Sears' 20th straight quarterly decline cues more store closures

"In our view, it is now too late to turn this around. The rot has well and truly set in and it is just not financially feasible to reverse it," said Neil Saunders, CEO of retail research agency and consulting firm Conlumino.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 8, 2016

Costco sales gains undermined by discounts, deflation

Despite challenges in the quarter, CFO Richard Galanti said the retailer is investing more in e-commerce and focusing on merchandising and pricing.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 8, 2016

Lululemon same-store sales soar on product innovation, customer experience

The yogawear innovator has solved its quality and supply chain issues, and is once again creating performance fabric that’s giving customers a reason to pay top dollar.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 7, 2016

American Apparel to shutter 9 stores ahead of January auction

The twice-bankrupt retailer will auction its remaining stores on Jan. 12 and has warned that mass layoffs could be possible.

By Corinne Ruff • Dec. 7, 2016

American Apparel warns all SoCal employees of possible layoffs, bankruptcy auction delayed

The embattled apparel retailer has notified some 3,500 Los Angeles-area factory workers they may be let go Jan. 6, but adds "layoffs are not certain."

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 7, 2016

New York City considers ban of on-call scheduling in retail

The nation’s largest city is likely to put in place a package of bills that make it harder for retailers to use controversial super-efficient scheduling.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 7, 2016

Ikea to expand parental leave to all employees, including hourly workers

The new leave packages vary according to tenure and hours worked, and even childless employees have sabbatical options.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 6, 2016

Retailers feature high on LGBTQ corporate equality index

Human Rights Campaign's rating of Fortune 500 companies on LGBTQ issues showed 38 retail and consumer products companies earned a perfect score.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 6, 2016

Hudson's Bay weighed down by Saks Fifth Avenue, outlet stores

The Canadian department store company continues to face challenges in the women’s apparel, department store and luxury segments.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 6, 2016

Fanatics, Under Armour awarded 10-year MLB licensing deal

While Under Armour gets the on-field glory, Fanatics may be the bigger winner in this deal.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 5, 2016

Shopify acquires mobile app design house Tiny Hearts

The two companies previously worked together to create a pop-up shop called Popify, as well as Shopify apps Frenzy and Skopkey.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 5, 2016

Amazon unveils futuristic checkout-free grocery store

The Seattle store, currently in a beta test open only to Amazon employees, upends the definition of the word “convenient.”

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 5, 2016

Wal-Mart settles same-sex benefit suit, solidifies policy

The retailer will earmark $7.5 million for at least 1,100 employees who’d been denied healthcare benefits before January 2014, when the company changed its policy to include same-sex spouses.  

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 5, 2016

Report: The Limited may shutter headquarters, close stores permanently

The women’s apparel retailer is suffering from the woes of malls and fierce competition from fast fashion and other rivals.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 5, 2016

Sears Holdings CEO proposes increased stake in struggling off-price unit

Eddie Lampert continues to prop up the ailing retail company, but executive departures and troubles at Sears Hometown mean things are pretty dire.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 5, 2016

Report: Burberry turned down multiple takeover offers from Coach

A merger would have created a group valued over $20 billion, broadening Coach’s reach in more categories and extending its geographic presence.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 5, 2016

November logs more job growth, weaknesses linger

A decline in wages and softness in the employment numbers should give retailers pause.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 2, 2016

Ascena blames sales struggles on election anxiety

CEO David Jaffe said apparel sales have already picked up since Election Day, with e-commerce helping offset declining store traffic.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 2, 2016

Ulta forecasts strong holiday sales, fueled by e-commerce boom

The beauty retailer posted third quarter online sales of $73.6 million, up 59.1% from a year ago.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 2, 2016

Amazon announces Alexa Accelerator to boost conversational commerce startups

The program, supported by startup accelerator Techstars, will help developers targeting speech technology advances and voice application innovation.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 1, 2016

Lands' End struggles linger, Canvas fails to catch on

The youthful Canvas brand, a revamp initiated by ex-CEO Federica Marchionni, had a particularly negative impact on the company's Q3 gross margin.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 1, 2016

Dollar General falls on lower prices, food stamp cuts

Fierce competition from Wal-Mart is also hitting Dollar General and rival dollar stores hard.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 1, 2016

Bass Pro Shops-Cabela's merger delayed by FTC antitrust concerns

The Federal Trade Commission has asked for more information, but a swift refiling from Cabela’s suggests confidence the deal will pass muster, observers say.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 1, 2016

American Eagle plunges on same-store sales weakness

The teen apparel retailer anticipates flat to low single-digit increases in same-store sales during the all-important holiday quarter.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 30, 2016

UK retailer Boohoo bids on bankrupt Nasty Gal

Boohoo, a discount fashion retailer founded a decade ago, is enjoying healthy growth and looking to branch out beyond Europe.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 30, 2016