News

Banana Republic targets last-minute holiday shoppers
San Francisco – Some people complain about customers who put off holiday shopping till the last minute, but Banana Republic is welcoming them with open arms. Banana Republic is offering “The Procrastinators Event,” a special promotion for last-minute shoppers, from Dec. 17-22.
Study – Restaurant revenue drops post-Thanksgiving
San Francisco – In the last several years, restaurant revenue declined 22 to 45% during the post-Thanksgiving holiday period. According to a study across quick-serve, fast casual, and fine dining chains by customer engagement solutions provider Thanx Media Inc., the average restaurant experienced a 27% revenue decline in December, as compared to that year's monthly average.

Loop Commerce makes e-gifting personal

Menlo Park, Calif. – E-gifting just got personal. Loop Commerce has released a turnkey SaaS solution called Loop that allows consumers to select and send online products as gifts without specifying attributes such as size, style or color.
Rent the Runway repositions brand with RedScout

New York – Online fashion rental company Rent the Runway has partnered with innovation agency Redscout to help create the brand's new positioning, voice, logo and visual identity. Redscout helped Rent the Runway combine the two main focuses of the business, technology and fashion, into one synergistic and thoughtful vision across its online, mobile and brick-and-mortar platforms.
Sherwin-Williams paints store No. 4,000

After announcing new partnerships with HGTV and Lowe’s, as well as three consecutive quarters of record growth, Sherwin-Williams is celebrating another milestone.

The company announced it is opening its 4,000th store in Sewickley, Pa.
Macy’s help customers protect digital privates

Consumers looking to keep a tight grip on their most private possessions may want to check out a new high-tech collection launching at Macy's.

The store will be selling Royce Leather handbags, wallets and briefcases integrated with fingerprint technology, RFID blocking technology, and GPS technology. In particular, the Royce Leather Freedom Briefcase will be the world's first security bag with DNA-based fingerprint technology. The briefcase enables a single user to access the bag, demonstrating the ultimate in personal and travel security.
Marketplaces outstrip digital growth in November

Online sales at third party marketplaces grew faster than the overall industry, according to cloud-based e-commerce solutions provider ChannelAdvisor.

The digital measurement firm reports that November was a mixed month for e-commerce channels. But Amazon, Google Shopping and Other 3PMs (third party marketplaces) grew materially faster than the 16% e-commerce baseline growth rate comScore had predicted.

Specifically, ChannelAdvisor reports:
PetSmart agrees to $8.7 billion buyout

Phoenix – PetSmart Inc. has agreed to be purchased for about $8.7 billion by a consortium of buyers led by private equity firm B.C. Partners and also including pension fund manager La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and private equity firm StepStone. The total figure represents an acquisition price of $83 per share, a 39% premium over PetSmart’s closing price on July 2, 2014.
PetSmart fetches buyer for $8.7 billion

After weeks of exploring “strategic alternatives,” PetSmart has agreed to be acquired for about $8.7 billion by a consortium led by London-based BC Partners.

"We are pleased to have reached this agreement with BC Partners, which maximizes value for all of our shareholders and best positions PetSmart to continue to meet the needs of pet parents," said Gregory Josefowicz, chairman of PetSmart. "This transaction represents the successful conclusion of our extensive review of strategic alternatives."
Survey – More than half of holiday shoppers finish last-minute

Austin, Texas - More than half (56%) of Christmas shoppers surveyed typically have gifts left to purchase by the time "Panic Saturday,” the last Saturday to shop for holiday gifts before Christmas (also referred to as "Super Saturday"), rolls around. According to a new consumer survey from digital offers site RetailMeNot, nearly one in 5 (18%) Christmas shoppers surveyed admit that they've actually waited until the Saturday before Christmas to begin shopping for presents.