Consumer Trends: Page 156
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JCPenney CEO raising prices
As returned CEO Mike Ullman rolls up his sleeves and begins cleaning up the mess, prices are climbing — to make way for discounts.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 31, 2014 -
Realistic mannequins on the rise
More retailers are adopting display models with wider proportions and even, in some cases, body hair.
By Roger Riddell • Jan. 30, 2014 -
Explore the Trendlineâž”
Getty ImagesTrendlineHow artificial intelligence is shaping retail
More retailers are leaning on AI as a tool, tapping into the tech to improve customer service and support supply chain functions.
By Retail Dive staff -
H&M profits miss projections
Its competition is stiff, but the Swedish retailer says it will head into the wind, continuing its expansion in the U.S. and China.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 30, 2014 -
Ship-from-store gives Best Buy an edge over Amazon
While most retailers assume shipping efficiency resides in well-placed, big warehouses, Best Buy and others have found that their established stores make useful mini-warehouses.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 30, 2014 -
Amazon may provide payments for brick-and-mortar stores
A variety of Kindle-based systems and services may or may not come to pass, according to unnamed sources.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 30, 2014 -
Bitcoin dealt a blow in New York
Officials in the empire state say it’s time to saddle bitcoin with some regulation, raising questions about its usefulness.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 30, 2014 -
Homegoods e-retailer Wayfair may go public
Growing some 50% and outpacing competitors like top-performing Williams-Sonoma, the e-retailer is seeing robust business.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 29, 2014 -
Videogame retailers playing hardball with online competition
To keep gamers coming to their stores, GameStop and other retailers are fighting digital distribution of games, and fighting hard.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 29, 2014 -
Zappos, Sunglass Hut, L.L. Bean winners in customer service
A recent study found that fewer clicks to order, fast shipping, and ease of communication are customer priorities.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 29, 2014 -
Consumer confidence at a surprise 5-month high
To affect spending habits, such optimism will have to stay steady for a good while, economists say.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 29, 2014 -
Abercrombie & Fitch to split chairman/CEO roles
The troubled teen clothing retailer made other moves, too, that are seen as an effort to soothe the nerves of its investors.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 29, 2014 -
Many retailers already capable of taking safer credit and debit cards
Contrary to what many believe, many retailers are ready with point-of-sale systems that take payments resistant to fraud — customers just don't have the new cards.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 28, 2014 -
Ikea posts record profits
The furniture retailer posted record profits for the year, despite its tepid embrace, so far, of e-commerce.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 28, 2014 -
Customers expect more in exchange for their data
Research shows that consumers will trade access to their social media, location, and mobile information only for favorable pricing, shipping, and return policies.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 28, 2014 -
Merchandise returns cost U.S. retailers $270B in 2013
Receipts in hand are no guarantee that a return is not fraudulent, and in-store returns of online-procured merchandise are an area of concern, according to a report on 2013 returns.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 28, 2014 -
Costco to host Obama following State of the Union speech
The president plans to push better wages and hiring of the long-term unemployed and will visit one of the retailer’s Maryland locations.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 28, 2014 -
RadioShack repositioning itself with collaborative motto
The new motto, "It Can Be Done, When We Do It Together," evokes a how-to perspective targeting tech-savvy consumers.
By Roger Riddell • Jan. 27, 2014 -
Banks report data breach at Michaels stores
The crafts-store chain is the latest to disclose that customers’ credit and debit card information was possibly compromised.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 27, 2014 -
Enhanced e-commerce site search technology pays off
Gallery Furniture says implementing Nextopia’s e-commerce site search, navigation, and merchandising system has improved conversion rates by 35%.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 27, 2014 -
Could iTunes be your next mobile payment option for everything?
Apple is exploring expansion of its iTunes payment system to allow users to pay for things at other retailers and more, unnamed sources told the Wall Street Journal.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 27, 2014 -
Wal-Mart slashes 2,300 Sam's Club jobs
The retail giant said it’s working to become more efficient in the face of stiff competition in the budget-shopping sector.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 27, 2014 -
Google’s same-day delivery hits another city
After a successful stint in the San Francisco Bay Area, Google Shopping Express has begun a trial run in Los Angeles.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 27, 2014 -
TigerDirect the latest to take bitcoin
The electronics e-retailer says it wants to give customers an alternative way to shop and pay, and will sell hardware to mint more.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 24, 2014 -
Neiman Marcus admits broader extent of breach
The disclosure comes as the FBI warns retailers of more trouble with payment system hacks.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 24, 2014 -
Esprit Holdings returns to profit
Stock of the clothing retailer surged in Hong Kong trading as it reported expectations of a “slight profit” for the first half of its fiscal year, compared with losses over the same period last year.
By Daphne Howland • Jan. 24, 2014