Merchandising

Ginger Reeder, the woman who led the annual challenge of finding over-the-top gifts to feature in the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book, has decided to retire after 21 years. The Neiman Marcus Christmas Book is thought of as a kickoff to the holiday season and features extravagant gifts, like a collection of 90 first-edition great American…

Uniqlo, a leading apparel retailer, uses a direct mail catalog as part of its strategy to differentiate itself in a crowded marketplace. In the catalog, Uniqlo emphasizes that comfort — i.e., how to make a customer physically feel better — can be as important a benefit as style, value or quality in brand positioning.

Stage Stores, the company that purchased Gordmans out of bankruptcy in March, plans to turn the chain into an off-price retailer, comparable to TJ Maxx or Burlington Coat Factory. Gordmans’ current business model is a department store-off-pricer hybrid, with 80 percent of its merchandise being bought at full price. Stage Stores plans to shift this…

As we've seen lately in the retail industry, companies need to work harder to get shoppers into their stores. Some retailers offer experiences, others sales and discounts. DEBUT, a newly opened store at the Minneapolis-based Mall of America (MOA), offers a revolving collection of products to entice shoppers to walk through its door. “The goal…

Fast-fashion strikes again … Los Angeles-based women’s apparel and accessories brand Valfré is accusing Forever 21 and Rue 21 of stealing its designs. Valfré’s social media followers alerted the brand of the infringement. On Friday,Valfré served “cease and desist” demands on Forever 21 for allegedly copying the rainbow design of one of its phone cases. “If…

J.C. Penney is rolling out new home services in all 13 of its Dallas-Fort Worth stores. The Dallas Morning News reports the retailer started testing a heating and cooling system partnership with Trane and has expanded into bathroom remodeling, plumbing and window blind installation. Recently, J.C. Penney has tried moving towards bigger-ticket items in the…

For only $425 plus tax, anyone can look like they're "not afraid to get down and dirty," reads Nordstrom's product description for its new "muddy jeans." From the creators of the $85 pet rock in a leather pouch and high-waisted mom jeans with clear plastic knee “windows” comes blue jeans coated with fake mud for when you want…

J.C. Penney will launch Sephora beauty shops in 70 stores as it expands 32 existing locations, bringing Sephora to 650 of its 1,000-plus stores by the end of 2017. The beauty push comes as J.C. Penney de-emphasizes apparel, a weak link for merchants these days, save for off-price chains and Amazon.com, which have been gobbling up…

G-III Apparel Group is in trouble for manufacturing and distributing Ivanka Trump-branded apparel and labeling it with “Adrienne Vittadini Studio” labels. The clothing was sold at discount retailer Stein Mart without the knowledge of Ivanka Trump executives. A G-III spokesman offered no explanation for why the clothes carried the wrong label and declined to say…

Sweden-based furniture retailer Ikea is considering opening standalone restaurants in city centers, Fast Company recently reported. Despite specializing in furniture, Ikea stores that dish out Swedish specialties such as meatballs, smoked salmon and lingonberry juice have become a key reason customers visit the superstores. Ikea notes that 30 percent of its store customers are there just for the food.…