News

Report: Michael Kors joins Snapchat
London – Specialty luxury retailer Michael Kors Holdings has joined the ranks of Snapchat users. According to DigiDay, Michael Kors debuted on Snapchat earlier this week during New York Fashion Week, launching exclusive photos from Fashion Week on Snapchat.

Michael Kors has had a longtime social media presence, and was the first retailer to buy an ad on Instagram. Other New York Fashion Week social media activities for Michael Kors included live Internet streaming of the show and a live Twitter chat with the hashtag #AllAccessKors.
Kenneth Cole names former Macy's exec as CEO
Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. has appointed an apparel industry veteran as CEO.

Marc Schneider will assume responsibility for the company's retail, outlet, e-commerce, international, licensing and wholesale businesses. He takes over from founder Kenneth Cole, who has served as interim CEO since February 2011.

AmEx loses antitrust lawsuit; merchants cheer

Washington, D.C. -- The Merchants Payments Coalition applauded U.S. District Judge Nicolas Garaufis’ ruling on Thursday that American Express credit card rules constitute an unlawful restraint on trade.

The judge found that the credit card giant violated U.S. antitrust laws by barring merchants from encouraging customers to use one credit card over another. In a 150-page opinion, he wrote that such a practice constitutes “an unlawful restraint on trade.”
Retail CIOs’ dual mandate: security and omnichannel

With high-profile data breaches and the growing need to deliver a unified and differentiated customer experience, retail CIOs agree that security and digital innovation must be the top priorities for 2015.

According to a new report from the National Retail Federation and Forrester Research, managing data security is the most urgent focus area for retail CIOs, with 97% of surveyed business leaders placing it at the top of their 2015 priority lists.
Fat Face leverages NetSuite for responsive site design

London - Fat Face a lifestyle clothing and accessories retailer with 212 stores in the U.K. and Ireland, is leveraging NetSuite's next-generation responsive Web design e-commerce solution to deliver a digital shopping experience optimized for multiple devices to its customers across all channels and geographies.
Walmart’s Q4 results overshadowed by new employee initiatives

Increased traffic and better than expected same store sales growth at U.S. stores were bright spots in the retailer’s fourth quarter earnings CEO Doug McMillon characterized as good despite a one cent increase in earnings per share.
Foot Locker approves $220 million capital expenditures for 2015

New York – Foot Locker Inc. is investing in the future. The company’s board of directors has approved a $220 million capital expenditure program for 2015, maintaining the level of investment in the business that Foot Locker initiated in 2013.

In recent years, the Foot Locker has invested in a variety of strategic growth initiatives, including new store formats, continued expansion of its European banners, capabilities in its direct-to-customer segment, and various technology initiatives.
Kohl's 'gives back' with $18M in community grants

Kohl’s is standing behind its stated mission to “give back” to the communities it serves by announcing that it donated nearly $18 million in 2014.

The community grants benefited more than 8,500 nonprofits across the country in 2014 through Kohl’s best-in-class Associates in Action (AiA) volunteer program.
Retail CIOs: Managing data security top priority in 2015, followed by omnichannel

Washington, D.C. - Retail CIOs agree that security and digital innovation are top priorities for 2015, according to a new report by the NRF and Forrester Research.

The study, the Retail CIO Agenda 2015: Secure and Innovate, finds that managing data security is the most urgent focus area for retail CIOs, with 97% of respondents placing it at the top of their 2015 priority lists.
Report: Topshop teams with Twitter for London Fashion Week

London – U.K.-based fashion retailer Topshop is teaming up with Twitter for an omnichannel promotion tied to London Fashion Week. Starting Friday, Feb. 20, the first day of London Fashion Week, Topshop will be analyzing Twitter trends to determine the real-time buzz around apparel and accessories being displayed on Fashion Week runways.