News

Amazon.com 'Primed' for a profitable 2015?
Amazon’s Prime membership seemed to be the golden ticket to stronger sales for the e-commerce giant in the fourth quarter.
Alibaba misses on Q3 revenue, soars with mobile
Hangzhou, China – Although Alibaba Holding Group Inc. reported a healthy sales increase for the third quarter of fiscal 2015, it became a victim of its own expectations as it still missed on revenue projections and also reported declining profits. Net income totaled $964 million, a 28% drop from $1.36 billion in the same quarter a year earlier.

Active flu season lifts Rite Aid in January

A stronger than average flu season helped Rite Aid post an increase in same store sales for January. The company reported a 4.8% increase in same-store sales for the four weeks ended Jan. 24. Rite Aid's January front-end same-store sales increased 2.9%.
Walmart gets exclusive Harlequin book deal

Walmart shoppers who read Harlequin novels and who also have a fondness for bull riders are in for a treat.
One-on-One at Retail's Big Show 2015: Q&A with Junction Solutions Brion Reusche

CSA Editor Marianne Wilson interviews Junction Solutions' Industry Principal, Retail, Brion Reusche, at NRF's Big Show 2015.
Kohl’s launches omnichannel partnership with The Color Run

Menomonee Falls, Wis. – Kohl’s Department Stores will be the exclusive department store retail partner for The Color Run, a national paint race event series. Select Kohl’s stores will serve as the packet pick-up location in more than 100 cities across the county.

Kohl’s will have a social presence at each race and will encourage participants to take and share celebratory photos with their friends and family across social accounts using #MakeYourMove.
Rite Aid to build $600M distribution center

Rite Aid Corp. announced plans to build its first new distribution center in 15 years, a 900,000-sq.-ft. facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The new, $90 million center, set to open in 2016, will employ nearly 600 people after it becomes fully operational and will support the inventory and fulfillment needs of approximately 1,000 Rite Aid stores in the southeastern United States.
Spanish fashion retailer Mango names CFO

Barcelona – Spain-based apparel retailer Mango has recruited Toni Ruiz to become its new CFO effective mid-February. Ruiz, 45, will sit on Mango’s board of directors.

Ruiz has spent much of his professional career at Leroy Merlin, part of Groupe Adeo, where he has worked from 1999 until now, occupying various positions, including financial management in Spain and control and planning at international level.
Registration opens for Sweets & Snacks Expo

It's time once again for confectionery and snack retailers, as well as manufacturers to come together for the Sweets & Snacks Expo, which is scheduled to be held May 19 through May 21 at Chicago's McCormick Place.
NRF: Most retailers plan unified commerce platforms

Washington, D.C. – It may take a while, but most retailers ultimately plan to implement a unified commerce platform. According to a new study of 300 U.S., European and Australian retail business and IT executives conducted by the National Retail Federation, Ecommerce Europe and Ecommerce Foundation in partnership with Demandware, 53% expect to implement a unified commerce platform in the next few years. And during the next 10 years, 86% of retailers surveyed plan to implement a unified commerce platform.