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  • Fiscal Cliffhanger

    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.

  • Asian innovation keeps Coke cool

    Think the Coke Freestyle machine with its more than 100 beverage options is cool, check out what’s happening in Japan where Coca-Cola has developed something called the peak shift vending machine.

  • Toys ‘R’ Us strengthens global e-commerce capabilities

    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.
     

  • Fancy footwork in the shoe department

    The footwear category is one fire judging from the recent performance of two leading retailers.

    Brown Shoe Co., operator of 1,300 Famous Footwear and Naturalizer stores, said its same store sales for the quarter ended October 27 increased 6.8% and adjusted earnings increased 18.3% to $25.9 million or 51 cents a share.

    Rival DSW, operator of 364 stores, said its same stores sales for the third quarter ended October 27 increased 6.1% and adjusted net income increased 17% to $46.6 million, or $1.02 per share,.

  • Toys’R’Us expands global e-commerce presence with new web store

    WAYNE, N.J. — Toys“R”Us may be in the throes of an intensely competitive holiday season but several recently announced initiatives are designed to position the company for success beyond Christmas 2012. Expanding its presence in global e-commerce, as well as Asia, the company is launching a dedicated web store, Toysrus.com.cn, in China.

  • The Finish Line accelerates omnichannel commerce with Demandware

    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.
     

  • LeapPad2 wins nearly two dozen awards worldwide

    EMERYVILLE, Calif. — The LeapPad2 has received 20 awards from U.S. organizations that include Dr. Toy, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Parents' Choice Foundation and Time to Play, as well as key awards in the U.K. and Canada, according to LeapFrog Enterprises. It has been selected as a top toy by more children, parenting and industry experts and retailers than any other kid’s tablet, rendering it the most recognized kid's tablet of the year leading into the holiday season.

  • Top retailers earn top rating for LGBT equality policies

    DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA — Office Depot, Apple, Barnes & Noble, eBay, Limited Brands, Nordstrom, Sears, Staples and Target were among a record 252 businesses on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2013 Corporate Equality Index.

    The top retailers earned the top rating of 100% as well as the recognition of being among the “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality.” A decade ago, in the HRC’s first index, only 13 businesses earned a 100% rating.

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