Some things just aren’t meant to be: A year after Nikon announced the imminent launch of a new line of 4K compact cameras, the company has scrapped the DL series of devices and is looking into restructuring plans after a year of sinking sales. [More]
Retail Services
Report: Outdoors Superstore Gander Mountain Looking To File For Bankruptcy
By 2.13.17 — Updated: 3.13.17
Wait, there’s yet another sporting goods store potentially headed for bankruptcy? There are reports that Gander Mountain, an outdoorsy chain that calls itself “America’s firearms superstore” is headed for bankruptcy. [More]
Restoration Hardware Recalls Metal Tables Over Reports Of Children With High Lead Blood Levels
By 2.13.17
After receiving reports of children with elevated levels of lead in their blood, Restoration Hardware is recalling thousands of metal top dining tables. [More]
Millennials Aren’t Moving Anywhere, Despite Fewer Obstacles
By 2.13.17
For many younger consumers, each new year used to bring a new address, whether that meant switching from an apartment to a house, or following their dreams across the country. But the latest generation of millennials apparently aren’t on board with that. [More]
Sears, Kmart Dropping 31 Trump Home Items From Online Stores
By 2.13.17
Last week saw multiple retailers either dropping or de-emphasizing Ivanka Trump-branded products in their stores, and now two more chains are stepping back from the family name: Sears Holdings announced over the weekend that Kmart and Sears are pulling 31 Trump Home branded products from their online stores. [More]
State Claims Hilton Paid Woman Less Than Male Coworkers, Including Her Son
By 2.10.17
New Jersey’s top prosecutor has accused Hilton of unlawful discrimination for paying a female Homewood Suites employee less than her male equivalents, including her son. [More]
L.L. Bean Reportedly Thinking Of Ditching Free Returns
By 2.10.17
As retailers increasingly shifted toward more restrictive return policies, L.L. Bean’s generous approach to accepting returns has stood out. However, that could soon change as the Bean looks to shave costs. [More]
Report: Payless Looking To Reduce Its Footprint, Close 1,000 Stores
By 2.10.17
Payless, the ubiquitous discount shoe retailer with more than 4,400 stores in 30 countries, is reportedly looking to cut back on its ubiquity. Just like just about every other retailer in your local mall, especially the ones that sell clothing, the company has too many stores and too much debt. [More]
Here’s What It’s Like To Visit New York City’s Pastry-Serving, French-ish McDonald’s
By 2.10.17
Outside of french fries, there’s nothing about McDonald’s that makes you envision a Parisian café or some bistro in Marseilles, but that hasn’t stopped the fast food goliath from testing a supposedly France-inspired location in the middle of Manhattan; just convenient enough for me to check out. [More]
2,500 La-Z-Boy Chairs Recalled For Possible Shock Hazard
By 2.10.17
The last thing you want to experience while lounging in your big, comfy recliner is electric shock. Yet, that’s apparently a possibility for a few thousand La-Z-Boy recliners now being recalled. [More]
Sears Holdings Outlines New Plan To Escape Death Spiral
By 2.10.17
Everyone except chairman and CEO Eddie Lampert thinks that Sears Holdings is in an inescapable death spiral, as the company sells its brands and real estate and lays off employees. Today, the company outlined plans for the near future that are more of the same: selling more real estate, selling off more key Sears brands, and depending on the Shop Your Way rewards program and e-commerce when the customers it still has aren’t especially interested in either. [More]
Amazon Wants To Get Into Your Underwear Drawer
By 2.10.17
Amazon has already been making moves to get into customers’ closets with the in-house apparel brands it launched last year, and rumors that it’s planning a new line of workout clothing. Now, Amazon reportedly wants to slip into something more comfortable: your underwear drawer. [More]
L’Oreal Looking To Sell Off The Body Shop
By 2.9.17
Another day, another company looking to pull out of a retail entanglement: This time it’s L’Oreal, which has confirmed reports that it’s looking into selling off The Body Shop chain of stores. In other news, today we learned that L’Oreal owns The Body Shop. [More]
McDonald’s Is Beta Testing A Crab Sandwich In Silicon Valley
By 2.9.17
With the exception of a seasonal, limited-time offering of a Lobster Roll sandwich on the East coast, McDonald’s only seafood entree has been the Filet-O-Fish. But it appears the meal is getting some company in the form of a crab sandwich being tested at certain locations in California. [More]
Oculus Closing 200 Best Buy Demo Stations Over Slower Traffic
By 2.9.17
Facebook’s Oculus had been hoping to win wary customers over to the idea of virtual reality by setting up hundreds of pop-up demo stations inside Best Buy stores around the country. Turns out, folks may not be all that interested, so Oculus is shutting down about 40% of these in-store test drive locations. [More]
Alibaba Says Companies Are Filing Fake Claims About Counterfeit Products
By 2.9.17
Five months ago, designer brands complained that Alibaba wasn’t doing enough to rid its site of counterfeiters. Now, the e-commerce megasite claims that it’s being victimized by fakes — not bogus products, but allegedly false complaints about vendors selling counterfeit products. [More]
Report: TJ Maxx Telling Stores Not To Highlight Ivanka Trump Products, Throw Out Signs
By 2.8.17
Days after Nordstrom announced it would no longer sell Ivanka Trump merchandise at its stores amid slow sales, another big-name retailer is reportedly backing away from brand. [More]
Aldi Spending $1.6B To Upgrade Stores To Be More Whole Foods-Esque
By 2.8.17
Millennials are already apparently flocking to Aldi over Whole Foods’ new, hipper version of its typical stores in favor of lower price points, but now these customers won’t have to forego the more expensive chain’s aesthetic: Aldi plans to spend $1.6 billion to revamp the layout of its stores in order to compete with chains like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Sprouts. [More]
