Amazon already squares off against Netflix and iTunes in the streaming video subscription and rental marketplaces, so it’s probably not a shock that Amazon now has YouTube in its sights with a new platform for amateur moviemakers called Amazon Direct Video. [More]
Retail Services
Analysts: Dick’s Could Take Over 80-180 Sports Authority Stores
By 5.9.16
How many sporting goods stores does this country really need? Two outdoors-oriented chains are reportedly considering a merger, and two companies in the sector have filed for bankruptcy protection in the last few months. Sports Chalet is shutting down, and Sports Authority stores are all closing or for sale: the buyers could be liquidators that would simply sell everything off and close down. According to a recent report by some investment analysts, though, market leader Dick’s may take over some of those stores. [More]
Amazon Now Expanding Same-Day Delivery To All ZIP Codes In 27 Cities
By 5.6.16
Two weeks after being called out for omitting ZIP codes with predominantly non-white residents from its same-day delivery service, Amazon is now pledging to cover those areas in all the markets where it offers the expedited delivery option. [More]
Sears Will Close Its Oldest Operating Store, Which Opened In Chicago In 1925
By 5.6.16 — Updated: 1.4.17
Corporate cutbacks mean losing company history, and the next store on Sears Holdings’ closing list is historic: having opened in 1925, it’s the oldest still-operating store in the chain. The store, which is in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood, will begin its liquidation sale in two weeks, on May 19, and will ultimately close in August. [More]
The Limited Opened A Stealth Chain Of Off-Price Stores
By 5.5.16
The popular thing for department and clothing stores to do in recent years has been to open their own off-price stores, and women’s clothing retailer The Limited wants to join that party. They’re using the familiar model from Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off Fifth, and J. Crew Factory Stores–some deep-discounted merchandise that didn’t sell in regular Limited stores, but mostly cheaper items designed specifically for price-conscious customers. [More]
This Tobacco Store Doesn’t Want Your Sweaty Bra Or Sock Money
By 5.5.16
We get it: in the summer, you want to be free and unencumbered, without a purse on your shoulder or a heavy wallet in your pocket. However, a tobacco store in Kentucky has an important seasonal rule that they want their customers to keep in mind: they do not want your crumpled, sweaty dollar bills that you’ve just pulled from your sock or your bra. [More]
Walmart’s Experiment Is Over: Greeters Are Returning For Good
By 5.4.16
For a while, Walmart tried a bold staffing experiment: they reassigned employees serving as greeters, a position that serves as both a friendly face and a theft deterrent. Instead of standing at the door, former greeters were to help guide customers to the checkouts, or help them find items in the aisles. That experiment began four years ago, and Walmart brought some greeters back about a year ago. Today Walmart announced that greeters will return to their rightful place in all stores. [More]
Here’s The List Of Aeropostale Stores That Are Closing
By 5.4.16
Whether it was market conditions or the behavior of their lenders that drove Aeropostale into bankruptcy, the teen-oriented clothing retailer has difficult decisions to make about which stores to keep and which to close. They’ve already decided on a preliminary closing list. [More]
Aeropostale Accuses Lender Of Purposely Squeezing It Into Bankruptcy
By 5.4.16
Soon after former mall staple Aeropostale filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday, it turned around and threw darts at one of its lenders, which it accused of working behind the scenes to force the company’s hand. [More]
Would You Buy A Free Shipping Subscription Only For Lands’ End?
By 5.4.16
Consumers really love Amazon Prime, a subscription service that now includes a variety of other perks, but began as a humble program that got subscribers free 2-day shipping. Now other retailers have started to wonder whether they can get customers to pay up for free shipping programs with additional perks. The latest retailer to try this is Lands’ End, which has introduced their program along with a more expensive and more stylish collection of clothing. [More]
Don’t Throw Away Prepaid Debit Cards After You Use Them To Make A Purchase
By 5.4.16
If you exhaust all the money on a prepaid debit card and have no intention of refilling it, your tendency is probably to simply discard the piece of plastic and move on with your life. But you may want to hold on to that card for a while, lest you have to jump through hoops if you return the purchase. [More]
1-800-Flowers Has Watson-Powered Robo-Concierge To Help You Choose Gifts
By 5.3.16
Do you need help selecting just the right gift for your loved ones, but don’t want to ask an actual human being for that help? 1-800-Flowers, a florist chain named after the dominant way to order things 30 years ago, now has a robo-concierge powered by IBM’s Watson platform that will tell you what someone really wants as a gift. [More]
Kmart And Sears Add Stores In MI, WV, IA, LA, WI, And GA To Closings List
By 5.3.16
Sears Holdings needs to make some cuts, and has been closing its stores in addition to taking on roommates and cutting back on corporate staff. In addition to the 50 or so store closings that Sears Holdings announced locally at the beginning of the year and the 78 store closings that the company announced two weeks ago, today the news broke that three additional Kmart stores will close in Georgia, Michigan, and West Virginia. [More]
Kmart’s “Plants For Life” Guarantee Doesn’t Cover Rogue Lawnmowers, “Acts Of God”
By 5.3.16 — Updated: 6.2.17
If you’re the kind of person who can kill a plant just by looking at it, Kmart’s “Plants for Life” guarantee might sound like the solution to your brown thumb: the retailer is offering a lifetime guarantee on its trees, shrubs, and perennials that gives a customer a replacement or store credit if their plant dies before its time. Claiming that replacement, however, means first clearing your plant from a slew of plant-death scenarios included in the offer’s fine print. [More]
Foster Farms Recalls 220K Pounds Of Chicken Nuggets, Because Plastic And Rubber Are Not Tasty
By 5.3.16
Nearly three years after hundreds of people from all over the country got sick from eating Salmonella-tainted chicken from Foster Farms, the poultry producer is facing another issue with its products. The company announced that it would recall 220,000 pounds of chicken nuggets that may contain pieces of plastic. [More]
Report: Aéropostale Will File For Bankruptcy Protection This Week
By 5.2.16
The Aeropostale Bankruptcy Watch may be over. After initial reports two weeks ago that the company was considering a filing in the coming month, now experts speculate that the troubled teen retailer could file later this week. Timing is key: with 800 stores, the company would need to file before its rent for May is due. [More]
Oculus Suggests Bereft Rift Pre-Orderers Should Go To Best Buy Instead
By 5.2.16
Oculus began accepting pre-orders for their Rift virtual reality headsets back in January, but not everyone who ordered early has their device yet. Those customers will probably be disappointed to hear that Oculus is going ahead with its retail strategy. Some devices will be available for retail sale at Microsoft stores and from Amazon on Friday, May 6, and available for special demos and for sale at a few Best Buy locations on Saturday, May 7. [More]
Amazon’s Alexa Now Available On A Device That Isn’t The Echo Speaker
By 4.28.16
Alexa is spreading her personal assistant wings. The Amazon Echo mainstay is now available on its first device not produced by Amazon: the Triby, a connected message board of sorts for your home, office, or other destination. [More]
