News

Barnes & Noble expands college business with Flashnotes investment
New York – Through its Barnes & Noble Education subsidiary, Barnes & Noble Inc. is expanding its college bookstore business before spinning it off later this year. Barnes & Noble Education is investing, through its college business, Barnes & Noble College, in Flashnotes Inc., an online marketplace for college students to sell and buy study materials.

Both companies will also enter into a strategic alliance agreement that will enable Barnes & Noble College to promote Flashnotes.com at partner schools and on digital platforms.
Retailers’ ethics don’t make Ethisphere grade
The Ethisphere Institute is out with its “World’s Most Ethical Companies” list and the names of retailers are few and far between.

UPS repositions as full-service logistics partner

Atlanta – UPS wants to take on your problems. The company has unveiled a new positioning message, United Problem Solvers, which communicates the company’s capabilities to solve problems for all customers.
From Zales, a promotion fit for a princess

Fans of Cinderella will have a chance to write their own happily-ever-after with a new digital marketing campaign from Zales Jewelers.

As part of Zales’ promotion of Disney’s new “Cinderella” movie (out this month), Zales is inviting Cinderella fans to upload a photo with their prince charming to its website (www.zales.com/Cinderella) or on Instagram using the hashtag #ZalesCinderellaPromo. Through a sweepstakes drawing, a grand prize winner will be selected to receive a $10,000 Zales gift card. A first runner up will receive a $1,000 Zales gift card.
Macy’s closes Bluemercury acquisition

Cincinnati -- Macy announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition of beauty products and spa services retailer Bluemercury, for $210 million in cash.
Ron Johnson leads $16 million funding in Nasty Gal; second store in works

Los Angeles -- Ron Johnson is sweet on teen fave Nasty Gal. The online edgy- fashion retailer recently closed $16 million in funding to support its growth. The round was led by former Apple retail chief and Penney CEO Ron Johnson, who also joined the company’s board.
Tech Guest Viewpoint: 5 Ways the IoT Will Revolutionize Retail

By Brendan O’Brien, Aria Systems

You’ve undoubtedly heard about the Internet of Things (IoT) and you might think that it’s all about wearables and energy savings. You might conclude that it doesn’t have much to do with your retail business.

Well think again.

The business impact on the retail sector from the IoT – the monitoring, measuring and reporting of all kinds of interconnected devices – is going to be huge. Bigger than anything we’ve seen before in technology.
7-Eleven launches mobile loyalty program

Dallas – 7-Eleven is the latest in a growing lineup of retailers that has entered the mobile loyalty space. Just launched on the 7-Eleven mobile app is 7Rewards, an expanded customer loyalty platform that rewards customers with a free beverage for every six cups purchased.
UPS puts problem solving skills to the test

UPS still loves logistics, but a new marketing campaign from the company puts a finer point on the range of problem-solving abilities alluded to when UPS first asked, “What can Brown do for you?”

United Problem Solvers, the new brand positioning from UPS, is designed to communicate the company’s unique capabilities to solve problems for all customers, ranging from small businesses to the largest global enterprises.
Retailers Embrace In-Store Pickup Amid Rising Shipping Costs

By Gregg Aamoth, CEO, POPcodes

The onset of 2015 marked a huge change in shipping costs, and as a result retailers are struggling to find ways to maintain their bottom lines. As of Jan. 1, packages are now being evaluated by their “dimensional weight,” or volume, instead of determining price by weight alone. Experts say that the when combined with other annual rate hikes and surcharges, the resulting average rate increases will be as high as 30% or more.