Wal-Mart is testing a new program that lets store associates opt into delivering e-commerce ship-from-store orders. Marc Lore, chief executive of Wal-Mart U.S. e-commerce, explained that the program uses technology so workers can set preferences such as how many packages they want to deliver, weight limits for the packages and which days they would like…
Tillys is a specialty retailer in the action sports industry selling clothing, shoes and accessories. Founded in 1982 with a single store in Southern California, Tillys has grown to 225 stores in 33 states. Tillys also sells it products, primarily surf, skate, motocross and lifestyle apparel, through its e-commerce site, mobile site and app, and…
After seeking bankruptcy protection in April, Payless ShoeSource is preparing to launch a second round of store closings. The footwear retailer is seeking court approval to trim its retail business by closing up to 408 stores if negotiations with landlords fail to result in rent concessions. Payless is asking to close 112 stores outright, and…
Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. announced during an earnings call that it will be closing 100 to 125 full-price stores over the next two years. This will save the company about $60 million annually, however, the designer handbag and accessories brand expects to incur about $100 million to $125 million in one-time charges. Michael Kors had…
The athletic footwear, apparel, accessories and equipment brand continues to chug along despite increased competition in the marketplace. Nike increased year-over-year net sales by 5.8 percent in its 2016 fiscal year. In addition, the company increased its net earnings for the year by nearly 15 percent. (Nike ranked No. 44 on Total Retail’s seventh annual ranking…
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.
Macy's is bringing its new self-service shoe concept to three Chicago-area stores, enabling customers to bypass sales associates and slip on a pair all by themselves. The "help yourself" approach is one piece of a new shoe strategy the department store chain began testing at some stores in California and the southwestern U.S. last fall, focused…
Between 6 million and 7.5 million retail industry jobs are vulnerable to automation within 10 years, according to a report by Cornerstone Capital Group released this week. The report concluded that the jobs of 47 percent of the 16 million Americans currently working in retail could be made redundant by highly automated e-commerce and other innovations.…
As part of a multimillion-dollar plan to update the chain's U.S. store portfolio, 12 Wal-Mart stores in Michigan will get new looks in 2017. The remodeled stores are capitalizing on building connections for consumers, taking them from traditional in-store shopping to online sales at Wal-Mart's e-commerce site, and finding in-between steps to blend the two. Wal-Mart…
Forever 21's own beauty boutique, Riley Rose, is being rolled out at 13 GGP regional shopping center locations, creating an innovative brick-and-mortar concept, the two companies announced on Friday. Ten Riley Rose stores will open before the end of this year, and three will open in 2018, according to Forever 21 and its real estate landlord.…
