Retail Stores

Sears reported a wider-than-expected quarterly loss on weak sales, bigger discounts and higher costs. The company blamed the lackluster sales numbers on weak demand for consumer electronics at both its Sears department stores and Kmart discount chains.

The U.S. online ad market is on a sharp trajectory this year, eMarketer estimates, with spending set to increase 20.2 percent to $31.3 billion. Based on an updated industry breakdown, retail and consumer packaged goods will account for the largest shares of new spending.

HealthWarehouse.com, a retail mail order pharmacy, announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30. The company's net sales increased $753,059 to $2,519,721, up 43 percent compared to the same period in 2010. This was driven by growth in the company's prescription business.

Staples reported that profit for the quarter ended July 30 rose 36 percent to $176.4 million, compared with $129.8 million in the year-ago period. The quarter included the first weeks of the back-to-school shopping season.

Kris Jenner will launch her own line for QVC, Kris Jenner Kollection, during the channel’s live New York Fashion Week broadcast on Sept. 8. Previewing the line last week, Jenner descended from a spiral staircase in a burgundy knee-length dress from the collection with a drawstring waist and cutouts along the arms.

Weather and climate remain major factors driving economic dynamics at every level. For many retailers, climate can massively impact their businesses, the way they relate to their customers and the pace of their development.

Target reported a 3.7 percent increase in second quarter net earnings to $704 million, or $1.03 per share, beating the consensus projection of 97 cents per share among analysts.

Nordstrom is opening a full-priced store in Manhattan. But the store will not have Nordstrom in its name, or even feel like a Nordstrom. Called Treasure&Bond, the new store will open Aug. 19 in SoHo and will be less than a tenth the size of a typical Nordstrom department store. In fact, it is a big experiment that will not even contribute to Nordstrom’s bottom line, as the profits have been committed to charity.

French fashion label A.P.C has come up with a new technique for creating the perfect vintage look: recycling. Instead of abandoning worn-out A.P.C jeans, you can now take them to the store and swap them for a brand-new pair for half the price.

Back-to-school sales have been particularly strong for Apple this year, with both the Mac and iPad proving popular, while non-Apple tablets have failed to gain traction with education buyers.