Merchandising

Things don't look so jolly for Sears Holdings Corp. heading into the important holiday season. The Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based retailer, in a preview of its third-quarter performance, said Tuesday that losses grew, with continued weak sales. The deteriorating financial results leave Sears evaluating strategic options that at first blush would seem to harm its long-term prospects. The long-suffering retailer is considering separating its Lands' End and auto center units in a bid to raise cash and free up capital. In addition, the company said it will continue to close or sell an unspecified number of stores.

This is the crucial time of year when most online retailers are doing everything they can to ensure their products get in front of holiday gift-giving shoppers. Both online and in-store, that means clever and stylish merchandising of products. And since a site's search function is what high-converting shoppers often use to find what they're looking for, using advanced site search tools for merchandising is a great way to promote your holiday products.

J.C. Penney and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia on Monday announced a revised agreement that eliminates Stewart's products in home goods categories to which rival Macy's claims exclusive rights. The amended deal calls for the domestic doyenne's company to design Martha Stewart-branded products for J.C. Penney in window treatment, holiday and other categories not claimed by Macy's. Penney also gave up its 17 percent stake in Martha Stewart's company. Macy's sued J.C. Penney and Martha Stewart Living after the two announced a partnership in December 2011. 

Sears, once America's golden retailer, is a company in crisis. The company has shuttered hundreds of stores in recent years. The embattled company has been selling some its most profitable stores to raise money. Brian Sozzi, chief equities strategist at Belus Capital Advisors, took poignant photos inside of New Jersey and New York Sears locations. "To understand why Sears is in a ‘sell stores mode,’ one must look no further than the stores themselves, where the truth is to be found," Sozzi writes. His photos show the sad reality of what Sears is today.

What's intimidating about the use of your product or service? How might you create a class about your product? What would your customers be interested in learning and how can you position your product as part of that process? How are you inspiring new customers to try your product?

A $68 Marc by Marc Jacobs T-shirt has gotten the boot by its designer after a blog pointed out its eerie resemblance to a neo-Nazi band's album art. "Boots & Braces," the 1987 12-inch from Skrewdriver, one of the first white-power rock groups, featured an illustration of combat boots - soles up - on its cover. At least one other group, the hardcore punk (but not neo-Nazi) Agnostic Front has also used a similar image.

Martha Stewart's stormy affair with J.C. Penney is ending … and she's the one getting dumped. Stewart's line of home goods at Penney, which sparked an epic courtroom battle with Macy's, is getting scrapped for good by Penney CEO Mike Ullman, The Post has learned. That's despite the fact that a New York judge still hasn't ruled on the three-way legal scuffle — sparked by Macy's pre-existing licensing deal with Stewart — whose year-and-a-half saga is expected to conclude in the coming days.

I came across an interesting report last week from marketing communications firm JWT called Retail Rebooted. The report focuses on key trends taking place within the retail industry today. I was most interested in the report’s "20-Plus Things to Watch in Retail" section, which offers a relatively quick rundown of developments in retail, from innovative business models to shifting consumer behaviors to the latest technology launches. In today’s blog post (part one of a two-part series), I’ll recap 10 of these 20-plus things, such as 3-D printing, alternative brand currencies, and click-and-collect shopping.

Department stores have always been known for their mighty merchants. But Macy's, the largest operator, has lately been getting help from some specialists inside the mall. In early August, Lids, the retailer of caps and apparel for sports fans, reached an agreement to open licensed team merchandise departments in Macy's stores and online under the name of Locker Room by Lids. The departments, located in about 150 markets covering major professional sports teams and colleges, will be operated by Lids.

Another day, another mass-market retail controversy. This time, we're looking at H&M, which CTV reports has evoked the ire of an Ojibwa-Mohawk woman by selling a Native American-inspired headdress as a fashion accessory. "Headdresses are a sign of respect and leadership," Kim Wheeler told the TV network. "You wouldn't find a colorful hijab or a colorful yarmulke on the shelves as some sort of fashion accessory to wear out to a nightclub or to a music festival." Wheeler emailed H&M to explain her concern and the store promised to pull the so-called "hipster headdress" from its inventory.