TECHNOLOGY

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The online space doesn’t have a lock on new retail concepts, but with its lower start-up costs and potential audience reach it has proved itself a great breeding ground for disruptive retailers. Here’s a look at four innovative e-tailers that are generating buzz and revenue increases — enough to place them among the top 15 fastest-growing e-retailers in a recent study.* Casper
Furniture retailer, Dallas Cowboys give kids a sleepover to remember
For 100 impoverished children in the Dallas area, it was a night they won’t soon forget. For the second consecutive year, Ashley HomeStore and the Dallas Cowboys teamed up to host the “ultimate sleepover experience” on the field at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. The kids got to take part in on-field games and entertainment with the Dallas Cowboys players and cheerleaders, eat pizza and watch a movie on the stadium’s gigantic 160-ft. video screen.

Online giant going bricks-and-mortar in New York

Amazon is bringing its bookstore concept to one of the largest retail projects to ever open in Manhattan. The online giant is planning to open a bookstore and cafe at Hudson Yards, the massive retail, commercial and residential space being developed by Related Cos. and Oxford Properties Group, the New York Post reported. Click here to read more.
Tech veteran promoted to Oracle Retail VP

A 30-year industry veteran is taking day-to-day control of the Oracle Retail global business unit. Oracle has appointed Ray Carlin as senior VP and general manager, Oracle Retail. Carlin will be responsible for leading the Oracle Retail global business unit and report to Mike Webster, Oracle’s senior VP and general manager, retail and hospitality.
Dick’s Sporting Goods wins bidding war

Dick’s Sporting Goods was the victor on Thursday at the bankruptcy auction for former rival Sports Authority Holdings. Dick’s bid $15 million for the brand name and other intellectual property, beating British-based Sports Direct International PLC’s $13 million bid, according to the Wall Street Journal. Dick’s also had the winning bid at the auction for 31 Sports Authority store leases, for an additional $8 million, the report said.
Pinterest ramps up shopping efforts — and adds some cool new tools

Pinterest is making it easier for consumers to shop and buy on its site. The company, which claims 100 million monthly users, on Tuesday unveiled a collection of new tools, called “Shopping with Pinterest,” that includes visual search technology that lets people search for similar items shown featured in a pin (post).
Report: Some fun facts about Target

Not many retailers can boast that their mascot was one of the first animals ever immortalized in wax at Madam Tussauds in New York City. But Target can. That’s just one of five suprising things about the discounter in a report by Fortune. To find out the other four, click here
Analysis: Is Ralph Lauren Corp. moving away from luxury?

Ralph Lauren Corp. made headlines with its June 7th announcement that it planned to close 50 stores and lay off 1,000 employees as part of a restructuring in response to lower sales. The announcement didn't go into specifics about the luxury brand’s plans to correct its course. But some industry insiders speculate that the background of Ralph Lauren CEO Stefan Larsson, who took the reins of the company in September, holds the key.
Nimble small- to mid-level retailers steal share from larger, traditional chains

Think online is the biggest challenge traditional retailers face? Think again.
Outdoor lifestyle brand matching store space to green space

Timberland announced a goal to double its footprint in five U.S. cities by 2020 -- but not in the conventional year. Each year for the next five years, the brand will choose a different city with a Timberland store, and match its retail floor space with the creation or restoration of an equivalent amount of green space in that city.