Content about Retailing

May 20, 2013
Macy’s gears up for charity shopping event

Macy’s is getting ready for its eighth annual national Shop for a Cause charity shopping event, to be held Saturday, Aug. 24, and the retailer is inviting eligible charities to sign up now.

NEW YORK — Macy’s is getting ready for its eighth annual national Shop for a Cause charity shopping event, to be held Saturday, Aug. 24, and the retailer is inviting eligible charities to sign up now. 

The one-day-only shopping event was created to support local charities’ fundraising efforts. Since 2006, the event has helped raise more than $46 million for thousands of charities nationwide. In 2012, more than 7,000 charities signed up to participate. 

May 9, 2013
Apparel discounters maintain momentum

TJX and Ross both reported April sales results that exceeded expectations. Same store sales for the four-week period ended May 4, increased 8% for TJX, while Ross saw a same-store sales increase of 7% for the same period.

TJX and Ross both reported April sales results that exceeded expectations. Same store sales for the four-week period ended May 4, increased 8% for TJX, while Ross saw a same-store sales increase of 7% for the same period.

May 8, 2013
Modell's upgrades IT for stores

Modell’s has selected Micros-Retail, a leading provider of retail technology for the specialty and general merchandise retail industry, to help it improve customer experience, modernize IT for the stores and streamline day-to-day functions.

WESTBORO, Mass. — Modell’s has selected Micros-Retail, a leading provider of retail technology for the specialty and general merchandise retail industry, to help it improve customer experience, modernize IT for the stores and streamline day-to-day functions. 

May 8, 2013
ShopperTrak: April 2013

Total U.S. Shopper Traffic in Retail Stores and Malls for April 2013

An expected post-Easter decline in shopper activity was compounded by unseasonably cold weather last month. Retail foot traffic decreased 10.1 percent in April compared to March 2013, deviating from previous positive month-over-month retail traffic trends. Foot traffic for April 2013 decreased 0.4 percent compared to the same month in 2012. 

April 5, 2013
ShopperTrak: March 2013

Shopper activity increased last month with the Easter holiday and students on spring break.

Total U.S. Shopper Traffic in Retail Stores and Malls for March 2013

Shopper activity increased last month with the Easter holiday and students on spring break. March retail foot traffic increased 25.8% compared with February 2013, continuing positive month-over-month retail traffic trends. Foot traffic for March 2013 increased 1.5% compared with the same month in 2012. 

March 21, 2013
Claire's fashions a Q4 comps increase

Claire's Stores reported net sales of $493.4 million for the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter, an increase of $58.5 million, or 13.4% compared with the fiscal 2011 fourth quarter.

CHICAGO — Claire's Stores reported net sales of $493.4 million for the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter, an increase of $58.5 million, or 13.4% compared with the fiscal 2011 fourth quarter. 

During fiscal 2012 fourth quarter, the company entered two new countries, opening three stores in China and two stores in Italy.

Consolidated same-store sales increased 5.4% for the quarter, with North America same-store sales increasing 5.9%, and Europe same-store sales increasing 4.4%.  

March 21, 2013
Mobile checkout coming to more stores

The Scan & Go system Walmart introduced last fall in Northwest Arkansas and Atlanta has been expanded to six new markets.

The Scan & Go system Walmart introduced last fall in Northwest Arkansas and Atlanta has been expanded to six new markets.

The Associated Press reported this week that Walmart’s Scan & Go program, initially available in about 70 stores in two markets, has been expanded to 200 stores in new markets including Dallas, Houston, Austin, Denver, Portland and Seattle.

The system enables shoppers who download an app to scan items with their smartphones and then pay at self-checkout terminals by scanning a code that displays on their smartphone screen.

March 21, 2013
Ross keeps rolling with discount philosophy

Off price retailer Ross Stores achieved record fourth quarter sales and earnings and expects to deliver more of the same in 2013 thanks to an unwavering commitment to offering great bargains.

Off price retailer Ross Stores achieved record fourth quarter sales and earnings and expects to deliver more of the same in 2013 thanks to an unwavering commitment to offering great bargains.

Sales for the 14 week fourth quarter ended February 2, increased 15% to $2.76 billion when compared to the prior year’s 13 week fourth quarter. Same store sales advanced 5% on top of a prior year gain of 7%. Earnings per share for the period increased to $1.07 from 85 cents last year and net income grew to $236.6 million from $192 million.

March 7, 2013
ShopperTrak: February 2013

An unexpected decrease in shopper traffic around Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day led to an overall slower retail performance for the month of February.

Total U.S. Shopper Traffic in Retail Stores and Malls for February 2013

An unexpected decrease in shopper traffic around Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day led to an overall slower retail performance for the month of February.

Retail foot traffic for February decreased 5.4% compared with January 2013, departing from the positive year-over-year retail traffic trends seen in recent months. Foot traffic for February 2013 decreased 6.4% compared with the same month last year. 

March 1, 2013
Same day delivery could be WMT's secret weapon

With 4,000 U.S. stores serving as product depots, same day delivery holds great potential for a retailer with an unrivaled retail footprint, assuming a strategy can be developed to profitably unlock the opportunity.

With 4,000 U.S. stores serving as product depots, same day delivery holds great potential for a retailer with an unrivaled retail footprint, assuming a strategy can be developed to profitably unlock the opportunity.

Walmart has experimented with same day delivery on the west coast where order are fulfilled from stores and a broader rollout of the service would seem inevitable at some point in the future given online shoppers desire for immediate gratification.

February 27, 2013
Saks comps up slightly in Q4, focused on omnichannel efforts

Saks reported that sales for the fourth quarter were up 5.6% over the same period last year. Same-store sales were up 0.7% for the period.

NEW YORK — Saks reported that sales for the fourth quarter were up 5.6% over the same period last year. Same-store sales were up 0.7% for the period.

For the fourth quarter Saks recorded net income of $20.4 million, or 13 cents per diluted share, compared with net income of $37 million, or 21 cents per diluted share for the same period last year.

February 19, 2013
Checkpoint Systems introduces safer anti-theft label

THOROFARE, N.J. — Checkpoint Systems, a global supplier of shrink management solutions, has introduced a new enhanced performance (EP) anti-theft EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) food label for supermarkets that is certified to be microwave safe.

The 4010 EP Food Label was designed specifically to protect fresh and frozen supermarket food. It has been certified as microwave safe and non-flammable by TUV Rheinland, an international service group that provides manufacturers with assessment and certification services to ensure product safety.

February 12, 2013
Study: 'Showrooming' a lesser threat than once thought

In a survey of more than 6,200 consumers collected during the peak holiday shopping season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Amazon scored highest among 25 of the top mobile commerce companies in terms of customer satisfaction, according to a report released Tuesday by ForeSee.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — In a survey of more than 6,200 consumers collected during the peak holiday shopping season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Amazon scored highest among 25 of the top mobile commerce companies in terms of customer satisfaction, according to a report released Tuesday by ForeSee. 

February 11, 2013
ShopperTrak: January 2013

Retailers pushed to extend the high level of holiday shopping and foot traffic by promoting post-holiday specials and markdowns on seasonal merchandise in January. However, as expected, shopper traffic continued to drop off significantly after the end of the holiday season.

Total U.S. Shopper Traffic in Retail Stores and Malls for January 2013

Retailers pushed to extend the high level of holiday shopping and foot traffic by promoting post-holiday specials and markdowns on seasonal merchandise in January. However, as expected, shopper traffic continued to drop off significantly after the end of the holiday season. 

February 11, 2013
Study: Shoppers turn to dollar stores as payroll tax rises

Though a 2% increase in payroll tax may seem insignificant for middle- and upper-income families, it can cause a major change in shopping behavior for lower-income families, a new study has found.

CHICAGO — Though a 2% increase in payroll tax may seem insignificant for middle- and upper-income families, it can cause a major change in shopping behavior for lower-income families, a new study has found.

February 7, 2013
Brand bloggers to make Bentonville journey

A first of its kind social shopper event is coming to Walmart’s home town in May courtesy of new media company Collective Bias.

A first of its kind social shopper event is coming to Walmart’s home town in May courtesy of new media company Collective Bias.

The event, called SoFabCon, will be held May 3-5 and is the first annual gathering of the proprietary Collective Bias community of shopping influencers known as Social Fabric. Event organizers expect 200 members of the Social Fabric blogger community to participate with a collective sphere of influence that touches 40 million people.

February 7, 2013
Comps moderate at TJX and Ross

Same store sale decelerated for The TJX Companies and Ross Stores during January even though both companies increased their full year profits forecasts.

Same store sale decelerated for The TJX Companies and Ross Stores during January even though both companies increased their full year profits forecasts.

TJX, operator of Marshalls and T.J. Maxx stores, said comps increased 3% during the period ended January 28. That figure was better than expected, but less than half the prior year gain of 7%. Sales for the five week period ended February 2 increased nearly 36% to $1.9 billion due to the inclusion of an additional week.

February 7, 2013
Costco maintains comp momentum

January same store sales grew 4% at Costco’s U.S. locations excluding fuel sales.

January same-store sales grew 4% at Costco’s U.S. locations excluding fuel sales.

February 7, 2013
Macy's, Kohl's post positive comps

Department store retailers reported strong sales in January as shoppers responded positively to post-holiday clearance events.

NEW YORK — Department store retailers reported strong sales in January as shoppers responded positively to post-holiday clearance events.  

Overall, the 20 retailers reporting January comps saw an average rise of 5.1%, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers, which beat the mall trade group’s 3% forecasted rise.

February 6, 2013
Grocery group makes 'Retail Sense' of marketing

TAMPA, Fla. — Retail Sense, a marketing software company, has entered into a multi-year contract with Associated Wholesale Grocers, a retailer-owned cooperative serving over 2,500 retail stores, to implement its IntelliSence marketing resource management solution.

January 30, 2013
Canadian retailers go penniless

Most retailers in Canada are ready for a phase-out of one-cent coins, a national retailing trade group said Wednesday.

TORONTO — Most retailers in Canada are ready for a phase-out of one-cent coins, a national retailing trade group said Wednesday.

The Retail Council of Canada said the majority of the country's retail businesses were prepared for the disappearance of the penny and will follow the government's proposals for determining prices.

January 25, 2013
Express opportunity evident in C-store total

While Walmart continues to fine tune its small format Express concept, ample opportunity awaits in the C-store space.

While Walmart continues to fine tune its small format Express concept, ample opportunity awaits in the C-store space.

The latest data from Nielsen shows the number of U.S. convenience stores continues to expand and last year set a new record with 149,220 units. Roughly 63% of those units are independent operators who presumably charge higher prices than what would be available at Walmart’s convenience stores.

January 24, 2013
Consumers forsake brands for loyalty card deals

One-in-five consumers between the ages of 35 years and 54 years are choosing products due to a loyalty card discount, SymphonyIRI Group reported Wednesday as part of its Q4 2012 MarketPulse survey.

CHICAGO — One-in-five consumers between the ages of 35 years and 54 years are choosing products due to a loyalty card discount, SymphonyIRI Group reported Wednesday as part of its Q4 2012 MarketPulse survey. And almost one-third are forsaking their preferred brands due to a sale price. The survey found that shopper sentiment dropped to its lowest point since Q3 2011.

January 23, 2013
C-store total poised to surpass 150,000 units

The latest data from Nielsen shows the number of U.S. convenience stores continues to expand and last year set a new record with 149,220 units.

The latest data from Nielsen shows the number of U.S. convenience stores continues to expand and last year set a new record with 149,220 units.

That figures is up 1,094 units from the prior year so the increase amounts to only a 0.7% gain, according to the 2013 National Association of Convenience Stores/Nielsen Convenience Industry Store Count. Even so, the growth is noteworthy at a time when overall expansion of selling space in the broader retailer industry has remained stagnant even though the recession officially ended in 2009.

January 22, 2013
CPG industry expects highest growth in club channel

Expect to see more consumer package goods on warehouse club shelves, as a new survey reveals this to be a high growth area for CPG companies.

NEW YORK — Expect to see more consumer package goods on warehouse club shelves, as a new survey reveals this to be a high growth area for CPG companies.

According to new research from Deloitte, consumer products executives expect their highest growth to come from the warehouse club channel compared with any other retail sales channel over the next three years, including mass merchandise, grocery, and e-commerce.