News

Study: Back-to-school shoppers do online homework
San Jose, Calif. – Back-to-school shoppers are doing their homework online before making purchases. According to research from store analytics provider RetailNext, 73% of consumers research online and then buy back-to-school items in the store.

In addition, 32% of college shoppers plan to comparison shop online to make sure they get the best pricing, up from 28% in 2014. More than 31% of K-12 school shoppers will compare prices online, compared with 30% last year.

Other notable findings include:
Target opens Cyber Fusion security center

Sears Hometown gives customers a voice

Hoffman Estates, Ill. - Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc. is giving customers a voice via social media. The retailer is working with customer content marketing platform Yotpo to generate verified customer feedback in stores and online.
Rising expenses take toll on Under Armour Q2 profits

Baltimore – Even a reduction in income taxes couldn’t fully offset the impact of rising expenses on profit at Under Armour during the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income decreased 17% to $15 million, compared with $18 million in the prior year's period. The decline in net income came even as net revenues increased 29% to $784 million, compared with $610 million. Direct-to-consumer net revenues, which represented 32% of total net revenues for the second quarter, grew 33% year-over-year.
Target does back-to-school very differently

Target is always trying to appeal to a younger, hipper crowd, and its 2015 back-to-school marketing strategy is no exception.

The retailer has launched a new digital tool, Target Made For U College Styler, that allows the digitally inclined college crowd to design and shop for their dorm rooms and apartments.
Limited Too makes a comeback

New York – In a consumer culture obsessed with nostalgic “throwbacks,” a retail brand from the not-too-distant past is coming back. Specialty apparel brand Limited Too, which was consolidated into the Justice banner by then-parent company Tween Brands in 2009, is making a return.
Tractor Supply drives big growth in Q2

The CEO of Tractor Supply Company credited strong marketing and merchandising initiatives with a significant increase in same store sales in the second quarter.
Study: Advertising primed Amazon Prime Day shoppers

Seattle – The sales success of the July 15 Amazon Prime Day sales event did not happen by itself. A new IPSOS survey of 1.005 U.S. consumers commissioned by Cumulus Media/Westwood One has revealed advertising drove significant awareness for Prime Day.
Cabela’s misfires on Q2 profit and revenue; will open seven stores

Sidney, Neb. – Specialty outdoor retailer Cabela’s Inc. missed the target Wall Street set for profit and revenue during the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Cabela’s reported net income of $40.5 million, down 8% from $43.5 million the same quarter the prior year. Growing cost of revenue helped drive down profit. Total revenue grew 10% to $836.28 million, from $761.2 million. Consolidated same-store sales dropped 0.9% due to Canadian currency fluctuations, although same-store sales in the U.S. increased 0.8%.
Southeastern Grocers sells 29 stores to K-VA-T

Regional grocery chain Southeastern Grocers has agreed to sell 29 BI-LO stores to another regional grocery chain: K-VA-T Food Stores.

K-VA-T says it intends to continue to operate all of these stores under the Food City banner and hire the vast majority of their store associates, retaining their years of service.