News

Visa: Retail spending up 4.5%
San Francisco -- Americans modestly increased their spending in April, with growth across most major purchase categories, according to Visa’s Retail Spending Monitor (RSM), a quarterly report that tracks retail spending patterns based on real-time purchase data. Retail spending in April was up 4.5% from the prior year, excluding automobile and gasoline purchases.
Staples matches up with Microsoft on new program
Staples and Microsoft are launching an innovative program that pairs customers with the right Windows device to suit their needs.

The new program is called Microsoft Match and be available exclusively on www.staples.com/microsoftmatch and in select Staples stores.

Kohl's rolls out buy online, pick up in store service to all stores

New York -- Kohl’s Corp. has rolled out a buy online, pick-up in store service to all Kohl’s stores nationwide, allowing customers to pick up their orders within hours at their local Kohl’s store.
Hhgregg honors heroes with omnichannel campaign

Hhgregg is partnering with Maytag once again on an omnichannel giveaway that honors everyday American heroes.

The retailer and appliance-maker will honor 10 deserving Americans who have had a profound impact on their community. Each hero will receive a free Maytag appliance and an Hhgregg gift card to thank them for their commitment. Additionally, hhgregg and Maytag brand are giving away appliances every day in May at hhgregg.com.
Net-A-Porter to launch mobile-app-based social network

New York -- Online high-fashion retailer Net-A-Porter is launching a mobile-app-based social network that will allow users to buy luxury goods, interact, and do a host of other things as well.

The app, called “The Net Set allows consumers to recommend products to friends, check out the latest trends, upload and share images and shop from among 350 fashion collections. The brands will gain direct access to communicate with Net-a-Porter’s customers for the first time.
PetSmart hosts national adoption weekend

Spring is in full swing, and PetSmart wants its customers to celebrate new beginnings by adopting a new pet.

The retailer will be hosting a national adoption weekend between May 15 and May 17 at all PetSmart stores. More than 3,000 animal welfare organizations will be on-site at all 1,400 PetSmart stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to help customers find the perfect furry companion.
H&M to open its largest store ever in N.Y.

H&M is making a big statement in Manhattan.

The Swedish fast fashion retailer will open its largest store in the world, in Manhattan’s Herald Center, on May 20.
Conn's dragged down by ports dispute, tight credit

Supply chain disruptions from the West Coast port labor dispute and tighter underwriting for its in-house consumer credit curbed same-store sales at Conn’s in the first quarter.
Gordon Brothers, Hilco start closing Simply Fashion and Dots stores

Boston -- Gordon Brothers Group and Hilco Merchant Resources announced that they will begin going-out-of-business sales at Simply Fashion and Dots retail locations nationwide beginning May 7.
Stein Mart grows same store sales again

Stein Mart says customers responded very positively to its spring assortment, boosting same store sales for the chain up nearly 5%.

The Florida-based company, which is planning an aggressive expansion plan for 2015, says total sales for the quarter increased 7.5%.

"We are very pleased with the response our customers are having to our spring assortment," said Jay Stein, Chief Executive Officer. "Our first quarter 4.8 percent comparable store sales increase continues the trend we saw at the end of last year and is a great way to start the year."