Macy's

Sophisticated technology, less staff at stores and more gang activity are all contributing to more U.S. stores being hit by organized crime, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation.

Major retailers are joining forces with Google to test Google Wallet, an Android application that allows consumers to use virtual versions of their existing plastic credit cards. Consumers can pay for an item using a credit card or gift card, redeem promotions and earn loyalty points — all with a single tap of their smartphone.

Coming soon: a Macy's nonoutlet store in an outlet shopping center. The department store announced it will open a 140,000-square-foot location at Gurnee Mills, an outlet center in Illinois. The new Macy's will anchor a soon-to-be-developed wing of full-price shopping — a first for an outlet shopping center in the United States.

Best Buy is expanding its 257-store Shopkick pilot to a nationwide endeavor. Patrons who have the mobile app open whenever they walk into one of the retailer's locations will earn reward points for items like gift cards, song downloads and flat-screen TVs.

Buoyed by robust sales including a major boost online, department store giant Macy's reported solid first-quarter results, including a surge in profit. The parent company of the Macy's and Bloomingdale's chains said its profit for the three months that ended April 30 was $131 million, or 30 cents a share, compared with $23 million, or 5 cents, in the year-earlier quarter.

Crate and Barrel will begin doling out kickbucks — Shopkick currency redeemable for rewards — and special offers to Shopkick users who visit any of its U.S. stores.

U.S. retailers' same-store sales in April surpassed analysts’ estimates, led by Limited Brands and Macy’s. This indiactes that consumers gained confidence in the U.S. economy’s recovery.

Iconic cross-channel retailer Macy's launched a multimarket advertising takeover of online transit guide HopStop.com to bring excitement and visitors to its annual spring flower show. Macy's was attracted to HopStop.com because it believed its large, urban consumer base (4 million monthly consumers and tourists) and geo-ad targeting capabilities in major metropolitan markets would drive visitors to the events, which took place March 27 through April 10 at Macy's stores in Chicago, Minneapolis, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

Forty-eight percent of Macy's customer complaints are focused on interactions with sales associates, therefore training sessions are part of a new strategy by the store to improve its track record on customer service, which in recent years has dented the reputation of the storied retailer, lowered its scores in annual customer service rankings — and most likely slowed growth.

Vacancies at U.S. regional malls rose to the highest level in at least a decade in the first quarter, a sign that landlords are struggling to keep tenants after the recession even as retail sales rise.