News

NEW YORK — Macy’s continues to focus on its millennial strategy to attract a new generation of customers looking for trend, style and value. The retailer is getting ready to launch two exclusive new brands, Maison Jules and QMack, at 150 stores this month.

The brands' launch is part of an ongoing initiative originally announced in spring 2012 and which saw the retailer introducing or expanding 20 brands for spring 2013.

Staying on top of emerging supply chain trends is critical in today’s global marketplace. Understanding current trends enables us to stay relevant, remain competitive and manage our businesses proactively, rather than reactively.

SALT LAKE CITY — Overstock.com is extending its limited-time book sale promotion, pricing books at least 10% below Amazon's prices. The online retailer will keep prices at that level one more week.

"This promotion is so successful we've chosen to extend it," said CEO Patrick M. Byrne. "We are already, on average, 9% cheaper than Amazon on other products we carry, so this just seems like the natural next step. It's a great time to be shopping for a book."

Reports from Canada have Best Buy dabbling in e-commerce sales of beauty products. Best Buy Canada is now offering a selection of personal care, baby and health and wellness products on its “Viva from Best Buy” website, accessible through BestBuy.ca’s homepage.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Clorox sales results for the fourth quarter ended June 30 increased slightly, but despite being lower than anticipated, the company is ready to take on competitive pressures and increase its merchandising activity.

San Jose, Calif. -- Retailers are cautiously optimistic about the 2013 holiday season, with 60% forecasting revenue growth in excess of 10%, in line with industry forecasts, according to a survey by Baynote, a provider of personalized customer experience solutions.

New York -- American Apparel has purchased the independent New York specialty retailer and wholesaler, Oak, according to Women’s Wear Daily.  

Oak has two stores (one in Brooklyn, and the other in Manhattan) an e-commerce site and a wholesale business. The brand has a cool, hip vibe, and features contemporary fashions at upmarket prices. It will operate as a separate division within American Apparel, and its founders will remain on board, the report said.

New York -- Cache Inc. announced that Anthony DiPippa (“Tony”) will join the company as executive VP, CFO, on Aug. 7. He succeeds Margaret Feeney (“Maggie”), who has resigned from Cache, effective Aug. 1.

DiPippa most recently was CFO of W. B. Mason, a $1.2 billion office products and furniture company.

New York -- J.C. Penney on Thursday said that reports claiming CIT Group Inc., the largest lender in the apparel industry, had stopped funding some shipments to Penney were untrue. The retailer said it has plenty of cash on hand and all major suppliers were still shipping.

“J.C. Penney continues to have the support of all of its key vendors, who have maintained their shipments to the company," the company said in a statement on Thursday.

Walldorf, Germany -- SAP AG and Hybris announced that SAP has completed the acquisition of Hybris, a leader in commerce technology. The two companies said they plan to combine the omni-channel commerce solutions of Hybris with robust enterprise technology and in-memory, cloud and mobile innovations from SAP to help facilitate new levels of customer insight and engagement.