News

Seattle -- Nordstrom Inc.’s net income for the first quarter fell 3% to $140 million from $145 million in the year ago period, reflecting heavy investments in technology to support omnichannel initiatives and the retailer’s debut in Canada. Its earnings still topped Street views. The company plans to open three full-line stores and 17 Nordstrom Rack stores during the remainder of fiscal 2014

Nordstrom’s full line stores saw first quarter same store sales decline but the department store operator’s off price Rack division is doing just fine.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy has exceeded its goal of reducing energy consumption by 20% by 2020 as part of the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge issued by President Barack Obama in 2011.

Former Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Total Store Expo later this year.

The trade group said Bernanke would participate in the business program at its Total Store Expo on August 24 in Boston. Bernanke served as chairman of the Federal Reserve from 2006 through 2014 and oversaw the central bank during one of the nation’s most tumultuous financial periods.

Back in September, Pinterest unveiled plans to experiment with Promoted Pins. Now, the social media site is working with a small group of brands in the U.S. to roll out a paid test in its search and category feeds.

“These brands will help us test Promoted Pins to make sure they’re tasteful, transparent, relevant and improved based on your feedback,” said product manager Julie Black, adding, “so that Pinterest continues to be a great experience for everyone.”

Columbia, Md. – Micros Systems Inc. is introducing two solutions designed to allow retail and hospitality staff members to perform multiple activities from one device. The Micros MTablet E-Series operates on Microsoft Windows 8.1 Embedded Industry Pro in eight- and 11-inch versions, with the 11-inch version fully compatible with the Micros MStation base, providing staff the flexibility to be mobile or use it as a workstation option with full peripheral connectivity.

Optional sleeves for either MTablet size facilitate secure payment on the device.

Dallas – A previously undisclosed conflict of interest may endanger the proposed $1.4 billion purchase of jewelry retailer Zale Corp. by rival Signet Jewelers. According to the New York Times, Bank of America, which represented Zale in talks with Signet, failed to disclose it had made an unsolicited presentation to Signet in October 2013 where it advised Signet to consider purchasing Zale.

The Coca-Cola Company’s innovative fountain dispensing platform, Coca-Cola Freestyle, has unveiled three new dispensers that will significantly expand the number of customer locations suited for the technology.

The units offer additional beverage choices, including more low- and no-calorie options, as well as connectivity. The dispensers will be piloted by the end of the year.