aggregatedcontent

Retailers are all about putting customers first nowadays, and with the holiday gift-giving season upon us, Walmart is doing just that. In an effort to make gift unwrapping as joyful as possible, the retailer is joining Amazon to promote "rage-free" packaging for a number of its non-food products, according to Business Week. Both companies are putting pressure on suppliers to eliminate excessive and cumbersome packaging materials, such as hard plastic casings enclosing electronics and wire ties used to secure toys to cardboard backings. In addition to being more environmentally friendly, the push can improve supply chain efficiency and customer

Tiffany & Co. reported profit for the quarter ended Oct. 31 surged 63 percent to $89.7 million compared with $55.1 million in the year-ago period. Rising global sales propelled the strong performance, but the jeweler cautioned that fourth quarter earnings, which include the key holiday selling season, could fall below expectations.

Hampstead, Md. -- JoS. A. Bank Clothiers said that net income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2011, ended Oct. 29, 2011, increased 19.3% to $15.0 million verses $12.6 million in the year-ago period. However, the chain warned that its forth quarter has started out more slowly than expected, and that it has adjusted its December merchandising and marketing plans for the stores. Total sales increased 21.0% to $209.6 million, from $173.3 million. Same-store sales rose 14.6% and direct marketing sales increased 28.6%. “With this quarter's results, we have achieved earnings growth in 40 of the past 41

Dick's Sporting Goods said it will build a new distribution center in Goodyear, Ariz. that will service the western United States. The new distribution center, which is expected to bring approximately 120 jobs to the area, is slated to open in early 2013.

eBay opened a 5-year unsecured line of credit for $3 billion that it can increase to $4 billion subject to certain conditions. According to its filing with the SEC, eBay can use funds it borrows under the credit agreement for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes. Unlike a loan, a line of credit gives a corporation flexibility, letting it draw on the credit when and as needed. According to the agreement, eBay and any subsidiaries designated as additional borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow amounts under the revolving credit facility at any time during the

The National Retail Federation recently released a letter to Congress asking lawmakers to be prepared to step in if railroad unions go on strike next week during the retail industry's most important shopping season of the year. "For retailers, a strike during the busy holiday shopping season could be devastating," NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay told members of the House and Senate. "It is imperative that Congress recognize the severe economic harm threatened by the failure to reach agreement with the remaining rail unions and move quickly to prevent a rail strike that would prove devastating to both

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Customer experience analytics firm ForeSee today released its annual analysis of Cyber Monday customer satisfaction suggesting that some online shoppers may not be as satisfied with the holiday shopping season as retailers likely are. ( Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110819/DE54780LOGO ) Sponsored by: Comscore reports that compared to last year, online commerce was up 26% on Black Friday and 22% on Cyber Monday, and the National Retail Federation is reporting that sales over the four-day holiday weekend increased 16% over last year. But while sales are up, website browser satisfaction is down. A browser

In exchange for agreeing to a slower shipping method, Amazon will give Prime members a $1 credit to spend on music at its MP3 Store. Amazon's Prime membership program costs $79 for a year of unlimited fast shipping that includes free 2-day shipping, or 1-day shipping for $3.99 per item.

Good news for California deal-of-the-day addicts: the sales tax they have to pay when they use coupons purchased from Groupon, LivingSocial or other internet daily-deal sites has gone down. The California State Board of Equalization said sales tax should be levied only on what a Groupon user has paid for an item, not the list price of the item he’s getting.