Retail Stores

Forrester Research Analyst Sucharita Mulpuru was on hand at the Retail Email Exchange symposium in San Diego last month to offer best practices for four current trends in the e-commerce space. Looking to debunk conventional wisdom, Mulpuru advised that things often turn out to be different than they initially appear. With that in mind, here are the four trends that Mulpuru addressed:

While daily deals have become increasingly popular with consumers, there's conflicting information about whether such offers are worth it for businesses. For some, the payoff doesn't justify the payout even though others enjoy profits and new customers from the venture.

Costco Wholesale hasn't given up on the idea of selling liquor in Washington. Having lost last year at the polls, the country's third-largest retailer is back with another initiative for voters to consider. Initiative 1183, which is likely to be on the ballot this fall, resembles last year's effort in that it would push the state out of the liquor business, forcing it to auction off its stores and distribution center.

Jennifer Lopez's representatives confirmed the singer/actress remains committed to launching a clothing line at Kohl's with soon-to-be ex-husband Marc Anthony. Lopez's publicist Mark Young said the launch in September "will proceed as planned." Young called the Lopez line "distinctive" and said it represents style in an accessible way.

Coming this summer to a Sephora near you: an XpresSpa station featuring Sephora Nail Studio Art + Lacquer services. You might recognize the XpresSpa brand from your latest vacation — the company owns and operates 27 massage/nail/skincare/waxing spas in airports all over the world.

Happiness from shopping during the height of summer discount season? Uh, no. It’s a different kind of retail therapy: the joy of the five-finger discount.

Mattel said its second-quarter net income jumped 56 percent on strong sales of Barbie and other dolls and demand for "Cars 2" related toys. CEO Robert Eckert comments on the retail outlook.

Microsoft is continuing full speed ahead with its plan to open more brick-and-mortar retail stores. The company will be opening 75 Microsoft stores in the next two years to three years, Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner told attendees of the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference.

These are the boom years for social media and mobile apps, which continue to grow at a torrid pace. Wal-Mart’s Facebook fans doubled to more than 6 million since February, Victoria’s Secret’s Twitter followers nearly tripled to 126,335 in the same period, and Sears has upped its mobile ante to 21. 

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is aiming to turn some of Westchester County's oldest train stations into new dining and retail hot spots. There's just one catch: Those who run the stations will have to agree to keep serving commuters their daily coffee during the morning rush.