News

Restoration Hardware retooling its strategy
Restoration Hardware is in the middle of a strategy overhaul that may slow down revenue growth, but the retailer did post better-than-expected profits in the fourth quarter.

Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc. reported that its profit for the fourth quarter increased a better-than-expected 25% to $42.5 million from $34 million in the year-ago period. Restoration Hardware’s total sales in the fourth quarter grew 23.5% to $582.7 million. For the year, the company reported profit of $91 million. Revenue was reported as $1.87 billion.
ARTS adds to standard RFP library
Washington, D.C. - The Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS), a division of the National Retail Federation (NRF), has announced two major additions to the ARTS Standard Request for Proposals (RFP) library on selecting payments solutions and video analytics solutions. These standardized RFPs will help retail companies research software applications ahead of time.

Charming Charlie supports business growth with Oracle Retail

Houston – Specialty accessories retailer Charming Charlie is supporting rapid growth of its business with an enterprise rollout of Oracle Retail applications. And “business” is the key word in the equation.

“This is not an IT project,” John Hnanicek, CIO of Charming Charlie, said during a session at Oracle Industry Connect 2015. “It’s a business project sponsored by the business and supported by IT.”
Coming soon to Sam's Club: 3D printers

Home Depot had it first, but now MakerBot is coming to an even wider mass-market arena as the 3D printer rolls out at more than 300 Sam's Club locations in the United States.
Holiday, online sales boost Belk Q4 profits; opening two stores

Charlotte, N.C. – Belk Inc. credited strong holiday sales for helping to boost net income in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 8% to $104.4 million from $96.3 million the same period a year earlier.

Net sales rose 5% to $1.39 billion from $1.32 billion, driven by a 2.4% increase in same-store sales and 42% surge in online sales.
American Apparel's struggles continue

Trendy teen retailer American Apparel reported a deep decline in fourth quarter revenue, as the company grapples with a social media scandal and losses stemming from an investigation of its former CEO.
Profit drops as Belk embarks on expansion

Belk blamed costs associated with strategic initiatives for its drop in profit in the fourth quarter.

The retailer reported a 7.8% decrease in net income to $146.1 million during the fiscal year that ended Jan. 31, compared with from $158.5 million in fiscal 2014.
Canadian outdoor retailer Arc’teryx taps Prizmiq for 3D online shopping

Seattle -- Canadian outdoor clothing and gear retailer Arc’teryx has launched a new line of hiking footwear today using a 3D platform from Seattle-based startup Prizmiq's. The platform is designed to allow online customers to engage with the shoes the same way they would in the Arc'teryx store.
ADA and e-commerce: What retailers should know

By Michael Wippler

We are or should be familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act’s (“ADA”) requirements for accommodating the physically disabled. Wheelchair ramps, handicap stalls, handicap parking, lifts, and other items designed to assist the physically disabled are commonplace. However, the ADA is much broader than this, and the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the courts are focusing on making the internet more accessible for the visually impaired.
Lids opens inventory with Micros Locate

Indianapolis – Lids Sports Group fully understands the importance of the brick-and-mortar channel when it comes to omnichannel commerce and customer experience. As Kevin Thompson, director of application development for Lids, told attendees of the recent Oracle Industry Connect conference, the retailer has implemented the Micros Locate inventory visibility solution to enable full inventory access at stores.

“It’s a customer service issue,” said Thompson. “We don’t want to disappoint customers.”