News

Food Lion enhances e-commerce site with customer feedback
Salisbury, N.C. – Food Lion has launched a new, enhanced website focused on easing the process of shopping for and preparing dinner. The new website, built on customer feedback, offers shoppers a personalized experience when they log in.
Kohl’s seamlessly engages customers with enhanced app
Menomonee Falls, Wis. – Kohl’s “Greatness” Agenda is not named lightly. The enterprise-spanning strategy is designed to make the company America’s most engaging retailer by providing a convenient customer experience across all channels. Considering the ever-growing importance of the mobile channel as an omnichannel engagement tool, it is not surprising that Kohl’s is focusing on its mobile app as a key enabler of greatness.

Data Dilemma: Fixing Sales Audits in the Age of Big Data

As newer and more improved technologies continue to create an overwhelming amount data, the ability to manage this data efficiently and cost effectively is no longer an option; it’s an absolute necessity. But big data is still causing major headaches for organizations that don’t have a plan in place.
Lands' End adds Saks, J.Crew vets to exec team

Lands' End is adding two highly regarded retail veterans to an executive team led by newly appointed CEO Federica Marchionni.

The company announced that Joseph Boitano is bringing his more than 30 years of retail and wholesale experience to a new role at Lands' End as executive vice president, chief merchandising and design officer and will lead all aspects of merchandising and design.
Bebe chairman to sell majority stake

Brisbane, Calif. – Manny Mashouf, founder and chairman of Bebe Stores Inc., intends to gradually sell off his 59% majority ownership stake in the company. Bebe has filed a registration statement with the SEC for a proposed secondary offering of about 46.9 million shares associated with Mashouf.

Mashouf will sell the shares during a reasonable period of time. Bebe will not receive any proceeds from the sale.
Fighter pilots wanted in war on big data

We are in a golden age of big data and analytics in which technology enables retailers to be more lean, efficient and competitive than ever. There are companies with solutions that address everything from pricing optimization and marketing effectiveness to optimal modular assortments and cybersecurity threats.
Sears REIT files $1.57 billion offering, applies to list on NYSE

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – Sears Holding Group Inc. has filed a $1.57 billion subscription rights offering with the SEC for its real estate investment trust (REIT) known as Seritage Growth Properties. The offering would give Sears shareholders the right to buy up to 53.3 million shares of the REIT at a share price of $29.58.

Seritage also plans to sell 9.5 million class C non-voting shares to Fairholme Capital Management LLC, Sears’ second-largest shareholder, at the same price. This would give Fairholme a roughly 12% stake in Seritage.
Kohl's hops on the Apple Pay bandwagon

Another retailer is embracing Apple Pay as an option for customers who want an easy, secure and private way to pay.
Raley’s relaunches e-commerce with Unata

Sacramento, Calif. - Raley’s Supermarkets is relaunching its e-commerce offering using technology from Unata. Raley’s will leverage Unata capabilities to deliver functionality including one-to-one experiences across all e-commerce elements from homepage to search.

In addition, product updates will enhance the click and collect functionality, which allows Raley’s customers to pick up items they ordered online in-store.
Christopher & Banks swings to Q1 loss; will open 15 stores

Minneapolis – Christopher & Banks Corp. swung to a net loss of $1.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to net income of $2.6 million the same quarter a year earlier. Total costs and expenses exceed net sales of $91.62 million, which was an 11 % drop from $103.37 million, while same-store sales dropped 11.7%.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2015, Christopher & Banks expects to open one new Missy, Petite, Women (MPW) and 14 new outlet stores, and also close one CB store and convert seven others to MPW stores.