News

Premium to drive pet category sales

Pet owners will spend more money on food for their critters in the next 3 years and the increased sales will post mainly in premium and healthy pet food segments, according to a recent study.

Sales are expected to rise 16% between 2015 and 2018 to reach $33 billion, projected Packaged Facts, the market research publisher in Pet Food in the U.S., 11th Edition. The anticipated increase in the market is driven by increased focus on pet health and the powerful role of the human-animal bond.
Emarketer: U.S. e-commerce to reach $303 billion in 2014
New York -- Retail e-commerce in the US grew 16.5% in 2013 to reach $264.3 billion, and will increase another 15.7% in 2014 to reach $305.7 billion, or 6.5% of all U.S. retail sales, according to Emarketer. In other findings, mobile retail sales in the U.S. totaled $42.28 billion in 2013, 16% of all U.S. retail ecommerce sales, and will increase another 37.3% to reach $58.07 billion in 2014, accounting for 19% of the total US ecommerce market.

Walmart scores high in “Best Retailers” ranking

When it comes to strategy, leadership and collaboration, Walmart was among the top tier companies in the inaugural Best Retailers to Work With report.
DSW shines light on shoe shoppers

American’s feelings and some strange connections to footwear are revealed in a new market research DSW shared recently. The October survey of 1,000 adults representing the U.S. general population, explored topics such as what motivates consumers to purchase shoes, how much consumers prefer to spend on shoes, consumers' emotional attachment to shoes, and what types of shoes Americans favor overall. The survey was conducted in celebration of National Shoe Lover Day on Saturday, October 25.
RadioShack offers price matching, new payment options for holidays

Fort Worth, Texas -– Radio Shack is launching its new “R Promise” initiative to offer holiday shoppers services including price matching and new payment options. Radio Shack stores will match prices on identical products from local brick-and-mortar competitors, major online retailers (excluding wireless phones from online retailers) and RadioShack.com at the time of purchase or within 15 days of the purchase.
HSN celebrates holidays with special events, deals

St. Petersburg, Fla. –- HSN is offering a range of special events and deals for the 2014 holiday season. The interactive retailer will offer special “Black Friday” sale events on Nov. 7, 14 and 21, and also run its annual “Thanksgifting Weekend” event Thursday, Nov. 27 to Monday, Dec. 1 with special “Doorbuster” sale items.
Holiday specials at HSN

HSN is offering a range of special events and deals for the 2014 holiday season. The interactive retailer will offer special “Black Friday” sale events on Nov. 7, 14 and 21, and also run its annual “Thanksgifting Weekend” event Thursday, Nov. 27 to Monday, Dec. 1 with special “Doorbuster” sale items.
Taubman to offer interactive "Frozen" attraction at 10 malls this holiday season

Bloomfield Hills, Mich. --Taubman will offer a special "Frozen"attraction at 10 of its shopping centers across the country from Nov. 6-Dec. 24. The attraction comes a few days before Disney releases its "Frozen Sing-Along Edition" DVD on Nov. 18.
RadioShack holiday initiatives: price match and new payment options

Radio Shack is launching its new “R Promise” initiative to offer holiday shoppers services including price matching and new payment options. Radio Shack stores will match prices on identical products from local brick-and-mortar competitors, major online retailers (excluding wireless phones from online retailers) and RadioShack.com at the time of purchase or within 15 days of the purchase.
Build-A-Bear Workshop swings to Q3 profit; plans holiday pop-ups in Macy’s

St. Louis –- Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. swung to a profit in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 from a loss in the same quarter a year earlier. The retailer also announced that will open five pop-up stores for the 2014 holiday season, including one in Macy’s Herald Square flagship in New York City, and its State Street location in Chicago.