Retail Sales Slip on Falling Gas Prices; January's Total Revised Down
March 15, 2016 at 10:55 am

Retail sales dipped last month on tumbling gasoline prices while January's total was revised down sharply in a sign that consumption has been less robust than believed so far this year. Consumer purchases dipped 0.1 percent in February, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. Economists expected a 0.2 percent drop. Excluding volatile autos and gasoline, retail sales increased…

Ulta Beauty to Open 100 New Stores This Year
March 14, 2016 at 11:06 am

Ulta Beauty's hot streak continues. The beauty retailer, which has been on a tear since CEO Mary Dillon took over in 2013, says it will continue its expansion in 2016. In its fourth-quarter earnings announcement last week, Ulta said it would add 100 stores in 2016. The continued expansion is part of a five-year plan to…

Tailored Brands to Close 250 Men’s Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank Stores
March 10, 2016 at 12:50 pm

Tailored Brands Inc., the former Men’s Wearhouse, will close roughly 250 stores, including all its outlet stores, seeking to revamp operations after ending the year with a $1 billion net loss. The loss was driven by $1.2 billion in impairment charges as it wrote down the value of Jos. A. Bank, its one-time rival, which Men’s…

Dick’s Aiming for Sports Authority’s Customers
March 9, 2016 at 11:08 am

Dick’s Sporting Goods is already running the numbers on markets where rival sporting goods retailer The Sports Authority plans to close stores as part of its bankruptcy reorganization. The goal is to grab market share wherever possible, whether through taking over leases or pumping up marketing in affected areas.

Forever 21 Celebrates Music Festivals With Mobilized Shop and Social Push
March 7, 2016 at 10:42 am

Forever 21 is weaving social media platforms together for a comprehensive campaign appealing to music festival fans that also integrates with a shop devoted to what to wear as an attendee on its mobilized site. The coming of spring marks the start of festival season, which peaks interest in bohemian styles. Forever 21 is capitalizing on this by showcasing various…

Staples to Close 50 Stores in Preparation for Life With or Without Office Depot
March 7, 2016 at 10:30 am

As it awaits the final verdict from regulators on its pending billion-dollar purchase of rival office supply chain Office Depot, Staples is preparing to go it alone by announcing plans to shutter at least 50 of its own stores in order to slow declining sales. The Wall Street Journal reports that while Staples plans to fight…

Why J.C. Penney's CEO Isn't Closing More Stores
March 7, 2016 at 9:46 am

J.C. Penney’s online sales are booming. Many of its stores are in struggling malls. And sales per square foot are about one-third below levels of five years ago. Yet despite all that, the resurgent department store’s new CEO, Marvin Ellison, is adamant that J.C. Penney won’t undertake any wholesale closings of stores in its 1,020-location fleet. Penney…

Sports Authority Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
March 2, 2016 at 11:17 am

Englewood, Colo.-based Sports Authority early Wednesday morning filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, hoping to reorganize its operations and reduce its $1.1 billion debt, according to court documents and an interview with CEO Michael Foss. The filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware was expected. In a statement issued in conjunction with the filings, the company said it…

Meijer to Invest $400M in New, Remodeled Stores
March 2, 2016 at 11:13 am

Midwest retailer Meijer Inc. plans to invest more than $400 million in new and remodeled stores this year. Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer announced Wednesday that the investment includes construction of nine new Meijer supercenters and 32 remodeling projects.

Sports Authority Discussing Selling Stores to Dick's
March 1, 2016 at 11:38 am

Sports Authority Inc., which is preparing to file for bankruptcy, has discussed selling stores and intellectual property to rival chain Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. and other parties, according to two people familiar with the situation. The Dick’s transaction is one of several options being considered, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified…