All North America articles – Page 36
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News
Sears launches mobile shopping walls
Department store group Sears has launched mobile shopping walls across the country at airports, malls, movie theatres and bus shelters.The walls allow customers to buy Sears and Kmart toys through their mobile devices using QR codes. They feature the company’s top toys and corresponding QR codes deliver shopper product information, ...
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Amazon offers to handle sales tax for sellers
Amazon is offering to handle sales tax for its sellers despite years of fighting state regulators. The internet retailer aims to profit by claiming a fee equivalent to 2.9% of the taxes collected. The optional service is to roll out on February 1, 2012 and will be offered to Amazon ...
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Abercrombie & Fitch reports net sales increase
Casualwear retailer Abercrombie & Fitch has reported net sales of $1.1bn (£685.4m) for the financial quarter ended October 29. That represents a 21% increase from net sales of $885.8m (£551.9m) for the same quarter in 2010.However, the retailer said that sales fell at European flagship stores last quarter as a ...
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Potential to operate stores in existing countries, says TJX
Off-price retailer TJX has said that it believes there is potential to operate 4,200 to 4,500 stores in its existing countries versus the 2,913 estimated to be in operation by the end of this financial year.The company is looking to have between 300 and 325 stores in the UK and ...
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Sears announces launch of new digital local ad programme
Sears has announced the launch of its new digital local advert programme at Sightssearslocalad.com and Kmartlocalad.com.The sites offer shoppers current pricing and promotions as well as real-time stock checks for their local Sears or Kmart store. They also allow customers to shop by category and create item lists that can ...
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99 Cents Only Stores reports sales increase
Discount retailer 99 Cents Only Stores has reported that sales for the second quarter ended October 1 rose 8.8% to $363m (£226m) compared with $334m (£208m) for the prior year period.Total retail sales were $352m (£220m) against $323m (£202m), while like-for-like sales increased 6.7%. The number of like-for-like sales transactions ...
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Walmart to shut apparel office in New York
Walmart is to shut its apparel office in New York to reduce costs and concentrate on more basic clothing.The office has about 275 workers in areas including product development and buying. These functions will be transferred to Walmart’s home town of Bentonville, Arkansas by February next year.Walmart US chief executive ...
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Walmart to roll back health care coverage
Walmart is significantly rolling back health care coverage for part-time workers while raising premiums for many full-time employees. All future staff who work less than an average of 24 hours per week will no longer qualify for any of the company’s health insurance plans.Additionally, new workers who average 24 to ...
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Neiman Marcus looks to cater for the Chinese consumer market
Department store retailer Neiman Marcus has said it is looking to expand into the Chinese consumer market, initially looking to cater to Chinese residents who travel to the US.Neiman Marcus Stores executive vice-president Neva Hall said that the company is tapping the expertise gained by its staff in gateway cities ...
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Gap announces plans to shut a fifth of its stores
Fashion retailer Gap has announced that it plans to shut more than a fifth of its Gap stores in North America over the next two years. The retailer recognised that it had expanded to such an extent that the US market became oversaturated with its stores. As a result, Gap ...
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OpinionInternational growth remains a priority for retailers
Very few retailers today can boast a slot on the global retail rankings without in fact having an international presence.
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News
Discount retailer Target launches limited-edition collection
Discount retailer Target is partnering with designer Josie Natori to launch its first limited-edition collection of lingerie and loungewear. The Josie Natori for Target range will appear in two seasonal instalments, the first of which will be available from the end of October in time for the Christmas season. The ...
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AnalysisToys R Us focuses on key trends as Christmas looms
Toys R Us has revealed the four top trends that it expects to influence toy sales in the months leading up to Christmas.
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Walmart announces resignation of key executives
Walmart has announced the resignation of key executives from its online business. Eduardo Castro-Wright, vice-chairman of global sourcing operations, is to retire in July and Wan Ling Martello, vice-president of ecommerce, is to leave the company to take up a new position at Nestlé. The departures come amid a drive ...
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Rite Aid plans introduction of iPad tablets to stores
Drugstore operator Rite Aid plans to introduce iPad tablets to 300 stores in 2012 following positive customer feedback. Rite Aid brought the iPads to 40 stores this year and they are being used by the chain’s Wellness Ambassadors – trained sales associates who provide customers with information on over-the-counter medications. ...
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News
Blockbuster launches subscription movie service
Blockbuster has launched its own subscription movie service which it claims will compete against rival Netflix. Blockbuster Movie Pass will be available from October 1 for a monthly subscription of $10 (£6.40). The service includes DVD movies, TV shows and video games. It will be launched initially to customers of ...
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Bed Bath & Beyond reports net sales increase
Home furnishings retailer Bed Bath & Beyond has reported net sales for the second quarter ended August 27, 2011 increased by 8.3% to $2.3bn (£1.5bn). Like-for-like store sales in the financial second quarter of 2011 increased by approximately 5.6% compared with the period the year before. Net earnings grew by ...
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News
AutoZone reports net sales increase
AutoZone has reported net sales for the financial year ended August 27, 2011 increased by 9.6% to $8.1bn (£5.2bn). Same-store sales rose by 6.3% while net income was up by 15% to $848m (£547m). Fourth quarter net sales climbed 8.1% to $2.6bn (£1.7bn) while same-store sales grew by 4.5%.Bill Rhodes, ...
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Lev Khasis joins Walmart
International grocer Walmart has appointed Lev Khasis as senior vice-president and chief leverage officer.Khasis is the former chief executive of Russia’s largest retailer, X5 Retail Group. He will report directly to Doug McMillon, who heads Walmart’s international division, and will be responsible for integrating new retail acquisitions and combining purchasing ...
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GalleryThe streets of San Francisco
A small area in the centre of San Francisco has all of the major US brands that characterise the country’s retail activity. They are also where US retail puts its best West Coast foot forward. By John Ryan