience and indicated the relationship would give SearsRugs.com a substantial position in the online rug market.

Bulbs.com, is set to help businesses save big when switching to energy efficient lighting products. 

A leading online lighting supplier is launching its new National Utility Rebate Program initiative to help qualifying commercial customers participate in available utility rebate incentives for lighting products throughout the United States.

The farmers market has gone digital at Overstock.com where the discount online retailer has launched home delivery of locally sourced product.

Overstock.com launched the new Farmers Market section of its site to offer home delivery of seasonal, healthy food, grown and produced in close proximity to shoppers, according to the company.