News

Wayne, N.J. – Toys “R” Us announced it has strengthened its global e-commerce capabilities with the launch of a dedicated web store in China. The company also announced the development of mobile-optimized sites and apps in 11 markets around the world, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, and the U.K. In the coming months, the retailer will introduce the same capabilities in Portugal, Austria and Switzerland, as well as the Netherlands, where it does not currently have a store presence.
 

Burlington, Mass. -- Demandware announced that The Finish Line has launched new e-commerce and mobile commerce sites on the Demandware Commerce platform. The initiative is part of the retailer’s strategic move to a cloud-based digital commerce solution to power its omnichannel strategy.  The company will also use Demandware to power Run.com, a specialty brand that focuses on all things running.
 

Dallas -- Zale Corp. reported a bigger-than-expected first-quarter loss on Tuesday, but said it is on track to turn a profit again.

The jewelry retailer lost $28.3 million for the quarter that ended Oct. 31, compared to a year-ago loss of $31.9 million.

Revenue rose 1.8% to $357.5 million. Same store sales rose 3.9%. It was the chain’s eighth consecutive quarter of positive same-store sales.

Whatever your political views may be, it’s hard not to think about the impact of the recent presidential election on the consumer psyche, and ultimately our industry. Whether President Obama or Mitt Romney would have been better for the economy in the long run is an issue I’ll gladly leave to the political experts and historians. But I do think that, in the near term, we are less likely to see the big holiday spending numbers that some analysts were predicting.

Best Buy on Tuesday continued its string of negative same store stores sales, posting a 4% decline at U.S. stores, and recorded a worse than expected profit.

NEW YORK — Victoria’s Secret returned to Manhattan in a big way this week with the reopening of a flagship store in Herald Square that was expanded to 8,000-sq.-ft.

The opening comes just in time to allow Victoria’s secret to capitalize on holiday sales in New York as local demand tends to be complemented by an influx of foreign tourists. On hand for the reopening of the newly expanded and now largest flagship store in the world were Victoria's Secret Angels Adriana Lima, Miranda Kerr, Candice Swanepoel and Lily Aldridge.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Lowe’s has named former Best Buy executive Marise Kumar SVP of strategy and modeling. In her new capacity, Kumar will report to Robert J. Gfeller, customer experience design executive.

Kumar will identify opportunities that positively impact the customer experience. She will work closely with leaders in customer experience and across the organization to ensure opportunities are practical, financially valid and create a compelling experience for customers across all channels.

Leading footwear retailer DSW said it would open between 25 and 30 new stores next year, adding to an existing base of 364 units.

The company disclosed its expansion plans in conjunction with the release of third quarter results that saw same store sales advance a hefty 6.1% and profits grow by double digits. Adjusted net income increased 17% to $46.6 million, or $1.02 per share, compared to $39.8 million, or $0.88 per share.

NEW YORK — Never to be outdone during the holiday season, Macy’s Herald Square has unveiled its new “World’s Largest Shoe Floor,” featuring more than 250,000 pairs of women’s shoes in a new 63,000-sq.-ft. space on the second floor.

WATERBURY, Vt. — Green Mountain Coffee Roasters has named former P&G and Coca-Cola executive Brian Kelley as its new president and CEO, effective Dec. 3.