All North America articles – Page 36

  • News

    Sears reports decrease in total revenue

    24 November 2011

    Retailer Sears has reported a 1.2% fall in total revenue to $9.6bn (£6.1bn) for the third quarter ended October 29. The decline was primarily the result of a 0.8% drop in domestic like-for-like sales and a 7.8% fall at Sears Canada. It was also the effect of having fewer Kmart ...

  • News

    US grocer Stop & Shop to unveil new concept store

    21 November 2011

    Ahold-owned US grocer Stop & Shop will unveil a new concept store featuring a greater selection of products and innovative features in Massachusetts. The store has been designed to better serve the needs of the local community. New services include an in-store nutritionist, supervised children’s play area, roadside pick-up and ...

  • Francesca's Collections, Paramus, New Jersey
    Gallery

    Francesca’s Collections, Paramus, New Jersey

    21 November 2011

    Look carefully and then look again. It’s an independent fashion store, right?

  • News

    Walmart launches apps for iPhone and iPad

    21 November 2011

    Walmart has launched two new apps for the iPhone and iPad in its home market. The grocery and general merchandise retailer says they will enable “millions of customers to enjoy an enhanced, seamless shopping experience across Walmart’s 3,800 US stores and Walmart.com through mobile devices”.The apps are the first to ...

  • News

    Kroger tests new checkout system

    18 November 2011

    Grocery retailer Kroger is testing a new type of checkout system called Scan-Bag-Go at a store in Kentucky. It is a handheld wand that shoppers wave at product barcodes as they shop, tallying the total amount at the same time. A smartphone version is also being tested, enabling customers to ...

  • News

    Sears launches mobile shopping walls

    14 November 2011

    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, ...

  • News

    Amazon offers to handle sales tax for sellers

    14 November 2011

    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 ...

  • News

    Abercrombie & Fitch reports net sales increase

    14 November 2011

    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 ...

  • News

    Potential to operate stores in existing countries, says TJX

    7 November 2011

    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 ...

  • News

    Sears announces launch of new digital local ad programme

    7 November 2011

    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 ...

  • News

    99 Cents Only Stores reports sales increase

    4 November 2011

    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 ...

  • News

    Walmart to shut apparel office in New York

    2 November 2011

    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 ...

  • News

    Walmart to roll back health care coverage

    1 November 2011

    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 ...

  • News

    Neiman Marcus looks to cater for the Chinese consumer market

    25 October 2011

    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 ...

  • News

    Gap announces plans to shut a fifth of its stores

    21 October 2011

    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 ...

  • Natalie Berg, Global research director, Planet Retail
    Opinion

    International growth remains a priority for retailers

    21 October 2011

    Very few retailers today can boast a slot on the global retail rankings without in fact having an international presence.

  • News

    Discount retailer Target launches limited-edition collection

    18 October 2011

    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 ...

  • Manu Ghai
    Analysis

    Toys R Us focuses on key trends as Christmas looms

    13 October 2011

    Toys R Us has revealed the four top trends that it expects to influence toy sales in the months leading up to Christmas.

  • News

    Walmart announces resignation of key executives

    11 October 2011

    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 ...

  • News

    Rite Aid plans introduction of iPad tablets to stores

    11 October 2011

    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. ...