Layaway options crop up on e-commerce sites — While layaway services were made popular during the Great Depression, today’s economic downturn calls for a modern twist on the classic payment option, and eLayaway LLC is stepping forward. The company now has 1,000 participating merchants and recently launched an online shopping mall to get retailers started. eLayway allows consumers to...
Retail Industry Archive
October 2008
Hedge fund manager William Ackman of Pershing Square Capital Management has been rattling cages in the retail world for months now, at Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Longs Drugs. But Ackman hit the headlines this week by announcing that Target, in which he holds nearly 10 percent, should spin off its real estate to improve its balance sheet. Ackman told a Manhattan investor meeting this week...
Wal-Mart revamps look — Wal-Mart, famous for its bargain prices, has shifted its focus toward aesthetics, unveiling a new design for remodeled stores on Oct. 29. “We’re trying to make it more experiential, rather than just stuff we’re selling,” said Joe Tapper, vice president for store presentation. “We’ve placed emphasis on making it more...
In his most recent Trending Report, consultant Bob Gordman noted weak retail traffic and sales and predicted the next step at most stores: fall inventories would start backing up. He predicted that merchants would react by cutting back holiday and spring orders, and sure enough, Women’s Wear Daily reports this week that retailers have reduced their spring apparel orders 10 to 15 percent. Pity...
Barnes & Noble unveils strategy to keep consumers on its Web site — Barnes & Noble Inc. recently latched onto the social-networking phenomenon by rolling out an interactive program of its own: My B&N. The integrated Web service enables users to create personal profiles around their taste in literature, movies, and music; they can select “pen names” and avatars from...
Touchstone Pictures’ film version of Sophie Kinsella’s “Confessions of a Shopaholic” will hit theaters Feb. 14, months after the American love for buying things we can’t afford officially brought the world economy to its knees. Just today, the Conference Board announced that consumer confidence is the worst it’s ever been, taking a 23.4-point drop from September. In Ad Age this...
Value City Department Stores to liquidate – Value City Department Stores, once a chain comprising more than 100 locations, has filed for bankruptcy and announced plans to liquidate all merchandise. The 91-year-old chain joins Mervyns in efforts to unload all inventory during the holiday season. Value City, which listed assets of between $100 million and $500 million, was whittled down...
Goody’s goes against current with new strategy — While many retailers are focusing on online sales and seeking to utilize new channels, Goody’s Family Clothing is taking a step in the opposite direction by shutting down its e-commerce site as part of its emergence from bankruptcy. The apparel chain, which filed for bankruptcy in June, closed and liquidated 69...
The current economic environment could make for a challenging holiday shopping season for Mattel, the world’s largest toy manufacturer. Chief Executive Bob Eckert admitted to analysts on the third-quarter 2008 earnings call that borrowing difficulties were making it harder for some of the company’s retail distributors in Western Europe to acquire Christmas toy inventories, and that...
A South Carolina jury ordered Target to pay more than $3 million to a woman it accused incorrectly of trying to pass counterfeit money. Two years ago, Rita Cantrell tried to spend a 1974-vintage $100 bill at two different Target stores in Greenville, S.C. She was questioned at the stores and turned away. What made the case actionable happened next: A Target loss prevention employee sent an...
- QVC Black Friday Marathon Starts Run for Cyber Monday
- Target Talks Cheap as Black Friday Battle Beckons
- Sears Face(book)s Black Friday
- Target Pumping Up Its Image with the Right Food
- Costco Challenges Coke and the Stakes Could Be High
- When Walmart Comes to Town, Other Retailers Self Destruct
- Blackhawk Part Two: Gift Cards Replace Banks as Consumers Get Creative
- Target Is Missing a Big Opportunity to Open More Urban Stores
- Blackhawk Helping Supermarkets Grab a Chunk of Everyone's Gift Card Business
- The New Normal Won't Emerge as a Walmart World
- Would You Bet on Black Friday?: Q&A With Bookmaker.com
- Macy's Holiday Prospects May Be Good But Long-Term Chances Murkier
- Supermarkets Adding Bars So Gourmet Consumers Will Entertain Thoughts of Shopping
- CVS Retail Operations Power Forward
- Timing Is Right for Rue21's IPO, if it Doesn't Overexpand
- TheFind.com Give Bargain Hunters More Options Online
- Costco Challenges Coke and the Stakes Could Be High
- Wal-Mart, Target and Costco Shine as Private Labels Challenge National Brands
- Walmart Garanimals Expansion Signals Gentler Approach to Holidays
- Booksellers Take On Walmart, Target, Amazon Over Discounts -- But It's Just Business as Usual
- Pizza and Cupcakes Keep 'em Coming to 7-Eleven as Cigarette Business Slides
- Gap Stands Behind Flailing Banana Republic
- Prediction Calls for Happy Black Friday
Subscribe to Retail blog comments RSS 
- P&G Retail Push Makes Sense, Risks Aside
- Walmart Readies Smaller Stores for Smarter Growth
- Duckwall-ALCO Rights Itself Amidst Recession
- Giant Supermarkets Seek Advantage of Small Stores
- Neil Cole Steps Out From Brother Kenneth's Shadow With Iconix -- Or Does He?
- Costco Sees Key Product Categories Turn Positive in September
- Target Fashions a Comeback from Recession with Carlos Falchi, Jean Paul Gaultier
- Kmart Rejuvenates Jaclyn Smith So Shoppers Forget Martha Stewart
Industry Transcripts by Seeking Alpha
- Coldwater Creek, Inc. Q3 2009 (Qtr End 10/31/09) Earnings Call Transcript
- J. Crew Group, Inc. Q3 2009 Earnings Call Transcript
- Zale Corporation F1Q10 (Qtr End 10/31/09) Earnings Call Transcript
- Borders Group Inc. Q3 2009 Earnings Call Transcript
- American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. Q3 2009 (Qtr End 10/31/09) Earnings Call Transcript
Archives
Recommended Sources
About Retail Industry
BNET Retail provides daily industry trends and news coverage with insights for managers and executives about the key players in the consumer retail industry. In addition to detailed retail company profiles, we bring you industry analysis on new retailers, products, mergers and acquisitions, consumer spending figures, and a host of other important issues pertinent to the retail sector.